Why no armour in cruiser style leather jackets?

**mossy1200** · 26th March 2012, 17:57

Originally Posted by Hitcher

Then again, apart from possibly spreading some sorts of impact forces, what real use does armour have. You will find many bikers who have injuries caused by armour.

I have some garments with armour, others without. It's not on my list of "must haves" when buying gear. Comfort, durability and fitness for purpose however are.

One could be mischievous at this point and ask which are the dickiest: squids or tassel-wearers?

Armour saved my shoulder on the track when I landed on it at speed.2 layers 1.4mm leather were well gone but the shoulder guard lived.
Was travelling a bit faster than a road slide though.

**Usarka** · 26th March 2012, 18:49

Ah the old "dress for the slide" vs "dress for the impact" debate. It's been a while!

**GrayWolf** · 26th March 2012, 19:24

at the end of the day all protective gear has a compromise attached to it.
Leather may be the most abrasion resistant, but it sucks in wet weather. Armour has been shown to reduce direct impact damage, but has also been shown that it can 'hook up' and cause a rotation around it in some circumstances.....
It all comes down to what you think you need, and what you are willing to pay for your gear.

**Tigadee** · 26th March 2012, 21:14

Originally Posted by Hitcher

Then again, apart from possibly spreading some sorts of impact forces, what real use does armour have. You will find many bikers who have injuries caused by armour.

I have some garments with armour, others without. It's not on my list of "must haves" when buying gear. Comfort, durability and fitness for purpose however are.

What! And give up looking like Batman?! Never!

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**Jerry74** · 27th March 2012, 07:44

The jackets are fine as the purpose really is to slide and save skin, armour is also pretty valuable too.

Cruiser jackets are acceptable, what is not right in any possible way is men wearing arseless leather chaps........

**Jantar** · 27th March 2012, 09:53

Originally Posted by GrayWolf

at the end of the day all protective gear has a compromise attached to it.
Leather may be the most abrasion resistant, but it sucks in wet weather. Armour has been shown to reduce direct impact damage, but has also been shown that it can 'hook up' and cause a rotation around it in some circumstances.....
It all comes down to what you think you need, and what you are willing to pay for your gear.

Absolutely. My most serious injury occured at a rather low speed when the armour in the shoulder grabbed the tendons and ripped them from the bone. As the surgeon said later "Broken bones heal, tendons don't" I have now removed the armour from my jackets. My main leather jacket does have additional sacrificial pads at the main points: shoulders; elbows etc.