Leather in the summer

[tsanto]

I'd like to hear what people wear for jackets when it gets warmer (when you ride for all you smart asses). I'm afraid i'm going to buy a leather jacket now that's going to be way too hot for riding this summer.

My main concern is crash protection but I also dont want to be uncomfortable to the extent that it won't be fun to ride.

I've considered a leather jacket for long rides and a mesh/textile for really hot days or short rides. Do most people around here have more than one jacket? Are perforated leathers worth a look?

Just looking to find out what type of gear you have I guess.

Thanks for the replys.

[brewmaster]

I have a Vanson jacket with the ProPerf. It has proven to be the best all around jacket I have ever owned. With the liner it is good in the cool weather and it breaths/ vents well enough for all but the hottest days in the summer. I can also say that it is most likely the best protection you are going to get for a street jacket. Not to mention it is made up here in New England, how can you go wrong.

Vanson Jacket

[JohnnyV]

I bought a white perforated leather jacket and even on the hottest of days, it's no warmer than the textile jacket I had. Never had a mesh jacket, but in all honesty I'd rather be a little warm and know that if I go down I'm protected. But at no point was I uncomfortable to the point where I'd rather not be on the bike. I think the only point you'd reach unbearable comfort levels is if you were sitting in a lot of traffic.

[SSearchVT]

No matter what you wear - it's better then your skin.

Even vented and perforated leather gets hot sitting in traffic. My Teknic has sleeve vents that work pretty well while moving, but when I'm in traffic - I'll leave the collar velcroed shut and unzip the chest a little to let some air in. Sweat wipes off. If you're really worried about apprearances - take the car. You won't have to deal with helmet hair...

Mesh jackets are better then nothing - a lot of people have had them disintegrate in falls. For street riding - I see this as acceptable. In the hopefully rare occasions you contact the pavement in a street ride - having to buy a new mesh jacket is a lot better option then waiting for a skin graft to heal over.

[brendanp]

I have the Alpinstar MX-1 perforated and I have a Komodo Cent perforated. Still get hot but much more comfortable than being in the burn ward.........

[TimTim]

+1 on the leather w/ perf. sometimes its hot and you sweat, but thats why they make old spice high endurance.

[Manny]

My answer may differ from some, but I own a number of diff jackets/suits and this is what I have found...

Full 2 piece leathers (mine are vanson) are basically too hot or too cold on 95% of the days I ride. Im talking full day rides, not a half hour here and there when it matters a lot less. If its not between like 68 and 73 its almost always uncomfortable in the leathers at some point, and they don't breathe at all.

At motomarket I was talked into a full textile suit. Comes with zip out liners for warmth and a zip out rain liner for the jacket for a total of 3 pieces. Best investment I ever made in terms of gear. I can wear it from 50 degrees with all three pieces on top to 90 degrees with just the main portion. It has made my vanson go almost unused. I also added a gerbing liner that I put in when its cold.

Protection wise the suit has armor where it should and is said to crash very well. These are synthetic materials designed to be used in these situations, its not a crappy textile jacket for 50 bucks. Is it as good as leather, possibly not for a 150mph slide, but a great quality textile will hold up very well in a street speed slide protecting you from rash etc. I would think that the greatest risk of injury on the street is from impact type crashes with cars, immovable objects where leather is no better than textile.

[Pittenger5]

Leather is fine if youre moving. If youre gonna be commuting, use something else. Its torture in traffic, but if youre going out for a sunday ride its never been too bad. I always wear my leather jacket, the only times I debated it was when I was taking summer classes and had to sit in rush hour traffic for 1/2 hour on the way to school. But the reason I kept wearing it was for the ride home.

[GixerJockey]

The answer is owning multiple jackets. Perforated leather for the hot days, non perf for the cooler days. Heavy insulated textile for the cold days (though I'm a huge vag and don't ride when it's cold...)

[schleppy]

Starting in late april I wear two piece perforated leathers every time I ride. Yes it does get hot in the dead of summer, but the protection is worth it. If you wear under armour style underwear/undershirt beneath the suit you'll be fine.

[BLACK SQUIRREL]

I rock a wife beater, and a Flipflop on my Right foot only, I gotta shift right. and a shell top adidas on the left with a cut off section of a sock to protect it.

or A Perforated Leather is fine when you are moving. Hot is better then roadrash

[TimTim]

I wear leathers every tim I ride. Yes it does get hot but the protection is worth it. .

awkwarrrrrd.

[Jim]

i have an AGV leather jacket i wear on the highway. have a textile jacket i wear on long cruises, and under 80 degrees weather. if it's that hot & i'm staying local, no jacket. always wear jeans and boots though. i know people will call me a squid....i dont care

[KillBill]

I wear a Joe Rocket leather jacket all year long.
Most of your decent jackets have venting to allow
some of the air in and out.
Go leather

[CMG241]

perfed light color leather, I have a grey / black JRocket Ballistic with vents thats synthetic and I wish color was a lot lighter

[brendanp]

i have an AGV leather jacket i wear on the highway. have a textile jacket i wear on long cruises, and under 80 degrees weather. if it's that hot & i'm staying local, no jacket. always wear jeans and boots though. i know people will call me a squid....i dont care

[Manny]

Im guessing that none of the people who are pro-leather all the time have either owned/ridden with a high end textile suit or done significant research regarding them.

