SamLawes

Any Suggestions?

downhillmaster

My suggestion is to post on a motorcycle specific forum

Paul Barnard

It's a toss-up between Trek and Specialized. Don't buy anything from Bikes Direct. They have deceptive advertising practices.

BookFinder 

The best motorcycle jacket brands?

Motorcycle apparel is diverse, as are rider' preferences. Some like leather, others prefer textile. I own both. Opinions as to the "best" vary widely, so I'm going to give you my own opinion, which I greatly respect!

My go-to leather jacket is a River Road Scout. It is reserved for fall, winter, or springtime days when there is no rain in the forecast. The jacket is packed in the gear box and goes with me on any long trip, even if I'm wearing textile because of the weather. The Scout was discontinued several years ago, which I consider a loss to the motorcycling community. It is a fitted jacket (i.e. 40S, 40R, 42S, 42R and so up to large and tall sizes). If you get the itch for one you will have to find it on Ebay or in the classifieds someplace. Leather pant wise, I have an old pair of leather chaps that I haven't worn in years.

After that I have three two textile pieces. One is a 25 year old Aerostich Roadcrafter 2-pc suit. The second is a First Gear Kilimanjaro jacket with matching overpants, and the last is a Joe Rocket mesh jacket for those ungodly hot days when no one in their right mind is riding.

The 'stich products are considered the gold-standard of textile apparel by many old school motorcyclists. Mine is faded and the reflective tape is about shot, but it fits and is so comfortable that I just keep it.

With all that said, most of the time I reach for the Kilimanjaro jacket. It is waterproof, nicely outfitted with crash padding, and has ample pockets.

And I have several other niche pieces: a cooling vest, and a high-viz vest that I no longer use since reflective piping is now part of the design on most apparel, and is on all of mine.

downhillmaster's suggestion is valid. You will get a lot more feedback on a motorcycle specific forum, and will be able to find discussions of other apparel lines, including a healthy body of reviews.

My suggestion is to browse over to advrider.com for general reading driven by the rider community. You can find it on the web at https://advrider.com/

Then there are three general motorcycling sites where you can find information provided by magazines.

- Motorcycle Consumer News: https://www.mcnews.com/

- Rider Magazine: https://ridermagazine.com/

- Roadrunner Magazine: https://www.roadrunner.travel/about-us/magazine/

The two common threads between bicycling and motorcycling are these: they both happen on two wheels, and they are much more fulfilling if you keep the rubber side down.

Ride safe!

ChinookTx

Really??

Stormsedge

I had a full set of Rocket leathers and a full set of Rocket textile/ mesh when I had my sport bike. I'd likely purchase Aerostitch were I to do it again. Cheers!

BookFinder 

He's a noob and likely just figuring out forums. Among motorcyclists "what bike do you ride" refers to the motorcycle.

Err towards grace, eh?

bruce19

Dainese is very good. So is Alpinestars.

Bandera

Are you planning on dressing like a pirate to stand around in a Hooters parking lot discussing how "loud pipes save lives", doing a track day or a multi-day road trip?
Requirements differ for each, as do Mfgs to meet those.

BTW: This is a Bicycle Forum.

-Bandera

BookFinder 

Strictly speaking the thread belongs in Foo, or some other section. But since we are on the topic:

Bookfinder in his other two-wheeled world.

In northern New Mexico - riding the Continental Divide Trail in July 2010


Threading his way through Deal's Gap in July 2017


The DR650 in the top photo has gone away, but I still have the VStrom.

cb400bill

Obviously a motorcycle based inquiry.

Thread closed.