With stores flooded with motorcycle jackets, which ones are right for you?

The key to choosing good motorcycle jackets is to know what you are going to use it for. Okay so that may sound kind of silly to the person who is just starting out on motorcycles, but for someone who has been riding for a while, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about.

Judy and I ride throughout the year and only stop when cold temps and safety become an issue in the winters. We have two basic jackets we wear. We have a leather jacket and a mesh jacket. The basics for them I'm sure are obvious. The leather ones we wear in the winter and cooler months and switch over to mesh when it gets hotter. Both jackets provide adequate protection from the elements and the road.

Let's look at the basic, black, standard leather jacket that everyone knows and loves. First I want to say this, we're talking about a "motorcycle jacket" not some flimsy thing you pick up in the men's section at Wal-Mart. Make sure your jacket is made of good quality leather at least 1.3 mm thick. The jacket needs to be vented too. Sleeve, chest and back zippers with ventilation material are a must. A good removable liner with a neck warmer is always a nice thing to have. I would steer you away from a jacket that has anything loose that can slap at your face, neck or even a passenger. The best jacket we've found that meets all these criteria is the Classic II Jacket from Fox Creek Leather.

If you are really into cold weather riding, then you can look at heated clothing. They are basically a heavy canvas and abrasion resistant material that have an electric circuit running through it to warm the jacket. You can plug it into your bike and ride till the cows come home, or the snow bunnies freeze, whichever comes first.

Our mesh jackets are made from an abrasion resistant material. The air flows through the mesh cooling you off in the summer and since the material has some thickness to it, your skin stays shaded and cooler. The pads in most jackets are removable. Judy removes the back panel so she can sit more comfortably and it gives her more room around the chest. The jackets come with a rain/wind liner that zips inside the jacket. The company also makes a cooling liner that you would soak in cold water and use to keep you cool in the heat. That comes in nice when the temps are above about 95.

When it's all said and done, a jacket is a personal preference and the main things to look for is quality construction, fit, comfort, ventilation and oh yeah, has to make you look good too. All kidding aside, remember this one statement, "If you don't cover it, than you are willing to lose it". I heard that from a safety officer in an organization we belong to. Think about that when it comes to buying any safety gear. We wouldn't want anyone have to go through the painful process of healing a case of road rash, or worse.

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