You’re driving along on your motorcycle when all of a sudden, someone pulls out in front of you. You have to swerve into a ditch to avoid the car. It works, but you do fly off your bike.
In situations like this, having the right motorcycle jacket will keep you safe from harm. You need something with plenty of padding that can withstand the toughest of accidents.
That doesn’t mean it can’t be stylish while it protects you. Check out this guide to learn how to choose a fashionable jacket that will suit your every need while you’re cruising down the road.
Jacket Styles
The first rule of choosing the best motorcycle jacket is to familiarize yourself with the different styles. You can pick a cruiser, sport, racing, or dual sport jacket.
Cruiser
When you see motorcyclists in movies, all of them are most likely wearing cruiser jackets. They’re a classic that comes hand and hand with the biker name.
As far as your choice of material goes, you might be able to find cotton and synthetic fibers, but leather is much more common. Cruiser jackets are all about casual comfort, so most of them have a looser fit. We’ll warn you that as far as safety goes, cruisers don’t offer much padding
Racing
The main focus of racing jackets is to protect the rider from high-impact accidents. They’re created using thick cowhide for the ultimate protection. You won’t get much in the pockets department, but you wouldn’t be able to fit anything in them anyway.
Racing jackets fit like a glove to account for aerodynamics. They’re designed in a way to cut out rider fatigue. They can also attach to your pants, so you won’t have to stop to pull them down while you’re driving.
All of this and more makes this the safest motorcycle jacket style on the market.
Sport
Most Kawasaki Gear falls into the sports jacket category. They work kind of like racing jackets, only they’re a little more laid back.
They’re made with textiles instead of cowhide. While you can get some of them in leather, these aren’t as common. They provide a little more ventilation to keep moisture from sticking to your body as you ride. You’ll still have plenty of padding to keep you safe, as well.
Dual Sport
Adventure touring or ADV is a specific niche that needs its own level of protection. Dual Sport Jackets are made of strong textiles that can handle anything you throw at them. They’re armored, waterproof, and highly breathable.
You’ll need certain gadgets to accommodate you during your adventure. Dual sports jackets will have a pocket for each one. The tall neck will ensure that the entirety of your torso is covered in the event of an accident.
Textile or Leather
Now that you know about the types of motorcycle jackets, it’s time to go over an age-old debate. Is textile or leather a better choice when it comes to materials? The answer is, it depends.
They both have their own set of advantages and disadvantages when it comes to safety. Leather looks awesome and will prevent road rash if your body ever comes into contact with the asphalt. It’s not the most effective choice if it’s raining outside.
You can use treatment to make it water-resistant, but this will only do so much. Leather is also a heavy material so, you’re likely to get tired faster.
Textiles hold up better when faced with moisture. They pack a ton of features to give you the best experience on the road. They’re a great choice for hot weather because of their ventilation factor.
The only issue they have is durability. Even with all their advancements, they still don’t hold a candle to a high-quality leather jacket.
Durability and Thickness
The number one rule of motorcycle jacket safety is the thicker, the better. Heavier materials will save your life if you side across the road.
Your best bet is to go with a 3oz coat. Lightweight, 2.5-ounce jackets will suit your needs, but having a little bit of extra protection is nice. The downside is that you’ll get tired.
Padding
Nowadays, most motorcycle jackets come with built-in padding and armor in high-impact areas. When this feature was first implemented, it was pretty bulky. Many people had problems with comfort while riding.
With newer model jackets, you can’t even tell it’s there. While not all jackets come with heavy-duty armor, most of them do have some padding. Try to choose a jacket that has it.
It doesn’t matter if you do any high-impact motorcycling or not. Accidents happen. If you feel like you don’t need the padding all the time, some jackets give you the option of taking it out.
Visibility
Looking like a highlighter isn’t for everyone, but there are fashionable motorcycle jacket options that offer visibility. If you can find one, snatch it up.
The number one cause of motorcycle accidents is visibility. Other motorists don’t notice riders, so they run them off the road or worse.
Fit
Having the right fit is one of the most important aspects of choosing a jacket. If it’s too loose, it will ride up as you go along. This will leave your skin vulnerable to injury if you fall off your bike.
Loose jackets will also move around. Armor that once protected your shoulder might shift out of place and leave that area vulnerable. On the flip side of this, if the jacket is too tight, it might cut off your blood circulation.
Choosing the Best Motorcycle Jacket to Keep Yourself Safe on the Road
One piece of biker gear that you can’t go without is a good biker jacket. While having a fashionable motorcycle jacket is important, you also need to consider your safety.
There are certain features that you can’t do without if you want to keep yourself protected. We hope that you’re able to use this shopping guide to find the perfect jacket to suit your needs.
Are you looking for more motorcycle gear that you need before hitting the road? Check out the accessories section of our blog to get started with your search.
