There is a tendency among people to not give important issues thought until its too late…often we don’t design budgets until we bounce a few checks, don’t realize our car needed some love until its smoking on the side of the interstate, and take the quality of our motorcycle gear for granted until we need it…and I am sure you’ve heard the old adage; “there are two types of riders, those that have crashed, and those that will.”

While I don’t particularly care for this saying, it does serve to remind us that the time to think about what we wear during our ride is before we are asphalt surfing while our bikes make pretty sparks grinding down the road.

With clothing, it’s usually better to just know what you want from the outset and go with that decision – but when it comes to motorcycle jackets, there’s really no such thing as a ‘starter jacket’. You probably need one that’s versatile and will cover all your bases for as long as you own your bike.

Fortunately, most riders know the value of a good jacket, and for riders that know the value of protective gear, we have listed some of the best products out there-

Best Leather Motorcycle Jackets & Suits

1. SHIFT Vantage Leather Jacket

A black universal leather jacket devoid of any in your face graphics and/or brightly colored logo’s is something every male rider should have in his gear closest.

SHIFT’s Vantage leather jacket not only fits this criteria completely but it does so with safety and style in mind. Let’s start with safety first. The Vantage is constructed with 1.0 – 1.2mm premium grain leather and has dual layer leather in key areas for added protection and abrasion resistance.

Good quality leather will be less likely to rip, tear or burst on impact and as mentioned will give a higher level of abrasion resistance. This is an important point as those of us who have seen (or unfortunately experienced) road rash would not want that to happen to any rider.

Obviously leather aids in abrasion resistance but does little to help ease the blow of a sudden impact. To that end the Vantage comes standard with removable CE approved shoulder and elbow armor for impact protection. While protecting your limbs is important, protecting your back and spine are just as important.

Usually jackets of this type come standard with an integrated pocket for a back protector with a foam version. I found it odd then that while the Vantage has a zipper to gain access to the back area, there was no internal pocket for said back protector or integrated memory foam back padding. If you wear an external back protector in replace of the ones that come with a jacket this is a moot point but if not then this is something to be aware of.

All that safety does not have to come at the expense of comfort or style which is good as the Vantage excels in that area as well. With a slightly relaxed fit there is no break in period required and once you put it on it feels like you’ve had this jacket for years. The custom ergonomic zipper pullers and snaps aid for ease of use and anyone who has tried to close their jacket with full gauntlet style gloves on can attest to having large zippers and pullers is a huge benefit.

The Vantage has custom zipper chest vents plus a back exhaust vent that provides good airflow and circulation. There are also perforations in the leather under the arm pits that helps hot air escape to keep your temperature down in direct sunlight. With the vents open you can definitely feel the air coming in when riding but if you’re looking for airflow similar to a full mesh or perforated jacket you’ll be disappointed.

Speaking of airflow, the weight of the jacket is moderate so it’ll keep you warm enough on a chilly morning but may become uncomfortable when the temperatures rise rapidly. Unfortunately the Vantage does not have a removable/washable liner so any sweating that is done will be retained within the jacket. You could however send the jacket to a leather specialist for cleaning if it becomes to “ripe.”

This jacket is solely meant for the street as it does not have a short connection zipper for comparable leather pants. That does not mean however that you can’t wear leather pants with this jacket but if you do then it will truly be a two piece suit. Instead of wearing leather pants I substituted SHIFT’s Lodown jeans and since the Vantage has a belt loop I used that to make sure there was no rear flapping caused by the wind.

A nice feature of the Vantage is that is has plenty of storage. There are two internal chest pockets for added security of your wallet, cell phone or personal items as well as two external pockets for keys or anything else that you might need to carry. The two internal pockets are deep so if need be you can pack quite a lot in them. The two outer pockets are best left for smaller items.

While the Vantage may have a few short comings it does have some qualities and features that you’d find in more expensive jackets but at easily half the price. So just like a black cocktail dress, this jacket can bring you to any event in style (and safe).

2. Alpinestars Stage Perforated Leather Jacket

The Alpinestars jacket definitely has great stitching. When they say “multiple stitched main-seam construction for maximum tear resistance” they mean it. Plus there are numerous pockets (two in the front and two inside), which are great to keep your wallet, cell phone or camera in.

I was also pleased at the “feel” of the jacket. I’m sure everyone at some point has tried on a leather jacket and it just didn’t feel right. Whether it was too bulky, the fit was off at the sleeves, or the waist was too big, you just weren’t happy with it.

I always struggle with comfort as depending upon the manufacturer it’s hard for me to find the right size which means either I need to lose weight or shrink a few inches. Neither of which I want to do. Thankfully Alpinestars has found a good balance between comfort and use.

What makes this jacket fit so well are the ergonomically placed Schoeller stretch Cordura panels and leather flex zones. Without these additions the jacket wouldn’t be able to “give” and subsequently the jacket would feel “off.” These Schoeller stretch Cordura panels represent a new generation of fabrics that are exceptionally sturdy yet ultra-lightweight and soft.

