Leathers V textile.. long Distance
 

Just thought I would get some feedback.. I went into my Local retailer today, looking for some new leathers!

I was supprised when he pointed me to the Textile end of the counter..

He recons Long distance work you won't beat textiles.

I must say the thought had never crossed my mind before today!

You always seem to feel more protected in leathers

anyone fancy puting their spin on it?

What do you ride in?

mav

Been thinking about some textile stuff with armour if a long trip in hot weather is on the cards.
Was well envious of me mate in his Hein Gericke stuff in the south of France this summer while I fried in me leathers.

Ray.

Distance doesn't come into it for me it's the weather that dictates leather or textile.

Basically:

Weather dry (or only a shower or two) and warmer than around 10 degrees = Leather

Weather wet and/or colder than 10 degrees = Nice warm, dry Belstaff Goretex

My thinking is that you're pretty well protected by the armour in textile stuff and you'll probably be going steadier when it's cold or wet. Up the pace a bit on a dry road and leather is what I'd want - vented stuff if it's really hot

Rukka textiles.
If your going to ride distance at some point it may rain and my Air Power combo keeps me dryer than leathers. Cooler than them in the summer if I take the waterproof liner out, not too much space required to then fold them up and take them with you.
After looking at the photo's of me at Box the other day it does nothing to advertise my delicate waist line :lol: :lol: :lol: , I think you all end up looking chunky!

I'm with Jools on this, don't think you can beat leathers for protection but for rain etc go with textiles, I've just spent a small fortune on Dainese Gortex gear for winter all fully armoured also

Leather or Textile
 

Yes really good quality leathers are probably the ultimate in protection terms, however a good textile well armoured jacket is what I normally wear for the road along with leather jeans( I have a phobia about knee damage!)
I wear a leather jacket very rarely now and am trying to get away from the power ranger image. I have Hein Gericke and a beautiful Gore Tex IXS number, not a cheapo but a real Quality one. IXS is a Swiss company I believe and I've been really surprised by the quality og this jacket.

just food for thought !
I was looking at the abrasion test on both textile and leather !

Up shot is (on the road)

You will probably have Hit something harder than you and died before the Textile/leather wears through!!!!!!
LOL


mav

one of the downsides of textile is that its very easy for the arms or legs to twist if you do crash as most have linings you can leave in or take out, the textile tends to be less snug fitting and the armour moves, I've got a nice scar from a hole in my elbow, the textile jacket was holed on the lower forearm, the jacket and armour had moved because there was no way I could tighten them up :(

Most armour is soft and isn't shaped so doesn't fit "around" knees and elbows, I've now added hard armour to my textile trousers to keep it around the knee, I went to look at a pair of Rukka's 2 weeks ago and when i said I wasn't happy with the armour fit the sales person said sit in an on bike position so the armour flexes to the shape, fine if you happen to fall off and can crouch but I'd rather make sure the armour doesn't move no matter where my leg is.

I always feel safer in good leathers but ride in textile goretex most of the winter, summer I'll wear leathers and take a pair of over trousers or a 1 pce race suit and those new A stars windproof jackets if its just cold not too damp.

Food for thought Gizmo.

worth considering !

mav

Been using the Dainese Goretex gear for a while now and it's been fine. One thing that is diffuicult to decide is what choice for a long trip when you might experience weather changes. I prefer to wear leathers and carry an oversuit if touring in the summer but maybe this time of year, in this country, you are unlikely to get overheated in textile gear.

Like most things its best to have all the options really, overall you'd have to say that textile gives the best protection against bad weather. If that is your main priority.

Not trying to hijack your thread Mav or to put myself forward as any touring "guru" just a few observations.

No worries Paul, I'm just trying to decide what to do !

I have a bike in Germany for scratching and ring trips, and now I have a bike for some long distance trips I have planned for next year!
Just need to make the right informed decision

regards mav

I've always gone the leather route with waterproofs, but this year i bought a textile jacket from J&S for the Assen trip. It's a Arlen Ness item, thermal lining, CE hard armour etc. It was the dogs!! Really comfortable, very weather proof and warm to boot. Dries out quicker than leathers to ;)
The fit of the armour was very good and it has straps on the arms to hold them tighter. I wore a back protector for complete peace of mind.
Well recomended.
I still wore leather trousers though. Just a personal thing. Just carrying waterproof leggins takes up less room though.

Tried combining both on one trip, leathers with a textile jacket for when it got wet, bad decision, the jacket which was strapped to the back of the bike decided to part company while making some "serious progress" South of Milan. Got stuck in the central reservation of the motorway so muggins had to call the porksters to come and collect it for me. You guessed it, passport an all my docs were in the jacket pockets :rolleyes: :rolleyes: Then there was the time when some kind soul put the Ventura luggage back on my bike for me one morning and while crossing the expansion joints on a dodgy old bridge, again in Italy the whole lot launched itself skywards and nearly took the head of the guy following me. Not naming the guilty party who didn't locate the fixing screws in the grooves on the frame before tightening them ! It wasn't Stuart, honest, whoops let that one slip then....

Sorry derailing the thread.

And you want some advice on touring from a **** like that mav :lol: :lol:

As you would say........keep it real.