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. 

The economy's deadly recession continues to hurt the motorcycle industry. The most recent example is Marin County, where Harley closed it Corte Madera shop, the BMW dealer closed, and the only dealership left is Hattar Motorsports, the Ducati Triumph dealer.

For Harley owners, the nearest warranty work is either Michael's in Cotati (a long ride), or Dudley Perkins (which moved to a less convenient location closer to the airport than downtown).  BMW riders fare better, as the BMW dealership in San Francisco is located closer to the heart of the City.  

For riders, this may mean a big bill for trailering to the dealership, depending on the problem.  For the industry, this means that only the most dedicated riders are staying with the sport.  For all riders, this means diminished choices in every aspect of the sport.  

Parenthetically, this makes efforts like the effort to revive the Norton name seem somewhat peculiar.  

As a motorcycle accident attorney, I wonder how rider safety is affected.  At some level, the fewer motorcycles on the road, the less awareness car drivers have of the need to keep a lookout for motorcyclists. 

Those in the industry have started to focus on the perceived shortage of new riders.  Personally, I think the time is ripe for a return to the Japanese strategy of the 60's.  Get riders started on small, cheap, two wheelers, and they will naturally move up.  In fact, this is happening with a proliferation of scooters, and growth in the electric two wheel market.  It just isn't as organized an effort as it could be.

Of course, this is a myopic view of the world.  Sales of boats, RV's, and every other form of recreational transportation are also at all time lows.  

In the meantime, I am happy to be one of those still up and riding.  I appreciate my local dealers, and I support them.  Might be something to think about the next time you look at helmets locally, but make the purchase over the internet. 

I have heard some reports dealing with a small number of Harleys that have manufacturing issues involving the brakes.  This is a potentially serious problem that can cause lockup and a crash.

If you smell excessive heat or see glowing discs (or are told your discs glow), the problem needs to be taken care of by replacing the offending part.

Again, this does not seem to be a common problem, and I do not want to be an alarmist.  Generally, Harley makes a quality product, and this is a rare exception.  

Having heard about it from an expert, I just wanted to pass it on. 

Lots of discussion on the internet of these braces, which are to protect motocross riders.

In addition to hearing of spinal cord injuries on the internet, now there is litigation.  Seems like the braces prevent riders from rolling to minimize injuries.  Instead, the brace itself is said to cause spinal injuries.

Given that we are talking about paralysis, this is not something to take lightly.

Speaking with one of the top experts in the country, it seems anyone injured while wearing one of these braces should be speaking with a knowledgable lawyer.