Textile vs Leather - TriStateTuners.com :: Home of Tristate Auto Enthusiast

soCo · 05-31-2010, 12:16 PM

I'm getting a bike soon (and taking the MSF) and want to get good protective gear to save my ass when I go down.

I know what I want as far as helmet, gloves, and boots are concerned. But I've been hearing different things about jackets.

What is the better one to get? I have a good bit of money I can spend on this stuff and don't want to shy away from better products, especially if it means better safety....I'll just guestimate 400 dollars to be my spending limit on a jacket.

OutToWinPAHC · 05-31-2010, 12:28 PM

Umm leather in the summer sucks, as well as textile. It's like sitting in a sauna. But leather with CE rated padding is the best skin saver. In the summer I like mesh with CE padding. I have always kept 2 jackets, summer, and winter.

Xavier · 05-31-2010, 12:39 PM

Leather is fine if you're moving. I ride in a leather 1-piece and only get uncomfortable in stopped traffic, just like I would if I was wearing no gear.

As far as textile vs leather, leather is the clear winner. It is much more durable in a crash. You should easily be able to find a decent leather jacket for $400, hell, I got my 1-pc suit for $650.

92sileighty · 05-31-2010, 01:39 PM

i have leather and textile jackets so ill do a comparison based off my own conclusions for ya

Durability: leather is obviously better when you fall because it's a tougher and stronger material. I've fallen in my textile though and it did its job well. i barely had any type of rash at all. I never fell in my leather, but i would assume it would hold up better in a crash, assuming you are riding at average speed limit ratings. my textile is relatively thrashed, so they seem to have optimal protection for one wipe. from this, i could assume the leather might be able to take one or two more hits before you are unable to wear it again.

Riding: i get equally as hot in the textile and leather. if you just take the winter lining out of your leather during the summer it's fine to ride in. like Xavier said, as long as you're moving you're fine in anything, but when you're sitting there you'll be hot in anything as well.

Cost: the leather costs almost 3 times as much as my textile did, and both are from quality brands. textile was from alpinestars and the leather was from icon. i got equal amount of quantity and quality in pads for both jackets. so textile is the way to go if you really can't afford a leather. you should be able to find a decent leather for 400.

my own insight: i personally like the feel and the look of my leather over the textile. i also got twice as many compliments on my leather than i did my textile. I feel the icon tapering fits my body better than alpinestars does too, but that will vary for everyone.

advice: invest in a nice leather before a textile. if you can't afford a nice leather (not saying you cant), obviously pick up a textile, and upgrade the padding immediately. its like 30-40 bucks for the back plate usually and less for the rest. get some light-weight, thin hoodies to wear underneath of the jacket. the layers will help, if and when you wipe, and you'll thank yourself for it later.

soCo · 05-31-2010, 07:36 PM

Thanks for the responses!

Yeah the people that have been saying textile would be better for me to get are just talking as far as comfort is concerned especially in the summer. But if the leather breathes and I'll keep cool while moving then that's good enough for me.

Does anybody have any recommendations on some good products?

Xavier · 06-01-2010, 12:19 AM

I wear Alpinestars and the quality is good in my book. Dainese is a good brand.

Whatever you do, avoid Frank Thomas.

Check some bike forums for vendors that run bike shops, you can usually get a pretty good discount dealing with them. I got my suit/gloves/boots that are worth over $1600 for less than $1100 from TJ at RidersDiscount.com.

enigma · 06-01-2010, 07:26 PM

Theres nothing wrong with a good quality textile jacket for day to day riding, just don't go carving corners, or draggin knee at high speed.
Try and buy gear that gets positive reveiws from people that have actually crashed in it.

knochgoon24 · 06-02-2010, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by enigma

Theres nothing wrong with a good quality textile jacket for day to day riding, just don't go carving corners, or draggin knee at high speed.
Try and buy gear that gets positive reveiws from people that have actually crashed in it.

