Why we like leather

[Jackrat]

Iv'e slid down the road in leather a couple of times an got up with out a scratch.Done the same in lined Denim jackets and oil skin.That's were I got good scars.Leather rocks,all this new stuff probably makes good tents or something.
Give me the cow

[pete376403]

Get thee to a Savemart immediately...... I picked up a touring jacket for $25 at savemart New Lynn. There is also normally a good selection of leather jackets (pricey-ish at about $80), and a lot of other jackets. If you know what you are looking for , you ought to be able to get something better than denim!!! and for a cheap price too...

Feck that is CHEAP - my naturalwear jacket cost around $600something - mind you I'm pretty sure it is bulletproof, it is really thick and heavy

[k14]

I am pretty sure all top of the line gloves and leather suits are made of kangaroo leather now. The $2500 or so leathers from spidi are kangaroo leather, not sure what is so much better about it though, must be stronger or something.

[FzerozeroT]

yeah, my new gloves have kangaroo on the palm, went expensive cause it was the only place that got an injury.

I also have some possum skin driving gloves, aparrently it breathes better and doesn't stiffen when it gets wet then dries

[SPman]

breathes better and doesn't stiffen when it gets wet then dries

Unlike the original possum

[Posh Tourer :P]

Feck that is CHEAP - my naturalwear jacket cost around $600something - mind you I'm pretty sure it is bulletproof, it is really thick and heavy

The big thick heavy jackets are probably about $150, I cant remember exactly, a while since I looked... They are also of variable quality sometimes, and are old/second hand. Last time I went to cash converters, a good leather jacket was $250... Its isnt really that expensive. At least at Savemart they do so much stuff they dont really know what is a really good leather jacket and what isnt.....and they price accordingly

[laRIKin]

A mate of mine and his mates were going through a bad patch of crashing when Gortex type jackets were newish here.
We told me that the leather jackets stood up to crashing (many times) and
was still a good jacket (with some repairs some times).
But because where he and his new mates were living (got transfered) it
rained alot, so he got himself a synthetic type jacket so he would not have carry a water proof jacket around and only had to carry water proof pants.

He told me, that if you have a crash in a leather jacket, you can still use the
jacket again and again and maybe had to get it repaired one day.

You are OK after a crash in the synthetic jacket, maybe better off because
of the extra padding etc. But the jacket was almost always toast afterwards,
and you had to buy a new one.

Now this was on the older type synthetic jacket, but I think that the same
applies to day.

Hope this is of some help.

[Two Smoker]

I agree with the fact that Synthetic will only last one crash...... Sweating shouldn't be a problem with synthetic, as Goretex is breathable.....

With draggin jeans, they are rated at about 140 kmh (look at the website and download the video of him getting dragged on his arse by motorcycles and a dragster) he stood up and it had gone through the jeans but not the kevlar....

Thats why i think its good that i have got both synthetic and leather, the funny thing is in total i have spent about 3500 on my bike and about 3500 on gear hehehe

[El Dopa]

You are OK after a crash in the synthetic jacket, maybe better off because of the extra padding etc. But the jacket was almost always toast afterwards, and you had to buy a new one.

Now this was on the older type synthetic jacket, but I think that the same
applies to day.

Hope this is of some help.

I've been investigating a lot of gear recently, and have basically been told the same thing about today's synthetic stuff. It's actually designed to rip away in patches as you slide down the road so it doesn't catch and start you rolling, the theory being that it's better to slide than roll.

So you have one off with a synthetic and you need a new jacket.

[Holy Roller]

I am pretty sure all top of the line gloves and leather suits are made of kangaroo leather now. The $2500 or so leathers from spidi are kangaroo leather, not sure what is so much better about it though, must be stronger or something.

My jacket is made from sheep skin leather. Really heavy (3 1/2 Kgs) compared to other jackets. Brought it in Hong Kong 10 yrs or so ago. It has stood up well even after a couple of bins. Some slight abrasion on the jacket arm where I slid down the road but not enough to be a talking point. I had to replace the zip after the last bin. Its starting to look shabby now and am thinking of replacing it with another leather one.

[Ms Piggy]

Sweating shouldn't be a problem with synthetic, as Goretex is breathable.....

I haven't found that at all. I sweat heaps in my jacket (not normal for me at all).

[Two Smoker]

I haven't found that at all. I sweat heaps in my jacket (not normal for me at all).

hmmm, do you still have the insert in??? because that will make you sweet and it isnt breathable. see if you can take out the insert and that should cease you troubles

[RiderInBlack]

the theory being that it's better to slide than roll.

Another good reason why leather works so well, as long as you keep it well greased I bet Wkid is rubbing his all the time

Mate lowsided on a diesel slick in his Draggon Jeans, and only loss a pocket. The diesel did help him slide but.

[madandy]

Whichever you wear you still want armour or some decent padding in there to help with the impact when you hit the ground aye.

[sps996desmo]

I've been riding road bikes since I was 17yrs. For the last 14yrs I have ,once a year, ridden down to Eastern Creek or Phillip Island from North Queensland. Most years it's been cold and wet down south. So after one wax cotton (suited the SS900 1976 lol) one nylon jacket ,two sets of leathers (one custom made), I bit the bullet and brought a 'Tiger Angel' 'Guardian suit'. I can't praise it highly enough, aaww to be dry, warm, and comfortable. It certainly help me ride better in the rain, on long days in the seat and with confidents. I have been down a couple of time, and found that my leathers looked like they had proper padding but were not up to the job. But with my new one's I feel confident is it comes to that I'll be OK.

anyway if you'd like to check them out,here the link www.tigerangel.com.au