Ask people who have both which they use more and why.

People are stubborn and wear leather because thats what was always done and it looks cool. Newer synthetic materials have made HIGH END textile stuff incredibly abrasian resistant, far better in varying temps, lighter and more comfortable becuase it needs no break in.

Sport riding is just like any other sport and the gear has changed. Look at the evolution of ski equipment..is anyone still wearing fur lined leather jackets to ski?

[Crash Dummy Denno]

Im guessing that none of the people who are pro-leather all the time have either owned/ridden with a high end textile suit or done significant research regarding them.

Ask people who have both which they use more and why.

People are stubborn and wear leather because thats what was always done and it looks cool. Newer synthetic materials have made HIGH END textile stuff incredibly abrasian resistant, far better in varying temps, lighter and more comfortable becuase it needs no break in.

Sport riding is just like any other sport and the gear has changed. Look at the evolution of ski equipment..is anyone still wearing fur lined leather jackets to ski?

don't push your drugs on us

[nefarious]

Im guessing that none of the people who are pro-leather all the time have either owned/ridden with a high end textile suit or done significant research regarding them.

Ask people who have both which they use more and why.

People are stubborn and wear leather because thats what was always done and it looks cool. Newer synthetic materials have made HIGH END textile stuff incredibly abrasian resistant, far better in varying temps, lighter and more comfortable becuase it needs no break in.

Sport riding is just like any other sport and the gear has changed. Look at the evolution of ski equipment..is anyone still wearing fur lined leather jackets to ski?

The same could be said about leather, lighter, more breathable, even black leathers that reflect sunlight to cut back on the heat. All while still better than textiles, not to mention 1 or 2 piece leathers are design to product against other damage besides just abrasion. The heat isn't bad if you can stay hydrated, and wear underarmour like stated previously.

[BLACK SQUIRREL]

Im guessing that none of the people who are pro-leather all the time have either owned/ridden with a high end textile suit or done significant research regarding them.

Ask people who have both which they use more and why.

People are stubborn and wear leather because thats what was always done and it looks cool. Newer synthetic materials have made HIGH END textile stuff incredibly abrasian resistant, far better in varying temps, lighter and more comfortable becuase it needs no break in.

Sport riding is just like any other sport and the gear has changed. Look at the evolution of ski equipment..is anyone still wearing fur lined leather jackets to ski?

Or We already own Leathers and can deal with a little uncomfort or heat to save the Cash it would cost to get into a Aerostitch/ Firstgear/Rev it ect. at 70 miles per hour the diffrence is minor.

Sportbikes are not that comfortable for long rides anyway so spending big money to be comfortable is like ordering a Diet coke with your big MAc.

[LuvDog]

I have multiple jackets.

I'll mostly ride in my Rev'IT textile jacket, because unfortunately for me... with other home/family responsibilities much of my riding is commuting back and forth to work. Sitting in traffic in leathers sucks ass and my textiles offer tons of protection and breathability that even modern leather jackets don't.

There are high quality textiles out there that can offer plenty of protection when needed.

For weekend or evening rides where I'm moving more than I'm stopped... that's when the leather jacket is worn more than my textile.

[DuncanMoto]

I have 3 jackets. 1 full leather, 1 perferated Vanson Leather with armor and a Vanson Textile Mesh combo.

The textile/mesh combo is great for the city and standing in traffic.
If I will be at speed I always preferr the perf. leather. Vanson makes great perf leather, but it's hot when standing still.

[Stoneman]

I rock a wife beater, and a Flipflop on my Right foot only, I gotta shift right.

PAH-LEEZE! If you can't shift with a flip-flop, you ain't NUTHIN'!

That being said, I own the old Vanson Avenger jacket. It's got the solid zip-down panels that when unzipped and folded back into the jacket expose the perfed chest area. It's over 10 years old now and has been in two crashes - one a relatively minor low speed low-side and one fairly horrific - and I still wear it regularly (unless I have a big lunch!)...

However, I also own a newer textile jacket and I'm HOOKED...

And if it hasn't been said yet, 'tis better to sweat than to bleed...

[RandyO]

and I still wear it regularly (unless I have a big lunch!)...

you don't even ride regularly latelyare you using it for a lite lunch jacket

[ultraTwist]

I rock a wife beater, and a Flipflop on my Right foot only, I gotta shift right. and a shell top adidas on the left with a cut off section of a sock to protect it.

or A Perforated Leather is fine when you are moving. Hot is better then roadrash

Have I got some thing for you. I bought a used bike a year or tow ago and it came with a rubber bootie that velcors on the shifter, now you can wear those flip flops.