Kevlar, Cordura, Leather
What Should I Wear to Crash? What Should I Wear in an Accident? One of the most obvious trends in recent years has been the rise of textiles and the corresponding decrease in leather use for riding gear. Of course, everyone buying the gear is required to evaluate the relative benefits of these materials. Unfortunately, there is very little data available from real world motorcycle crashes. A couple of things seem clear. 1.4 mm leather, also known as "competition weight" is the best material for a high speed slide. Popular Mechanics claims that even Kevlar is nowhere near as good. They found leather to be four times as abrasion resistant. Some vendors point out that leather deteriorates, particularly when it is exposed to moisture or repetitive bending, as the inside of an elbow or back of a knee. Textile does not seem to suffer this deterioration. Equally clear is the fact that almost all professional racers opt for leather. Not as obvious is the fact that, for street riding, you are most likely to crash at low speed, and even a motorcycle accident is far more likely to occur at lower speeds. On the track, you need to be prepared for 160 mile per hour slides. No reasonable rider ever faces this on the street.
On the other hand, body armor for the street not only needs to handle slides on pavement, but also is your best friend if a car cuts you off, and you find yourself hitting the side of the car. The biggest issue for most riders is that leather, even perforated leather, can be prohibitively hot in the summer. On the other hand, when it is really hot, a lot of riders go to mesh. Is mesh as good as leather? No. Is mesh as good as perforated leather? No. Do most mesh garments have heavier textile where it is needed? Yes. Do some mesh products even have leather where you need it? Yes. In an accident with a car, armor is critical. If you feel that you can wear better armor if you are not as hot, and that with your textile gear you will wear better armor, you are probably way ahead going with the textile. Of course, armor is not designed for an accident with a car. It is designed for protection when hitting the pavement and sliding. Of course, this does not mean that it does not protect you in an accident with an automobile. What do I find in the many motorcycle vs car accidents that I deal with? Overwhelmingly, riders wearing good armor have far less in the way of injury. Road rash is not a significant problem for most riders, whether wearing textile or leather, as compared with jeans and non-motorcycle shirts or jackets. Even with leather, riders sometimes have a small amount of road rash. A sleeve may ride up, a jacket may ride up, and so forth. Sometimes textile will cause a rash because of hard rubbing against the skin. Usually, the areas that receive the hit from an abrasion standpoint are also the areas that have armor. The better the armor, and the larger the area covered by armor, the better off you are. Personally, I often choose to wear Schoeller Stretch Kevlar with triple layer body armor covering large areas that are subject to impact. While this might not be my choice on a track day, I believe that this is an excellent choice for the street. I feel comfortable from a temperature standpoint, the weight is reasonable, and it just works. In cooler weather, absolutely, it is time to consider leather. As always, your mileage may vary. Lots of choices, lots to consider.
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Kevlar, Cordura, Leather