All motorcycle owners need a motorcycle jacket. Heck, even non-riders like to wear motorcycle jackets. The rider, however, needs one which is actually made for the real world of riding a motorcycle. It must have the proper cut, abundant safety features, and it should look good. It must also be well constructed so that it can endure life in the many varied weather conditions which riders will face. These are the essentials, and numerous available jackets meet these requirements, but which one is right for you?
It all depends. It depends on the season, the type of bike and style of riding, and the rider him or herself. No motorcycle jacket will satisfy everyone. You must figure out your own needs and desires and then look through all the options to find those which fit what you want.
In order to assist with this daunting - though, admittedly interesting and enjoyable for some - decision, here are the best motorcycle jackets of 2013.
Best Cold Weather Jacket
Icon's Patrol Waterproof Jacket
OK, so this is not a new model, but it is an oh-so-good choice for riding in the cold. Built with heavyweight ballistic nylon and complete with full waterproofing and a warm, removable Thermolite liner, this jacket will not leave anyone too cold to ride. If its own insulation is not sufficient, a relaxed fit allows for more layering underneath.
Complete CE rated armor in the shoulders and elbows works with a foam back pad (upgradeable to a CE approved model) to add protection, and 3M reflective panels add safety. And, once things warm up, the liner can be removed and the extensive venting engaged. The Patrol suits even the ardent adventurer with twelve pockets, a place for a hydration bladder, and one very high visibility color option. If it's cold out, grab the Icon Patrol Waterproof Jacket and stay warm and happy.
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Best Cold Weather Jacket |
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Price: $400.00 - $420.00 |
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Best Warm Weather Jacket
REV'IT! Airwave Jacket
The summer's oppressive heat can be dealt with easily thanks to this high-spec warm weather jacket. The multiple mesh ventilation panels in its polyester outer shell flow serious air. It does this while remaining protective thanks to the perforated EVA back pad (upgradeable) and Knox armor integrated at shoulders and elbows. Safety is further enhanced with reflective treatments on the upper arms and back.
Multiple adjustment straps allow for fine tuning the fit, which is designed for the sport riding position, and two pants connection methods allow it to be secured to the lower body's protection.
Available in a wide array of bright color options, the REV'IT! Airwave Jacket will help make the summer months much more comfortable when on the road...or stuck in rush hour traffic.
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Best Warm Weather Jacket |
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Price: $299.99 |
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Best Multi-Season Jacket
Alpinestars Drystar Jacket
Alpinestars now gives the regular rider the ability to use one jacket all year long. Made from ballistic nylon, this jacket's many features allow it to function well in any weather. For the heat there is the Jet ventilation system, which is comprised of zippered vents in front and back for a heavy flow of air. When the temps dip really low, the removable thermal liner keeps in the warmth. And, when the moisture falls from the sky, the proprietary Drystar membrane can be used to keep the rider perfectly dry inside. Any of these liners may be stored in a large pocket on the rear of the garment.
Armor is provided at all important locations - shoulders, elbows and forearms, and back - and those same areas receive reinforced materials to better deal with impacts. Plentiful reflective elements add conspicuity, and adjustment straps on the sleeves and around the waist help with fit. Finally, four pockets - two of which are fully waterproof - and a zipper for connecting to riding pants round out the tidy feature set of the Alpinestars Valparaiso Drystar Jacket.
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Best Multi-Season Jacket |
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Price: $429.99 |
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Best Overall Sport Riding Jacket
Dainese's Super Speed Leather Jacket
The feature rich Dainese Super Speed Leather Jacket deserves to be called the best overall in this category. Its D-Skin leather, an exclusive hide made to be highly abrasion resistant, works in conjunction with the also exclusive S1 elasticized fabric to make up the shell. CE certified composite armor is placed at the shoulders and elbows, and there are pockets for both chest and back protectors to bring the entire garment up to a CE approved safety spec.
Inside the jacket is a removable anti-bacterial liner with Dainese's special 3D Bubble treatment to amp up the warmth. When that is out, venting at the chest and sides provides cooling airflow during the hotter months. An integrated aerodynamic speed hump and titanium sliders on the shoulders demonstrate the sporting purpose of this garment. Well-placed pockets, soft inserts for comfort, a jacket-to-pants connection, and reflective panels for safety show its practicality, at least for riders. This only begins to describe the Dainese Super Speed Leather Jacket; to get a sense of it all, you must put it on and ride.
