Motor Bike Trip: Leather needed?

Hi guys,

we are taking a motor bike trip starting in the end of May to the end of July and doing the Manali - Leh route.

wondering if leather jackets are essential? thick buffalo leather?

we have also been recommended to buy leather gloves - do you think this is this for protection or for warmth purposes? both? - any suggestions as to type of gloves?

any other tips for protective clothing for motorbiking would be appreciated

thank you,
F/S

So what did you do ?

I've never ridden a motorbike in India but I do ride in the UK.

Leather gloves will have been recommended for protection rather than warmth - ie so that if/when you come off, you have a hope of getting up with some skin still attached to your hands!

I'm afraid I don't know about the climate Manali-Leh May-July, but plenty of people on IM could advise.

If you're going to hit monsoon rains, beware cheap leather gloves as the dye will leak and your hands will end up blue-black!

In the UK I don't wear a leather jacket - I have a tough Cordura nylon waterproof one in case I'm caught in showers (with a quilted lining that zips in for winter).

A good leather jacket would obviously offer more protection if you came off, however leather will get very hot, especially if you're going slowly. If I'm going under 45mph in summer in the UK (e.g. if it's 25 Celsius) leather trousers and even my bike jacket are unpleasantly warm & sticky.

Better to buy a non-leather jacket that you will actually wear, than a leather one that you won't wear because it's too hot and instead ride in a T-shirt! See e.g. http://motobrio.com/ShowProducts.cfm?CatId=6&Page=1). BMW make a lot of that kind of kit.

In short:
- if you're likely to encounter heavy rain or it'll be very hot, I'd get a breathable waterproof fabric touring jacket;
- if it won't be very hot or wet, buy a leather jacket;
- I'd advise leather gloves, whether hot/dry/cold/wet.

What you wear on a motorbike depends on how much you value that particular piece of your body. NEVER ride without a helmet, unless you think your brain is a useless appendage.

I've been riding bikes for over 25 years in the UK, and I have seen friends sustain the most horrific injuries, often at very low speeds. Do a google image search on "Gravel rash" for the gory details. It is not only extremely painful and permanently disfiguring, often requiring skin grafts, but it can also cause extremely nasty infections if not cleaned immediately.

I have never, ever, ridden a motorbike without at least a crash helmet, leather gloves, leather boots and leather jacket. Unless it's extremely hot weather I usually also wear leather jeans.

Admittedly the weather in the UK doesn't usually get above 30 degrees, and I don't know what temperatures you'll encounter, obviously they are going to be a factor. However, even in the hottest of summers, I wear full leathers when riding and just take them off as soon as I stop. Yes, I do wear trousers under my leather jeans!!!

An accident I survived with hardly a scratch at the age of 18, when I was rammed from behind by a drunk driver, persuaded me that my leathers had been a VERY good investment. I hit the deck at about 80mph (130kph) and only scratched the knee on my leather jeans. Apparently if I'd been wearing trousers, I would have worn my kneecap away. Ugh...

Better get a proper riding jacket (cordura)from Cramster or Planet DSG or get it imported if you can afford it. Else go for a water and wind proof jacket (preferably warm), they are better than leather jackets.

As far as gloves go, either get proper riding gloves (preferably wind and water proof) or buy a pair of gloves which have simlar material as polyfill jackets. Leather gloves usually let in plenty of wind and water from the seams.

go for cramster jacket and gloves(winter)
www.cramster.in
I have thm both and they are really good for what they cost