Leather or Textile Jacket choices

[ChasesDragons]

Hi all,
It has been a while since I bought a bike jacket. What is the current opinion between Leather and Textile jackets, when it comes to crash survival?

Can you guys n girls give me any recommendations?

TIA
Udhi

[Harry]

provided the jacket fits well (so the armour cant move about on impact)and you wear a back protector then IMHO your better off with the textile jacket because of its waterproof qualities.
harry

[madman]

In the UK I used to use armored textile in the winter and leather in the summer. Now that I am here I use leather in the winter and shirtsleeves in the summer, and before you all slag me off, if it's good enough for the French bike cops, then it's good enough for me.

[johnl]

I have a leather jacket and textile trousers that i tend to use al year round. I have a set of waterproofs I can put on if the rain gets nasty. I think leather offers better protection in the event of a fall. I use textile trouser becasue my legs are super long and had to fork out 3 million pounds for a pair of BMW extra length leg trouses. On hot summer days when i'm pootling about, flip flops and a string vest seem to do but only until the 5th pint, i'm not stupid

[RiceBurner]

I haven't had a leather jacket for about 10 years.....

(mind you - I rather fancy the idea of one now.... )

[Dog Tyred]

For crash protection, leather everytime. For comfort, textile.
I have both and tend to wear the leather jacket (and trousers) if i'm goin to be 'on it' as it were. For general 'pootlin about' I tend to wear a lightweight textile and a pair of jeans (I know, I know..i'll learn one day).
I would never ride with out a jacket though (oh.. and gloves) unlike some I've seen. Saw a bloke on the M42 last summer doing 80ish wearing a cotton shirt and no gloves
You pays your money and makes your choice

[jltownshend]

As a general rule...

Lots of rain / winter = textile ('cos I have one)

Anything else...my slightly too large leather jacket (room for two/three thin sweaters...('cos I have one).

The textile is far too hot in the summer, and actually not that good at keeping wind out either...

Trousers are something else

Over many, many years, I have yet to work out what armour actually does (most every crash has been jeans and windcheater or unsuitable jacket).

Then again...I'm a great believer in multi-purpose...and none of the above works very well for track days...

To summarise:

Textile is no good for a track day
Leathers are good but not necessarily warm or water proof
Textiles too hot in summer (generally)
(some)Racing leathers look stupid (on the road)
If you ride every day in winter, waterproofs (eg multi-purpose) can look very used (manky or cool) very quickly.



J

[ChasesDragons]

Ok....

I think I will get a Leather jacket and hopefully have enough for a pair leather pants as well. Methinks, the Hein Gericke Tricky is dead sexy - especially cos it hides and controls most of my curves . Hope HG are as good as they used to be.

I remember seeing a nearly unused pair of WEISS leather pants in my closet. Bought around 2001, with those CE protectors on em. Are these any good?

I am saving up for a HG CRUISE or VOYAGER Gore Tex number as well, for winter.

I surprised myself with a find of a pair of SIDI COURRIER boots ANd a pair of SIDI Tae Flex (8) boots in my garage - NEW and IN BOX!!! God I have been away from biking for too long!


Warmest Regards
Udhi

[julian]

I have both and would say leather is best for me. I guess if it is good quality fits well and has a full zip round the waist to attach trousers to the jacket then the job's a good'n.

I see from Visordown.com that Crowtree leathes are closing down due to retirement.

[ChasesDragons]

I just had an email exchange with Crowtree. I think they would still build one of their jackets for about £280.

They use Knox back protectors apparently.

[andrew s]

I have a set of Crowtree leathers and they are excellent.

Leather is not fully waterproof, so why not place thin waterproofs over them. They are not always warm so wear thermals under them.

What I am trying to say is, textiles are not as good as a set of leathers, like everthing you get what you pay for.

And if you want to wear jeans and t-shirts then more fool you, remember falling over as a kid and having to pick gravel out of your wound, what will it be like falling off a bike without protective gear.

SERMON OVER WITH.

Andrew

[ChasesDragons]

Just out of interest, what are the best brands in Leather jackets?
I can think of Crowtree (Kerchinggg!) and BKS, which Merseyside Police bikers are supplied with (Kerchingggg, again). Then the Hein Gericke range.

Any particular makes and models worth looking for, in a <spit>bay direction?

Jeans...nope, I am NOT that good a good rider.

BUT, how about these new fangled kevlar jeans? I think DRAGGIN' is one name. How ood are these or are they a bit gimmiky?

Ta
Udhi

[mdouglas]

Gericke have a GoreTex XCR jacket and trousers with leather on all the crash vulnerable places. Best of both worlds. £400 for the jacket. Quite a sporty cut and being XCR, not even the top layer of fabric gets wet.