Triumphrat

04200brick · 07-11-2008, 12:00 PM

I have a 20-yr.-old "motorcycle" jacket that is falling apart & I need to replace.

Anybody have a favorite style or make of riding jacket? Leather looks best (and fits the Bonnie persona), but does a good fabric jacket perform better? Armor vs. no armor? Are Vansons worth the price? Some Triumph jackets are cool but a little corporate.

Discuss

AJF1134 · 07-11-2008, 12:05 PM

check out Speedi racing leathers. out of italy , great craftsmenship , armour no armour options. a bit pricey but well worth it.

1948T-100 · 07-11-2008, 12:24 PM

I have tried a number of jackets and find that no one jacket fits all applications. I did buy a Triumph Rivton jacket and love it for around town and day trips. It has a traditional style and the color Blk/Red matched several of my bikes. It has removable armour in shoulders and elbows and just fits me right. I have used a Belstaff Textile jacket on a trip to Alaska and it was ok but not so stylish. If you don't want armour Schott makes a classic cyle jacket that is very nice. Both the Triumph and the Schott can be had in the 300.00 or less range. Good luck!:

Iceseven · 07-11-2008, 12:27 PM

I have a Triumph retro paddock jacket which is nice with the armor but I ride almost always with my Barbour International jacket, very British, very waterproof, no armor just waxed cotton between you and the elements, but I like it.

Silverado57 · 07-11-2008, 12:29 PM

You won't be thinking about the style of your jacket if you bounce off the bike.

Get a mesh jacket with a removable windbreaker liner for the summer.
Get another heavier mesh jacket with a removable warm, waterproof liner for the winter.

Armor? Absolutely!

First Gear, Olympia & Joe Rocket make some nice ones.

A pair of mesh riding pants with knee & hip armor can save you too. Ever break a knee or hip? That can't be fun.
Ride smart, and ride safe.

Medic09 · 07-11-2008, 01:18 PM

Silverado already made the point that weather will dictate some of your uses.

I like leather, and wear it much of the year. I have a Cortech Coaster jacket, leather with armoured pads. Removable light quilted liner, and I wear fleece under it when it is really cold. My wife has a similar jacket from Fast Company. We both are pleased with our jackets. They seem durable, and the prices were reasonable. My jacket has about 6000 miles on it, and it just looks like a nicely used leather jacket.

I used to wear my old goatskin flight jacket. It looks really cool, especially with the mouton collar buttoned up, but provides little protection in case of a fall.

Summertime is way too hot here for leather, even with the vents open. So we both have mesh jackets. I stuck with Cortech because I knew the sizing worked for me, and I think their product is good for the money. My wife has a ladie's mesh jacket with removable quilted liner and rain liner (FRX?). It looks nice, and she really likes it. I have the GX Air with leather shoulder, back, and sleeve reinforcements. Also removable quilted liner and rain liner. I've only put about a thousand miles on it, but so far I like it.

There are some really nice textile jackets out there. The longer length ones are nice if you'll be touring alot and want the coverage and pockets.

I agree, too, about wearing overpants. I have fabric for moderate weather which also serve as rainpants. I have mesh with removeable liners for hot weather. For day trips I have BMW City pants with armour, which are really convenient. My wife has the same pants in a jeans material, that she really likes.

M700R · 07-11-2008, 02:34 PM

In cooler weather I ride in a good old heavy leather, insulated jacket. Very heavy, thick leather. Nice when it's cool or cold. Looks "right" with the Triumph too. Terrible in the heat. Doggone thing tries to team up with the sun and take me out of the ride by mid day!

So... Just bought my first mesh jacket a few weeks ago. It's a Phoenix 4.0 and has some padding for the back, shoulders, elbows. Fit is adjustable and has a zip-out insulated/waterproof (?) liner. Very comfortable in cool weather with the liner and terrific in warm or hot weather without the liner! I don't know why I didn't get one of these things for summer riding years ago. Mine is bright red and looks pretty snappy. Not retro at all though, I'll admit. Comfortable. High-vis. Functional. Not very expensive. I did a three-day 1250 mile tour of Washington, Idaho and Montana including several mountain passes. Stayed pretty warm and dry despite a t-storm or two and some chilly temps. Well... I did get cold on one pass in Washington. Brrrr... Also stayed comfortable when I went through Lewiston, the furnace of Idaho. About 100 degrees there and my mesh jacket felt great as long as I was moving.

There are of course arguments about what kind of jacket and trousers are going to afford the greatest protection should one fall... I think good custom, padded leathers are likely still the best, but I'm a recreational rider and I'll be darned if I'm going to suit up head to toe in leathers to go ride in 90 degree heat all day long... The leathers themselves would kill me in the heat!

My wife rides with me at least once a week and prefers the traditional look of a leather motorcycle jacket. We got her a nicely vented classic style leather jacket from "First." Quite a nice jacket, but no real padding...

Next step will be decent quality riding pants for both of us... I need something that works like my mesh jacket - protection & comfort.

FWIW, Guy

oldmanjob · 07-13-2008, 11:14 AM

I have a Triumph Rivton jacket and love it, but I would highly recommend the Triumph Integra textile jacket as after the low slide crash which I just had on June 14, which totaled my beloved Bonnie, it saved my skin and the shoulder armor saved my collarbone ( Though I still broke 5 ribs

) The jacket looks like it was in a dusty enduro, not a scratch on it,

and it's ready to ride another day.

4N099 · 07-13-2008, 04:29 PM

I just purchased a Tourmaster Intake Series 2 mesh jacket.
I've got an ultra-heavy leather jacket with vents but it's just too hot for summer and I feel naked without something on in the traffic we've got around here.

Looked at a couple of other brands in the same price range and decided on the Tourmaster because of it's dual liner setup. The thermal zips to the wind/water liner or you can run either of them by themselves so it should allow for a little wider temps range.
All the others seemed to have a single combo unit.

First ride in it was in 90 degree temps and it was comfortable and cool.
Seems to have plenty of airflow. You get a little sweat in the armor areas but not too bad.

I'm 5'10" @ 190 pounds and a 44 large fits well, waist is where it should be and there are plenty of adjustments for fit. Sleeves hit about right on the wrists but if you've got long arms they might be a little short. Could use an extra half inch maybe.

All in all a pretty decent jacket for the money compared to similar priced brands.

http://www.tourmaster.com/xcart/prod...ctid=269&cat=3

Mojoinco · 07-29-2008, 01:07 AM

I have a Joe Rocket Blast (3? fully ventilated leather jacket. Armored, has two different pant zippers. Love it, wouldn't mind if it was not black (cooler).

Also, have a basic model Alpinestars. Love the shoulder fit due to the shoulder seam (like a stadium jacket, doesn't go to the shoulder and then have the sleeve attach -- the sleeve is attached to the collar and tapers down to the body -- some golf shirts have this type shoulder). Simple, only a zipper on the front of each shoulder and across the back. Minimal pockets (all I want is two inside ones if possible for when I am away from the bike -- nothing on me while I ride).

If you have a jacket with a zipper, make sure it has its mate, then if you get pants (and the zippers don't match) make sure you get the pants zipper mate as well. You can sew the halves together if the zippers don't match to make them fit.