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Message started by LostArtist on 02/03/12 at 10:50:55

Title: Leather or Not?
Post by LostArtist on 02/03/12 at 10:50:55

looking at two jackets, one is just leather, very very little protective padding and no armor

Joe Rocket Leather (http://www.joerocket.com/catalog/index.cfm/234/457/Leather_Jackets/Old_School_[cowhide)
http://www.joerocket.com/Files/productImages/457/2479_Roadster_Jacket.jpg

the other is textile/leather combo but with lots of armor and padding

Cortech (http://www.tourmaster.com/xcart/product.php?productid=265&cat=25)
http://www.tourmaster.com/images/products/h_kq2_black.jpg

I like them both, both are affordable for me, I currently have a mesh jacket, just looking for a change up in style and just something different. I am in Texas so I've been kinda shy about getting leather since mesh is much cooler. armor though almost never fits me right, mainly that the elbow pads slip down some. I'm leaning towards the Joe Rocket Old School. . .

how important can armor be anyway right??

Title: Re: Leather or Not?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 02/03/12 at 11:01:12

If the armor isnt locked in place & theres room to raise it to where you want it, you could stitch below it & close the pocket so it would stay up.

How important is armor? Ask a tank driver.. Some days, ya dont need it, but when ya do, ya do.,,

Leather is great for certain weather conditions,, We arent having them this year,

Title: Re: Leather or Not?
Post by Serowbot on 02/03/12 at 11:11:49

Racers wear leather,... for them it's not if, but when...
so I wear leather... :-?...

Title: Re: Leather or Not?
Post by verslagen1 on 02/03/12 at 11:33:49

Leather offers more overall protection.
armor will protect your joints from impact.

I have a textile tourmaster and a leather cortech jacket.
Textile is a lot lighter than leather.
Both have armor that fits well.
both have liners so are equally warm
textile is better if you get wet

Title: Re: Leather or Not?
Post by bill67 on 02/03/12 at 12:41:17

If its hot were you are you only need a short sheave shirt.

Title: Re: Leather or Not?
Post by bikertrash on 02/03/12 at 13:17:29

Buy 'em both. ;)

Title: Re: Leather or Not?
Post by Savage_Rob on 02/03/12 at 13:38:29

Good points, all. I live in Texas too and I've generally gone with textiles (with as much Kevlar and armor as I can get). Quality leather is excellent abrasion resistance but most of the affordable stuff I've looked into wasn't really as thick as I would have liked and would not outperform the Kevlar I already have. I actually have a Fonzie style jacket from my early 20's purchased in the Navy Exchange at Pearl Harbor but it has no room for armor and I think most of my textiles would outperform it. I still wear it occasionally but my favorite is my Icon Strongarm and it's a combination of both... Kevlar reinforced denim with armor and leather sleeves. An interesting thing I noted about this jacket is that the manufacturer has sewn a St. Christopher medal into the inside of the inside breast pocket. I'm not Catholic but I'll take all the help I can get.

http://www.cruisercustomizing.com/images/ICON-STRONGARMBLU_600.jpg

Title: Re: Leather or Not?
Post by Jerry Eichenberger on 02/03/12 at 13:39:45

Neither suits me, as the color is wrong. I prefer bright colors so I can be seen. These jackets just blend in with the pavement, and are near invisible at night. My mesh, armored jacket is bumblebee yellow and my helmet is candy apple red.

Title: Re: Leather or Not?
Post by LostArtist on 02/03/12 at 13:55:52

555A565C575A515D5A4D585A4D3F0 wrote:

they come in different colors, and there are ways to add visibility.

I ordered the Joe Rocket one, I have a white mesh tourmaster one, so for something different I got the leather one.

Title: Re: Leather or Not?
Post by Arizuno on 02/03/12 at 14:22:17

I'll go with Jerry on this one. I have a textile armored jacket w/ zip-out quilted liner for cold weather. It's got some black, but plenty of yellow and white. It's much too warm - liner out, vents open - for summer here, so I also have a red First Gear armored mesh jacket with zip-out windprooof (but not quilted) liner for the remainder (most) of the year. And a hi-viz yellow helmet that can be seen, I believe, from orbit.

