Leather Jacket Poll

[rambling]

I know this has been discussed before but will be interesting to see an aggregate of how many do wear one. Let me know if I missed any option.

[JohnPark]

[RubberSideDown]

I've got a Dainese Rebel jacket, a Teknic Violator jacket (which I wear most often- Teknic made great stuff and it's too bad they went out of business last year (I've got the matching Chicane pants as well), a Vanson Sportrider 2 jacket, an AGV Sport Topanga jacket, and a Fieldsheer jacket (which I use a 'loaner' if a friend needs to borrow some gear)- I've also got an Alpinestars Orbiter suit which is a great suit for the street (though it's still a hassle to deal with and I only wear it on certain rides)- everything is perforated and will work in hot weather, and I've got back protectors that fit into the insert pockets as well as an external one that will work with them.

I've also got Dainese and Alpinestars textile jackets, but I rarely wear them as I feel I'm sacrificing some protection with them (only really heavy cordura comes close to the abrasion resistance of leather, and it runs too hot- my mesh jackets are thinner and are more likely to tear in a crash).

[submaniac]

I have an alpinestars perforated leather, and it is indeed suprising how good it is at cooling. However, with that said, in Thailand it's mesh (Joe Rocket).

[Overandout]

I brought the "cooler" jackets with me from Spain when I came to TH, one Alpinestar mesh jacket and a leather "LaTrek" jacket with vents, but as I only ride around central Bangkok I've never put either of them on...

I obviously would wear one of them if I went outside the center or to a track, but that's not likely unless I get a bigger bike.

[dave_boo]

I have a leather jacket that has shrunk (or something happened where it doesn't fit any more) amd is hanging in the closet hopefully stretching back to the proper size.

[submaniac]

Yes, I too have noticed that as I grow older, my clothing has "shrunk". Not just jackets, but trousers, shirts, and even belts. It is a perplexing mystery.

[ll2]

i have Revit Iginition two leather/mesh jacket, Dainese two piece full leather suit and a Komine full mesh textile jacket.

I wear Revit Ignition at all my rides on my big bike. it is a great compromise for the hot weather of Bangkok as full leather is too much on 50 degrees Celsius asphalt, perforated or not.

Using my Dainese full leather two piece suit only for track days and rarely for some spirited rides that sure i will be going fast so things are cooler.

Wear my Komine mesh jacket very rarely nowadays only if my Revit jacket needs some cleaning, oiling and rest time.

I believe, a motorcycle jacket is a must on any big bike and even if you will be going thorough fast traffic with a scooter but not necessary to go pak soi for buying cigarettes or going talat kao to buy some food for a km. Apart form these, even on the hottest day, i wear my Revit mesh/leather jacket fully zipped and properly, no compromises on that. its sleeves can be zipped open around 20 cm and its mesh parts - which are really strong cordura - which makes it so cool. i am very happy with it, i think the best jacket i used in my life.

[Familyonthemove]

Triumph waterproof black leather jacket hanging in the wardrobe ...... looks cool ....... isn't.

[ATF]

i have Revit Iginition two leather/mesh jacket, Dainese two piece full leather suit and a Komine full mesh textile jacket.

I wear Revit Ignition at all my rides on my big bike. it is a great compromise for the hot weather of Bangkok as full leather is too much on 50 degrees Celsius asphalt, perforated or not.

Using my Dainese full leather two piece suit only for track days and rarely for some spirited rides that sure i will be going fast so things are cooler.

Wear my Komine mesh jacket very rarely nowadays only if my Revit jacket needs some cleaning, oiling and rest time.

I believe, a motorcycle jacket is a must on any big bike and even if you will be going thorough fast traffic with a scooter but not necessary to go pak soi for buying cigarettes or going talat kao to buy some food for a km. Apart form these, even on the hottest day, i wear my Revit mesh/leather jacket fully zipped and properly, no compromises on that. its sleeves can be zipped open around 20 cm and its mesh parts - which are really strong cordura - which makes it so cool. i am very happy with it, i think the best jacket i used in my life.

The Rev'it Ignition 2 is probably the best leather textile jacket available. Great for the street. I went to Panda last week to pick up one to replace my worn out Rev'it Tornado but they were sold out. It has great protection.

[rambling]

Interesting results, only about a 1/3 of the people wear leather on a regular basis here.

That Revit Ignition is a great concept ll2, leather in high abrasion areas + mesh for cooling. Why don't more manufacturers do this.. also too bad about the color, only black for a summer jacket?

I'm still torn between perf leather and mesh but inclined to go with leather.

Check out what happened to a Dainese Super Speed Textile jacket in a lowside at 55 km/h. The textile caught/grabbed the road at the elbow. I reckon textile/mesh is a one spill jacket. This particular model seems very popular here at shops from what I've seen, I'm assuming it's because of the "cool looking" metal inserts at the shoulders and the brand name.

