MCN's pick of the best high-end textile motorcycle suits for practical riding

Nothing protects like leather when it comes to motorcycle jackets and trousers, but textile motorcycle suits have the edge in practicality. By using the very latest materials such as Gore-Tex, sophisticated waterproof yet breathable membranes, removable thermal linings, CE-rated protectors and armour and slick design features, there are textile motorcycle suits these days that do it all.

We all like the idea of a traditional leather biker jacket for riding round town on a summer’s day or some one-piece, slim-fitting race leathers if we ride a sports bike.

However, the most practical, effective and comfortable motorcycle clothing for year-round, all-weather use is a ‘high-end’ textile motorcycle suit.

Some also have ventilation systems, waterproof pockets and a variety of adjusters to get the perfect fit for the ultimate in comfort and practicality.

Of course, that sophistication, clever design, quality materials and useful features doesn’t come cheap – some jacket and trouser combos can end up costing well over £1000. But if you want the best, and a textile motorcycle suit that will last years, you have to pay for it.

But what’s currently available at the top end of the market? What do they cost and what do you get for your money? We’re focussing on the jackets and trousers together as one package here.

There is so much to consider, but here are what we reckon are some of the best high-end textile motorcycle suits around.

What to look for in a textile suit

Textile suits are great for packing lots of functionality into one package, so it’s worth capitalising on that when you’re looking to buy a textile motorcycle suit.

Protection is a big thing to consider, so check the safety rating for impact and abrasion resistance. Textiles generally have lower safety ratings than leathers, and you don’t often see higher than a AA rating on high-end textile suits.

Storage options can make textiles incredibly practical, so check how many pockets are offered and how big they are. You won’t want to carry everything in your textile jacket and trousers, but having large and plentiful pockets can save you from digging to the bottom your panniers at every border crossing, or even bringing a bottle of milk on your way back from work.

Ventilation makes textiles incredibly versatile for year-round riding, so it’s worth checking how many vents there are, and how big. Conversely, if you want the suit to be warm enough for cold rides too, check for thermal linings and/or thermal padding to keep windchill at bay. Also consider any waterproofing, as not all textile suits offer this, and some are better than others.

It’s worth considering if there’s any reflective material on the suit, as this goes a long way to increasing your visibility to others on the road, without being quite as flamboyant as a hi-vis jacket.

If all that sounds like a lot to get your head around, It’s worth having a look at some of our expert reviews. Here at MCN, we go into the nitty gritty – putting all kinds of products through thousands of miles of testing, to find out which kit on the market today is really worth its salt.

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How MCN tests textiles

Our team of expert journalists, with decades of experience gained over hundreds of thousands of miles, test as many textiles as we can get our hands on so we can tell you which is worth spending your money on.

We don’t test our kit to destruction or crash test it (on purpose…); we use it exactly how you do, in the real world and in all conditions. That means we can deliver impartial buying advice you can rely on.

Some of our testers specialise in sportier kit and ride a lot of sportsbikes on the road and track while others prefer touring in textiles.

Whatever we’re riding and wearing, the testers are asked to think about certain aspects of their textiles when they are writing their review. These categories should be given a star rating out of five, with only jackets that are awarded four stars or more overall included in a buying guide.

Comfort

Is the item comfy? This may seem like a pretty basic need but it’s one of the most important factors. If you’re thinking about how uncomfortable you are, you’re not thinking about the road ahead! Comfort also covers aspects like the venting/insulation and the feel on and off the bike.

Practicality

It’ll be more of an issue with more complicated modular jacket systems but is it easy to put on/take off? The testers will also consider the number and location of pockets and versatility in this category.

Looks

The look is completely subjective, but we like our testers to give an opinion. They know their onions after all!

Quality

How does it feel? You can often tell from the moment you pick up a product whether it’s likely to last a lifetime or barely a season. If it’s waterproof, does it stay dry? What are the zips like to use and are they sturdy?

Protection

This is an objective element to this category as we only test textiles that are designated as PPE and so meet the required CE testing criteria. The overall garment abrasion standard and the level of the armour is taken into consideration, but it’s not as simple as scoring a tougher garment higher.

Some are designed to be lightweight, cooling or casual-looking and so any CE rating is impressive. Similarly, a high-rated jacket could have armour that doesn’t stay in place as you move around.

Ultimately, we ask our testers if they would you feel confident crashing in it (or how it performed when they did crash in it).

Value

Is the asking price fair compared to other items on the market and the quality of garment you get. Cheap doesn’t mean the same as good value here.

Overall

An aggregate of the other scores that may be rounded up or down at the discretion of the tester. The big question is, would they spend their own money on the garment?

If you can’t see a review against a set of textiles on this page, it’s because we haven’t tested it yet. These will only be included if we think they’re important and relevant in the market, and rest assured, we will be working on bringing you a review as soon as we’ve done the miles.

To find out more, head to our dedicated page explaining how we test motorcycle products.

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Our scores explained

When we review textiles, we award it a score out of five. In the ratings tab of a given garment, you may also find more specific scores for the different aspects of a product’s performance to help you make an informed decision. Here’s a guide to what each number score means:

5 stars – A product has performed at the highest possible level in a particular category or overall. A product with a five-star rating has delivered to the highest possible level, impressing the tester with its performance. We would happily spend our own money on it.

1 star – Poor performance in this category or overall. A product with a single star rating has fallen below the expected standard and should be avoided.

2 stars – Basic performance in this area or overall. A product with a two-star rating has managed to perform to a barely acceptable level and there is room for improvement.

3 stars – An average performance in this area or overall. A product with a three-star rating has achieved a basic level of performance and is deemed adequate.

4 stars – A product has performed over and above the accepted averaged in this category or overall. A product with a four-star rating has surpassed expectation and delivered in a particularly impressive way.

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