leather or textile

[MudBug]

leather or textile jacket? What do you prefer?

[Scatter]

naked, thats the only way to go. naked riders are hardcore.

[Yammy]

Textile with leather on all of the important parts :)

[GQ*]

I have a mesh/textile....but will probably be getting a textile/leather mix or an all leather for the colder months and harder riding :D

[Shiner]

Leather once it gets broken in its just as comfortable as the text, i think..

[MudBug]

I just found out I could not order a leather Kawi Green and black jacket but I have found a textile. Not sure how they hold up in lay down.

[Hooligan]

Perforated leather

[Bean]

^+1 much better protection

[Yammy]

I just found out I could not order a leather Kawi Green and black jacket but I have found a textile. Not sure how they hold up in lay down.

I'm pretty sure everyone here knows that leather offers the best abrasion protection overall, I've also heard that textile jackets are pretty much one time use. After one good fall, that jacket is going to be pretty torn up and you'll need a new one. Just as long as you aren't needing new skin :P

[H2447INTX]

what time of the yr are you using said jacket?


i have one of each and half the time now i dont even wher them, i am sure when the temp drops i will be in leather!

[bluewave18]

I wish mine was leather. I would only need leather pants to go 1/4 then,.

[MudBug]

I wore my current leather year round. It was not to bad until you got stuck at a red light.

I would also buy a used but good shape two piece. I ride about 98% of the time.

[RACER X]

I'm pretty sure everyone here knows that leather offers the best abrasion protection overall, I've also heard that textile jackets are pretty much one time use. After one good fall, that jacket is going to be pretty torn up and you'll need a new one. Just as long as you aren't needing new skin :P

i'll disagree

been down in my Dainese textile jacket, still good to go.

and i wouldnt compare my BMW Kevlar mesh jacket as similar to a joe rocket mesh jacket.

[Challen]

There is no substitute for dead cow. Leather FTW :thumb:

[SexualChocolate]

I like both. On hot days I rock the textile. Otherwise leather. Couldn't pick both so I chose leather.

[CaligoneTx]

Leather, year round. I've done the textile thing but unless Im going down the block I wear leather.

[ForgottnSoul]

I agree with the "Its depends on the time of year" comment........ during the summer I rock my icon timac textile................ winted is leather all the way

[Croe]

i like textile stuff but im sure that might change when it gets cold

[andrave]

for riding I prefer textile cause its usually a little bit less restrictive and its more versatile (you can zip from 30 degree weather to 80 degree weather with a liner, etc)

For crashing, I prefer leather.

I usually wear textile for everyday riding and save the leathers for the knee drag days.

[indoMLA]

It all depends, since houston has a lot of months of warm weather, I would go with Textile... for the winter, then I would go with the leather....

[Captain]

LEATHER

[CubanGIXXER]

I have a Joe Rocket mesh, an A* textile, and a Dianese perf. leather jacket ... i use all 3 for different reasons.

- Hot summer days = Mesh
- If it might rain = Textile
- Cold days = Textile or Leather
- Intense rides = Leather + knee guards


and no matter what the jacket ... always got the helmet and gloves on! :thumb:

[Squoddybody]

I just feel safer in my leather. I tried a mesh armour in the summer, but it just didn't seem as safe and with the sun beating down on me, the leather was actually not hotter. :shrug: I just like it better.

[therky42]

Slid on the conrete in both styles of jacket and they both held up great, if you get a good textile jacket then you should be fine depending on the crash but after being down in leather and textile I prefer leather. The textile showed more of the crash and i had a small strawberry from how I slid. But the leather was a lot nicer to slide in. Either way both are better protection than just skin.

[iCole]

leather, regardless the heat.. its not that hot... you cool off quickly...

[Challen]

leather, regardless the heat.. its not that hot... you cool off quickly...


Like Louie says "Heat is a temporary condition, but skin grafts last forever."

[Tumper]

Perf Leather. That is all.

[andrave]

Slid on the conrete in both styles of jacket and they both held up great, if you get a good textile jacket then you should be fine depending on the crash but after being down in leather and textile I prefer leather. The textile showed more of the crash and i had a small strawberry from how I slid. But the leather was a lot nicer to slide in. Either way both are better protection than just skin.

Thats why they call textiles "throw aways" or "one use." They are designed to protect you for one crash and then be replaced, whereas a good set of leathers can last you many crashes (and often be repaired in the event they are damaged).

The idea is that leather is best... but if youre not gonna wear your leathers cause they aren't comfortable or are too hot and heavy, then a good textile is designed to offer the best protection possible without the cost/bulk/heat.

Some of the cheap mesh JR jackets some of my friends wear have disintegrated in small low speed wrecks, and failed to hold the padding in place. I have one of the icon TI max2 jackets that has the tight mesh that looks like textile. Its hotter but it sure looks like it would hold up better. never tested it.

[AE Twitch]

I rock my leather all the time no matter what the temp is. Even had a guy give me crap for it in 95 degree weather with the sun beating down on us. Just by chance I lowsided that same day on a members 05 ZX10, got right back up, picked up the bike and went on my way, didn't even scuff up the leather. I rather sweat my ass off then have to take the 4-5 weeks to deal with even minor road rash.

One of my members went down on 35 about a year ago doing 95; he was wearing a JR textile. He got tossed over the bars and slid a long ass ways, when he stopped the bike caught up and took him out again, pushing him a few more yards and snapping his collar bone in two places. The jacket was destroyed but it did his job.

[Soup]

Leather all year round, although it can get hot during summer (specially in traffic).

I heard textile jackets can roll up if you lowside, correct me if I'm wrong.