Leather jackets - cheap vs expensive?

**Erelyes** · 8th October 2013, 18:47

Anyone tried one of the cheap and (hopefully) cheerful jackets on trademe? Or crashed in one? At a quarter the cost it's tempting...

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=648315742
or
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=647139601

Have tried a couple decent ones on (Berik SECA and some Rev'it think I think). Loooooved the Berik, the other one was ok. Only ever had textile.

**AllanB** · 8th October 2013, 18:53

Shit they are so cheap I'd not touch one for bike use - look fine for a 'fashion' jacket. I may be totally wrong but $150 ............ shit I paid twice than that for a decent motorcycle jacket 30 years ago!

Buy one and see - give it the old KB review.

**tigertim20** · 8th October 2013, 18:58

I consider the likes of Qmoto to be cheap but reasonable quality. those you linked are a fair step less from those two again. Id be hesitant to put my safety in the hands of one of those to be honest.

**Drew** · 8th October 2013, 19:04

This will fill up with a bunch of people who have no idea, offering dribble as fact.

Unless someone has crashed in one of the cheap ones, they have no basis for comparison.

I have found in the past, the cheap gear protects just fine. Note, it's often fucked after one crash. Where more expensive stuff might be saved. Although, it might just be that it's worth more so people get them fixed rather than chuck them.

**hayd3n** · 8th October 2013, 20:09

try 1tonne

**geoffc** · 8th October 2013, 20:37

Originally Posted by hayd3n

try 1tonne

I 2nd that.

**Robert Taylor** · 9th October 2013, 06:50

People who crash often ( MotoGP, WSBK ) etc would not wear cheap leather. You only get what you pay for and there are always unpalatable reasons for stuff being cheap

**Banditbandit** · 9th October 2013, 08:31

Originally Posted by Drew

This will fill up with a bunch of people who have no idea, offering dribble as fact.

Unless someone has crashed in one of the cheap ones, they have no basis for comparison.

I have found in the past, the cheap gear protects just fine. Note, it's often fucked after one crash. Where more expensive stuff might be saved. Although, it might just be that it's worth more so people get them fixed rather than chuck them.

Yeah .. that's right.

I prefer to spend a little more money protecting my skin .. and I had one leather jacket (custom made by Dusty Rhodes) that went down the road four times - it was still in good nick and I out grew it (middle age spread is a bitch)

Even if this cheap jacket saved my hide but was fucked after one off it would still be cheaper to buy four leather jackets like this than the one I currently ride in ...

Dunno - try it and write a review - especially if you dump the bike ..

**Geeen** · 9th October 2013, 08:32

I have the Berik SECA II and its a really comfy jacket, haven't crashed in it though. I found it great value for the dollars considering an equivalent Astars or Dainese would have been almost twice the price.

**pritch** · 9th October 2013, 12:24

Originally Posted by Robert Taylor

People who crash often ( MotoGP, WSBK ) etc would not wear cheap leather. You only get what you pay for and there are always unpalatable reasons for stuff being cheap

True dat. The GP riders wear kangaroo skin suits. I have kangaroo skin gloves, and a pair of kangaroo skin boots the price of which made my eyes water. A jacket must be in Lotto win territory, and a full one piece suit something like the equivalent of our national debt?

**Paul in NZ** · 9th October 2013, 12:49

Originally Posted by Robert Taylor

People who crash often ( MotoGP, WSBK ) etc would not wear cheap leather. You only get what you pay for and there are always unpalatable reasons for stuff being cheap

What you say is true but I need to point out that often the examples you mention don't pay for the gear they wear... Plus its their job... ie My son in law the builder has a very expensive circular saw - he uses it every day and thats fine - I have a heavy old Ryobi thats worth $20 now and thats fine 'cos I use it once a year....

Problem is - you just can't always go by price either ie my then state of the art $1000 Spidi NT tour is now as waterproof as a sponge. A new $300 one will last longer than it did because technology moves on. (ie a cheap new jacket now is most likely better than a cheap new jacket was 10 years ago)... Its more about fitness for purpose and what is the intended use. My $99 RJays (on sale) leather jacket is a belting thing for pootling around the village on our classic triumph but - I wouldn't enter the Isle of Man TT with it..... I have 1 piece leathers but I wouldnt ride down to the dairy in them... (no room to stash the paper and a litre of milk down em...)

My red/white and black RJays was cheap as its so gaudy only a colour blind cheapskate who is already uglier than a somali pirates retirement plan would even consider wearing it... Vicki likes it though as it makes her look like a supermodel...

**Big Dave** · 9th October 2013, 12:56

Originally Posted by pritch

I have kangaroo

You....killed.......Skippy.......

**Big Dave** · 9th October 2013, 12:59

Originally Posted by Paul in NZ

(no room to stash the paper and a litre of milk down em...)

Remove those rolled up football socks first big boy.

**Mushu** · 9th October 2013, 13:11

Originally Posted by Big Dave

You....killed.......Skippy.......

I wouldn't worry about it, I've been driving around rural NSW for the last couple if weeks (about 4hrs north of Sydney) and the amount of dead roos on the side of the road is amazing, a ten minute drive any direction out of town would turn up atleast a couple. Given the price of kangaroo leather gear I have considered carrying a knife and skinning some of the fresher ones.