It may not offer the full protection of a set of race leathers or the all-weather functionality of a good textile suit, but there’s something special about a good-looking motorcycle jacket that’s fun to wear on and off the bike.
Do casual jackets come with e-numbers?
That’s right, just because a jacket is casual/lightweight doesn’t mean it lacks protection.
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Our old friend EN17092 is back again, with four ratings.
■ B – Suitable for urban use, but not armored
A – Armored urban use (has its own rating, which we’ll explain later)
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■ AA – Think of it as suitable for touring and major A roads
■ AAA – Rated for maximum speed use, i.e. highway use.
Casual suggests more local riding, so A would probably be the candidate.
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As mentioned earlier, armour has its own rating: EN1621 has two ratings, Level 1 and Level 2, with Level 2 offering the best impact protection.
Are there different “types” of casual jackets?
Not really. Casual means lightweight. Among them are specialized mesh jackets for maximum breathability, shirt-like jackets, and even protective parkas.
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So what should you look for?
Apart from the rating I mentioned earlier, look at the materials used too, I have a shirt made from Cordura with Kevlar lining, level 2 armor, so I’m happy it’s okay.
If you cycle across a wide range of seasons, a mesh jacket is probably not a good idea. It’s great when it heats up, but when the temperatures drop from summer to fall, you’ll feel the cold in the mesh, and the rain will get in. Some jackets have a waterproof layer (made from brands like Sinaqua) and/or a removable thermal lining.
Textile jackets work well in a wide range of conditions, the shirts I mentioned are a good choice in urban areas, but when the temperature drops it’s best to support them with a really good base layer such as Zerofit, EDZ etc.
anything else?
Zippers should be of good quality and of a good length (for a hoodie, a short one is good for easy donning; for a jacket/shirt style, a full-length zipper is fine), and preferably have a storm flap above or below the zipper.
Pockets? Keys, wallet, phone, they all go in here, so you want to keep them really safe. Poppers are ok, but if you want to keep them really safe, zippers are best, though for a dedicated phone pocket or something, velcro is better. A zippered Napoleon pocket for your wallet is a big plus (it’s inside the protective layer, so it’s harder for thieves to reach).
Which one should you buy?
Over the next few days, we’ll share a few things to give you a feel for the atmosphere, so keep checking back.