[rambling]

Nice combo there JohnPark. Which Shark helmet is it? Are you happy with it?

[ATF]

Rambling. Alpinestars make the best perforated jackets IMHO they are very well ventilated and you don't notice the chest and back protectors. Very comfortable and cool.

A black jacket won't make you feel hot.

[wantan]

Interesting results, only about a 1/3 of the people wear leather on a regular basis here.

That Revit Ignition is a great concept ll2, leather in high abrasion areas + mesh for cooling. Why don't more manufacturers do this.. also too bad about the color, only black for a summer jacket?

I'm still torn between perf leather and mesh but inclined to go with leather.

Check out what happened to a Dainese Super Speed Textile jacket in a lowside at 55 km/h. The textile caught/grabbed the road at the elbow. I reckon textile/mesh is a one spill jacket. This particular model seems very popular here at shops from what I've seen, I'm assuming it's because of the "cool looking" metal inserts at the shoulders and the brand name.

I read this forum over some years now and have seen many people buying leather (even perforated) and after a while they realised its no fun to wear it, so they switch back to mesh. It always depends on where you ride too. People in Bangkok suffer the most. They have high temperatures and need long time to get out of the city. Many stops at traffic lights and jams. Till you are out of the city you swim in your sweat.

Do you have more pictures of the broken Dainese textile jacket? Some people here think Dainese offers better quality mesh jackets. But it seems they are all the same. They are good for low speed, maybe up to 120kmh.

[ll2]

Interesting results, only about a 1/3 of the people wear leather on a regular basis here.

That Revit Ignition is a great concept ll2, leather in high abrasion areas + mesh for cooling. Why don't more manufacturers do this.. also too bad about the color, only black for a summer jacket?

I'm still torn between perf leather and mesh but inclined to go with leather.

Check out what happened to a Dainese Super Speed Textile jacket in a lowside at 55 km/h. The textile caught/grabbed the road at the elbow. I reckon textile/mesh is a one spill jacket. This particular model seems very popular here at shops from what I've seen, I'm assuming it's because of the "cool looking" metal inserts at the shoulders and the brand name.

they have another lighter color option too. Also Revit Ignition is not a summer jacket, it is a four season jacket as it comes with a thick winter inner layer plus a nice rain inner layer which all can be worn separately. i wear the rain layer - it is like a fit rain coat - sometime under rain while walking around. Winter and rain layers comes with some technology like gore tex and some warming/cooling features.

also another good thing about Revit Ignition 2, its cut is superb and it fits like a glove!

i want to get the matching pants 'gear 2' soon as well. they have a size for me still there!

for Panda rider, you need to give your size to them and book it before the stock arrives. Stocks finish very fast there.

[rambling]

Rambling. Alpinestars make the best perforated jackets IMHO they are very well ventilated and you don't notice the chest and back protectors. Very comfortable and cool.

A black jacket won't make you feel hot.

Well black absorbs heat and radiation energy more than white that's for sure. White color reflects more of the sun rays, have you ever seen white solar panels? ;-)

[ll2]

Rambling. Alpinestars make the best perforated jackets IMHO they are very well ventilated and you don't notice the chest and back protectors. Very comfortable and cool.

A black jacket won't make you feel hot.

Well black absorbs heat and radiation energy more than white that's for sure. White color reflects more of the sun rays, have you ever seen white solar panels? ;-)

color white reflects more sun ray sure but they get smudge and dirt easily and if oil splashes from somewhere, hard to remove it.

and still, waiting under sun for a red light, not many difference IMO.

Especially in Bangkok, white leather jackets turn to gray pretty fast.

biggest plus for white jackets are the visibility they offer but white is not a bad ass color sure

[rambling]

Interesting results, only about a 1/3 of the people wear leather on a regular basis here.

That Revit Ignition is a great concept ll2, leather in high abrasion areas + mesh for cooling. Why don't more manufacturers do this.. also too bad about the color, only black for a summer jacket?

I'm still torn between perf leather and mesh but inclined to go with leather.

Check out what happened to a Dainese Super Speed Textile jacket in a lowside at 55 km/h. The textile caught/grabbed the road at the elbow. I reckon textile/mesh is a one spill jacket. This particular model seems very popular here at shops from what I've seen, I'm assuming it's because of the "cool looking" metal inserts at the shoulders and the brand name.

I read this forum over some years now and have seen many people buying leather (even perforated) and after a while they realised its no fun to wear it, so they switch back to mesh. It always depends on where you ride too. People in Bangkok suffer the most. They have high temperatures and need long time to get out of the city. Many stops at traffic lights and jams. Till you are out of the city you swim in your sweat.

