Best Motorcycle Leather Jackets For Safety And Style?

@carlosadar Welcome to the family. I usually look at Gore-Tex jackets they do all you are asking for. But most good make jackets these days are pretty robust and as the questions you ask are what most bikers ask the makers are taking it on board.

 

Although Goretex is great for countries like ours in Europe I doubt you'll find a goretex leather one. Theres a couple of points you missed ie what bike you ride styles with styles so to speak, you won't want a cruiser style on a sports bike. Also what sort of shape you are slim fit aerodynamic on a tub of lard is not comfortable or a good look for that matter.
Stylish Leather is not the most waterproof so take that into account.
As to makes Goldtop comes highly recommended, lots of styles.


I have an IXS spirit of '79 which is super comfortable with back,shoulder and elbow protectors, with all that in it's quite heavy, removeable inner jacket but it is no way near waterproof I suppose you could get a goretex inner liner that would help a lot.
Best thing is get out there and find what suits your ride and body shape.

 

If you want classic styling and have deep pockets then I’d recommend Lewis Leathers. I still have mine from 1983 and there’s years left in it yet. If you want full body armour to the latest spec then you’ll probably have to look at the more modern sports kit like Dianese or Alpine Stars etc.
Leather is NOT waterproof, period. I don’t care what you treat it with it will leak eventually which is where it loses out to modern textiles IMO. Some of the modern textile offerings take some beating for all round usability and sheer VFM IMO.

 

I don't know about safety, but it has style - well, a style anyway.

Seriously though, I've always worn a heavy leather jacket for the cold with a zip out lining for the warmer days. When I had my Harley and Victory cruisers it was the classic wide collar, buttons and zippers with a belt. After switching over to Triumph, that type of jacket just didn't seem to lend itself to the more staid look that goes with the British bikes. Didn't look proper, so I switched to the high collar, cafe racer style leather. Looks are everything, you know. In summer it's denim with padded elbows. As for break-in, chain it to the back of the bike and drag it down nine miles of gravel git back. It'll give it that weather beaten, experienced, serious biker look.

 

I recently purchased a First Manufacturing jacket from Cycle Gear/RevZilla here in the US. I'm very impressed with the quality, both of the leather itself and its construction.

This particular one is perforated and feels almost like riding in shirt-sleeves when underway, bought as a summer jacket to round out a "collection" of other leather jackets I've had for years that cover cooler and colder weather.

First Mfg also makes quite a few styles in standard heavy leather. Mine did not come with armor, but has pockets for it, as I'm sure they all do. For the most part, I think you'll find that most leather jackets designed for riding are made of adequately heavy material and either come with armor or are have provisions for it.

Anyway, here's my newest addition to the tack room:

 

Someone already mentioned GoldTop and I would highly endorse them also. Their customer service is top notch as well as the quality. They are a British brand so you being Stateside you would need to order from outfitters that stock them, there are some i checked!

 

How about my Lewis Leathers Sportsman jacket bought in 1968? The leather jeans, also LL, are a tad more snug but the waist will JUST fasten The jacket only comes out for the DGR together with the silk scarf and the boots with the white socks turned over the top.



My day to day riding kit is all leather by Dainese with the exception of my Daytona Road Star GTX boots.

 

I had a lewis leathers jacket in the '70s, no longer unfortunately and probably wouldn't fit now anyway!
I did take a trip to the Lewis Leathers shop in Soho London and it was like walking into the Blue Oyster Bar from Police Acadamy. The demographic has changed since the 70s and 80s.

 

yes same here i had a Lewis leathers jacket in the seventies. here was a great offer back then where you could take your jacket back and they would give you a fantastic discount on a replacement.

 

These old Lewis Leathers are now worth a mint. The jeans I bought with my jacket are lined in a red silky fabric that makes them just slide on, shear luxury.

 

And at my age I could do with something that just slides on!

 

Triumph do a hybrid jacket with leather arms and some trim with a gortex/ cordura body i bought one to wear on the Thunderbird as the leather on mine is green it's got decent protection and is warm and dry in the winter and lining out is quite comfy in the summer below 25° that is not a bomber style more of a cafe racer wax jacket style
For a bit more style and you want to keep the cost down you can always buy a leather cut with lace sides to go over the jacket textile or leather