Within the world of motorcycles we can catalog the use of them in three categories: Sports, tourist and urban use. Given the wide variety of jackets found in the market, we will indicate which are the most recommended features for each use.
Motorcycle jackets for women aren't just a fashion statement, although they sure do look fab. Female bikers need protection, too. To get the right jacket to complement your ride, there are a few things you should consider before perusing lists of awesome motocross jackets.
Credit: ShutterStock
Size
The anatomy of women is different from that of men that is why all manufacturers have in their catalogs a line of women with garments made with a specific pattern for women.
Men's jackets are straight so if a woman tries on a man's jacket it is very likely that she fits well on her shoulders but does not close it in the hip area or vice versa that she has a big shoulder and closes her in the Hip area.
It is very important that the protections remain in place to fulfill their function correctly. The women's jackets are wider in the hip area and fit better at the waist so the shoulder protections will be in place and we will also have a garment that will stylize us much more than a specific jacket for men. Ladies, know your size! In terms of motorcycle gear, this really means know your measurements. There is no consistency across manufacturers, so it's important to know your numbers to get the best fit. Remember that the jacket needs to feel good while you're on the bike, not while you're standing upright in the store dressing room. Assume biking posture to check for enough room across the shoulders and length in the sleeves.
Protection
It doesn't matter if you’re the passenger or the driver; you need the same level of impact protection and abrasion resistance. Will the jacket fit body armor? Does it come with motorcycle armor or will you wear it underneath? Also consider the material. Leathers provide a great deal of abrasion resistance compared to other fabrics. For sporting use we recommend leather jackets, since they are the ones that protect the most. They incorporate rigid protections on shoulders and elbows and in some cases outer protections thermoformed in aluminum that help to slide in case of fall.
The sportiest models incorporate aerodynamic humps. It is recommended that this type of garments be as fair as possible since the leather tends to yield with use.
Features
How breathable is the jacket? If you do lots of biking in the summer or hot climates, this is an important consideration. If you live in North Dakota and bike in the winter, you'll need something warm and windproof. Jackets with removable liners are great for all-season riding. Also make sure you have enough pockets, zippers, straps for body armor, and any other feature you feel is necessary for a comfortable and safe ride.
Credit: ShutterStock
Tourist Use
For routes and trips, we can opt for both a discreet skin garment and a fabric one. As we mentioned before, those of fabric always offer many more resources than those of skin that its use will be limited according to the climatology.
The road-focused jackets include numerous details so that high-speed driving is not annoying. In addition to the protections on shoulders and elbows, they usually incorporate adjustments in both waists, sleeves, cuffs so that the garment fits as much as possible and avoid the vibrations of the fabric produced by the air.
They are garments that incorporate impermeable membranes and removable thermal linings. In some models we find ventilation zippers so that the hottest days we gain a little more ventilation.
Urban Use
If the use of the motorcycle we make is urban, we will look for a discreet, lightweight garment that we can use daily. In this type of garments what prevails is to gain comfort without skimping on protection. They also incorporate protections on shoulders and elbows but with a more discreet and casual design.
Price
When you begin shopping for jackets, don't look at price tags. Try on everything you can just to get an idea of the fit and functionality of different brands. After you've found some great fits, start looking at the prices. There will be jackets you like at every price point. Go online today and compare motorcycle jackets. With a little legwork you'll soon be riding in style.
Choose Jacket According to Season
As we have mentioned before, the winter garments are the most versatile because they can be used practically all year round. But what clothes can we use during the summer months?
There are specific summer jackets, where they emphasize their wide areas of perforated fabric that ensure proper ventilation, incorporate rigid protections so we will not be unprotected during the months where the asphalt is more abrasive due to high temperatures.
Regarding leather garments, there are some jacket models that are perforated and that will be more ventilated in summer.
Although some jackets are perforated and others incorporate removable thermal lining, we must not forget that leather garments with respect to the weather is better to use them in between. Since in winter we will go cold and in the summer heat.
Therefore for those who use the motorcycle every day we would recommend leather garments as a second jacket, except that the driving is sporty.