Do you have more pictures of the broken Dainese textile jacket? Some people here think Dainese offers better quality mesh jackets. But it seems they are all the same. They are good for low speed, maybe up to 120kmh.

Yes, that traffic riding you described applies to me as well.

I don't have more pics, this was posted as a comment titled "Hit and miss protection" by a reviewer on Revzilla. See here: http://reviews.revzilla.com/8506-en_us/221981/dainese-dainese-super-speed-textile-jacket-reviews/reviews.htm?sort=submissionTime&dir=asc

[RubberSideDown]

Unless you're wearing something like a 1000-denier cordura suit from Aerostich (which is actually great for touring), you're giving up abrasion resistance for comfort if you choose mesh over quality leather (most light textile jackets are 500-denier cordura and won't hold up well in a big crash).

If you spend a lot of time in traffic at relatively low speeds, a well-made textile jacket will adequately protect you, but if you're going to turn it up a couple notches leather is the better choice. The more I learn about the protective properties of various materials used in motorcycle gear, the more I lean towards leather- on a really hot day in Bangkok or tooling around on a scooter I probably wouldn't choose it, but for any other riding situation I'm going to wear something stronger.

Yes, sometimes it runs really warm in slow conditions, but I'm willing to deal with it- as long as I'm moving it's fine.

[AllanB]

Yes, I too have noticed that as I grow older, my clothing has "shrunk". Not just jackets, but trousers, shirts, and even belts. It is a perplexing mystery.

Yes, I have heard that before...too many pies perhaps?.. that causes clothes to shrink fast...

[wantan]

Would be interesting to collect some possibilities for cleaning the leather and keeping it in good shape (oiling, greasing, ...). All this sweat must make the leather stink/harden/crack over time without cleaning/caring, or am i wrong?

What shops offers such services? I know of Dainese-Shop BKK. What about PandaRider? Dry cleaning shops?

How much does it cost?

Are they accepting all brands or only the brands they sell?

Any reviews of the service?

Maybe something for a new topic?

[rambling]

Leather does need some maintenance but on the other hand it's easier to clean. I wouldn't think a specialist is required though. Think leather bags / sofas / car seats. My wife cleans her leather bags with a French made synthetic oil imitating some animal oil I can't remember now :-) I've used it in my car also. I'm sure there are products specifically for leather garments. Of course take note of your jacket manufacturer care instructions.

[ll2]

Dainese gives a set of oil and cleaning liquid with its leather suits. Just pour them over leather and wipe nicely. Easy.

Also people say good quality wet wipes also work.

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[wantan]

And there is the problem with mold on riding gear: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671404-mold-on-riding-gear/

In my experience leather is prone for mold in such humid climate. A textile jacket is easy to wash by yourself.

I guess some professional cleaning is needed from time to time. But i may be wrong. Anyone with long time experience on (often/daily worn) leather jackets/suits/pants?

[RubberSideDown]

I use Leather Honey conditioner on my leather gear once a year (or more often if it's something I wear a lot or something gets really dirty)- it works really well for the exterior. I always let my stuff hang for a while before putting it in the closet so I know it's dry, and I occasionally wipe the interior lining with some anti-bacterial liquid soap.

So far everything is holding up fine.

[ATF]

I've been using Motul recently. Found it to be very good. They also do helmet cleaner which I use. When I get some refills I'm going to try their chain lube it comes in a paste like toothpaste, maybe it'll stick better. They have a great new range all available in Thailand.

[ll2]

And there is the problem with mold on riding gear: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671404-mold-on-riding-gear/

In my experience leather is prone for mold in such humid climate. A textile jacket is easy to wash by yourself.

I guess some professional cleaning is needed from time to time. But i may be wrong. Anyone with long time experience on (often/daily worn) leather jackets/suits/pants?

I use my jacket day and night, sun or rain, full sweat, I got no mold. Of course always hang my leathers close to ac to make them dry quickly. But not too much.

[ATF]

And there is the problem with mold on riding gear: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671404-mold-on-riding-gear/

In my experience leather is prone for mold in such humid climate. A textile jacket is easy to wash by yourself.

I guess some professional cleaning is needed from time to time. But i may be wrong. Anyone with long time experience on (often/daily worn) leather jackets/suits/pants?

I use my jacket day and night, sun or rain, full sweat, I got no mold. Of course always hang my leathers close to ac to make them dry quickly. But not too much.

Leather jackets are best kept in an air-conditioned environment or they will get mold but it would take quite some time.

[JohnPark]

Nice combo there JohnPark. Which Shark helmet is it? Are you happy with it?

Not my helmet. I took the photo at Soidogbobs house.

He's very happy with it.