If you could get only one armoured jacket for riding , which style would you choose?

[mygar]

I have not ordered one yet but am going to do so. I have done a lot of research on armor.. and this seems to be the best for my needs. Plan on getting the pants at some point to wear under kevlar jeans also

 

[red devil]

I have not ordered one yet but am going to do so. I have done a lot of research on armor.. and this seems to be the best for my needs. Plan on getting the pants at some point to wear under kevlar jeans also

Curious to hear your thoughts once you get it

 

[mygar]

Curious to hear your thoughts once you get it

It will be couple months before I order.
Not sure if you read about their armor. Pretty impressive tech. It's flexible and is some highest rated impact protection you can get. It remains flexible until impact... immediately becomes hard at impact and distributes force across pad. My son has bee using similar tech for soccer shin guards. Armor like this is typically more thin and contours your body and is more concealed under clothING etc

 

[ProteinNerd]

I’ve got an underarmour shirt with the plan I could then wear any of my jackets and still be protected....I think I’ve worn it twice in 2 or 3 years.

It’s just so much easier grabbing a jacket with the armour already in it, there is enough crap to put on already without adding another shirt.

Might be different if I didn’t have the option though.

 

[mygar]

I’ve got an underarmour shirt with the plan I could then wear any of my jackets and still be protected....I think I’ve worn it twice in 2 or 3 years.

It’s just so much easier grabbing a jacket with the armour already in it, there is enough crap to put on already without adding another shirt.

Might be different if I didn’t have the option though.

Yep can take a bit to get all suited up lol... but it's worth it

 

[navetsea]

I just pray before i ride and keep it under 60kmh so i can wear whatever jackets. Traffic in my part of the world is slow moving, road condition sometime deplorable with surprise speedbumps and sneaky potholes.

 

[red devil]

I’ve got an underarmour shirt with the plan I could then wear any of my jackets and still be protected....I think I’ve worn it twice in 2 or 3 years.

It’s just so much easier grabbing a jacket with the armour already in it, there is enough crap to put on already without adding another shirt.

Might be different if I didn’t have the option though.

That's one of the things that is getting me to look into easy to use armoured jacket. Betweem gloves, riding boots and the helmet, you indeed have a lot to put on before going off

 

[red devil]

Speaking of which, I get the feeling the LW Leathertogs could be a good option for an armoured jacket

 

[Plumbline]

Have done armoured shirts (forcefield and Knox) .... custom armoured jackets from most of the majors (Vanson, BKS etc.) plus many many Aeros / Eastmans etc

For the UK forget leather unless you only ride on sunny sundays - go Rukka THE best motorcycling jacket bar none .... and Ive owned over 50odd over 36 years of riding ... 20 of that daily commuting.

If you really want an armoured leather go Dianese or Alpinestars or the like which have been designed for armour and motorcycling and fit properly on the bike

Just MHO

 

[Peter Mackin]

Yip ,Dainese Alien leather trousers & dainese armoured jacket,,perfect fit.or claymore international with forcefield armour,,beats anything belstaff now make,,that’s Italian fashion wear nowadays

 

[Edward]

I’ve got an underarmour shirt with the plan I could then wear any of my jackets and still be protected....I think I’ve worn it twice in 2 or 3 years.

It’s just so much easier grabbing a jacket with the armour already in it, there is enough crap to put on already without adding another shirt.

Might be different if I didn’t have the option though.

Probably my inclination too, though I could see going that route on the bottom half given how fussy I am about my trouser fit, and given how most motor cylce jeans seem to be in hock to skinny fashion fits.

 

[Monitor]

Check out Bates, too. They're actually in the racing business, they make armored jackets (suits at least) and they offer full range of customization. I'd place the one Bates I had at the very top of the best jackets list. It's brilliantly designed and executed, IMO more so than any Vanson. True riding jacket in every aspect.

 

[red devil]

Have done armoured shirts (forcefield and Knox) .... custom armoured jackets from most of the majors (Vanson, BKS etc.) plus many many Aeros / Eastmans etc

For the UK forget leather unless you only ride on sunny sundays - go Rukka THE best motorcycling jacket bar none .... and Ive owned over 50odd over 36 years of riding ... 20 of that daily commuting.

If you really want an armoured leather go Dianese or Alpinestars or the like which have been designed for armour and motorcycling and fit properly on the bike

Just MHO

I have been biking in my LW suburban during winters in all conditions, that jacket is really waterproof!

I also have a serious 2 piece riding suit with the tech air system, but I rarely reach for it because it takes me way too long to put it on, so it is generally kept for the long rides.

I have discussed with BKS about making a vintage style armoured jacket and they told me that pretty much anything is possible. They are specialised in safety and proper riding functionality hence why I am considering them, this and the fact that I can go to their office get everything specced out and be back in the same day.

At the moment, if it's summer , I grab the tan button Thedi, the fit is just brilliant on the bike, if it's winter, I grab the suburban because it is the most waterproof piece of equipment I have.

But I figure out that it is not such a good idea to go out there without armour, hence this new undertaking.

