Motorcycle jacket

It's a question we all ask ourselves when we're new to motorcycling. The leather jacket seems to be inseparable from the image of the biker. It's usually the first purchase you make. I vividly remember my first leather jacket, bought at Japauto on avenue de la grande armée. It was a different era. Since then, I've ridden thousands of kilometers and revised my opinion of textile jackets. It has to be said that motorcycle equipment has come a long way since then.

1- Protection

Leather jackets normally offer better abrasion protection than textiles. However, in recent years, top-of-the-range textiles have come a long way, with the introduction of materials such as Cordura, Aramid fibers, Carbonite Ripstop... Leather and textiles also include shoulder and elbow protection. When not supplied as standard, jackets are now equipped with a pocket for an approved back protector.

2- Rain and cold

Leather jackets can be worn all year round. It will nevertheless be hot in summer, unless you opt for a perforated version, and it won't like the rain. Leather jackets are rarely waterproof, and won't stand up to rain for long. Textile jackets are much more versatile. In summer, you can opt for a lightweight mesh jacket. There's also a range of 3-in-1 products that allow you to remove the warm lining and waterproof membrane as the weather changes. These garments are generally equipped with ventilation to air out your garment when it's hot. The top of the range, however, are motorcycle jackets made from Gore-Tex laminates. The waterproof membrane is laminated to the outer fabric, guaranteeing a watertight seal with an outer fabric that won't get waterlogged and weigh tons as it takes days to dry. Laminate jackets can also create real ventilation, making your jacket wearable in summer. Klim 's Gore-tex jackets are built this way.

3- Look and durability

This is the strong point of a leather jacket. Whether you ride a sports bike, a roadster or a café racer , leather is a beautiful piece of clothing that's a pleasure to wear. In this respect, I think textiles are better than leather.

Leather lasts longer than textile. If you look after it well, it can give you a lifetime, as they say. To achieve the same result with textiles, you'll need to choose top-of-the-range models that will age well.

As you can see, there's no simple answer to the question of leather or textile. Each has its advantages and/or disadvantages. If you ride every day in all weathers, go for a textile, but if you only ride when the weather's nice, leather might be nice. It also depends on your bike. On a sports bike, leather is cooler, whereas on a trail bike, you're more likely to go for a textile... Then, if you've got the budget, get both :)

Contrary to popular belief, you can wash your Gore-tex motorcycle jacket without any trouble at all. Gore-tex likes it :) It cleans away any dirt that might clog the membrane's pores and make it less effective. Once you've removed your protective gear, put your motorcycle jacket in the washing machine at 30°c. The Klim brand even recommends 30 minutes in the tumble-dryer on a gentle program to reactivate the water-repellent properties of Gore-tex.

You're right to ask. Leather is a living material that needs to be cared for. The first thing to do when you want to look after your leather is to clean it. You can start with lukewarm water and a little Marseille soap. Use a microfiber or soft cloth to avoid damaging your leather.

The second step is to nourish your leather. If it's not too dry, you can use baby milk. Of course, it's not very expensive and it's effective. If your leather is dry, we recommend Belgom Leather Renovator. This product is extremely effective. Made with ox foot oil, this renovator softens leather without clogging or greasing it. Don't hesitate to let your leather rest after the first treatment.

The final step is to protect and waterproof your leather. You can use chemical products such asGS27 waterproofing. It's inexpensive and easy to apply. However, at Ixtem, we prefer natural products. We'd be more inclined to recommend Belcom's wax. It's based on lanolin and plant esters. Lanolin is a natural waterproofing agent (wool grease or wool wax) with proven effectiveness.

If we had one final piece of advice to give you, it would be to store your leather jacket on a hanger in a dry, well-ventilated place. Avoid leaving it in the sun, which as you know tends to discolor it.