Around the neck area is a great example of why this material is used. It offers the rider comfort along with protection (high-grade, high-tech fibers contribute to better tear resistance). These little touches show that the designers of this jacket really understand the motorcycle community and our specific needs. Otherwise we’d all be wearing leather jackets from a department store (not that there’s anything wrong with that).

You want more details? You got it! The jacket is constructed of 1.2-1.4mm full-grain leather for excellent abrasion resistance, pre-curved sleeves for a perfect fit in the riding position along with a removable quilted vest. If that’s not enough protection the jacket comes with CE certified armor in the elbows and shoulders. And before you ask, no I’m not going to crash test it to see how well they work.

This jacket is perforated so if you reside in a warmer climate all year round it would be a great addition to your motorcycle gear. As for me I go through the four seasons (come on sing with me: Winter-Spring-Summer and Fall) so for a few months I’ll be wearing it with the included vest and most likely a sweatshirt. Fortunately the jacket fits just right so that, combined with breaking it in I think I’ll have no problems bundling up and keeping warm during the transition from cool crisp mornings to moderate temperatures in the afternoon.

Case in point: I went for the inaugural ride with the jacket this morning and the temps were cool but not cold. It was actually refreshing not sweating.The Stage jacket provides ample airflow so riding on a hazy, hot and humid day wouldn’t tire a rider out as quickly compared to a non-perforated version. I know this for a fact as wearing a full suit (~14 lbs. of leather) in 100-degree heat (110 with the heat index) is extremely uncomfortable.

Another item of interest is that the jacket does have a full circumference connection zipper, which allows attachment to selected Alpinestars leather pants. This is a big benefit for those that don’t want to wear a one-piece suit all the time (e.g. riding to work or the local store) but don’t have the money necessary to buy a two piece outright. Here you have the option so hopefully in the future you can get the matching pants.

Now surely you’re thinking to yourself “All pros and no cons? What gives?” Well I do have one con. My one complaint was that even though the jacket does come with a foam back protector, it seems inadequate. I’m sure it’s better than nothing but after riding around with my seven-piece version for years now I felt naked. Alpinestars does offer other varieties (Tech/Race or Bionic protectors), which I would certainly look into if purchasing this jacket.

I’ve used this jacket with and without the inner vest. Obviously if you’re going to use the included vest the airflow is minimized but the trade-off is keeping your body heat within. Conversely, without the vest you get plenty of cool air on your chest but sacrifice warmth. The moral of this story is to check your local weather and plan appropriately.

Even though I’ve recently purchased a tank bag I find myself enjoying the use of all the pockets that the Stage provides. Sometimes I won’t take my tank bag on short rides so having pockets for keys, a wallet, cell phone, etc. is fantastic. Be aware though that if you don’t use the vest you will lose two (out of the five) pockets so keep your accessories to a minimum.

Now from a purely superficial perspective I will say that I’ve received a lot of compliments on the jacket. Remarkably from cruiser riders. I think, since this jacket doesn’t fit the “speed racer” niche, that almost anyone can (and hopefully will) wear this jacket. Here I thought it was my magnetic personality attracting people but apparently it was the jacket. But I digress…

Now the big question: “Would I buy this jacket?” Without hesitation I’d answer a resounding “Yes.” Alpinestars has created a high quality jacket that not only looks and feels fantastic but is also competitively priced. So if you’re in the market for a new jacket and haven’t looked at Alpinestars as an option yet, do so as you won’t regret it!

If you’re in the market for a fully functional jacket that has a lot to offer for a reasonable price then the Alpinestars Stage Perforated Jacket should definitely be on your “must see” list.

3. Triumph Stockwell Leather Jacket

Put the Stockwell jacket on and you are immediately assaulted with that unmistakable smell of high quality leather. That is actually one of the best ways to tell the quality of any leather product; over processed leather won’t have that smell. Another nice feature that you notice right away is the “buttery soft” feel of the jacket. Triumph chose to use leather in the 1mm thickness range which offers good protection without feeling like a suit of armor.

The Stockwell has a look that combines classic styling cues that work well with Triumph’s “Modern Classics” line while also looking modern enough to be worn while riding a bike like the Street Triple.

Even though the Stockwell has a classic look to it, modern safety is fully represented by double-stitched seems in all impact areas and removable CE approved elbow and shoulder protectors.

A nice feature to have on leather jackets are vents and the Stockwell comes ready to roll in that department. A zippered vent on each bicep is coupled with two zippered chest vents and  a big, almost full-width, zippered vent across the upper back. I rode in 88 degree weather while wearing the Stockwell (with the humidity at approx 75%) and with all the vents open I stayed reasonably comfortable. Not as comfortable as I would have been with a mesh jacket but not nearly as uncomfortable as I thought I would be. You can of course zip all the vents closed for those times when extra airflow isn’t desired.

You can also extend the usefulness of the Stockwell jacket by zippering in the “aluminium” vest liner. Yes I know it is spelled “aluminum” but this is a British jacket from a British company so we are playing by the Queen’s language rules. I’m guessing that, sandwiched between the black fabric, the inside of the vest looks like one of those “space blankets”. The feel of the vest bears this out as it is kind of crinkly feeling. This of course is a useful material to ward off unwanted cool air while keeping the wanted warm air inside. If you need even more warmth there is an option to fit a fleece neck warmer (not provided).

