Leather or fabric?

[shurik]

Hi everyone,

I am new to this site and to motorcycling altogether. After battling a number of girlfriends and parents over the times on the cons of getting a bike I have finally got my license and recently bought a motorcycle.

Now I need the kit to go with it, as I pretty much only have the helmet at the moment.

The question is what to go for - leather or fabric gear. What would you recommend and what are the pros and cons of each? My considerations are not being too hot in summer while not freezing in winter , although of course the level of protection is probably the priority.

I am keen to hear your experiences and recommendatons.

Thanks!

[vifferman]

I used to wear just leathers, but they had crappy armour, were too hot in summer/not warm enough in winter, and not at very waterproof. After I bought my textile jacket, I wore my leather jacket once then sold it.

Ideally, you'd have multiple suits: leather, perforated leather, and textile. But who can afford that? :spudwhat:

Leather provides better abrasion resistance protection, but less protection against the elephants. However you can always put a cheap waterproof suit over it for that.

I wear both - my jacket and pants are both textile and leather, and give me (relative) coolness in summer cf. leather (courtesy of vent zips and breathable fabric), are warmer in winter (courtesy of removable thermal liners), and are waterproof, so I don't have to worry if the weather changes.

A critical thing is fit and good armour that won't move away from the bit it's supposed to protect. My pants have knee and hip armour, and leather in critical areas, and my jacket has duel-level armour in elbows/forearms and shoulders, and a built-in back protector, with a pouch for an accessory back protector. There is also leather on lower arms and shoulders for abrasion resistance.

[Cajun]

Honstly for first set of gear i would suggust a full gortex suit, if you plan on riding all year round, and in rain and what so have you, since with the gortex gear they have a thermial lining you can take out in summer if you get hot and are water proof and like

If you are only gonna be a fair weather rider, go for leathers.

I personally have full set of both, i normally wear the gortex jacket around town, and pants if raining, and the leather are for when i am going out of town.

[Ocean1]

I used to wear just leathers, but they had crappy armour,

Yeah, why is that? They've usually got at least spine padding, and sometimes elbow padding but I don't recall seeing a leather jacket with the full hard armour inserts usually available with gortex...

Your custom setup sounds like close to the best of both worlds, does anyone offer something like that off-the-shelf?

[MaxCannon]

I'd say some good quality textile gear is the best bet.

I recently got some Revit textile pants from Motomail and they are great.
Breathable yet still waterproof and with a liner for winter.
Huge improvement over the Rjays pants I had before.

You don't have to spend a fortune but buy good stuff to start with as you'll just end up having to spend more to replace crap gear in the future.

[Pwalo]

Go for a decent fabric jacket and trousers. Leather is great, but the fabric gear is much more practical.

Lining in for winter, out for summer. It's waterproof, and even protects pretty well if you are unlucky enough to have an accident!

[vifferman]

Your custom setup sounds like close to the best of both worlds, does anyone offer something like that off-the-shelf?

The stuff I've seen is farknexpensive: the Spidi Gran Turismo jacket to match my pants is $1100 RRP.
There also is/was some Macna stuff (from the Netherlands, and also expensive) available that had leather in abrasion-prone areas, excellent venting (zip-off waterproof panels with mesh underneath). The only thing was the Macna pants I tried had knee armour that didn't seem that great. Whereas the Gran Turismo pants's's armour locates positively on the knees (almost feels like it's suctioned on), that on the Macna could move around a bit. Easy enough to change, but you shouldn't have to for the price.

I've sort of got a problem now, in that my jacket has features that are readily available at a reasonable price. It's very rare in NOT having a waterproof liner - the fabric itself is breathable and waterproof. Or at least it was - I now have to apply silicon spray once or twice a year.

I'm hoping for a new jacket for Christmas/my birthday, as the current one is a bit tatty-looking. It still does its job well, but makes me embarrassed to wear it.

[jrandom]

One-piece leathers are best on the bike and in crashes.

As soon as you're not in a full one-piece, you're compromising, so it becomes a matter of what's most comfortable and will still look after you when you fall off.

