Man, few things are as iconic and badass as the leather motorcycle jacket. Movies like Easy Rider and Terminator 2 are but a few examples of how the traditional motorcycle jacket has become a part of American and Western culture. They symbolize toughness and freedom – like a bald eagle riding a tank.
Things are different now, though. This is the 21st century and things have changed since the days of just taking thick cowhide and making a heavier-than-usual jacket out of it. Bikes are much faster too, which means that it’s not enough to just protect you against a bad case of road rash. It has to be comfortable, aerodynamic, and good-looking too, while also armoring you against direct, bone-breaking impacts.
Below I’ve put a mix of the most popular and best specified jackets that you can buy. My top picks are listed first with the rest in no particular order. You’ll notice that I have only put men’s jackets on this page. Unfortunately, women’s jackets are not so readily available or available in as many varieties. If you are a woman and like one of these jackets you should get in contact with the retailer and find out if they make a female version of that model. Things are thankfully changing as more and more ladies are getting into the hobby, but at the moment it’s still a chore for women riders. It shouldn’t be, but there you have it.
Anyway, let us get to the reviews.