I'm guessing it may get just a tad hot & humid around Alvin, TX on occassion. Mesh would help make that bearable. In any case, given the abundance of seemingly blind, definately preoccupied automobile drivers, I believe it behooves one to try to stand out like a turd in a punch bowl whilst operating a motorcycle. Leather has excellent abrasion resistance, of course, but is generally HOT and hard to see (I don't know how 'Bot does it). ATGATT!

Title: Re: Leather or Not?
Post by Savage_Rob on 02/03/12 at 15:00:06

323D313B303D363A3D2A3F3D2A580 wrote:

That's the only thing I have against my favorite jacket. My others are silver or red with reflective piping, etc.

Title: Re: Leather or Not?
Post by Serowbot on 02/03/12 at 15:34:48

1D2E35262932335C0 wrote:

HOT and hard to see (I don't know how 'Bot does it). ATGATT!

90+ weather I don't... but, I'm not happy about it...
100+... I'm in a T-shirt... (I got hit by a Toyota Tacoma 4x4, 2 years ago, while I was in a T-shirt... It really hurt, but it would have hurt with leather or armored textile, too)...
"Armor" is a bit of a miss-characterization,... "pads" is more realistic...
It ain't "armor"...

Title: Re: Leather or Not?
Post by SuperSavage on 02/03/12 at 19:47:52

I prefer the Cortech. Why don't you check out Leatherup.com? They have some sweet Vulcan jackets...

Title: Re: Leather or Not?
Post by Savage_Rob on 02/03/12 at 22:11:51

I also like MotorcycleGear.com (http://www.motorcyclegear.com/). They used to be NewEnough.com. Most of their stuff is either overstock or last years' model but it's quality stuff at decent prices. They're located in the Texas panhandle.

Title: Re: Leather or Not?
Post by LANCER on 02/04/12 at 03:02:40

I've got mesh for hot, two types of textile for moderate or cold and heavy leather for cold. ALL OF THEM WITH ARMOR TO PROTECT MY BEAUTIFUL BODY.
I was wearing the mesh last year when I was catapulted off the bike and then landing on my back, with the point of impact on the lower right side at just below belt level. The launch did the most critical damage to my L1 vertebra but I fully believe the back armor saved me additional critical damage when slammed to the ground at 50 mph from a 20 ft high ariel arc.
ARMOR WORKS...USE IT !

Title: Re: Leather or Not?
Post by prsavage on 02/04/12 at 16:58:43

I have both. For hot weather I use the textile mesh with armour. For moderate days I use the leather which has only a little bit of padding. For cold days I use my textile with the insulation line and the waterproof liner. Pants I use kevlar jeans for city speeds. Highway speeds I have armoured textile kevlar mesh.

Title: Re: Leather or Not?
Post by kimchris1 on 02/05/12 at 17:53:08

I have both types of jackets. Now that I have lost
the weight, I can wear my textile jacket again :)
Infact wore it again today on a little ride. It has
a lining and with my other layers, kept me snuggly
warm.. :)

Title: Re: Leather or Not?
Post by Skid Mark on 02/05/12 at 18:21:29

I have both mesh and core tech jackets with armor. The non mesh jacket works well in inclement weather. With the liner and a thin down vest I am toasty warm to + 2 c. However, hourly warm up stops are required at taht temp. The cortech jacket will also do a good job of keeping you dey. Went thru a 1 hr hail storm a couple of years ago, and was nice and dry at the end of it. After just reading Lancer's ordeal, it's going to be armor all the time now.

Title: Re: Leather or Not?
Post by LANCER on 02/06/12 at 04:20:01

5C5A43505C0708310 wrote:

You never know what may happen, or when.

Title: Re: Leather or Not?
Post by LostArtist on 02/09/12 at 11:01:32

got the joe rocket jacket today, it kinda chokes me a bit, and it feels kinda weird all bunched up, pretty sure I'm going to return it and try something else

Title: Re: Leather or Not?
Post by Serowbot on 02/10/12 at 08:38:10

I like the look of this jacket... Pricey though... and I don't get the sizing?..
Gotta' be the coolest jacket I ever saw...
Wonder where I could steal one?... :-?...
http://www.heldusa.com/santana.html
http://www.heldusa.com/Components/lg_pics/5921_51_x.jpg

Title: Re: Leather or Not?
Post by mpescatori on 02/12/12 at 22:46:18

2F0C10172211170A1017630 wrote:

got the joe rocket jacket today, it kinda chokes me a bit, and it feels kinda weird all bunched up, pretty sure I'm going to return it and try something else

LA, if the jacket is new it's supposed to feel that way.