In typical Triumph fashion the overall fit and finish of the Stockwell jacket is top notch. Both the feel of the jacket and the quality of the stitching is flawless and definitely drive home the fact that this is a well made, comfortable, and stylish jacket that doesn’t sacrifice an inch of protection. Triumph also uses quality YKK zippers with pulls that are big enough to be easily used even while wearing thick gloves.

If you like to store things in your pockets while you ride you’ll like the soft lined outer pockets and the two zippered inside pockets. Plus there is a pocket in the rear of the jacket for that one big thing we should all have with us whenever we ride; a back protector.

There is one flaw to the Stockwell jacket though. And this flaw will stop thousands of potential buyers from getting this otherwise beautiful jacket. What is this flaw? “Triumph” is written big and bold, front and back, on it. Now that really isn’t a flaw per se, but it will keep those aforementioned thousands of riders from experiencing one of the nicest jackets on the market. That is sad.

So here is my suggestion on how to oversome that “flaw”; take a good long look at the jacket no matter what type of bike you ride. Actually all of the Triumph branded gear we’ve had the opportunity to wear has been extremely high quality so while you’re looking at the Stockwell you should check out all the other Triumph branded riding gear as well.

And if any of your “friends” start to question why you are wearing a Triumph jacket while riding a (insert your brand of motorcycle here) you just give them a shocked look and tell them that anyone who is anyone is wearing Triumph branded gear. Then flip down your visor and ride off to find better “friends”.

4. Shift SR1 Leather Suit

One thing that always shows whether riding equipment is good or not, is when a moto-journalist spends his (my) own hard earned cash on it.

In this instance, it’s an irrevocable yes. I originally first bought a white Shift M1 jacket from my local dealer, had to pay full pop and was pleased to do so. It’s very stylish, and most importantly, very well made. The safety features and manufacturing standard is easily up to the quality of some of the other Italian manufacturers, Alpinestars and Dainese to name just two.

Shift also became one of the first company’s to cater to my beloved Supermoto obsession (their parent company being Fox) So I bought their Supermoto suit and spent many a happy day sliding around on my bum, thus proving the reliability and protection that they offer. I actually still have a Supermoto suit converted to road-race with the addition of Velcro knee pads (applied by a local vendor) to attach some road race knee pucks to.

The cut of that Supermoto suit is obviously for a sit-up-and-beg style rather than a road-race crouch, but ultimately I feel safe in it.

Fast forward to the last couple of weeks and Shift have come up with the perfect answer to my road-race suit dilemma, the SR1 suit. Shift has invested in many different resources to support this street line and consulted with numerous European specialists, specialists with extensive experience with the leading Italian street brands. This suit has also been produced with the developmental input of none other than former AMA Superbike Champion, Doug Chandler.

This very attractive suit has a shorter waist to neck (chest) measurement and pre-curved arms. It is a great mixture of 1.2mm to 1.4mm cow hide leather, and a Premium Schoeller® stretch Kevlar® composition in the under arm and inner thigh region and is very flexible with accordion stretch panels behind each shoulder, lower back and knee area’s.

The overall effect is a very comfortable suit with minimal break-in time. I first wore the suit at the 2006 R6 intro and suffered no discomfort or fatigue of any sort. The problem with most suits is the flexibility factor – if it takes forever to break in then your ability to ride decent length sessions is reduced and the fatigue factor goes through the roof, not to mention an awkward riding style. I’ve got off a bike before and had cherry marks on my knee’s (behind and on top) due to stiff leathers – No such (bad) luck with these, they fit perfect

The elbow/forearm armor is enveloped in purpose-built leather pockets that will almost totally resist body armor movement in the event of a big tip over. I’ve seen injuries where the crasher has avoided track rash but suffered nasty armor inflicted injuries due to the movement and pinching of plastic on skin.

The shoulder pads also have very strong Velcro attachments on two sides and the knee and shin pads shrouded in sueded leather. All seams are blind double and triple stitched and glued for max safety too.

Further design traits include a fully removable polyester (zip in/out) inner liner that helps with wicking moisture away from your body and vented leather area’s on the neck and thigh area to further exhaust moisture. The neck area is also neoprene for moisture control and comfort. The hips also have a memory foam on each side that sets to your riding, sitting position. This memory foam extends to a portion covering your all important (tell me about it) tailbone area. I swear these things are more comfortable than my Kung-Fu pajamas.

The zips look good on the SR1 and a step up from the Supermoto suit (which I never had any problems with either). The knee pucks are generous in size and should last a reasonable amount of time, they offered a nice feel too and also took a hit when I nicked a curb or two at Willow.

The butt also doesn’t look baggy, like some other race suits – it’s not a biggy but sometimes picking up chicks in the pits is hard work, especially if you look like you have a bag of potato’s strapped to the rear of your jockeys… girls notice these things apparently.

The only downside that I could see was the soft (included) back protector. I swapped mine out with a hard one that I just had kicking around. Kudos to Shift for even supplying one at all, and I’m especially grateful that it’s an industry size pocket because my harder alternative went straight in perfectly.

