Leather jackets - cheap vs expensive?

[tigertim20]

So you don't watch MotoGP and WSBK? So you are also not aware that the three Spaniards who almost always are 1,2, 3 on the MotoGP podium all wear topline protection from Alpinestars?
Its also sounds like you have an ''us and them'' mentality. Im not fond of latte myself or the often maligned image of latte drinkers but it might or might not have occurred to you that many people in general ( irrespective of whether they have a latte addiction or not ) may have worked really hard to have the means to purchase their ''shiny new bike''. And good on them!
I think that as a generalisation its a little disingenuous to make out that budget priced products will perform just as well as the pedigree and higher priced products that have extensive R&D facilities that assist no end in the work that goes into achieving a high level of protection.
My limited little world of motorcycle riding is restricted these days to test riding suspension improvements several times per week. ( Riding for recreation escaped my world 20 odd years ago ) The test routine is not a massive distance or a great deal of time but I still see the need to ( always ) gear up with high protection, quality riding gear. Dainese / Bell helped save me from major trauma coming up to 30 years ago, with that experience in mind Im not about to increase my chances of gravel rash or head injuries any further by purchasing budget protection.

would you not agree though that cheaper / mid range gear today is not close to, if not as good as good gear from 30 years ago (or less).
It doesnt take long for the tech that the big brands develop through expenive R and D to filter down to other brands, and become more affordable, and available on less expensive gear.

[kevfromcoro]

I bought a black jacket years ago... and its still in good cond. payed a bit for it but its still got lots of life in it..
also I wear a brown leather when I travel.. its got about 7 pockets which all zip up.
pay the money and get good quality.. its worth it
leather for ever

[Robert Taylor]

would you not agree though that cheaper / mid range gear today is not close to, if not as good as good gear from 30 years ago (or less).
It doesnt take long for the tech that the big brands develop through expenive R and D to filter down to other brands, and become more affordable, and available on less expensive gear.

They copy, yes. Without sharing the R&D costs ( like so much product )

[Erelyes]

They copy, yes. Without sharing the R&D costs ( like so much product )

It's the way of the world, innit. Of all the industries where it occurs, it's perhaps most forgivable when it comes to gear that reduces injury / saves lives.

'sides there's still a difference in materials between manufacturers. Say, one might use hard plastic compound sliders on a boot, and the other use titanium. One costs a darn sight more for a measureable yet minor improvement.

[tigertim20]

They copy, yes. Without sharing the R&D costs ( like so much product )

so if your suit was enough to save your ass 30 years ago, does it not stand to reason that some of the less high-end stuff today is equal in terms of quality to what saved you 30 years ago?.
The reall difference is that places like A-stars get the new tech first, and it takes a couple of years to filter down. those with the desire and the money purchase the new tech a little before everyone else can afford it, no different to anything else really is it.

[Floppy disk]

so if your suit was enough to save your ass 30 years ago, does it not stand to reason that some of the less high-end stuff today is equal in terms of quality to what saved you 30 years ago?

errrrr! no! There is no correlation between the 2 ends, therefore you can't generalize it. The fact that something of old was good has nothing to do with the possibility of something new might or might not be good, unless they share many similar attributes (brand, and/or type of cloth, etc.)

[Robert Taylor]

When you seriously look hard at pedigree higher end product ( any product, not only leather jackets ) you note more and more a lot of subtle things that are missed in lower cost product. These subtle engineering niceties go up to make overall a better product.

Take my beloved Ohlins shocks for example......the hydraulic preloaders on many of them are not there only to facilitate ease of spring preload changes. The piston is also deliberately designed to ''rock '' a little in relation to the main body. This is to compensate for spring untruth ( its notoriously difficult to make springs perfectly square ) and therefore to reduce side thrust on the main shock bushings and shaft. Thereby reducing friction, making the shock more responsive and reducing longer term wear.

Product might appear to be ''the same'' to a five second observation but actually they are not. Excellent engineering and R&D obviously costs

[Robert Taylor]

so if your suit was enough to save your ass 30 years ago, does it not stand to reason that some of the less high-end stuff today is equal in terms of quality to what saved you 30 years ago?.
The reall difference is that places like A-stars get the new tech first, and it takes a couple of years to filter down. those with the desire and the money purchase the new tech a little before everyone else can afford it, no different to anything else really is it.

Dont though overlook the difference in material specifications and quality between higher end and lower end product. How do you make a product cheaper? ( Any product ) Much of it is in the specification grade of the materials you use. Look at cheaper handlebar levers, they look pretty in their packets but the material specification is closer to weetbix and the tolerancing is very poor. ( ( Floppy levers ) Reality

[GrayWolf]

so if your suit was enough to save your ass 30 years ago, does it not stand to reason that some of the less high-end stuff today is equal in terms of quality to what saved you 30 years ago?.
The reall difference is that places like A-stars get the new tech first, and it takes a couple of years to filter down. those with the desire and the money purchase the new tech a little before everyone else can afford it, no different to anything else really is it.

Actually, NO.. overall much of today's 'safety gear' is very much 'form over function'...
Example: most 'supposed' Cordura safety gear is 600D, yet if you go and read on the tests you really need 8/900D weave for 'real' abrasion resistance. Remembering that NZ's 'volcanic chip' road surfaces are one of the worlds most abrasive.
Secondly the 'form over function'...
Do you REALLY think that a pair of trousers held 'closed' by a single zip, and 'poppers or velcro' are actually going to stay covering your ass/legs if you 'rotate' 180' and slide head first? The old style leather pants (bib n brace) or the old 'belt buckle' pants WILL stay in place when your ass slides down the road..
Jackets?
Why is it that the really expensive jackets Cordura or Leather are 'double zipped' on the jacket front? Yet 90% of the modern ones are only single zipped and often lack a 'double breasted' flap of any size/substance under it....
No there is a lot of major 'cost cutting' and 'fashionable look' going on, that has taken function very much out of the equation.....

[duckonin]

Why is it that the really expensive jackets Cordura or Leather are 'double zipped' on the jacket front? Yet 90% of the modern ones are only single zipped and often lack a 'double breasted' flap of any size/substance under it...

GrayWolf, double zips, are for those that ate too many pies over the winter. For this reason, most have to use Use zip number two , saves buying another jacket.

[Floppy disk]

GrayWolf, double zips, are for those that ate too many pies over the winter. For this reason, most have to use Use zip number two , saves buying another jacket.

I doubt it. I did not see normal jackets, suites and shirts double zipped or double anything for those same people. Adding a bit more cloth/leather would be cheaper and reduces the design and test effort than adding a second zip.

[p.dath]

I doubt it. I did not see normal jackets, suites and shirts double zipped or double anything for those same people. Adding a bit more cloth/leather would be cheaper and reduces the design and test effort than adding a second zip.

He was joking.