Tips for Buying & Choosing Motorcycle Leathers

There IS a difference! Buy Your Biker Leathers From a Seller You Can Trust!

WHAT KIND OF LEATHER SHOULD I BUY?

There are many styles & grades of leather used in motorcycle jackets, chaps, and vests. They range from cheaply made patched leather to premium grade naked leather, with various grades in between. Always choose the BEST YOU CAN AFFORD. After all, it is your skin you are protecting. Do your homework and you should get just what you are looking for.

LEATHER TYPES:

• PATCHED LEATHER. This is the cheapest. They use scrap pieces of varying grades of leather and sew them together. This means the leather material is much weaker and can fall apart literally at the many seams if you should hit the pavement. I do not recommend purchasing patched leather apparel for riding a motorcycle. This is fine if you are buying it just to keep warm, but will do little to protect you in a crash.

• NAKED LEATHER. Naked leather is a premium cowhide leather that has little if any blemishes. Most motorcycle leather on the market today is NOT naked leather. Most leather has the blemishes, scars, nicks, etc. camouflaged with the dying process. Naked leather is made with only the very best, high quality hides. It is also the most expensive.

• LAMBSKIN LEATHER. Lambskin leather has a soft texture and is great for fashion apparel, but NOT for motorcycle apparel. Lambskin feels nice, but is a thinner, more delicate leather. Definitely not for protection.

• COWHIDE LEATHER. The toughest and most durable for motorcycle jackets. After Naked Leather, it is the most expensive, but it is also the most protective. It has a rougher texture than the softer leathers, but it will break it just fine with time and use.

• PIGSKIN LEATHER. Pigskin leather is very commonly used in biker leathers. It has a softer texture than cowhide, but it is also very durable and a great choice for protection.

• BUFFALO LEATHER. Buffalo leather is normally a little softer than cowhide, but nearly as tough. A fine choice for protection.

LEATHER GRADES:

No matter which TYPE of leather you buy, there are varying thicknesses. Buy the thickest and best you can afford.

• MID WEIGHT OR SUMMER WEIGHT. This is a good choice for summertime night riding, of if you live in the very warm climates, use this one all year round.
• HEAVY WEIGHT OR WINTER WEIGHT. This is a thicker leather than the summer weight and will keep you warm in the wintertime and colder climates.

LEATHER QUALITY INSPECTION:

Do your homework here. If a website shop or eBay Seller does not give you much information in the listing, then ask questions BEFORE you bid or buy. Here are some good questions to ask IF this information is not already answered in the description of the listing.

• What type of hide is used for the leather?
• Is this a light weight, mid weight, or heavy weight leather?
• What kind of zippers were used? (YKK is a very good and reliable zipper)
• Ask about any features you may be interested in as well, if not listed.

I hope you found this guide helpful. I am not only an eBay seller of biker leathers but my husband and I also ride. Many others sell but have never been on a bike and really have no clue. We sell what we wear.

We also believe in TRUTH IN ADVERTISING. Don’t get fooled. There are those that will claim you are getting a premium quality leather jacket but are only charging $50.00. Trust me, there are NO premium quality leather jackets for sale that are legitimate for that price. That is less than wholesale, so something is fishy there and I’d steer clear.

Remember, the old adage, YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. Don’t get fooled, do your homework and ask questions. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Ride Safe!

Visit me in the Biker Leather Division of Sinderellas Castle on eBay.