Lastly, a very shagadelic feature is a pair of Shift logo’d hoops on the very bottom of each leg that meant I could turn and hang the suit upside down to air out over my fan, in between sessions. Incredibly simple, but very thoughtful. It seems that Shift dissected the market competition and came up with, and in some cases, a better alternative and added some unique design style points of their own.

5. Shift Octane Leather Jacket

An old MSF instructor once told me: “Dress for the accident and not the ride.” It’s amazing what stays with you over the years. Having always remembered that when riding on the street I normally wear a full leather suit because up until last year I didn’t have much of a choice since I didn’t own a dedicated riding jacket. That all changed when I evaluated the Alpinestars Stage perforated leather jacket (read the full review here). Now thanks to Shift I’ll have another option as I just snagged their new Octane leather jacket.

Safety is always a concern for me so seeing that the Octane came with removable CE approved shoulder and elbow armor was reassuring. There’s also an integrated memory foam back protector in its own pocket for added protection, which is good to have if you don’t have a dedicated back protector. If you do own one (I use the Teknic 7-link unit) you should definitely use that instead.

Speaking of safety we as riders always want to have a fun ride and arrive back at home in one piece. As such being seen by other motorists is paramount. I believe Shift is aware of this issue since they added just enough color for extra visibility (full black not applicable).

In these times of cell phones, in car navigation systems and other devices that distract motorists perhaps if a glare of color (e.g. Red, Blue, Silver, etc.) refocuses their attention on the road then a catastrophe could be avoided. This however is no substitute for being a rider keenly aware of your surroundings.

The Octane is constructed of 1.2-1.4mm premium grain leather and has leather accordion panels in key flex areas (elbows and shoulders) for unrestricted movement. KorMax™ stretch Aramid panels add more flexibility while providing abrasion resistance.

This jacket has perforated leather panels with additional air intake vents on the shoulders and chest area so this probably won’t be the jacket you’ll be wearing in January if you reside in an area that sees the changing of the seasons. If you insist on wearing it when its 30 degrees outside (like I did while testing this jacket) I’d definitely wear a sweatshirt underneath. The included liner did help prevent some of the cold air coming through though.

Full-length and short connection zippers are standard so if you want compatible Shift pants, attaching them shouldn’t be a problem. The sleeves have the same quality zippers along with snap type buttons on the cuffs. This is a nice touch as most jackets just have zippers on the sleeves and they always seem to leave a gap around the wrist area. Snap type buttons are also available on the waist so if you had a few too many Fatburgers you can adjust accordingly.

Since the air is cool and the wind is brisk this time of year sweating isn’t much of an issue. Although when July comes around and the mercury climbs into the 90’s and above it’s nice to know that the Octane has a removable and washable quilted full-sleeve liner. This liner can easily be unzipped from the jacket and tossed in the wash. Just remember not toss it in with your whites otherwise bad things will happen. This is precisely why I don’t do the laundry.

Having donned the jacket for its maiden voyage I set out to cover some familiar roads and see how comfortable I felt wearing my new duds. I had plenty of mobility in the arm/shoulder areas and the double pockets on the outside and inside lent themselves quite nicely to carrying the necessities (cell phone, wallet, camera, pen & paper, gum, Powerbar and more). Yeah, maybe I should get a man-bag huh?

The Octane felt great, was comfortable and “broke in” perfectly on all the trips I took while using it. Thankfully the temperatures warmed up later that week so the other rides weren’t as harsh on my most sensitive of areas. This is a well constructed jacket that should be included in any rider’s gear collection.

Best Mesh Motorcycle Jackets

1. SHIFT Air Avenger Mesh Jacket

If I had a dime for every time I heard someone say “it’s too hot out to wear a jacket when I ride” I’d be on a beach sipping some delightfully fruity drink while watching some beautiful woman walk down the beach towards me wearing nothing but….err…….umm…….sorry where was I?

I think it is safe to say that since every major manufacturer of riding gear makes a mesh jacket, what the riders are really saying is that they want to “look” cool as much as “be” cool and the current offerings just aren’t cool enough. If that is your mentality then be prepared to buy your first mesh jacket because SHIFT just hit the “looking cool” factor out of the ballpark. As an added bonus, not only does the Air Avenger jacket look cool but it also does a great job of flowing air in order to keep you feeling cool.

SHIFT’s recent offerings really show the stunt riding cultural influence in their designs. This is to be expected as SHIFT has a huge presence in that market. By combining cutting edge looks with great protection SHIFT has created a product line that not only turns heads at stunt shows but everywhere else too.

The Air Avenger jacket is the top of the line mesh jacket from SHIFT and offers some very nice features usually not found in mesh jackets. The jacket is almost entirely mesh with the main body being made from the smaller, tighter mesh fabric for better abrasion resistance while the top and back of the arms along with two long “vents” on the front and back of the jacket body are made from a very loose, open mesh material for maximum airflow.

The collar of the Air Avenger is cut like a t-shirt instead of being taller like most motorcycle jackets. The first time I put the jacket on I’ll admit that I didn’t like it; it just felt wrong having that much of my neck exposed.

