Motorcycle jacket is one of the necessary protective gears in the road riding and off-road riding, as it not only acts as a windproof and thermal layer for the motorcyclists, but also provides certain protection for them.There are various motorcycle jackets of different brands and styles on the market. Qualified motorcycle jackets usually have some common features: protection, water resistance, moisture permeability and so on. How are these characteristics of motorcycle jackets reflected in the design? Let’s first take a look at the types of motorcycle jackets.
ⅠMotorcycle jacket types
The motorcycle jackets on the market can be classified into two types in terms of the material of jackets: leather and textile motorcycle jackets. Let’s take a closer look at the functions and advantages of each motorcycle jacket.
①Leather motorcycle jackets
Leather motorcycle jackets are often considered a must-have for racers and rock lovers. The leather biker jacket is not only a fashion statement, but also provides other benefits for the rider while enjoying the open road.
The biggest advantage of leather motorcycle jacket is abrasion resistance and safety, which means that if you encounter a traffic accident, the leather motorcycle jacket will provide you with the best protection against road crash.
However, the heavy material of the leather motorcycle jacket also brings some disadvantages to this style. Due to the weight, leather motorcycle jackets fatigue riders faster than textile motorcycle jackets could. The thick materials cannot adapt well to hot weather or rain. In the sun, black leather absorbs heat fast; when it rains, the leather peforms poorly in the water resistance. Although leather motorcycle jackets are generally considered waterproof, moisture will eventually soak through. Nowadays, some motorcycle jacket brands have added vents and detachable waterproof liner to leather motorcycle jackets to improve the breathability and versatility of leather motorcycle jackets.
②Textile Motorcycle Jackets
The fabric is much more versatile than leather. Because of its lightweight feature and various high-tech weaving technologies, the textile motorcycle jacket is highly breathable and well-ventilated. For the rainy season, textile motorcycle jackets can also be easily made waterproof.
In addition, because the fabric of the textile motorcycle jacket is easier to process, compared with the leather motorcycle jacket, the textile motorcycle jacket is more functional.
However, the lighter fabric of textile motorcycle jackets does reduce their durability and they wear out faster than high-quality leather motorcycle jackets.
As different motorcycle jackets have different emphasis on functionality, textile motorcycle jackets can be classified into different categories.
Mesh motorcycle jacket
As one kind of textile motorcycle jacket desgined for hot weather, mesh motorcycle jacket is a great option for those who love riding in the summer heat.
While mesh jackets are the best option in terms of keeping you cool in summer months, they definitely offer the least amount of protection
3 in 1 Touring motorcycle jacket
This type of jackets are incredibly versatile as they can be worn as a light jacket, a heavy (lined) jacket, or a separate vest or sweatshirt.
Their different components give you the option to adjust based on the temperature and usage and are available in a variety of designs and materials.
Ⅱ Functional design features of motorcycle jackets
As our company’s products do not involve leather motorcycle jackets for now, the following mainly discusses how the functional characteristics of textile motorcycle jackets are embodied in the design.
①Protective features of motorcycle jacket
- Fabric selection
Choosing a suitable fabric is the first step to ensure the protective function of motorcycle jackets. Motorcycle jackets usually use 600D polyester oxford fabric or 500D or more nylon oxford fabric, as the oxford fabric with a high denier has excellent abrasion resistance and tear resistance. For the impact areas such as the shoulders and elbows of motorcycle jackets, 1680D oxford fabric and some special wear-resistant fabrics are usually used such as Cordura or Kevlar. In addition, this type of fabric is cost-effective and easy to process and sew. And it is easy to be dyed into various colors, providing different personalized options for motorcyclists.
- Armors
Motorcycle jackets must have built-in protective pads at the impact zones of the motorcycle jacket. The protective pads was originally heavy and hard, but now some protective pads made of slow-rebound materials have become softer and only become hard when they get hit. All motorcycle jackets are equipped with shoulder and elbow protectors, and back protectors and chest protectors usually need to be purchased separately.
3.Reflective and high-visibility features
Reflectivity is also an important feature of motorcycle jackets. If the motorcycle jacket lacks reflective elements in its design, it poses a safety hazard and might cause accidents at worst scenario. reflective strips and reflective print are usually added on the chest, back and sleeve of motorcycle jacket to improve the riding safety at night. Meanwhile high-visibility fabrics can also be used to further enhance the riding safety.
② Waterproof features of motorcycle jacket
1.Waterproof fabric and seam sealing treament
Waterproof motorcycle jackets usually use waterproof fabrics which are coating or laminated with a film of membrane togther with the hot air seam sealing treament. The motorcycle jacket can also be made waterproof by adding a fixed waterproof lining or a detachable waterproof liner.
- Water-repellent zipper
Waterproof motorcycle jackets often use water-repellent zippers which are a kind of reverse coil zipper coated with a film of TPU membrane.
- Front fly design
The front fly of motorcycle jackets has one layer or double layers which are made of waterproof fabrics and has good windproof and waterproof performance.
- Storm collar
The design of storm collar made of waterproof fabrics can be used to further increase the windproof and waterproof performance of motorcycle jackets.
③Breathable features of motorcycle jacket
- Use fabrics laminated with TPU or PTFE membrane which are waterproof and moisture-permeable.
- Design air vents on the chest and back of motorcycle jackets and use hard mesh under the air vents.
④Fitting of motorcycle jackets
Generally speaking, fitting of motorcycle jackets is very critical for motorcycle riders and there are many factors involved in fitting, such as fabric selection, design pattern, sewing technology, etc. Consider the following two points when choosing a motorcycle jacket:
Not too tight! There should not be too much pressure on the seams and zippers of the motorcycle jacket. A motorcycle jacket that is too tight will fatigue the rider easily and affect riding safety.
Not too loose! If the motorcycle jacket is too loose, the protective armors will not be able to effectively protect the rider and it will also affect the appearance.
Finding the right choice between these two “extremes” depends entirely on your comfort and style preferences.
Taian BOWINS Garment Co., Ltd. has been the OEM and ODM supplier of motorcycle jackets and other motorcycle apparel for some European and American motorcycle clothing brands for many years with an annual output of more than 200,000 pcs of motorcycle clothing. The designers and pattern makers in Bowins fully understand the characteristics of motorcycle suit in design, and often communicate with their counterparts in European and American countries to keep up with popular design trends. If you are looking for a quality supplier of OEM or ODM motorcycle riding clothes, please feel free to contact me via robert.yang@bowins.net.
