Which motorcycle clothing should I buy?
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You are looking for the right motorcycle clothing and don't know whether you should buy a leather or textile suit. What advantages or disadvantages do I have, why is one item more expensive than the other...? We're trying to shed some light on this so you can make the right choice for your new motorcycle clothing!
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In the motorcycle industry, different types of fabrics are used to make protective clothing. Choosing the right materials plays a crucial role in driver safety and comfort . Here are the differences between the four main tissue types.
What types of fabrics are used for motorcycle clothing?
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Leather
Features: Leather is a classic material for motorcycle clothing and offers excellent protection against abrasion and impact injuries.
Pros: Leather is extremely durable, abrasion resistant and offers good durability. It adapts well to the body and offers high resistance to external influences.
Cons: Leather can become heavy and stiff in the rain. It requires special care to maintain its flexibility and water resistance.
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Textile fabric
Features: Textile fabrics, such as Cordura or Kevlar, are often used for modern motorcycle clothing. It is made of synthetic fibers such as nylon or polyester.
Pros: Textile fabric is lighter than leather, breathable and flexible. It often offers good protection from the elements and is easier to maintain.
Cons: Compared to leather, textile fabric may not offer the same abrasion resistance, although modern high-performance fabrics often bridge this gap.
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Gore-Tex (membrane-based materials)
Features: Gore-Tex is a waterproof, windproof and breathable membrane that is incorporated into motorcycle clothing to protect the rider from the elements.
Pros: Gore-Tex provides excellent weather protection and keeps the rider dry. At the same time, it allows moisture to escape to increase comfort.
Cons: Gore-Tex can increase the price of the clothing, but many riders appreciate the added weatherproof properties.
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Mesh fabric
Features: Mesh fabric is made of air-permeable materials, often with large openings to maximize ventilation.
Pros: Mesh fabric is ideal for hot weather conditions as it provides optimal ventilation and allows air to flow through clothing.
Cons: Protection against abrasion is limited compared to leather or textile fabric. Mesh fabric is often used as an additional material in warm climates.
What motorcycle clothing you can find at Riders Finest!
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From the motorcycle jacket to the shoes
You won't find any classic leather or textile suits in our online shop. We only carry selected products from our premium brands in the motorcycle segment. We make sure that all items, from motorcycle jackets to motorcycle pants to shoes , follow a similar style and can therefore be easily combined with one another. In addition to style, the comfort and safety of your new motorcycle clothing are our top priority!
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Leather or textile clothing
In addition to the classic leather material, more and more technical materials are being used in motorcycle clothing. This gives designers the freedom to create different and new styles. Technical fibers such as Dyneema®, Armalith®, Cordura® and Kevlar® have far more advantageous properties than those of the other style. Low weight, high breathability and great flexibility are properties that a leather suit only fulfills to a limited extent. But how do the different types of tissue differ?
Dyneema®, Armalith®, Cordura® and Kevlar®
We want to explain to you in more detail the four most common materials used in motorcycle protective clothing.
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DYNEEMA®
Dyneema® is 15 times stronger than steel, making it the hardest fiber material in the world (synthetic chemical fiber with ultra-high molecular weight - UHMWPE). Due to its excellent properties in terms of tear and abrasion resistance, the Dyneema® fiber can be woven with other fibers. In this example, the outer layer shows a classic cotton fiber (denim) with Dyneema® fiber woven underneath. Motorcycle clothing made from Dyneema® is very comfortable to wear thanks to its low weight and is also breathable.
The disadvantage of motorcycle clothing made from other materials is the comparatively higher price.
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ARMALITH®
Armalith® is made by combining cotton fibers with UHMWPE fibers (synthetic chemical fiber with ultra-high molecular weight) and has previously only been used in space and the military. With this exclusive technology, the customer receives a garment made from real denim with a core structure that gives it the mechanical properties of leather. Armalith® is abrasion and tear resistant and offers exceptional comfort in all seasons.
The disadvantage of motorcycle clothing made from Dyneema® is the lower tear and abrasion resistance and therefore the lower protection when riding at high speeds.
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CORDURA®
When producing Cordura®, polyamide fibers are cut, then spun again and, in our example, woven with a denim fiber. This creates a fabric that is significantly more abrasion and tear-resistant than ordinary nylon. The nylon used is also water-repellent and quick-drying. Motorcycle clothing made from Cordura® is light, breathable and comfortable to wear thanks to the roughened material.
A disadvantage of Cordura® is its lower abrasion and tear resistance compared to Dyneema® and therefore lower protection at high speeds.
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KEVLAR®
Kevlar® is known for its use in the military. An extremely tightly woven fiber enables very high puncture and cut resistance. Kevlar® is also very temperature-resistant and insulating - perfect for riding in colder temperatures.
Since Kevlar® is rather heavy and less breathable compared to other materials used in motorcycle clothing, Kevlar® is often used as an additional layer under the Cordura® backing material in the protective zones of a motorcycle jacket or pants.
