Depends on the leather too. Most of the junk out there nowdays is so thin that it feels like calf skin.

 

Ye I wonder how long those patch work leather jackets from Pakistan would last....

 

They need to make a leather jacket with as many vents and pockets as my textile jacket! Maybe there's one out there with my name on it, but it's probably a lot of alligators...more than I can spend right now. Shucks

 

I have a leather jacket with mesh vents. Best jacket I've ever had for summer riding. it's a Joe Rocket Radar I think, they have some different versions of the same thing now

 

The study I saw awhile back showed same thing.

The other thing that stood out to me is that regardless of the material cheap protective gear that had cheap stitching came apart very quickly and offered little or no protection.

You may save cash but if you buy a cheap leather or textile jacket it is apparently very important to ensure it has strong stitching. If not you don't get adequate protection.

I understand saving money and making smart choices but I never understood going cheap on some things.

 

Agree with you on that one. The big picture says a little debt and the best protection or more medical expenses....or final ruin! Eeh.

 

Oh yes, the leather.
Just keeps getting better with age. And if you split a seem you just bust out some carpeting thread. Go heavy weight and wear it even in hot weather.
Buy used, not too pricey and the old shiet is better anyway.

 

Been down twice in Langlitz jackets...........at speed.Other than the broken bones,not a mark on me.Don't need no steenkeen armor,just a real motor jacket. If you haven't been down,you haven't been riding.

 

I'll be glad to keep on "not" riding then....

 

Although, if you go down and the ambulance comes, chances are they are cutting the coat off of you. I had a decent leather coat, got it from Wilson Leather, not a true biker coat but it worked. I laid my first bike down after hitting a patch of oil stopping for a red light, 20 mph and just a small scuff to the left shoulder of the jacket.

Fast forward to a month ago, I get taken out by a drunk in a jetta head on, looking at the coat, there are new scuffs, again on the left shoulder, some deeper, almost cutting thru the leather. However the paramedics cut the coat off of me, cut the right sleeve right down the length.

I don't blame them, I was probably unconscious with a head wound, neck trauma, banged up right hand and ankle and other stuff, they took care of me, coats are expendable.

I will say the coat did a good job, I only got two small bits of road rash on my left elbow and a bunch on my left hip, but that would have been from the coat riding up. My left shoulder feels pretty good considering, I'm guessing thats the side that connected with her car.

But yeah, buy quality, and like helmets, expect it to protect you in a crash, but don't expect it to survive.