After wearing it a few times I got used to the feeling of the air rushing around my neck unimpeded and realized that it helped the cooling factor quite a bit. I will say that if you wear a collared shirt under the jacket be prepared to be smacked around at speed by your collars as they won’t stay inside the lower collar of the jacket.

Uh-Oh…..got caught out at night and the temperature has dropped into the “gee, where is my textile jacket?” range? Have no fear SHIFT has you covered with their removable windproof liner. Now most jacket liners zip and snap into the jacket and then the jacket zips up leaving a gap between the liner in the front (where the jacket zipper is), but not on the Air Avenger. Oh you snap the liner into place with  9 snaps (3 direct snaps and 6 loop type snaps) and then zip it into the jacket but the front of the liner also zips together.

This accomplishes two things; 1) seals that zipper area better than other jackets where the liner leaves a gap there, and 2) gives you the option of using the liner as an extra layer under any other jacket you own. Since having a bunch of air flowing around your neck while you are trying to stay warm would be bad, SHIFT made the liner with an extended collar.

One last thing; if you have ever twisted a liner’s sleeve around while snapping it into the jacket sleeve, SHIFT has the answer for you; color-coded loops and snaps. All you need to do is match the threading on the liner snap tab with the same colored loop on the jacket sleeve and Presto! you should have straight liner sleeves.

While most mesh jackets are fully mess the Air Avenger has textile patches on most of the impact zones. This is for better protection should you decide you are tired of riding and can’t be bothered with actually stopping before you dismount…….or you crash…..you know, whichever.

Another nice feature of the Air Avenger jacket are the ram air vents on the shoulders. In a mesh jacket it is kind of difficult to tell if they are working, especially in this jacket where you get a lot of air down the collar, but they seem to work in other non-mesh jackets so I see no reason they don’t work here as well; plus, they look cool.

While looking cool is good and staying cool is arguably even better, being protected is, hands down, the most important thing. SHIFT kitted-out the Air Avenger jacket with all the goodies; CE approved protectors in the forearms/elbows and shoulders, a back pad (not back protector), the afformentioned high abrasion textile patches, and an integrated pocket for an actual back protector. You can use the back protector pocket to carry soft items like the liner but SHIFT doesn’t recommend carrying hard or heavy objects in there.

Lastly the Air Avenger has 3 pockets total for all your stuff; two on the outside in the normal position and one on the inside in the left chest area. The outside pockets are lined instead of being just mesh while the inside pocket is mesh but with a unique textile bottom to keep things from poking through and ripping the mesh itself.

2. Komodo Ceno Mesh Jacket

I’m not one who enjoys riding in extreme temperatures like when the local bank sign reads 110 degrees outside or conversely when it’s 5 below. So when the leaves change into a full spectrum of color and start falling to the ground like a lead balloon or when the air is filled with grass clippings and the sound of birds chirping is when I take pleasure in riding the most.

Obviously I’m painting a picture of fall and spring but not everyone has a “change of seasons” so riding in hazy, hot and humid weather might be a daily occurrence. Even during those times every rider should be protected and wear quality gear (e.g. jacket, boots, gloves, helmet, etc.).

There’s no denying the fact that I’m a big advocate for wearing proper gear and I always wear all of my gear when I go riding (as you should also). That being said wearing full leathers even when the temperature isn’t hitting triple digits but none the less still hot out does make riding less enjoyable.

Komodo has a cure for such a dilemma of “should I ride in a t-shirt or sweat in a leather jacket.” Their Ceno Mesh Jacket gives you the best of both worlds: protection and air flow. The former is accomplished by the Ceno’s CE rated armor and polymesh shell.

The Ceno has high density temper foam in the back, shoulders, and elbow areas. The fit is on the athletic side so you should pass on the hotdog or cheesy fries when attending the next bike night if you want to fit into the jacket comfortably.

There’s an inner pocket which although small can easily hold your wallet and there are two pockets on the front for carrying anything that won’t fit inside. The Ceno comes with a thin liner but once removed (it’s easily removable via a zipper); you can get more airflow in to cool you off when the dog days of summer occur.

The Ceno also has reflective 3M stripes on the front and rear for night visibility which lit up like a Christmas tree when I snapped the accompanying photos. I’m glad that Komodo added this safety component since almost 60 percent of motorcyclist fatalities occur at night (as per the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics).

The quality of the Ceno is second to none. Komodo is known for their craftsmanship and it shows in the Ceno as the whole jacket is constructed without any stitches misaligned, rough cuff ends or zippers that appear frail and would fall apart after only two pulls.

If you’re looking for a jacket that will provide you ample protection while not giving you heat stroke in the process then look no further than the Ceno.

3. Shift Airborne Mesh Jacket

Shift Airborne Mesh Jacket is manufactured using the tighter weave style of ventilation instead of the open weave of some jackets. While this does cut down on airflow slightly it should also cut down on small bits of debris contacting your skin while sliding down the road.The inside lining of this jacket has to be felt to be believed. A scratchy lining on a mesh jacket is a huge problem as more of your skin is exposed to it compared to the liner of a textile jacket in the winter (when you’re wearing long sleeves etc..).

