MCN's expert guide to the best motorcycle jackets for all riders and bike types

Besides an actual bike, nothing says “I ride” better than the right motorcycle jacket. From classic leather to modern textiles and polymers, modern riding jackets come in a wide variety of styles to suit your riding needs. And it doesn’t hurt that they “look the business”, too.

The classic black leather jacket worn by Johnny in “The Wild Ones” is still with us in spirit and fit. The idea (and let’s be honest— attitude) isn’t much different today. It’s about saving your skin and looking good doing it. Besides traditional cow hide, space-age textiles bring new design and color options to match a wide variety of riding needs. Whether you’re touring long distances or just commuting in town, there’s tons of choices.

It’s all about when and what you ride. From summer and winter options, to jackets designed for sportbike, naked or adventure bike riding, your favorite new jacket awaits. You might even want to incorporate airbag technology.

Jump straight to

• Leather Jackets
• Textile Jackets
• Summer Jackets
• Retro Jackets
• Sportsbike Jackets
• Ladies Jackets
• Casual Jackets

Things to consider when buying a Motorcycle Jacket

It’s all about what you ride, how you ride it and when.

To begin, motorcycle jackets are tailor made to fit your body posture while riding. On a sportbike, you lean forward with arms out. Sportbike jackets therefore have arms that hang forward from the torso, with a longer section in back to keep your lower back covered (and protected).

For traditional touring, you sit more upright, often behind a windshield. The classic “sit up and beg” position is more neutral, with jackets needing less material on the back and arms tailored for bent elbows. Forward controls sometimes mean you lean back, further changing riding geometry. A windshield might also mean a jacket needs good vents, in order to keep cool in summer.

Speaking of weather, that’s the next thing to consider. Just riding in town or on sunny days means you don’t necessarily need all-weather protection or thermal liners. Love riding on chilly fall or spring days? Or 300-mile days? Consider a jacket with laminated textiles with thermal liners or a modular textile system with separate drop liners and wind-proof layers. And consider whether you want a jacket that’s water-resistant or waterproof.

Lighter jackets or riding shirts sometimes come with a CE rating of AA. Heavy duty leather and sportbike riding jackets (and track suits) will have a CE rating of AAA, the highest rating available. A CE rating of A confers minimum levels of abrasion and impact protection, while a CE rating of B will have abrasion protection, but not impact protection. Needless to say, if you plan on track riding, you need a AAA-rated jacket that either zips into AAA-rated riding pants, or just as likely, a one-piece track suit.

Pay attention to your armor needs as well. There are two levels of CE-rated armor, Level 1 and Level 2, the latter being stronger and safer. Class C garments are meant to hold armor in place under jackets. Leather is still the safest material in a slide and a AAA jacket with level 2 armor and back protector is best.

Style is less important than safety, but if you like the look, you’ll wear it more often. Ergo, you’ll be safer. And more than style, comfort is key. If you’re thinking about binding or pinching, you’re not concentrating on the road.

Leather Jackets

Historically, leather was considered the best material for jackets, having excellent abrasion resistance. They’re a favorite of sportbike riders and lovers of retro style. They sometimes have less pockets and less versatility in varying weather conditions. But for many, there’s nothing like the feel of real leather.

Full list of leather motorcycle jackets.

Textile Jackets

Textile jackets might not have the same cachet as leather, but for serious touring riders, they’re a better option. They usually have larger pockets, removable liners and waterproof membranes. Most touring jackets are textile many retro, sports or adventure jackets have textile options. Plus, remember all the bugs, dirt and grime you rode through? Textile jackets are usually machine washable and can be re-waterproofed using special detergents. Check out how to wash textile motorbike gear.

Full list of textile motorcycle jackets

Summer Jackets

Pat yourself on the back if you still believe in “ATGATT”, even in July or August. No matter where you ride in America, a summer riding jacket should be part of arsenal. From perforated leather to textile, there’s great ways to stay safe and cool.

Full list of summer motorcycle jackets.

Retro Jackets

Vintage style or modern safety standards? No need to choose, you can have it all with most retro jackets. Classic diamond stitching and studs give that vintage feel, usually featuring leather or waxed cotton outer shells.

Full list of retro motorbike gear

Sportsbike Jackets

Sportbike jackets are most often leather due to its abrasion resistance but textile options do exist. Constructed to accommodate the “tuck” posture of an aggressive rider, they’ll be shorter in the front and sometimes longer in the back, even incorporating an aerodynamic hump below the neck to direct airflow behind the helmet.

Full list of best sportbike motorcycle gear.

Womens’ Jackets

Built around the obvious differences in body type and form, There are countless more options available to women riders these days. Although trim, style and color may vary slightly from men’s jackets, ladies jackets don’t vary much from the mens’ versions.

Full list of ladies motorcycle jackets

Casual Jackets

Designed to look more like hoodies, softshell jackets or even flannel shirts, casual jackets are great for low speed city riding. They don’t offer the highest level of protection, so consider what, where and how you’re riding.

