Biker jacket.

[Silverstein]

Hi, I'm Silverstein and am interested in being a biker one day, I have read all of the stickies, (I think). I am wanting to buy a motorcycle jacket for now because I want a classic style and can get one cheap if I act soon. I have no current funds to get a motorcycle or take any classes but I'm still interested in riding one day.

My questions are, is a zip-out liner worth the extra money it will cost me?

The brand is called Xelement, does anyone know if that's an ok brand?

Thanks,

SiL.

edit: Tricycle squid, so true, funny also.

[Magna]

I would think it depends on where you live. If you are in Hawaii then you probably don't need the liner but if you live in Canada like I do then you definitely need one. I still have the liner in mine and it is mid-June.

[Kibagari]

I have a 50's style leather biker jacket (I assume that's what you mean) from Xelement. Had it a few years now, it's actually a rather thick coat in some areas, there's just no padding or armor if you go down. I got it for about 60 bucks. It's not the top quality one, so it's not all from the same animal and this the hide's different in spots, but it's a nice jacket nonetheless. It's taken my substantial beatings and hasn't given up yet.

Though I do strongly suggest looking at other places for gear. I wear that jacket on a day to day basis. My Joe Rocket armored jacket that was $300 is the riding jacket. Spend the money, it'll save your life.

[Silverstein]

Ok thank you both, I will probably get another riding jacket that is armoured when I get deeper into motorcycling, sometime in the future.
Do you really think the body armour can save my life? And, yes Kibagari, that is the jacket style I'm talking about, but I don't understand what the removable liner means, does it mean that there is a quilted liner attatched to the jacket and there is another quilted liner zipped onto the other liner that's sewn on?

I live in the south so if the removable liner is just 2 quilted liners instead of one then I'll probably get the one. But, if the removable liner jacket only has one quilted liner then I'll get the removable, I'm just not understanding what they mean, I mean what is under the removable liner? More liner? A thin cloth liner? Just leather? Please get back to me, might be buying today.

[Magna]

Both my jackets have a removable liner. When I remove them, there is a normal leather jacket with a silk-like lining and when I remove it from my armored textile jacket I am left with an armored nylon jacket with a net style type of liner. The actual removable liners are like a quilt type of inner jacket that fasten in with a zipper around the inside of either jacket. The inner sleeves are attached near the wrist with snaps.

[Silverstein]

Ok thank you very much for the help, I'm going to go with the remove-able liner.

[Nalian]

Can body armor save your life? Possibly. Can it save your skin? Definitely. Can it save you from worse damage on impact? Definitely.

I believe the statistic is that most accidents happen at less than 30 mph. Unless you're concerned you're not going to like riding, it's better to get the jacket you think you'll need later outright, instead of wasting money on two jackets. That being said, if all you can afford is the one without armor..leather is better than nothing.

The only reason I say that is it sounds like you're saying you'll save the other jacket for when you need it more. The way accidents happen...you never know when you'll need it.