That isn’t a problem with the Airborne Jacket as the lining feels almost like silk it’s that smooth and soft. The Airborne jacket also comes with 4 zippered pockets; 2 on the outside and 2 on the inside. Another thing that Shift does is use a material that almost feels like neoprene or microfiber to line the places that are going to contact bare skin such as the collar and cuffs.

Speaking of cuffs, this jacket has one of the longest strips of velcro I have ever seen on a mesh jacket cuff. You can really torque the cuff down nice and tight over your gloves if you want to.

One of the best things about this jacket is that it comes with CE approved armor in the elbows and shoulders. This armor is a very thick rubberized foam and is shaped to nicely conform to the shape of your shoulders and elbows. Like most jackets the Airborne comes with a pouch for you to insert an aftermarket back protector in as the jacket does not come with one from the factory. It does however come with ballistic nylon in strategic places (elbows and shoulders and such) for better abrasion resistance.

About the only thing I wish this jacket had is adjusters on the arms to tighten (or loosen) them to fit more snugly. Most mesh jackets come with these and I’m not sure why Shift didn’t include them on the Airborne. The sleeves don’t flap around or anything but they could be a liilte tighter. Of course I may need to go to the gym more too so that could be part of the problem. The only other thing missing is a removable liner. This really isn’t a horrible thing as most people leave them at home anyway.

After wearing the Airborne Jacket for the past month while riding in the sauna….err….Florida, I feel qualified to talk about the amount of air this jacket flows. While not as much air comes through the Shift Airborne compared to the amount that flowed through the Phoenix, it does flow more air than the First Gear jacket. I noticed that the really soft liner I mentioned actually stays pretty cool while riding so the jacket has a bigger cooling affect than what the amount of airflow would indicate.

Lastly, another nice feature of the jacket is that it is machine washable (gentle cycle, no bleach, line dry). I remember how grungy my silver Joe Rocket looked since that could only be wiped down and not actually washed.

Shift has produced a jacket that not only flows a good amount of air but looks and feels great while doing it. The fact that it also comes with actual CE approved armor in the elbows and shoulders is a feature that should not be minimized or discounted.

Best Hybrid Motorcycle Jackets

1. Shift Racing Fuse Hybrid Jacket

Shift Racing is intent on world domination. Alright, maybe not world domination, but they are intent upon dominating the motorcycle gear market.

Anytime you want to dominate a market you have two choices:

1. Build/create a mediocre product and then take all the money you should have spent in R&D and spend it on the biggest, flashiest, most untrue ad campaign that you and your marketing department can dream up.
2. Build/create a superior product and take whatever money is left over and use it to put that product in the hands of journalists and racers so they can use it and spread the word.

Obviously Shift has taken choice number 2. While this isn’t the fastest nor most lucrative choice if you are looking to make a quick buck, it is the choice that will generate brand loyalty and long-term revenue.

Let’s first look at the overall design of the jacket. As you can see from the pictures Shift did a great job making this jacket interesting to look at. They managed to break-up the straight lines, not with multiple bright colors and wacky patterns, but with multiple layers and texture changes.

A hybrid jacket combines both textile and leather to give you the best of both worlds; lighter weight than a full leather jacket but better protection than a full textile jacket. Every point of the jacket that would probably contact the ground for an extended period of time is in leather. All other parts of the jacket are textile for lighter weight and better flexibility.

I’m not a big leather jacket fan not only because it rarely gets cold enough in FL. to actually use one, but also because they can feel bulkier and more restrictive than a textile jacket. Not so with the new Fuse jacket. While slightly heavier than the textile jacket I had from Shift, the Fuse jacket never feels weighty or bulky when you are wearing it. As a matter of fact it is one of the most comfortable jackets, of any type, I have ever worn.

Shift puts a lot of thought into jacket design and it shows in the Fuse jacket. All zippers have a rubber cover on the pull tab part (that is the technical name BTW) for easy gripping when you are wearing gloves. The sleeves are pre-curved enough to eliminate binding when riding but not so much to make you look like you are flexing your muscles when you are off the bike. The leather is all 1.2mm to 1.4mm premium grain leather with CE approved armor in the shoulders and elbows.

One nice feature of this jacket is the back “pocket”. Now I’m not sure Shift designed it for this use but it works great as a place to carry any soft item like a sweatshirt or even the zip-out liner. All you have to do is unzip the area that leads to the back protector pocket and the entire back of the jacket opens up to swallow as much soft stuff as you could want.

You could probably pack a weekends worth of clothing in there if you really wanted to and didn’t mind villagers running after you with fire and pitchforks while screaming “MONSTER”. Oh and as a note; DON’T PUT HARD ITEMS BACK THERE! Sorry for the shouting but someone will try to do that, crash, break their back, and then try to say that I TOLD them they could put that thermos of coffee in there. Soft items ONLY.

Right then. Moving along we come to another cool feature (literally) of this Fuse jacket; the collar area. Right up at the top of the zipper there is a textile flap that has a button hole in it. When you button this flap up you partially seal the gap between the left and right collar. Now it is not completely wind-proof but it does help on colder riders. Unbutton the flap and fold it down and you will increase the airflow; which along with opening the front vents, allows a decent amount of air to flow through this jacket. This is due in large part to the generous vent located on the back.

