Leathers V's Textiles...???

[Titch]

Hi folks...

After a recent off i'm getting all my gear replaced via insurance and was wondering..... I have always had textile jacket and pants over my years of biking... but have been wondering for a while wheather or not to go for leather gear instead, and just wanted peoples opinions on this...

Bit of background, I ride a 600 Transalp, and use my bike almost every day, as it is my main form of transport, getting me out and about including to 'n' from work each day. I'm not a fair weather rider, and dont mind getting wet, and will basically ride in all weathers.

So what do people suggest...???

Thanks

Titch.

[StumpyFingers]

If you are riding in all weathers then let the insurance replace your kit with textiles.
Leathers are good but in our climate you will need warm WATERPROOF clothing more often and textiles are better at that.

[Austin]

well, after 5 years in textile jacket and leather trousers I am converting to a leather jacket too. Why? Well after about 10 consecutive days this "summer" getting rained on and my jacket getting damper and damper and smellier and smellier I dug out my "old" leather jacket and lightweight waterproof over jacket. This was much better.... arrive at work/home/pub/cafe and shrug off the over jacket and stuff into top box along with overtrouser and walk in clean, dry and smelling of, erm, leather. I decided this was much preferable to a wet dripping jacket.

So I have just invested in a Hideout leather touring jacket (expensive but I know I am worth it). WHilst obviously not waterproof it is good enough for 5-10 mins to find somewhere to stop and put an overjacket on, which I had to do anyway as I wore leather trousers. The leather will probably not be warm enough in winter and is too tight on the arms (safety apparently) for a thick jumper or something underneath so I might be shopping for either a heated vest or a good quilted waterproof over jacket.

The other thing about leather is that it should last years AND get better with age. Textile jackets, in my experience last about 2 years then start getting knackered.

And the other other thing about leather is that it just feels so right on a bike too.

[jasonbc]

Hi folks...

After a recent off i'm getting all my gear replaced via insurance and was wondering..... I have always had textile jacket and pants over my years of biking... but have been wondering for a while wheather or not to go for leather gear instead, and just wanted peoples opinions on this...

Bit of background, I ride a 600 Transalp, and use my bike almost every day, as it is my main form of transport, getting me out and about including to 'n' from work each day. I'm not a fair weather rider, and dont mind getting wet, and will basically ride in all weathers.

So what do people suggest...???

Thanks

Titch.

I have a 2 peice HG cruise suit in textile and a 2 peice leather Dianesse suit. The HG textile suit is very good and has never let any water in but even with the liner removed you can only wear a t shirt underneath as it is so hot, so it's very good in the deep winter. The body armour however i don't think protects aswell as the leather suit as the textile can move about more.

The leather suit that gets used in the summer has high amounts of protection and comfort but a lack of useable pockets as the jacket is skin tight more or less.

Personally if your going to have one or the other and ride in all weathers then you would have to go with the textile suit

[RodYork]

Textile in Winter everytime

[winxp-master]

Safety - Leather trumps all i'm affraid, i don't care how much you spend on a textile suit it's never going to offer the abrasion resistence of leather. all these new fangled aramid/kevlar 3 layer bla bla probably do a decent job but you don't see valentino wearing a slim shirt made out of the stuff do you?

You can buy waterproof leathers from the likes of HG and Dane but there extremely expensive, HG jacket is £700 i think so it depends what budget you have.

I'd have to go with Austin and thats what i do, i wear full leathers and carry around a 2-peice oversuit that takes a couple of minutes to put on. I used to wear textiles and i loved the comfort they offered and the fact that i didnt have to stop and put waterproofs on if it rained as i was already protected but i always had that niggle in the back of my mind that what if i go sliding down the road? So i switched to leathers and feel much safer.

Just my opinion, hope it helps.

[RodYork]

very valid point - the safety factor- they say textiles offer 3 seconds of resistance in any one area- while leather doubles to 6 seconds in any one area. Very valid point and if the thought of coming off/sliding is uppermost in your mind,over inclement weather- then its leather all the way.- I think the reason Valentino Rossi etc wear Leather is because of the abrassion factors you mentioned, plus the fact they do not have to contend with road furtniture- stuff guaranteed to upset most people!

[Hotgloves]

You could always go mad and get some Rukka Merlin gear.
waterproof leather with optional thermal linners.
I bought my rukka textile suit from the german company biker-land.
much cheaper when the euro was weaker, excellent service.
here is a link for the leathers.
Motorradhelme und Motorradbekleidung: Biker Land - RUKKA MERLIN

[RodYork]

I can only assume you have picked a lot of cockles to get get that gear!- Rukka gear is excellent!

[Hotgloves]

yes indeed the cockle harvest was particularly good that year.

And I have an annoying habit of walking into any shop or onto any web site and deciding I like/want that!! Only then to find out it is the most expensive item available.
But I must say it is Fantastic gear and a good investment. I have only recently read some statistics on wear through times on leathers/textiles and it did suprise me somewhat. I did expect the textiles to be much better than they are. I read a good leather will give 12 seconds and 2.5mm racing leathers about 20 seconds, compared to about 2-3 second for textiles. A scary thought indeed!