Are Denim Motorcycle Jackets Safe for Highway Riding?

Motorcycle jackets are not a fashion waistcoat only but the first point of protection while you are on a motorcycle. Although the usual jackets worn by motorcyclists are leather and textile, a recent trend in the denim motorcycle jackets is good news to the denim companies. Their relaxed fit, ventilation, and low prices attract a lot of riders, including those who prefer to wear a look that resembles street attire.

However, in the case of highway riding where the speeds are quicker and the conditions more severe, one big question, which should be asked is: Are the denim motorcycle jackets safe?

This blog will trace the protection aspects of denim motorcycle jackets and compare it to those of other types of jackets as well as how to decide whether denim is a good option for your mile-high rides.

What Denim Motorcycle Jacket is?

These denim motor cycle jackets are not regular denim jackets that one could use in the street. Although they may appear the same, more rally-specific types are built on reinforced materials, impact protection, and ergonomics of riding. They are supposed to be a combination of casual and road capable safety.

These jackets can be expected to have aspects such as kevlar/aramid fibers reinforcement, CE armor rating covering regions that are vulnerable, abrasion-resistant interior linings, and structural positioning of stretch to permit flexibility. Not every denim jacket is good though some are made with more interests on style rather than structure.

Knowledge of Risk of Highway Riding

Highway riding involves higher speeds, often between 70 to 100 km/h (or more), which dramatically increases the severity of injuries in the event of a crash. With such high speed, a rider would perform several meters of sliding in the event of a fall, this is why abrasion resistance and impact protection cannot be underestimated in such situations.

Unlike in city ride or at slow speeds, where lighter equipments may be adequate, highway riding requires equipment that is able to survive long slide on uneven asphalt, absorb impacts, and withstand pressure.

What is the Relationship between Denim, leather and textile?

Leather in the field has always been the gold standard of motorcycle jacket material and the reasons behind that are immense levels of abrasion resistance and durability. Good leather does not slide as much and is not apt to rip or puncture through when the part is impacted. High-tech synthetic jackets, such as textile jackets are, made of sophisticated synthetic fabrics such as Cordura or blends of Kevlar, but also incorporate such additional capabilities, as waterproofing and ventilation.

Standard denim, even when reinforced, does not go to the same level of protection as leathers or high grade textiles. The denim fibers are more susceptible to tearing when subjected to friction and unless it is reinforced, a slide on asphalt may burn through a denim jacket in a few seconds.

Nevertheless, the denim jackets with Kevlar inserts or abrasion proofed liner do provide a considerable increase in protection. Others are prepared with those CE certified armor inserts in the shoulders, elbows and back that can offer the much-needed impact protection in a crash. A denim motorcycle jacket, built well, may be adequate protection during brief voyages along the highway, yet is not at all on a par with leather or high-performance textiles in regard to durability and slider protection.

Important Characteristics That Should Be Observed in a Safe Denim Motorcycle Jacket

When you consider getting a denim jacket to ride on the highway do not forget to check certain protective features. First of all, make sure that the jacket is CE-approved or with CE armor Level 1 or 2. This armor must appear on the elbows, shoulders and preferably the back too.

Then, you will need to consider the jacket construction. It is supposed to have strengthened panels that are composed of Kevlar, aramid fiber or other abrasion resistant stuff. These panels tend to be located at high impact areas such as arms, shoulders, and the back so as to avoid the application of tearing in a slide. The use of double-stitched or even loop-stitched seam also matters as it makes the jacket more durable and it could not come out in case of an accident.

Comfort and ventilation also matter, they are especially important during long trips in highways, but still, they cannot be considered at the expense of safety.

How Can Denim be Worn on the Highway?

Denim motorcycle jackets that have good reinforcements, armors can also be safe on the highway provided your highway riding conditions are moderate meaning the highway that you commute or ride has lesser highway speeds where traffic speeds are relatively low. Nevertheless, they are not always the most secure in case of long-distance touring, high-speed riding, or aggressive sport riding.

In those cases, it is better to wear leather jackets or fancy textile ones. They test such materials under extreme conditions, and they give good protection under a real-life accident as well.

Even riders who pursue style can add denim jackets as an overlayer in case of armored (bottoms) base layers or hybrid jackets mixing denim styling and leather or textile performance detailing.

The Verdict: Are Motorcycle Denim Jackets Safe to wear on road?

The reply is yes-on the condition. A denim motorcycle jacket can be fairly safe when riding on the highway, provided that this type of a jacket contains essential elements such as CE-rated armor, Kevlar reinforcements and high quality seams. Nevertheless, the most suitable denim jackets, as a rule, provide inferior protection compared to leather or textile jackets customized to wear while riding high speeds.

In case you want a denim jacket because of its casual appearance or casual feel, then ensure that it is a brand name jacket made to be used with motorcycles. Do not wear a fashion denim jacket on a highway because it will not do much to protect you when there is an accident.

Finally, the jacket is also one of your best safety investments. Frequently riders that travel at high speeds or on long rides should consider an even more robust jacket and should stick to the denim jackets during their light and traveling at low speeds in the city.

Final Thoughts

Motorcycle jackets manufactured out of denim have a role in the wardrobe of a rider. They provide a casual appearance that is comfortable and pretty good in warmer weather. However, the denim jackets on the highway are not created equal, when it comes to safety. Denim jackets can be an option to wear by riders on condition that they should be reinforced (by enforcing more denim), armored (by wearing more padding), and constructed (purposely built) towards motorcycle protection.

So the question you would want to ask yourself before getting on the highway is: will you have enough gearing to ride along with at 100 km/h in case you slip? Should you have doubts, then you can upgrade to a jacket designed under the challenge, since when we are talking about getting safe on motorcycles, money is not always the only thing that it might cost.