How long should a jacket zip last?

**stevedg** · 10th December 2013, 12:31

How long do you suppose an outer zip, the water sealed design, should last on a motorcycle jacket?
The jacket has a warranty for 1 year against defects, but as we know here in 'Nu Zelund' we have the Consumers Guarantee Act which implies that defects that take longer than one year to show up should still be covered by a manufactures warranty. Wear and tear considered - clothing will break down, but how long should we expect a motorbike jacket to last before we see this to the point where the jacket needs repair or is not usable for it's initial purchase (safety gear)?

The Jacket in question in a RST Paragon II textile purchased from a local shop in August last year. The outer zip had been problematic for the past 6 months or so with the teeth not meeting properly when zipped up, even after a lite lube and tweak of the fly itself (as recommended in 'Zip Maintenance, although it did improve it a bit). But yesterday the spiral teeth of the zip has pulled away from the fabric the zip sits on - no fix possible - a zip replacement needed. The dealer who sold me the jacket gave me the option of sending away for repair or taking it locally for repair - at my cost.

Would it be reasonable to invoke the Consumers Guarantee, or am I being unreasonable to expect a $400 jacket to last more than 16 months?

**Hitcher** · 10th December 2013, 13:15

There are a few ups and downs to be mindful of when zips are involved.

**Maha** · 10th December 2013, 14:01

843 vigorous pulls

**BigAl** · 10th December 2013, 14:23

I would have thought that if the jacket is still in good condition then a zip should last at least 2-3 years.

I'd be discussing the CG act with the dealer.

**Murray** · 10th December 2013, 14:43

How long should it last?? Depends on how tall you are??

**Digitdion** · 10th December 2013, 14:57

Depends on how much for pay for a jacket. If it's relatively cheap less. If it's relatively expensive it should last longer.

**Bender** · 10th December 2013, 15:49

If it's an Ixon jacket, only about four wearings (and don't expect warranty on it, apparently stuffed zips are perfectly OK to wear).

**stevedg** · 10th December 2013, 16:20

Originally Posted by BigAl

I would have thought that if the jacket is still in good condition then a zip should last at least 2-3 years.

I'd be discussing the CG act with the dealer.

The jacket isn't a Spidi or similar, but it's not the cheapest jacket on the line either. It's still in very good condition.
It would seem that I'm not being unreasonable to expect the zip to last more than a few years.
I'll do some more digging with Citizens Advice, they seem to have an opinion on these things and let you know. I'll also get an estimate for repair to see if it's all a storm in a tea cup.
Bit disappointed with RST as the trousers I also purchased at the same time came apart at the seams within 6 months of wear - they did repair them under warranty but when they went in the seams again within 2 months they were replaced. Crikey, I though they were supposed to stand up to reasonable wear, or are they just for hanging in the closet only to be used Friday nights when going to the pub to show everyone how cool you are wearing bike gear?

**tigertim20** · 10th December 2013, 16:26

te length of time youve owned it is probably less of a factor than how much you use it. I know people wjo ride everywhere, to and from work, the shop for smoko, a wee ride after work a couple times a week, their weekend rides and visit to friends, shops, dinner outings.

You could be zipping the zipper up and down 20 times a day.

If you go for one ride a week on the other hand, Id expect it to last longer.

hard to determine if the dealer's suggestion you get it fixed at your own expense is a reasonable one or not without seeing clear photos that show the condition of the item to see how it been used/treated in those 16 months.

thatt said I got 4.5 years out of $100 Cnell jacket that was used daily. I gave it away to a new rider who last I saw was still using it regularly, and no zip problems . . .

**Grizzo** · 10th December 2013, 16:53

Originally Posted by Maha

843 vigorous pulls

Or 1500 gentle pulls.

**stevedg** · 10th December 2013, 16:55

Before this jacket I did have a Spidi textile jacket, until I decided to play dodge with a car that 'SMIDSY' at an intersection and tested out the abrasion protection - worked quite well! That jacket was five years + old, starting to show some wear but still hanging together and, damit, the zips still worked fine!
Both jackets are/were treated similar with the same weekly use - actually the Spidi probably got used more during the first 16 months! Guess when you start with a more expensive jacket, you only get disappointed going to a less expensive jacket, 16 months seems a bit poor though, in my opinion.