Speaking of airflow and coolness, my temperature range for riding while wearing this jacket without layering too much underneath or feeling that I’m melting is between 70 and 85 degrees. After 85 degrees I reach for my Shift mesh jacket and below 70 degrees I put a few layers on underneath. Now I now that everyone has different temperature ranges where they are comfortable so take the above info as a general idea and not a hard fast rule.

One thing I really like about the sleeves are that they have decent sized Velcro on the cuff in combination with a zipper. I can usually snug down the cuff enough to not let much air up the sleeve when I am wearing shorter gloves, and tight enough to get the gauntlet over without issue when I’m wearing longer gloves.

My only thumbs-down to this jacket is the tailoring on the sides; or I should say the lack thereof. The jacket fits me everywhere just perfectly except the sides are too baggy. Shift could have taken in the panels under the arms a little bit which would have provided a more fitted look. Overall though this is a small quibble as it never really effects anything except your vanity.

2. Triumph Sympatex Pantha Jacket

Sympatex is a 100% waterproof and windproof membrane that, due to its co-polymer design, consists of polyester for molecular strength, and polyether to transport water molecules. It is polyether that allows the water vapor molecules to be transported through the membrane from the inside to the outside by way of an absorption & evaporation process; hence Sympatex offers what is known as “breathe-ability”. It doesn’t rely on tiny holes to work, so unlike some technical membranes it won’t gradually block with dirt and become less effective over time. Sympatex is a German company with 25 years’ experience of making waterproof products.

Using Sympatex as part of the jacket allowed Triumph to offer a cold weather jacket that actually keeps you warm and a warm weather jacket that will help keep you cool. Notice I said a “warm weather jacket” and not a “hot weather jacket”. Warm weather, to me, is between 75 and 80 degrees; get much past 85 and you are into hot weather.

This jacket works great up to about 80 and then the windproof part of the design really starts to take its toll. Granted I am in Florida where the air is always humid so for those who live in the dryer parts of the country you may be able to wear the jacket comfortably in higher temps.

All this brings us to the one big question; how did Triumph build a jacket that is waterproof and windproof, yet can be worn in warm weather with the vents open, while still being waterproof? The secret is in the design of the vents. Most vents open up a direct path from the outside to the inside of a jacket. While this works good (sometimes) at allowing air to flow through the jacket, it is a design that will have you stopping and zipping up when rain begins to fall.

What Triumph did was build a jacket that appears to have traditional “flow-through” vents, while in reality it has “pocket” vents. When you unzip the vents, air flows into the pocket, cooling down the Sympatex membrane which then cools you.

This method of venting means that while your buddies are scrambling to zip-up their vents, you can continue to ride along with your vents fully open, blissfully aware that although it is raining, you, unlike your less enlightened companions, will stay dry. (You can see the waterproof vents in action in the video)

So Triumph built a jacket that is waterproof, windproof, has lots of storage, and a waterproof ventilation system; the perfect jacket right? Well, not exactly; at least not for everyone. While the vents work well in cooler temps, in hotter more humid climates there is no replacement for airflow.

When the air sitting in the vent pocket is the same temp and humidity level as your body temp, not much cooling is going to happen. To be perfectly fair, even a full mesh jacket is too warm on some (most?) days here in Florida so Triumph can’t be faulted for creating a jacket that works great during the Florida summers.

What Triumph did create is a jacket that, for many parts of the country, will be, if not a year round jacket, at least one that can be worn throughout most of the year.

3. Joe Rocket Airborne Jacket

The jacket is part of Joe Rocket’s ‘Mil Spec’ line. There has been an effort in the last couple of years by motorcycle safety equipment manufacturers to offer attractive, and functional gear that meets the military’s requirements that “A high-visibility upper garment is required by day and a retro-reflective garment is required at night”.

So, with all the ‘Mil Spec’ requirements, you’re probably wondering what safety features does the jacket have? Well the shoulders and elbows come with CE Rated Pads.  The back pad that is included is removable and can be replaced with an optional CE Rated pad as well.

It also has a ‘Rock Tex 600’ outer shell which, in normal people speak, is your standard nylon textile motorcycle jacket fabric. Having crash tested this type of material with 2 previous jackets in the past 9 years, I can honestly say, it does work.

But, you are probably thinking that really that sounds about typical for any textile jacket, and you would be right. The Mil Spec ratings come in to play when dealing with the visibility issue. The military’s goal is to make their motorcycling soldiers as visible as possible.

The jacket is covered with not so obvious reflective material for day riding; however at night all those little squares and rectangles become very obvious obvious reflective patches. As you can see in the pictures, the jacket is covered in all strategic areas with those reflective patches which really do light up well at night making you very visible to every driver that is still awake.

All of the improved visibility and safety features would be useless if the jacket did not fit right, wasn’t comfortable, and let’s face it, make you attractive while wearing it. For the fitment, the Airborne is very true to Joe Rocket’s overall sizing chart. Adjustable Velcro waist straps, adjusters on the arms, and a neck strap with snap button. The neck strap is my only real gripe with fitment. It would have been much better served with either multiple snaps, or Velcro like the waist.

