Textile or leather?

[sandbaggerone]

I am sure that a member posted a question on the above recently.

Well this months RIDE magazine (just received mine) has an article and a report on the subject, which should be helpful in answering the question and informative to all members.

See page 8.

Frank

 

[Jon]

Sandbaggerone said;
should be helpful in answering the question and informative to all members

It is and it isn't............

They only tested the elbows of jackets, and don't say if the 4 fabric jackets they tested (Uvex Speed, Spada Blade, Spada Apex Evo & Bluffalo Blitz 2) had Dupont Cordura as part of their construction.

Would have been nice to see them take one that does (eg Rukka) and see what happened.

The interesting point with leather & fabric tho, was that if you take the armour out, obviously it reduces the friction wear time as, but significantly so - almost double with the armour in;

Leather jackets with; 40ish sec, without 20 seconds tops
Fabric jackets with; 20-40 sec, without 3 seconds tops

 

[The Mechanic]

Fetish or Textile

What they did not test was BMW's new (ish) Kevlar reinforced textile jacket, at approx. £390 not cheap but it certainly looks presentable. Dealer told me you need to slide a heel of a long way before this stuff goes through armour or no armour. Thinking about it the cost may be higher still £425.

 

[(RIP) maverick]

Always been a leather boy and have not taken the plunge to the textile jackets as yet. Do however find with leathers on a hot day it ain't good if your'e not moving due to the heat.

I came off GSX750 couple of years ago with leather jacket and slid across the field, rocks etc for what felt like forever. Not a scratch on my body except for the impact breaks(broken ribs, smashed vertebrea's).

Cheers

 

[robert messer]

Back from Romania 3 weeks ago and it was in the 35C +.I had a H/G Hard Edge jacket and BMW Savana pants.I must admit that the combination was right(jacket has vents in the chest and shoulders),thou i miss the Aerflow i sold.

 

[adamski49]

I believe two piece leathers would offer far better protection in the event of a fall than any textile suits mainly due to the fact that they are generally a tight fit and hold you together and give all over support.

Having been down the road at a ton in leathers and finished up in a ditch with no more than mild bruising, a savage limp and a small cut on my thumb I can attest to this fact.

In comparison being the proud owner of a new HG PSX-T2 combi suit (bought mainly for it's ability to breathe in the 38 deg+ heat of the S of France) I can definitely say that although it has armour and is more comfortable than leathers I doubt it would give the same level of protection in the event of an impact even if it could match the ability to remain intact during a slide along the tarmac.

Just my personal opinion.

Adam

 

[MMC]

Has anyone out there come off wearing an Aerostich fabric suit?

I've just got one (second-hand mind you - buggered if I'm paying HM Customs & Extraction import "duty"), and after leathers it feels comfortable, cool and easy - but definitely less "solid".

The leathers are seriously heavy police-spec ones from Albert Dann in Northampton, so anything is going to feel like it's made out of flimsoid by comparison, but I wouldn't mind knowing how the 'Stich stands up to a crash.

Cheers

MMC

 

[Nicholas]

Came off just after christmas and shredded a Dainese Gortex and cordura jacket, low speed and not for very far and the only thing that saved me from a decent dose of road rash was the bloody armour and as it was that did not have much left of it, the leather trousers I was wearing at the time survived with a small bit of damage on the hip (read the seam got scuffed) promptly went and bought a leather jacket, I will never wear anything other than leather on the bike from now on.
I had read a good textile jacket is close but not as good as leather, so I thought that will do for me "I'm no boy racer" and unlikely I will need the extra protection. boy was I ever wrong

Live and learn

Nick

 

[AdventureCleverly]

Has anyone out there come off wearing an Aerostich fabric suit?

Friend of mine did, 60mph ish on the penultimate corner at the Nurburgring - it holed the suit but not the armour - he was unscathed except for a bruised leg where his GS landed on it.

He has subsequently had it repaired and continues to use it.

I have one, haven't tested it but feel pretty confident if I do have to.

Richard