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Best Overall Sport Riding Jacket |
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Dainese Super Speed Leather Jacket  |
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Price: $799.99 |
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Best Women's Cold Weather Jacket
REV'IT! Women's Indigo Jacket
On those cold rides when it seems the mercury will never rise, turn to this jacket from REV'IT! Constructed of high Denier polyester and enhanced by the use of Monaco Performance leather, it is made to keep the rider comfy. A special moisture-wicking thermal liner assists with the heat. Should the day finally warm, the liner can be removed and the chest, underarm and back vents opened to let in cooling air. Comfort is assured in all seasons with strategically placed stretch fabric, a multitude of adjustment straps and snaps, and an ergonomic shape crafted for riding.
Protection is had via Knox CE rated armor at the shoulders and elbows and an EVA foam back protector, which can be upgraded to CE level. Plentiful pockets protect valuables and needed items, along with room for the liner, and safety is handled with extensive reflective material and a jacket-to-pants connection zipper. With a boatload of high-spec features, the REV'IT! Women's Indigo Jacket is still able to look good no matter the weather or the locale.
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Best Women's Cold Weather Jacket |
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Price: $339.99 - $349.99 |
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Best Women's Warm Weather Jacket
Icon's Women's Hooligan Riding Jersey
Don't take the name too seriously; it is called a "Riding Jersey" because the sleeves of this jacket can be removed when it gets truly hot. That will be a rare case, though, as the nearly total mesh polyester construction should keep the rider cool enough even in desert conditions. With its relaxed fit and shaped-for-the-ride design, this may be the perfect outer riding garment for the summer.
It is also protective, so long as the sleeves are in place, due to Icon's Field Armor covering elbows and forearms along with the shoulders. Should it be required, and it should be, a CE-approved back protector fits nicely in the pocket stitched into the rear. When the hoodlum in you wants to ride into the sunset, the Icon Women's Hooligan Jersey will keep you comfortable when you finally catch up with that enormous glowing fireball.
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Best Women's Warm Weather Jacket |
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Icon Women's Hooligan Riding Jersey  |
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Price: $150.00 |
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Best Women's Multi-Season Jacket
Joe Rocket's Women's Atomic 4.0 Jacket
100% waterproof and vented using a patent-pending design, 600 denier nylon chassis, a removable thermal liner, 7-point adjustment system, and incredibly stylish appearance? It's got to be Joe Rocket, and it is. The Atomic 4.0 is a flexible jacket which is excellent for those riding in changing weather conditions. If comfort and looking good are your ideal, this is your gear.
It is fully protected with CE-rated armor in the shoulders and elbows and a spine pad which can be upgraded, and makes use of a reflective stripe for conspicuity. And, it can be connected to riding pants or a belt to make it even safer. Joe Rocket is adept at producing multi-purpose garments, and the Atomic 4.0 is so well designed for any condition that it had to be here.
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Best Women's Multi-Season Jacket |
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Joe Rocket Women's Atomic 4.0 Jacket  |
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Price: $144.99 - $159.99 |
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Best Overall Women's Sport Riding Jacket
Alpinestars Women's Stella GP Plus Jacket
The ultimate in street riding motorcycle jackets for women this year has to be the Alpinestars Women's Stella GP Plus. It has a feature set usually found only in road racing gear. It starts with the full-grain leather construction, adds accordion stretch panels in key areas, places CE approved armor at the elbows and shoulders, allows for high-end chest and back protectors, and then throws in strategically placed padding, waist adjustment and an ergonomic female-focused design to make this one impressive piece of gear.
Durable, comfortable and protective - what else? Well, thermoplastic shoulder sliders, the ability to connect Alpinestars pants, and highly reflective elements all add safety. More important to some riders, though, is that the Alpinestars Women's Stella GP Plus looks as good as it functions, and that is most definitely the case here. For an all around great riding jacket, look no further.
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Best Overall Women's Sport Riding Jacket |
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Alpinestars Women's Stella GP Plus Jacket  |
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Price: $399.99 |
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