Will also look at Rukka, these keep you dry even under intense rain?

Yip ,Dainese Alien leather trousers & dainese armoured jacket,,perfect fit.or claymore international with forcefield armour,,beats anything belstaff now make,,that’s Italian fashion wear nowadays

I tried one of their jacket, the leather looks ok but nothing special and it had that soft armour inside. Seems way too expensive for what it is in any case. The leather was supposedly "Italian" but that doesn't say much. All in all, I would not consider them right now either.

Will look at the Dainese jackets, thanks!

Check out Bates, too. They're actually in the racing business, they make armored jackets (suits at least) and they offer full range of customization. I'd place the one Bates I had at the very top of the best jackets list. It's brilliantly designed and executed, IMO more so than any Vanson. True riding jacket in every aspect.

Thanks! Will check them out

 

[Edward]

Here's a thought none of us have mentioned yet. What do you ride? If I was only going to buy one jacket, what that jacket might be could be very different depending on if I rode a Black Douglas or a Triumph Bonneville....

 

[Plumbline]

Here's a thought none of us have mentioned yet. What do you ride? If I was only going to buy one jacket, what that jacket might be could be very different depending on if I rode a Black Douglas or a Triumph Bonneville....

No it wouldnt ... it would still be a Rukka if you had any sense of comfort and self preservation. IMHO

PS The suburban isn’t waterproof .... NO leather is (unless it’s Goretex leather and even then it’s marginal - I rode for a year in a goretex leather jacket it was not particularly breathable ) .... the suburban seams are not taped and it might be a little water resistant but waterproof ... err ... no.

 

[red devil]

Here's a thought none of us have mentioned yet. What do you ride? If I was only going to buy one jacket, what that jacket might be could be very different depending on if I rode a Black Douglas or a Triumph Bonneville....

Very good question, I recently moved on to a new bike, the Superduke R

This currently my only bike and is a bit of an all-rounder, I have plans to get a vintage style bike next, but still too early to tell what it will be, although I find that Triumph has some really nice offerings in that field.

My first armoured vintage style jacket needs to be versatile, that's why it is going to be a single colour easy to use jacket.

 

[red devil]

No it wouldnt ... it would still be a Rukka if you had any sense of comfort and self preservation. IMHO

PS The suburban isn’t waterproof .... NO leather is (unless it’s Goretex leather and even then it’s marginal - I rode for a year in a goretex leather jacket it was not particularly breathable ) .... the suburban seams are not taped and it might be a little water resistant but waterproof ... err ... no.

I was not believing it myself, but I was out riding for 2 to 3 hours under heavy rain, and coming back, I was completely dry while my friend who had a well worn fabric jacket had one of his arms completely soaked.

Completely waterproof might indeed be an exaggeration or impossible as you say, but that jacket has kept me dry under rainy conditions. The cut is not the best for riding though, hence why I wear the Thedi in summer.

 

[barnabus]

Like @Edward said earlier, I'd be looking at Goldtop for a straightforward stock armoured riding jacket. And have been, and hope to be buying soon.

You've all seen my Richa Daytona ofc, and that's the only jacket I ride in now. It's utterly unwaterproof though and if it rains I will be soaked. It's my intention is to sling a Barbour international over the top of it next time it's chucking it down.

I've had a longer style in leather like the Belstaff, but I couldn't get on with it. Didn't suit me on the bike at all, weirdly.

I'm glad @Edward asked about your bike too, because that would have been my question. Retro style stuff works with retro style stuff, and could be jarring with a very modern bike. The Superduke is great though and you'd be fine I think. Even though it's modern, it's more in line with the KTM 'personality' than it is with something like an MT-10.

 

[red devil]

Like @Edward said earlier, I'd be looking at Goldtop for a straightforward stock armoured riding jacket. And have been, and hope to be buying soon.

You've all seen my Richa Daytona ofc, and that's the only jacket I ride in now. It's utterly unwaterproof though and if it rains I will be soaked. It's my intention is to sling a Barbour international over the top of it next time it's chucking it down.

I've had a longer style in leather like the Belstaff, but I couldn't get on with it. Didn't suit me on the bike at all, weirdly.

I'm glad @Edward asked about your bike too, because that would have been my question. Retro style stuff works with retro style stuff, and could be jarring with a very modern bike. The Superduke is great though and you'd be fine I think. Even though it's modern, it's more in line with the KTM 'personality' than it is with something like an MT-10.

Didn't suit you in an aesthetic sense or was it uncomfortable?

It is true that most riders I see are wearing fabric jackets, I now see more people in leathers because it's pretty hot and sunny, but most of these are in full modern riding suits.

Knowing my bike, would you go more for a CR or a cross-zip then?

 

[Peter Mackin]

Didn't suit you in an aesthetic sense or was it uncomfortable?

It is true that most riders I see are wearing fabric jackets, I now see more people in leathers because it's pretty hot and sunny, but most of these are in full modern riding suits.

Knowing my bike, would you go more for a CR or a cross-zip then?

Go for both,,,you know it makes sense