And here's something that may interest a few of you.

http://www.sportbikes.net/forums/rid...r-reviews.html

PAFirefighter11 · 06-03-2010, 12:30 PM

I wear leather no matter what. I wore textile in the beginning, but after track days and seeing the after effects of several wrecks, I won't wear anything but leather, even when it's 90* out. Too hot to wear leather = too hot for me to ride - then I just hop in the Wrangler.

05-31-2010, 12:16 PM	#1
soCo Tri-State Aficionado Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Hatboro Member #3714 My Ride: 03 Nissan 350Z, 2005 Kawasaki Ninja ZX6R iTrader: (0)	Textile vs Leather I'm getting a bike soon (and taking the MSF) and want to get good protective gear to save my ass when I go down. I know what I want as far as helmet, gloves, and boots are concerned. But I've been hearing different things about jackets. What is the better one to get? I have a good bit of money I can spend on this stuff and don't want to shy away from better products, especially if it means better safety....I'll just guestimate 400 dollars to be my spending limit on a jacket.

05-31-2010, 01:39 PM	#4
92sileighty Tri-State Post Whore Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Springfield Member #6020 My Ride: 05 S2000 iTrader: (1)	i have leather and textile jackets so ill do a comparison based off my own conclusions for ya Durability: leather is obviously better when you fall because it's a tougher and stronger material. I've fallen in my textile though and it did its job well. i barely had any type of rash at all. I never fell in my leather, but i would assume it would hold up better in a crash, assuming you are riding at average speed limit ratings. my textile is relatively thrashed, so they seem to have optimal protection for one wipe. from this, i could assume the leather might be able to take one or two more hits before you are unable to wear it again. Riding: i get equally as hot in the textile and leather. if you just take the winter lining out of your leather during the summer it's fine to ride in. like Xavier said, as long as you're moving you're fine in anything, but when you're sitting there you'll be hot in anything as well. Cost: the leather costs almost 3 times as much as my textile did, and both are from quality brands. textile was from alpinestars and the leather was from icon. i got equal amount of quantity and quality in pads for both jackets. so textile is the way to go if you really can't afford a leather. you should be able to find a decent leather for 400. my own insight: i personally like the feel and the look of my leather over the textile. i also got twice as many compliments on my leather than i did my textile. I feel the icon tapering fits my body better than alpinestars does too, but that will vary for everyone. advice: invest in a nice leather before a textile. if you can't afford a nice leather (not saying you cant), obviously pick up a textile, and upgrade the padding immediately. its like 30-40 bucks for the back plate usually and less for the rest. get some light-weight, thin hoodies to wear underneath of the jacket. the layers will help, if and when you wipe, and you'll thank yourself for it later. Last edited by 92sileighty; 05-31-2010 at 01:47 PM.

06-01-2010, 07:26 PM	#7
enigma Tri-State Addict Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Glenolden ,PA Member #2659 My Ride: Hoopties galore iTrader: (0)	Theres nothing wrong with a good quality textile jacket for day to day riding, just don't go carving corners, or draggin knee at high speed. Try and buy gear that gets positive reveiws from people that have actually crashed in it. __________________ 2001 Dakota Quad Cab, 1996 Ford F250, 1993 Honda Civic, 1991 Eagle Talon, 1970 Plymouth Duster.

05-31-2010, 12:28 PM	#2
OutToWinPAHC Tri-State Post Whore Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Tokelau Member #5081 My Ride: R33 GTS25T, RHD E46, Truck, part R32 GTR iTrader: (2)	Umm leather in the summer sucks, as well as textile. It's like sitting in a sauna. But leather with CE rated padding is the best skin saver. In the summer I like mesh with CE padding. I have always kept 2 jackets, summer, and winter.

05-31-2010, 07:36 PM	#5
soCo Tri-State Aficionado Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Hatboro Member #3714 My Ride: 03 Nissan 350Z, 2005 Kawasaki Ninja ZX6R iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the responses! Yeah the people that have been saying textile would be better for me to get are just talking as far as comfort is concerned especially in the summer. But if the leather breathes and I'll keep cool while moving then that's good enough for me. Does anybody have any recommendations on some good products?