In the comfort department it sports a very unique vent system. There are two front zippers, one internal zipper with a 2 inch wide panel of mesh fabric and then an outer zipper. There are also two zippered vents on the back. Open up the two rear vents, and lower the outer zipper either partially or fully, and air is funneled very effectively throughout the whole inside of the jacket. When fully zipped the jacket performs well even down to temperatures approaching the low 60’s.

4. Komodo Ceno Jacket

Race grade protection for the street seems to be what Komodo had in mind when they designed the Ceno jacket.  After all, its safety features are strongly influenced by those found on the one piece race suits offered by Komodo, but they have added a few niceties with the street rider in mind.

For the street rider, the Ceno is equipped with a removable quilted vest liner, as well as reflective piping along the shoulders, back and chest to help the rider’s visibility. The waist is adjustable, and the arms are pre curved in an “athletic reflex” position for a natural fit while on the bike.  There are additional zippered vents across the rider’s lower back, and an added pocket or two that you wouldn’t find on the top half of a race only suit.

The fit may be a bit tighter and ‘racier’ than a traditional street jacket, but its competitive roots help keep the armor where it should be if you ever need it.

The Ceno was tweaked for street wear, but the soul of the jacket is taken directly from the track, and the Ceno’s purpose is clear; to protect its inhabitant should he be caught up in a sudden gravity storm.  Paying homage to its racer roots, the Ceno boasts double and triple stitching in critical impact areas, and armor in the back, shoulders, biceps and forearms.  Protection is robust as Komodo states, “the Ceno was designed from the ground up to save the rider during a crash.”

To further the jacket’s strength, Komodo has implemented a few extra areas and layers of protection that often go overlooked by other manufacturers.  They have combined medical grade temper “memory” foam (to assist in impact absorption), as well as CE approved armor in the forearms (outside of the bicep and shoulders).  There is also a leather wrapped carbon/Kevlar plate that covers the forearm and elbow area of the sleeve.

The outside of the bicep is an area of the body that a lot of jacket designers overlook so I decided to ask the guys at Komodo about the inclusion of extra protection there. They said that they have witnessed racing injuries to the upper arm so they designed the Ceno to help protect the street rider from those same types of injuries.

For riders that want to tweak the fit of the Ceno and relax it a bit from ‘race spec,’ all CE armor is removable, as is the non-CE approved back pad. Even if the CE armor is removed there is still a level of protection offered to the rider via the memory foam on the biceps and shoulders as well as the foam and forearm plates. Obviously, removing  the armor reduces the level of protection so this isn’t recommended but it is nice to know that the Ceno won’t leave you completely unprotected if you decide to do it.

Probably the most visible racer’s aspect of the Ceno is the “aero hump” on the back.  While it is debatable whether or not the race inspired aero hump has actually made me a faster rider, it’s designed to assist with ventilation and to protect the spine during a crash.

There are a lot of upsides to Komodo’s philosophy and execution with the Ceno jacket in terms of protection, but all of that protection makes the jacket seem a bit “Power Ranger” ‘ish to some observers. Graphics and overall design are relatively subdued, and the Ceno does not scream, “SQUID!”, but the aero hump and overall style may not be everybody’s cup o’ tea.

However, should you ever fall off and need the protection I am sure you’d swap fashion leather for the Ceno in a heart beat, as Komodo seems to be banking their reputation on engineering their gear for maximum protection.

Komodo has designed the Ceno to ventilate well, making use of a mesh inner liner, perforated leather in the chest and arms, zippered bicep vents and zippered vents on the lower back.  This ventilation would serve a warmer weather rider very well.  For cooler days, using the removable quilted vest liner helps, but the tighter fit also means that layering is limited to thinner layers. Combating cold weather in the Ceno is really only a battle you’ll win into the 60’s.

The jacket has a natural fit when riding, and nothing flaps, rubs, buzzes or annoys. However, I was more comfortable with the overall fit after I removed the CE shoulder pads as it loosened up the feel of the jacket (I have pretty broad shoulders and have removed shoulder pads from every jacket I have used for street use; so this is not an unusual gripe for me).  While removing the CE armor does compromise protection it still has temper foam protection so you’re never riding ‘naked.’

The style, fit, and ventilation seem to suggest that warmer weather, back road blasting, and aggressive riding is what the Ceno’s forte would be; and with the 8 inch universal zipper attachment you can easily attach leather pants for full leather protection.  The jacket is tough enough for urban riding, vents well, and is comfortable enough to commute in.  It would do well in that role providing that you aren’t looking for lots of storage options from your jacket.

The Ceno looks the part of a serious leather jacket, and Komodo has backed up the look with well thought out layers of protection.  They have set-out to make track quality protection usable for the street rider; and I believe they have succeeded.  The Ceno has earned a permanent place in my garage for warmer weather riding, regardless of distance or destination.

Sizes are available in Small through XX-Large, and the waist has an adjustable strap so the Ceno should be able to fit most bodies.