A good motorcycle jacket must meet high standards. First and foremost, it must be able to protect you from injury in the event of an accident, just like the other items of clothing. The following points are particularly important for this:
Abrasion resistance:
The material of your jacket must be as abrasion resistant as possible. Leather works particularly well here, but there are now also some textile motorcycle jackets that have been reinforced by certain technical fibers (e.g. Kevlar or Dyneema) and therefore have the same qualities.
Tear resistance:
This applies to both the material and the seams. Because in the event of a fall, it’s life-threatening if your jacket falls apart into its component parts.
Impact protection:
Your jacket should be equipped with protectors on the back as well as on the elbows and shoulders. These protect the most frequently affected areas from the impact and cushion it. Some motorcycle jackets come without protectors, but with pockets designed for them. Here you should upgrade yourself.
To be really sure that the motorcycle jacket offers the protection it promises, you should definitely check whether it also has a CE certification. Because the label is only given to garments that meet the safety standards according to the European norm.
Motorcycle jackets sometimes differ significantly in terms of material, equipment and fit. And depending on what tours you have planned and what type of rider you are, other points are important to you in addition to the safety criteria.
Another important point is the choice of material. Leather tends to be more robust and in most cases has a higher abrasion resistance. Also, leather is inherently water repellent. It’s not for nothing that almost everyone on the racetracks and motocross parks is wearing a leather suit. But textile jackets also offer high abrasion resistance, provided they are made of the right material. We explain exactly what materials these are in our article “Differences between abrasion-resistant materials”. In addition, textile jackets are usually more breathable, more versatile and offer additional features such as a waterproof membrane.
No matter which material you choose, always look for a high quality finish and quality. Unfortunately, there are many manufacturers on the market who present their products as safer than they really are and sell them for little money. When buying a motorcycle jacket, we therefore recommend brands like Belstaff Motorcycle or Fuel Motorcycle. Here you can be sure that your purchased motorcycle clothing not only looks good, but also provides the necessary protection.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating – this also applies when buying a motorcycle jacket. It must fit perfectly and not slip easily. Many riders make the mistake of buying a motorcycle jacket that is too big so that they can still put something on underneath it in colder temperatures. But if the motorcycle jacket does not correspond to your size, the protectors are also in the wrong place and thus do not provide full protection. It should also not be too tight, so that you do not unnecessarily restrict your freedom of movement. In addition, the sleeves should reach to the wrist when the arms are stretched out, and the back section must also be long enough and reach to the tailbone when sitting.
Did you know?
The kidney belt you wear under your jacket is not there to keep your kidneys warm. It’s much more to hold them in place so they don’t “knot up” or start to “wander” themselves due to the vibration and shocks.
If you’re worried about getting too cold or too hot on the bike, it’s best to invest in motorcycle clothing for any temperature. Because with good base and mid layers, no one has to freeze or sweat on the bike anymore. This applies to both the motorcycle pants and the motorcycle jacket.
Tip: If you don’t have or don’t want to buy weatherproof motorcycle clothing, you should buy a rain suit to put on in case of emergency. So even a short shower on a long tour is no longer a problem.
It must fit on the motorcycle, not off it
You must remember this sentence and always keep it in mind when you buy new motorcycle clothing. That’s why we recommend that you always sit on a motorcycle when trying it on – ideally on your own. This way you can see directly if the sleeves of the jacket are long enough, if you can use the levers well with the gloves, if the protectors are in the right place and much more. If only one thing bothers you, it’s best to try on the next one right away. Because most disturbing factors get worse rather than better with time.
