I'm in the need for a new bike jacket i have always worn leather but the down side is the great british weather having to carry waterproofs with you just in case. so i'm starting to look at textiles but i can't decide so i'm open for others thoughts practicality of textiles or traditional leathers.
Always use Leathers, can't remmeber the last time I wore my Textiles When I toured France, Spain and Andorra I just took a lightweight rain jacket to wear. did the job, and have done this a few times in the past.
Just my thoughts, i had an RST Razor textile jacket zipped into RST Razor leather jeans ( also have the matching leather jacket ) when i came off at 35-40 mph, the left arm was completely shredded from the elbow down and had to go straight in the bin. The jeans took a good slide on the left hip and left ass cheek and are still wearable, the abrasion wasn't that bad. Now while the jacket allowed more movement and was a more casual fit, i wasn't that impressed with - a) the safety side, as the padded protection moved around. - b) it was supposed to be waterproof and at best i'd say it was shower proof. - c) after one off the jacket was trashed and after calling RST and providing pics of the damage in hope they could put a new arm on it they insisted it was un-repairable and could do nothing. Now i know you get what you pay for and RST are at the lower end, but i don't think i'll get another textile jacket any time soon. I would sooner wear full leather and carry a waterproof over jacket. More expensive goretex gear may have better build and quality but riding a sports bike with triple layer bulky 'GS' style Boorman and McGregor outfits isn't for me. Just my thoughts.
Leathers all day long. Far more comfier (when worn in) and ten times better if the worst should happen. Toured, tracked, Sunday blast, popped to the shops in my one peice with never any bother!!
Depends on what your using the bike for, totally agree ref the benefits of leathers but they aren't always practical if commuting and decent textiles are definitely waterproof and warm.
three of us are of to the TT I have always worn leathers but the other two were textile there reasoning is that they have less to carry no need for waterproofs. Me i'm not shore i can see what there saying luggage space is tight on a sportbike
To the TT, a ride out or tour I'd wear my leathers every time. Commuting to work, textiles, but that's just me. I do have waterproof leathers, but can't really wear work stuff under them.
I'm a one piece leather guy myself, I have a separate leather jacket for popping down the shops and the such like and am looking for a set of cheap dainase trousers to make it a 2 piece for touring. Textiles are ok for bad weather but I have a Belstaff over-suit for that (that leaks like a colander)
I have a two piece leathers and two piece textile suit, weather and type of riding determines which one i wear......
I piece leather for a proper ride out or spare leather jacket for the nip to the shops scenario. I don’t do rain; I have a car for that. Having said that I did get a bit wet once last year when I listened to Carl’s “it isn’t going to rain mate” Carl’s a lovely guy and has his good points but unfortunately meteorology is not one of them. Just in case I ignore the experts and the common sense I was born with I wouldn’t mind getting a thin light weight water proof jacket just in case, but finding a reasonably priced over jacket that will fit a speed hump is proving illusive. It also needs to be thin enough to roll up and strap to the rear seat cover or bump bag.
One piece leathers for ultimate protection on fast days (most days) and textiles for tickover shorts rides in dry winter. Rain/snow/below 6 degrees can do one!
i don't wear leather to my 15 mins commute to work..too much work putting on and off.. maybe if i was out for a longer ride i would leather up..
I like to wear open toe sandles with white socks, 3/4 length cords in mustard and a tweed shirt, lol I think sometimes it boils down to what you want to wear, I have always had leathers and textiles, so i make a decision based on where I am going, weather, and comfort. I like to wear either but then a 7 mile journey for a coffee and a chat normally means jeans (draggin) and a textile jacket? sidi's always! I feel safe in both and I was joking about the sandles and white socks, they are just for round the house lol
I tried that but the exhaust cliiped the bottom of the stairs and I fell off ... stubbed my toes a right goodun'