Kevlar-lined jeans and an armoured leather jacket are best for summer. Get some MX style knee armour to strap on under the jeans and you're all set. Knees almost always cop impacts in a crash.

I say kevlar-lined jeans simply because armoured leather pants are a huge pain in the arse to put on, take off, and walk around in, particularly in hot weather. It's the knee armour and protection from road rash around the hips and thighs that's important.

For winter, as above, but zip the thermal lining into the jacket and chuck waterproof top and bottom over the lot.

Once again, when it comes to gloves, I'd recommend a good pair of sturdy armoured leather ones suitable for summer, and then a pair of PVC over-mittens for winter.

On the whole, I'm not a fan of cordura. It looks poofy and stupid and is never as warm, cool, or waterproof as you'd like it to be.

[Nasty]

Money has lots to do with the decision. Leather though good costs more quite often. I found that my codura gear is fantastic and after a year of riding I have added leather to my wardrobe ... I still use the textile gear in rain ... I think go textile first and then add other bits and bobs as you go.

[vifferman]

Money has lots to do with the decision. Leather though good costs more quite often.

It doesn't have to.
My second leather jacket was purchased secondhand, for a lot less than a cheap textile jacket costs.
And I bought a pair of leather bike trou from CashPerverters for the vifferbabe for $50, then a whole two-piece leather suit for $240 on TardMe.

[maxworldbiker]

Ah! Welcome to the ever-raging clothing debate! What type of gear to go for is very much personal choice and, as with all raging debates, there are merits and drawbacks in both camps. For what its worth, I've been riding 32 years in leathers, and I've never found them to be all that much of a problem for comfort, because I have a set that fits me comfortably without being tight or baggy, so the air flow is adequate whatever the weather. I just wear layers underneath to suit the weather as best I can judge it, and I wear wets over the top when needed that don't take up much space in the luggage. I also have a fabric armoured jacket, which has a detachable liner. Thats great in summer, and I'll often wear it instead of the leather jacket on a hot day, with vented leather gloves in place of my winter 2x2 finger ones that are awesome. The one thing I will NEVER NEVER change from tho is wearing leather pants, because I'd rather be a little hot than scarred for life by taking the chance and hoping no crazy cager is gonna see my ass as a target, or not see it at all, which amounts to the same thing. I wear shorts underneath in summer, or leggings in winter, and as someone else whose worn leather all their riding life once told me... its easier and faster to wash sweat off than grow new skin. Leather trou are an extra 12 layers of skin if you come off, and I believe its the best insurance you'll ever pay for because I've seen firsthand enough mangled lower body parts thanks to kevlar not going the distance (literally!) and hospitals digging gravel and God knows what else out of wounds that might have been prevented if the riders had worn leather instead. One decent "off" on an unforgiving road and fabric's not fit for much. Why do racers tend to wear leather? Worth thinking about. Leather keeps on going, in most cases. My jacket I bought second hand in as-new condition thirteen years ago is still as good as the day it was made, with a few wee scars to mark its passage through life. Its my mate, its part of my riding history in a way that a fabric jacket will never be, and I bought the leather trou brand new, twelve years ago. $400 made my eyes water at the time but looking back I have to say its the best money I've ever spent.
My advice would be to try both. If you have friends that will lend you what they have for a test-ride, take advantage of the opportunity before you spend your hard-earned dollars. If you're still undecided after giving them both a whirl, hit up TradeMe for an affordable set of each.

[98tls]

Leather trou second hand off ebay,as new $100 US.Teknic textile jacket $500 from any good bike shop,a pair of $10 pull over waterproof pants from the warehouse keep me as dry as any textile pants ive ever had,and they are small enough to fit under rear seat when not in use.

[Quasievil]

Coretex, Goretex ???????? dont ya mean Cordura ?

Get the best your budget will allow mate, think if your a commuter or a sunny day rider, Cordura for commuting and leather for riding for fun.

We can fit you out in gear from $150 to over a Grand for a race suit, pm me your sizes if you like

[skelstar]

If you're battling girlfriends then you're going to need something a bit tougher than Leather...

[Squiggles]

a number of girlfriends

mint.

I wear leathers, would like to get a fabric jacket, but will stick with the leather pants