Full list of casual riding jackets

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Things to consider when buying a motorcycle jacket

Safety Ratings

Start simple. Always buy the safest gear you can afford. What’s safe? Keep reading.

Because we believe in all sorts of freedom, we’re free to buy gear without a CE, DOT, or any rating for that matter. But for those who like putting a price on safety, CE ratings are all you need to remember. CE stands for “Conformité Européenne”, which is French for “European Conformity.” Most proper gear goes through CE testing, allowing it to be sold here and in Europe, where it’s mandatory.

There’s two CE ratings. One is for jackets, gear and garments: AAA, AA, A,B or C. C-rated garments just are for housing the armor. This rating measures the abrasion resistance, or how long it takes to develop a hole in the material when exposed to identical testing.

The other rating is for the armor itself: Level 1 and Level 2, the latter being the higher rating. This rating is for impact protection.

Now let’s tackle some other important considerations.

Can it be zipped to a set of riding pants?

Some jackets can be connected to a set of riding pants (from the same manufacturer), creating a full riding suit for greater protection. Some jackets can be fully zipped together while others use a short zip for the back.

Is the lining removable?

Textile jackets usually have a removable liner. Some summer jackets made of leather don’t. Removable linings can be washed, which is a very good thing — especially in summer. Removable liners also gives you flexibility in changing weather conditions.

Does it have vents?

The more vents, the better. Perforated leather jackets work well, but are susceptible to rain. Textile jackets generally have zip-covered vents, as do some leather variants. Pay attention to whether zippers are waterproof, as even zippers can let in moisture.

Is it waterproof or water-resistant?

“Water-resistant” is not the same as “Waterproof.” The former will be fine against light drizzle or short showers, but if you’re making miles in all-day rain, you’ll need something properly waterproof. Keep in mind, your jacket need not be completely waterproof if you plan on carrying dedicated rain gear separately.

What size do I need?

Cold weather or winter jackets need room for layers underneath. Summer jackets can be form-fitting, needing only room for a summer base layer. Traditional sizing (XS to XXXL) can vary widely depending on manufacturer. UK or EU sizing in centimeters tends to be more uniform and consistent. Keep a note on your phone with your shoulder, chest and waist measurements so you can easily convert metric sizes to standard.

Does it have an aero hump?

Some sportbike leather jackets (and most track suits) have an aerodynamic hump below the back of the neck. They’re not necessary for street riding or touring, but they do give a “race look”. If you plan on track riding, they help with airflow at high speeds.

How we tested helmets

The MCN team of expert journalists have decades of experience over hundreds of thousands of miles. We don’t torture test anything. We use it just like you do in the real world and in all conditions to deliver impartial jacket buying advice.

MCN covers countless miles each week and tries lots of options in a short space of time. We quickly discover which jackets feel great, which ones don’t and why.

We only feature jackets we’ve extensively tested. Comparison jackets will be included if deemed important and relevant. Testing is ongoing and we will continually add gear and products to our site.

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

Comfort

Comfort isn’t a Want, it’s a Need. Being uncomfortable means being distracted from the road ahead. Comfort covers aspects like the venting/insulation, plus the feel on (and off) the bike.

Practicality

Is it easy to put on or take off? That’s more a question for modular or two-piece jacket/pants combos. Testers also consider the number and location of pockets and versatility.

Looks

Beauty, attractiveness and style are in the eyes of the beholder. It’s certainly a subjective topic, but our testers will share their opinions. Feel free to disagree.

Quality

Will seams, contruction and materials last a lifetime or just a season or two? If it’s waterproof, does it stay dry? All jackets have fasteners, zippers or buttons which need to work perfectly thousands of times. Long term testing helps separate jackets that check all the boxes from ones that don’t.

Protection

We only test jackets that meet the required CE testing criteria. The abrasion standard (AAA through B) and the level of armor (Level 1 or Level 2) is taken into consideration, but ultimately you decide what’s best for you.

Lightweight, cooling or casual-looking jackets won’t have CE AAA-rated protection, which is acceptable for casual or low speed riding. However, a sportbike or track jacket will be held to higher standards, and should have armor that stays in place and doesn’t shift away from critical areas like elbows, back and shoulders.

Overall, we ask our testers if they would feel confident crashing in a jacket. Or how if they did crash, how it performed.

Value

Value is basically price divided by quality. An inexpensive jacket made with great quality might be a better value than an expensive jacket with just good quality.

Overall

This is the “tl;dr” of the review. Bottom line, would the reviewer spend their own money on the jacket?

If you can’t see a review against a jacket on this page, it’s because we haven’t tested it yet. These jackets 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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Scoring explained

Products are given a score from 1 to 5 stars. Beyond the ratings tab, you’ll find in-depth info on product and gear performance and attributes.

• 1 Star – Avoid at all costs.
• 2 Stars – Barely acceptable.
• 3 Stars – Average or adequate.
• 4 Stars – Above average.
• 5 Stars – Excellent performance.

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

NOTE: While MCN may receive commissions or other compensation from the links on this page, we never allow this to influence product selections – read why you should trust us.

- Just so you know, we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website - read why you should trust us.