Separate armor pieces, or all in one package?

[Daks]

So, I have a mesh/textile jacket now, which has served me quite well in the summer heat. Fits well and is armored sufficiently for my needs (back, shoulder, elbow).

But winter is coming and I've been eying up some leather jackets. Any that fit well tend not to quite fit my budget. Or they are "fashion" leather or some shit.

Now, I have a leather "motorcycle" jacket I've had for a while. I love it to bits (white is hard to come by inexpensively) because it's good leather but it has zero armor. I was thinking of attempting to add armor to it by getting just inserts from other jackets; getting one of those "armored shirts/vests" with back, shoulder and maybe chest and elbow protection and wearing it underneath or; getting a vest with shoulder protection and then getting separate tube elbow armor.

The first option is the cheapest. But it will take time and effort and I run the risk of making more of a problem than it's worth.
The second two seem more viable, and a bit more versatile in terms of changing over jackets and such. I'm just wondering how safe it will be. In the winter, the jacket runs large on me and it has plenty of room for armor under it as well as layers. I feel like separate armor pieces hugging closer to my body will be less inclined to shift, but then again, without the form of the rest of the jacket, they can be shifted to different angles more easily?
And then there's hassle of taking off just a jacket or 5 separate pieces of armor. I wouldn't mind wearing the jacket over one of those armored "safety jackets", though. Hell, I bet I could rig it to zip-in.

I'm not sure, which is why I made this thread. What I'm looking for really is addresses to my concerns and then possibilities/recommendations on products. I don't need race quality stuff but I'm not looking to cheap out, either. I do like the forcefield armor but the adventure harness isn't quite in the budget. I plan on picking up their knee protection, though.

And please, please leave the "how much is your back/elbows/shoulders/body worth?" lecture at the door. I believe safe motorcycling is possible even for considerably broke part-time working 21 year olds who can't afford 2k leathers. If quality is sworn by, I will take all recommendations with heart should they be reasonable.

 

[afm199]

Most jackets have pockets for armor. If yours does, then use them. If it does not, then try getting an armor under jacket, if it will fit.

As to your mesh gear protecting you, . I wish I still had the photos of the woman who thought her mesh protected her. It did. None of the armored areas were hurt. She lost a couple hundred square inches of skin on the mesh areas, and had permanent disfiguring scars. By the way, road rash is treated the same as third and fourth degree burns, the loss of several layers of skin is what determines the treatment.

 

[Roadstergal]

If the jacket is loose on you, armor in pockets will more likely than not move away and not do you any good when you crash. I had the tiniest little low-side doing minimoto in too-big leather, and I just remember the feel of the armor sliding right away and leaving my arm to take the hit.

Haunt BARF classifieds and CL - good small-sized gear does come up.

 

[Daks]

Yeah, the too-bigness of the the leather jacket is also what has me leaning toward separate armor pieces. All in all, the leather doesn't need to stay in place, just the armor.

I've been poking around both here and CL for stuff, but when it comes to armor, I really prefer to try stuff on first and buy newer than older since the foam does need to be replaced after a while.

 

[afm199]

Yeah, the too-bigness of the the leather jacket is also what has me leaning toward separate armor pieces. All in all, the leather doesn't need to stay in place, just the armor.

I've been poking around both here and CL for stuff, but when it comes to armor, I really prefer to try stuff on first and buy newer than older since the foam does need to be replaced after a while.

Good armor will cost you some good bucks and replacement won't be an issue for a very long time. Foam is not used in good armor. Or rather cheap foam is not.

 

[Daks]

Anyone have any word on the Forcefield action shirt (plus added back protection) or the forcefield/Tpro pro shirt? They look like they'd be a lot less bulky than the big hard armor pieces and I know the Forcefield stuff is pretty well acclaimed.

I know the fabric of both shirts isn't quite great for abrasion resist but it would be worn under leather.

 

[Roadstergal]

I checked out the Pro Shirt at Johnson last time I was thre; I have the pants version. They won't do abrasion at all; they're meant as undergarments, so putting them under your leather jacket is absolutely the right way to go.

I believe it is available with either base armor or their 100-joule armor as options.

The armor is the same T-Pro uses in their other applications. What I like about it is that after some wear time, it conforms to your body and gets really comfortable (IMO).

 

[mototireguy]

But winter is coming and I've been eying up some leather jackets. Any that fit well tend not to quite fit my budget. Or they are "fashion" leather or some shit.

For cold/wet winter conditions I would vote for waterproof/resistant armored textile gear with armor being better than armored leather gear.

 

[Daks]

I checked out the Pro Shirt at Johnson last time I was thre; I have the pants version. They won't do abrasion at all; they're meant as undergarments, so putting them under your leather jacket is absolutely the right way to go.

