Perforated or non-perforated leathers?

[Salted_Peanut]

Talk to me about perforated versus non-perforated leathers. Which would you pick for UK riding when it's warm weather?

I've always had non-perforated leathers, but they can be hot in the peak of summer. I ride year-round but have Gore-Tex clobber to cope with autumn/winter. Would you get perforated leathers for spring/summer, or is non-perforated better for summers in the UK?

[bogie]

perforated... you can always wear a windproof base layer on more cooler days.

[Wildfire]

I have both and am going to disagree with bogie and say non-perf. I have a perf suit and whilst it makes it a little cooler on the run in summer, anything other than super hot sunny days and I get cold. I always wear base layers and most of the time end up having a windstopper under it.

But then I get cold all the time.

[vonhosen]

I suffer with heat more than cold, so went perforated & don't regret it.

[dibblecorse]

Wildfire said:

I have both and am going to disagree with bogie and say non-perf. I have a perf suit and whilst it makes it a little cooler on the run in summer, anything other than super hot sunny days and I get cold. I always wear base layers and most of the time end up having a windstopper under it.

But then I get cold all the time.

Why would you not put a windstopper over them ?

[Pothole]

dibblecorse said:

Wildfire said:

I have both and am going to disagree with bogie and say non-perf. I have a perf suit and whilst it makes it a little cooler on the run in summer, anything other than super hot sunny days and I get cold. I always wear base layers and most of the time end up having a windstopper under it.

But then I get cold all the time.

Why would you not put a windstopper over them ?

Because he bought them to match his bike.

[Salted_Peanut]

Good to see consensus here as usual

If I use a Windstopper layer underneath, is there any disadvantage to perforated leather (e.g. being caught out in rain)? Also, is it easy to clean and feed perforated leather without leather food clogging the perforations?

Wildfire said:

most of the time end up having a windstopper under it.

How much does that matter?

[rigga]

Perforated boots was a suprise, feeling the cold air through them felt funny.
Perforated leathers, put something on top if its chilly.

[Wildfire]

Pothole said:

Because he bought them to match his bike.

Damn straight! All the gear, no idea, fashion matters!

Actually, I bought them off a guy who hadn't used them, then out grew them and as he was quite small he was struggling to sell them. It was a good bargain.

I have a slightly older set that is non-perforated and just seem to prefer them and don't get as cold. The windstopper does well on my torso, but the legs and arms still get cold.

The perforation works really well, just probably a bit too much for me. I always seem to go to the non-perforated set. But as I said, 90% of the time I'm cold.

[bogie]

Im always warm and hate to be uncomfortable, still have a set of non perforated Dainese hung up, only worn once in last few years on an autumn track day. Most of the time on road just wearing jacket and kevlar jeans these days.

As always it depends on personal comfort, when and where you ride. Over they years you may build up many different sets of kit for various weather, if you can only have one set of kit right now, then get whichever suits the majority of your own riding.

If you can cope with being really hot for mmm....about 1 month of the year then non perforated will be fine. If you intend to ride for weeks abroad in 30 odd degrees you may not. If its for road use versus track I would be looking at some more touring orientated leathers which will likely be vented.

[Salted_Peanut]

bogie said:

If you can cope with being really hot for mmm....about 1 month of the year then non perforated will be fine.

That's what I was wondering ... ?

Though global warming means perforated could make increasing sense ... unless the flooding means I'll be trading my bike for a boat

[Mr Squarekins]

I've got both, but I'd say non-perf for 350 days of the year (or more).

[Bartebde]

Mr Squarekins said:

I've got both, but I'd say non-perf for 350 days of the year (or more).

I would agree.

Have a perforated suit for the track and it only really comes out on the roads on really hot days. Otherwise I’m in a 2piece non perforated, which gets far more use. It’s even got a couple of zip vents, which help out on the hot days.

[Salted_Peanut]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I concluded this answer was best – at least for me – but does a leather jacket exist with zipper vents on the arms?

I tried looking for "leather arms and zips", but Google Images didn't show a lot of motorcycling pictures

[bogie]

Salted_Peanut said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I concluded this answer was best – at least for me – but does a leather jacket exist with zipper vents on the arms?

I tried looking for "leather arms and zips", but Google Images didn't show a lot of motorcycling pictures

Yes, I have a vanson leathers jacket that has perforated front panels with zip down interior panels to let air through when you want to. The inside of the arms have zips inside to let air in and rear has zips to let air out. Works great, nice airflow on hot days, and you can leave zipped up first thing in the morning until it warms up. One of my favourite jackets. They are expensive over here, but occasionally good used buys on ebay. I picked mine up out in the states on business when the exchange rate was better.

http://www.gorgeousbikes.co.uk/Vanson-Drac-p391125...

pics of vents better on Vanson website
https://vansonleathers.com/mens-leather-motorcycle...

Edited by bogie on Monday 25th May 15:23

[TheThing]

I wore my leathers today. I'm glad that they are perforated.

[Mr Squarekins]

Salted_Peanut said:

I concluded this answer was best – at least for me – but does a leather jacket exist with zipper vents on the arms?

I tried looking for "leather arms and zips", but Google Images didn't show a lot of motorcycling pictures

Many years ago i had a Hein Gerike jacket that was exactly this. Not much use now
I know, but it means that they are around. It was a 'Streetline', black leather.

Edited by Mr Squarekins on Monday 25th May 19:57

[Salted_Peanut]

bogie said:

The inside of the arms have zips inside to let air in and rear has zips to let air out. Works great, nice airflow on hot days, and you can leave zipped up first thing in the morning until it warms up. One of my favourite jackets.

These arm vents are what I’m after. I’ve seen them in pricy textile jackets – Alpinestars Revenant and Klim Kodiak – and the more affordable Dainese D-System jacket had excellent vents like this too. But why are these vents hard to find in leather jackets?

[catso]

Prefer non-perforated, whilst I only ride in warm weather it is rarely too hot for me. I don't like being cold and can cope with odd 30 degree day in black leather to be comfortable the rest of the time...

[TheThing]

With regards to the zipped air vents I would of thought they compromise the strength of the leather? Just a guess.