Need Advice .... leather vs textiles

[Scott58]

If i'm going to wear something it's gotta be leather. Mink oil is your friend.

[slimcolo]

Just thought I would ad this conversion chart for leather. European and most Asian leather is measured in thickness in MM, American leather is measured in weight of ounces. (Canadian and Mexican may use either, but Canadian usually uses thickness in MM and Mexican usually uses weight) Also English leather thickness is measured in irons. The following also lists thickness in inches as well as the letter designations.

http://www.brettunsvillage.com/leather/conversions.html

This lists thickness in non fractional inches as and irons also.

http://www.claytonleather.com/thicknesstable.htm

[stupidnuk]

Speaking from experience, I would choose textiles. I had a full set of TourMaster textile riding gear with removable liners for cold weather. When I wrecked my bike 2 weeks ago at 60 MPH, the gear saved my life. It does need to be replaced now ( unfortunate, but imagine what would have happened if I hadn't been wearing it ). I got very minor scrapes to my left hand ( went down on the left side ) but that was from my gloves. They performed very well, but the road ate through the palm and my ring finger. I am missing a small chunk of skin from my ring finger and a 1/4" patch at the base of my palm on the side of my hand by my little finger. I was wearing a full face helmet and that worked very well too. If I hadn't have been wearing my helmet ( PA doesn't have a helmet law ) my chin and lower jaw would now be made of steel or some other metal. I had checked out leathers too, but found that they were a little too warm when riding in hot weather. The TourMaster series of gear is also available in leather for those that are die hard leather wearers. Just my opinion, but I will be getting another set of TourMaster textile gear once I get my 2000 Suzuki VZ800 Marauder put back together ( blinkers, headlight, speedometer, shifter peg, and shift linkage and bracket). I always see people riding in t-shirts and shorts and just imagine what they look like when they go down.

[Velocity]

Stupidnuk, I have the same thought when I see those riders without proper protective gear. I'm sure it feels great to ride without those additional encumbrances, but the downside is just not worth it to me.

What's even worse is when I see that they have a child on the back as a passenger. If the rider chooses to take that risk for his- or herself, I guess they're adults and can do so, but I could not in good conscience subject someone else to that risk.

I'm sorry to hear about your accident, but happy to hear that your gear did its job in protecting you.

[stupidnuk]

[Skier]

(I don't know of any rider who has just one jacket and pair of pants... )

*raises hand*

One set of riding gear for 10 degrees to 110. Works great.

[zeligman]

(I don't know of any rider who has just one jacket and pair of pants... )

*raises hand*

One set of riding gear for 10 degrees to 110. Works great.

one set might be all you need,but ... can get ... ripe

somehow i'm guessing LL is easier on the nose than us guys...

[storysunfolding]

I have one set of gear... for at least one of the bikes.

Interesting developments in textile with cordura 1000 the newer kevlar mesh jackets like the ones from cycleport have shown that they hold up BETTER than leather in a crash. They cost just as much and feel just as heavy but keep the advantages of textile.

[dean owens]

you got some links of some of this mesh?

[Greg .]

you got some links of some of this mesh?

+1

If you only have ONE set that works great ... please let us in on WHAT you're using! Thanks.