I believe it is available with either base armor or their 100-joule armor as options.

The armor is the same T-Pro uses in their other applications. What I like about it is that after some wear time, it conforms to your body and gets really comfortable (IMO).

Might go with this, then. I can take out the loose armor from my textile/mesh jacket and wear this under it as well. Better armor anyhow.
I've read reviews and the conforming is really appealing. I hate how rigid my current stuff is. Makes me look barrel-chested, too. Dx

Maybe I'll make a trip to Johnson's and try it on. Figure if it's too big or needs alteration, that fabric will be infinitely easier to work with than leather or the fishnet-type stuff other armors have.

 

[Daks]

Sad day, the action and pro shirt were both too huge in XS for me. Trip to SF was worth it, though. The guys at Johnson's were awesome, gave me a lot of good ideas and advice with the matter. They're even calling Forcefield to ask if they plan on coming out with an xxs or youth size in the future.

Took one look at me and said no to the pants, too.

LOVED the feel of the armor, though. Holy tits, it was amazing and comfortable. We talked about adding pockets to my jacket and altering it to make it fit or just making a new one entirely, too. Also talked about leg armor.

Hoping for the best for the smaller sizes, but I at least have options, and now my focus is on tpro armor. Plastic shit just ain't gonna cut it after feeling that!

 

[f4ibri]

I personally wouldn't trust a leather jacket thats not made specifically for motorcycle protection. You seem to be stuck on this "motorcycle jacket" that is not made to protect you. When the seams bust the quality of the leather will be irrelevant. If you want to look cool just wear the jacket as it is. If you want to protect yourself on a budget, spend a little money on a less expensive textile jacket. You may not look as cool while riding, but you will look much cooler when you're dusting yourself off on the side of the road with all your skin. If you have a very limited budget go to the gear for sale section and ask if anyone has a jacket in your size that they are willing to give away. I have seen others do it and get several offers. Dress to slide, not to ride.

 

[afm199]

I personally wouldn't trust a leather jacket thats not made specifically for motorcycle protection. You seem to be stuck on this "motorcycle jacket" that is not made to protect you. When the seams bust the quality of the leather will be irrelevant. If you want to look cool just wear the jacket as it is. If you want to protect yourself on a budget, spend a little money on a less expensive textile jacket. You may not look as cool while riding, but you will look much cooler when you're dusting yourself off on the side of the road with all your skin. If you have a very limited budget go to the gear for sale section and ask if anyone has a jacket in your size that they are willing to give away. I have seen others do it and get several offers. Dress to slide, not to ride.

Look buddy, protection is secondary to cool. WTF wrong with you.

 

[Daks]

I personally wouldn't trust a leather jacket thats not made specifically for motorcycle protection. You seem to be stuck on this "motorcycle jacket" that is not made to protect you. When the seams bust the quality of the leather will be irrelevant. If you want to look cool just wear the jacket as it is. If you want to protect yourself on a budget, spend a little money on a less expensive textile jacket. You may not look as cool while riding, but you will look much cooler when you're dusting yourself off on the side of the road with all your skin. If you have a very limited budget go to the gear for sale section and ask if anyone has a jacket in your size that they are willing to give away. I have seen others do it and get several offers. Dress to slide, not to ride.

It's a leather jacket with sturdy leather bought from a motorcycle store several years ago. It just happens to not be armored.

I know people like to jump all over people's dicks here about safety but holy tits, calm down because the more people preach pointlessly and endlessly at me, the more I want to tune it out. Especially when the thread isn't asking for that opinion because that suggestion has already been considered by myself and ruled moot because it IS a motorcycle jacket. It was in quotation marks to reference the lack of armor.

Get off the high horse and ride your bike.

I'd rather a leather jacket with great armor than a cheap textile.

 

[f4ibri]

Sorry guy, didn't mean to upset you. Why would you call a motorcycle jacket a "motorcycle" jacket? Was I supposed to magically know that quotation marks mean Moto specific jacket without armor? If you don't want opinions don't ask for them. But since you asked for my opinion, I'll gladly share it with you. Your idea is stupid and impractical. Welcome to BARF.

 

[f4ibri]

Look buddy, protection is secondary to cool. WTF wrong with you.

Sad but true.

 

[afm199]

I

I know people like to jump all over people's dicks here about safety but holy tits, calm down because the more people preach pointlessly and endlessly at me, the more I want to tune it out. Especially when the thread isn't asking for that opinion because that suggestion has already been considered by myself and ruled moot because it IS a motorcycle jacket. It was in quotation marks to reference the lack of armor.
.

Most of us don't take anyone who wears a mesh jacket seriously. Why? Because you have obviously never seen the result of a serious sliding mesh jacket crash, with huge burns and skin loss all over the chest and back.