yamaha blue leather motorcycle jacket old style

Two layers of 1.4mm leather can provide an impressive 18 seconds of abrasion protection. Double the leather up and the protection level increases exponentially. As a comparison, your favorite denim jacket will last 0.2 to 0.5 seconds when it connects with the road. It may not sound like a lot but that equates to around 4 seconds of slide time.

As a rule, aim for a jacket made from leather that is at least 1.2 to 1.4 mm thick. Supple calf leather might feel great, but it won’t offer the same protection as a thicker alternative. Leather is tough, but it comes in different thicknesses that provide different levels of protection. Its sleeves will be pre-curved for comfort and slightly longer with fasteners to keep your wrists covered and allow you to limit the airflow on cooler days. A well-designed leather motorcycle jacket will be longer in the back to keep your spine and kidneys covered while riding. In a riding position, they will create resistance against your shoulders and arms that will lead to fatigue.

The sleeves in a fashion jacket are also made to look best when your arms are relaxed. In a regular jacket, this kind of pose results in your wrists and lower back being exposed. When you ride your arms are outstretched and your back is curved. On a motorcycle, you adopt a unique posture. A dedicated manufacturer of motorcycle jackets will have conducted research and testing to ensure their products offer the protection you need in the event of an accident, and not just look good on a catwalk.Īnother very important difference between a fashion leather jacket and one designed for riding is the fit. These include things such as thickness, burst resistance, abrasion zones, stitching placement, types of fasteners and additional armor. That is because there are special considerations that need to be made designing motorcycle jackets. Buying a leather jacket from your favorite fashion label will not offer you the same protection as a jacket made by a dedicated motorcycle gear manufacturer no matter how much it costs.

Your first consideration when buying a leather jacket for riding in is whether or not it has been made by a specialist motorcycle apparel company. Unfortunately not all leather jackets are created equal so we put together this special ‘Form vs Function’ feature to help you find a jacket that’s capable of protecting your hide. Since Marlon Brandon donned a leather jacket in ‘The Wild One’ in 1953 leather jackets have become synonymous with motorcycling. Like chips and gravy, leather also happens to be the perfect accompaniment to a motorcycle. Despite breakthroughs in tech fabrics, leather still offers some of the best abrasion resistance money can buy. Historically leather has played a huge role in motorcycling and with good reason. When it comes to riding gear every motorcyclist should own a good leather jacket.

Yamaha blue leather motorcycle jacket old style