Leather 24/7?
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 93
Likes: 1
From: Lancaster County, PA
Leather 24/7?
After a thirty year hiatus, I graduated from a little Kawi 440 LTD to a Springer classic. I put >35K on that old kawi when I was in my late teens and early 20's. My memory tells me that I wore my leather jacket every time I rode. I could well be mistaken.
Lately, although it is my intent to wear the only thing that can somewhat protect me from the road should I scrape pavement, I have been finding that a leather jacket is just too damn hot!. Now, I have always, and will always, wear long pants, but daggone that jacket is hot when it is >85 degrees, even with the windshield off. Back in the day, I put the Kawi down once and rode pavement for 50-70 yards. My jacket and gloves saved me some serious road rash. I swore then that I would never ride without, but dang! it is so hot and sweaty out there these past few days.
I know it is my own choice (duh) but I am just wondering about the thinking of other riders regarding the matter.
Lately, although it is my intent to wear the only thing that can somewhat protect me from the road should I scrape pavement, I have been finding that a leather jacket is just too damn hot!. Now, I have always, and will always, wear long pants, but daggone that jacket is hot when it is >85 degrees, even with the windshield off. Back in the day, I put the Kawi down once and rode pavement for 50-70 yards. My jacket and gloves saved me some serious road rash. I swore then that I would never ride without, but dang! it is so hot and sweaty out there these past few days.
I know it is my own choice (duh) but I am just wondering about the thinking of other riders regarding the matter.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,905
Likes: 66
From: Hartford, AL
In summer I wear a Tourmaster Air Intake II. I come with a quilted and waterproof liners that can be zipped out. I wore it today in the mid 90's and as long as I am moving, OK. I would not want to negotiate city stop and go on a day like today in it. Actually don't want that kind of traffic anytime. Jacket has armor in sleeves, shoulders, and back. Comfortable
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 12,986
Likes: 715
From: NE Philly
I've been using my mesh jacket in this triple digit weekend. I live with a lot of stop and go. It gets brutal. This afternoon, on the way back home, which was 25 miles, I put the jacket in the saddlebag. It was only slightly cooler. I'm not sure if I'd do it again or not. Road rash isn't fun.
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 193
Likes: 2
From: Not too far up the BC border
Been kickin myself for 30 years for selling that bike and now I have a 2004 mid life crisis adorning my driveway.
As for what I wear, if its a jaunt to 711 or a short ride for something I just wear whatever I have on but no flipflops..I caught one on the rear brake peddle and almost dropped my bike for a 2 dollar flipflop never again. If I'm goin on the highway I leather up..I've hit asphalt at 40 mph and still got road rash scars from it but at 70 mph I want as much extra skin as possible between me and the road.
Last edited by Alter; Jul 1, 2012 at 09:06 PM.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 727
Likes: 1
From: Silverdale, WA
I have found that I like to wear a heat technical fiber long sleeve tee shirt under a flow through armored jacket, Evaporates the sweat, no sticky sweaty sleeves and I have reasonable protection in the event of get off.
I wear leather gloves, jacket, boots, ff helmet, and jeans sometimes with leather chaps.
The leather reflects heat and keeps me cooler than not having it. Having said that, YES IT GETS HOT. Temps hitting 106* lately.
An old biker said to me many years ago. Skin grafts are hotter than wearing leather.
The leather reflects heat and keeps me cooler than not having it. Having said that, YES IT GETS HOT. Temps hitting 106* lately.
An old biker said to me many years ago. Skin grafts are hotter than wearing leather.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,878
Likes: 17
From: The Desert SouthWest
Another vote for mesh jackets. Mine is a Tourmaster "Intake Air" mesh jacket - same as Chunker above. It's surprising how much air flows through that thing, especially when you're moving, but even at a stoplight I've felt a breeze blowing through it believe it or not. It's fully armored and comes with a rain liner and a quilted liner that zip in/out when needed. But most of all it's a huge improvement over a t-shirt if you go down.
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Tourer
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 251
Likes: 0
From: Australia
Get yourself a vented leather jacket and a pair of Kevlar lined bike jeans. The jackets are heavy but I think they are the best. All jackets are hot in stop/start traffic but leather feels the best when motoring. 
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Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,666
Likes: 3
From: Styxville
I ride highway in Australian Outback 110+ temps in a Technik black leather jacket with vented panels around the back of the arms and a couple of zip open/closed vents in front.
Works good as long as you are moving.
In traffic in summer, I use one of those textile mesh jackets with inbuilt body armour etc.
And always gloves. Plenty of vented and mesh gloves available these days.
Works good as long as you are moving.
In traffic in summer, I use one of those textile mesh jackets with inbuilt body armour etc.
And always gloves. Plenty of vented and mesh gloves available these days.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 404
Likes: 3
From: St Louis, MO
In summer I wear a Tourmaster Air Intake II. I come with a quilted and waterproof liners that can be zipped out. I wore it today in the mid 90's and as long as I am moving, OK. I would not want to negotiate city stop and go on a day like today in it. Actually don't want that kind of traffic anytime. Jacket has armor in sleeves, shoulders, and back. Comfortable
I say go get a nice mesh jacket and ride.
Phil