Just like genuine Italian leather shoes :)

It'll feel tight in the beginning, but wear it for a few days and it will feel "snug", not "tight" anymore.
And the more you wear it, the more it will follow the contours of your body.

In a while, you won't want to wear anything else ;)

Title: Re: Leather or Not?
Post by houstonbofh on 02/13/12 at 16:47:49

This is more than you asked, but it is a good thing to talk about anyway. I have had two head on collisions, a bunch of close calls, and a few lay downs and ride away. So this comes from rather painful experience.

Boots, leather and above the ankle. Period. If your ankle rubs along the concrete, you will go through the skin and some bone amazingly quickly. I NEVER ride without a boot over the ankle. I use these Doc Martins in the summer http://www.amazon.com/Dr-Martens-Lace-Toe-Hiker/dp/B000BOO43Y/ref=pd_sbs_shoe_2 and Cowboy boots on the colder days.

Pants, good denim (not designer) or better. Good denim holds up surprisingly well. But you do want to make sure you have something to keep the road rash off your backside. No shorts, slacks, or designer denim. (Too thin) You will want to sit down, or lie on your back afterwards...

Gloves are good to have if the heat allows. The armor is not needed for most cases, but full fingers are. Half gloves will not protect that most likely to get torn up. (When your finger hooks on something sharp it hurts more than when your glove does)

Jacket... What you actually asked for... A properly vented leather jacket will be just as cool as tex when moving. All will be hot in Texas in August at a light. I do not use a jacket in summer. That said, I have a 25 year old leather jacket that still looks amazing. Textile will not last that long.

Helmet... The California study showed that the majority of head impacts were to the face an jaw. Really... So I either ware a full face or nothing. Nothing has more closed head injury in the exact proportion to the reduced neck injuries... A open face helmet has more the worst of both.

Title: Re: Leather or Not?
Post by Serowbot on 02/13/12 at 16:53:59

+1 with the Hound... 'cept I do wear fingerless gloves,(actually I cut the fingers out of full gloves because "fingerless" tend to lack gauntlet)...
As an experienced crasher :-?,..
I know I tend to ride my palms in a skid... ;D...

Title: Re: Leather or Not?
Post by houstonbofh on 02/13/12 at 17:21:47

I do too, but they actually take it a lot better than the fingers. Both times I had scrapes on my palms and blood on my fingers. It was summer...

Title: Re: Leather or Not?
Post by LostArtist on 02/14/12 at 14:53:50

so after it breaks in it'll quit choking my neck?

Title: Re: Leather or Not?
Post by dinsdale on 02/17/12 at 11:07:54

Every time I ride. Even in 35C 98% humidity days.
Only uncomfortable at a stop. Wear underarmor shirts for wicking sweat and quick drying when you start to move.
I commute 45-60 minutes each way. 15-30 minutes of stop and go.

Snap-on 3/4 work boots.
http://www.coastalboot.com/images/PAGLGOKIMJNGFFNO.jpg

AGV Excursion Kevlar lined Khakis for commuting
http://www.motorhelmets.com/media/products/agv-sport/2010-07/apparel-agv-sport-street-pants-men-kevlar-cargo-excursion-olive.jpg
or
Tour Master Caliber Pants
http://www.compacc.com/images/product/600/13840_1.jpg

Tourmaster Coaster II Jacket
http://images.productwiki.com/upload/images/tour_master_coaster_ii_leather_jacket11.bm

HJC IS-6 helmet
http://www.instablogsimages.com/1/2011/11/21/hjc_rps_10_matte_black_helmet_image_title_6fyzj.jpg

Joe Rocket Michael Jordan "The One" Gloves
http://www.motorcyclegear.com/image/path/9850/Default.jpg