leather or textile

[humey53]

Need to get sorted with "proper" motorcycling trousers, but never having worn leather before I'd like views on pro's and cons of both materials.

As my Jacket is a Frank Thomas textile one, I'm leaning towards textile, cordura etc, but all serious advice welcome.

Oh, and it'll be mostly fair weather biking (at my age I make no apologies )

[General Gman]

I prefer leather for when it's not wet and / or freezing cold, but that's just personal preference (and the fact that ladeez love it )
Just try some stuff on and see what you feel comfy with.

[Ghoti]

I prefer lether too, but textile is more practical (I'm not being much help here am I).

As GM says, try stuff on, but dont forget if you go for leather it will stretch so buy a snug fit.

[gimrie]

Hi
I like both ;D
Sorry not much help, but on a hot sunny day( yes I know not many about at the moment) gortex for me

Cheers
Gimrie

[neilmud Lord Protector]

I prefer leather as it's natural it seems to be warm when cold and no hotter than jeans when hot, shower proof and even on me more stylish.

I am sure textile is OK if you come off if it properly made but I would rather be wearing leather even if it was those Kevlar reinforced jeans it has a certain amount of natural padding.

Neil

[Sharklet]

I have a set of Cordura textiles from Lidl which I love, they are comfortable, fairly good in wet and great protection too (all that for less than £100). Would like leathers but fear I would look more like Michelin Man (Bibendum) than I care to think about so sticking with my much loved textiles. Any help?

Jane

[Pops]

I think it may be more helpful to humey53 if the leather wearers (well only the female leather wearers actually as male forms in leather may be off putting) could post piccies of themselves in their leathers (all angle shots). This would undoubtedly serve as a helpful tool to visualise oneself getting into leather.
Hope this helps, I know it will help me.
Keith (and more then likely most of the males in the club)

[teejayexc]

Jul 18, 2008 19:30:04 GMT Pops said:

I think it may be more helpful to humey53 if the leather wearers (well only the female leather wearers actually as male forms in leather may be off putting) could post piccies of themselves in their leathers (all angle shots). This would undoubtedly serve as a helpful tool to visualise oneself getting into leather.
Hope this helps, I know it will help me.
Keith (and more then likely most of the males in the club)

Hear, hear, or if you are of a shy nature you can always pm the piccies

trev

[billywhizz]

fabrics have armour in, usually.
most have liners in , that can be removed, so can be used for warm and colder days.

I have fabrics, as i'd look like michelin man in leathers!!
fabrics can get a bit warm when weather hot, so not to much trouble, but a pair of EDZ type long johns, which help stop the nylon sticking to your legs helps.
fabric have more flexiblity, allows easier movement, and no saggy bum syndrome when off the bike!!

Leather could well provide better protection from gravel rash if sliding down the road though.

I have a pair of fabrics from Hein Gericke.
if fabric chosen, make sure the armour of knees & hips are actually covering the correct places, so correct size is important, as if short legs, the armour may be down your shin!!
hth

[Fiasco]

Jacket - always Cordura for me, I find leather too restrictive.

Trousers - I tend to wear leather in the main, and carry some decent baggy waterproof over trousers. The cordura trousers never seem to hold up for long in proper rain do they.

When it's really wet - leather trousers, cordura jacket and waterproof oversuit.

Dave ;D

[CD]

I prefer a black leather two-piece in summer/not too cold and cordura for winter warmth. All are big enough to get normal trousers and fleece underneath. Watch out for cheap textile troose in cold rain. The outer fabric gets soaked and VERY cold so it sucks heat out of the "thermal" lining. I have some Buffalo pants that are really bad for that.

My pal who (got a dose of target fixation and ran wide) broke his collar bone because the shoulder armour turned and dug into his collarbone. There was an obvious line in his bruising. We think if he'd been in leathers, he probably would not have broken any bones.

[eliminator]

Trouble with this thread is that it is all opinions. I was going to add my comment, comparing leather to fabric, but to a great extent it depends on how good a fit the kit is. if someone has bought kit that is a bit tighter, in say leather, then they may prefer their looser textile kit.

Hell of a lot of variables, cheap leather or expensive Goretex.

Oh OK then:

My tight leather trousers can get too hot & restrict my movement when I'm on my 1150GS. By comparison the second hand pair of BMW Goretex pants, have no movement restrictions, and I don't get so hot in them. Also these particular pants are warmer in winter than the leather, which seems to be a contradiction. Having said that the fit on the textile pants is more generous (slightly baggy)

Of more practical concern is that the Goretex textile kit is totally waterproof, so I don't need to carry waterproofs. Some waterproof kit has a removeable waterproof lining. To me this seems to lead to the inevitable situation of going out without the liner, only for it to rain.

[DahDit]

Depends on your kind of riding m8.

If you're after something for sunny weekend blasts as you hardly ever go out in the rain/cold/winter.....leather must be the preference.

If you ride in all weathers, sun,rain,snow etc. a compromise must be made......

IMHO that's what textiles are there for - they're not the best at offering crash protection, although the current armour/textile materials are up to the job......but they'll do you in all conditions.

They're comfortable and they'll even fit over works clothes for the quick change when you arrive.

Leathers if you don't need flexibility, fabric if you do....

[terrytibbs]

hi-if it helps at all...ive been to europe/iom tt a few times and invested in a spada textile jacket-was ride mag best buy-and it is!! best bit of kit ive brought in years... i think its the podium? will check..matching keks as well but they not quite as waterproof,still great tho..

did try buffalo imola trousers/rst boots-both supposedly..crap!great when your in southern france-took em back and dealer said i was using them in wrong type of rain??

[doggone]

why do men get excited when women wear leather? they have that new car smell