Comfortable and Affordable Protective Riding Gear

jackets

I have a Langlitz leather jacket that was custom made for me 25 years ago along with a pair of pants. They are old school but great quality and a great manufacturer: Langlitz Leather | World's Finest Motorcycle Leathers | Custom Leather Garments . I love both the pants and jacket, but in the last two years have been wearing a Motoport Kevlar jacket that I am convinced it has better crash protection than my leathers. It is also the most comfortable and versatile coat I have owned: Motoport

Both coats are on the expensive side, but worth every penny from my long-run perspective.

TitoZilla said:

@MonkeyByte80 What type of helmet are you currently riding in? I wear contacts too and my Shoei X-12 flows a ton of air to my face via the chin vent. In most instances, as it becomes too much air, I tend to close that vent for a bit until I get too warm. Sometimes a lot of ventilation comes with a price. Let me know if you have more questions. My office is filled with riders and we can bounce ideas around.

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Make sure your textile/leather jacket has all of the padding or you'll have to spend more on that. Also, don't go cheap on the helmet. I've found that there's a huge difference between a $200 helmet and a $400 helmet. It sucks but it's well worth the $.

Don't waste your money on the jeans. While they may look cool they don't offer much protection, or so I've been told.

I'd suggest Revzilla - check the 'sale' tab. That's where I got all of my gear.

fair warning...rant on the way

I am lucky to live close to a couple of large dealers with a decent assortment of riding gear. I am very long-limbed so I have been wearing custom-made touring leathers (soft pads, no velcro for sliders) for many years. But I bought a Olympia textile jacket last year for hot weather. Fits well, and I figure that it is good for one getoff...all I need for the price.

My problem is that I can't seem to find textile pants that are long enough - I need at least a 32/34, 32/36 if they shrink at all. Costco sells jeans in my size, why don't the bike gear guys do so? Anyone know of any such riding pants? Aerostich just started offering non-Goretex textile pants, but they only go to 32/32. They offer 34/36 and a zillion other larger sizes. Is everyone in this country obese? I still weigh 10 pounds more than when I was in college.

Found some online

Okay, I just ordered some Revitt Vendome jeans for me and the matching Madison jeans for the wifey. I decided that the more ADV-style pants were too technical, most were too short and nearly every one is an overpant with full side zips. We already have Aerostich Dakar overpants. The Revitt jeans are Cordura with Coolmax, come with Knox knee armor, and they had them in 32/36! Perfect for our 100 degree weather.

Should be here by the end of the week, will post a review. Looking forward to wearing them when we ride the Hardley to Seca for WSBK in July.