Total Motorcycle Community Forums

So, I am taking the MSF Class at the end of September. I can't wait. I promised my wife I would take it, and I need to take it to register my bike on a military base.

I decided on an nice new HJC CL-15 Helmet. Vey cool. My question is about a motorcycle jacket.

Are the leather motorcycle-style jackets that they sell at Leather stores (Wilson's Leather) good enough for riding? Do they provide enough protection? They are substantially cheaper than th ones at my local bike shop.

Any help is appreciated.

As long as it isn't "top grain" leather and is sufficiently thick. It should be fine. Stay away from anything thin, the fashion leather stuff. The jacket should be heavy.

The stuff at Wilson's is typically a bit thinner, but they have some quality thick stuff.

You should have some non-chain leather stores in your area. My local independent leather store had some very nice thick leather motorcycle jackets for under $150. I even got a very nice pair of polyester-lined gloves with thick double-thickness leather palms for only $20 there.

Thanks for the info.

1 more question. What kind of thickness should i be looking for?

BTW,

I am getting a 1989 Honda VTR 250

BTW, my MSF class did not require riding jackets. We wore long-sleeve T-shirts.

I need a DOT certfied helmet, eye protection, jacket, full fingered gloves, long pants and over the ankle sturdy shoes.

Thick leather is best but having some built in body armor is the next step up. Like what pro dirt bikers wear but made for the street.

napoleon_e wrote:I need a DOT certfied helmet, eye protection, jacket, full fingered gloves, long pants and over the ankle sturdy shoes.

yeah mine said jackets as well. If I were you I would call and ask the MSF coordinator before you go buy the jacket right away (although your still gonna want one ). I Know mine said jacket but the MSF coordinator said as long as its long sleeve its ok. So I wore my Long sleeve BMX shirt cause well it was 105 outside when I was taking the course and man was it hot and prob more so on the blacktop. You never reach over 35mph (matter of fact I never got past 25mph) so eye protection is just normal glasses or safety glasses or the shield on your helmet. Sorry I cant answer your ?'s though.

It is not just the leather you need to look out for. Motorcycle jackets are made to stand up to an accident with double stitching and extra reinforcement in critical stress areas.

Leather is no good if the jacket falls apart at the seams at the moment of impact.

Don't forget that a leather only jacket (the type sold in a leather store) will only protect against abrasion damage. Impact will require that you get a jacket with some kind of armor.