"Everyone has a plan until they get punched," explained professional boxer Mike Tyson. The same goes for motorcycling, as you are lucky until the day you get hit by the ground. When that day happens good motorcycle riding gear will protect you against the initial impact of hitting something and the subsequent abrasion as you slide to a halt. Armor is used to minimize the likelihood of broken bones and bruises that result from impacting an object at speed while the choice of exterior fabric and stitching will determine how much of your body is covered in road rash. The climate you ride in will play a large part in determining what material riding gear you will wear but you will have to choose between wearing leather or synthetic material.
Nothing looks or feels like zipping up a leather jacket over a wool sweater and going for a long ride on a cold day. But after the 100th mile nostalgia falls by the wayside and you need something to keep you warm and dry. While leather can be made of any animal, motorcycle jackets are generally constructed out of cow or kangaroo skin. Both types of leather look great and will last a lifetime assuming you clean and oil them with some frequency. When coupled with armor, leather offers great protection against impact and abrasion even at high-speed. In the event that your riding gear is damaged, leather is easily repairable. Unfortunately, leather is quite bulky, offers little in the way of waterproofing and is hot in the summer and cold in the winter.
The modern alternative is riding gear made of synthetic material like Cordura. Synthetic riding gear is generally waterproof and features retroflective patches to make rider more visible to motorists. If you demand riding gear that is compressible and loaded with vents and pockets, then a synthetic jacket might be your best bet. As good as synthetic textiles have come; leather still offers more protection, which is why riders are forced to wear leather when rounding racetracks. While armor is identical to a leather jacket,.5mm of Cordura doesn't offer the same resistance to abrasion as 2.0mm of leather. Additionally, the use of modern material, colors and cuts imparts an odd aesthetic to modern riding, which looks weird if you are rounding turns on a vintage Norton. Any riding jacket is going to involve compromises so pick a material and wear it religiously because you are lucky until the day you're not. Whatever you choose, make sure to take good care of your gear to maximize safety.
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