Why do motorcycle riders wear black leather jackets?

Question

like 8/10 i see are wearing one

Answer 1

I wear my (black) leather jacket along with my (blue) jeans and (black) chaps and don't forget a good pair of (black) boots for the protection they provide.

I'm not one for flashy colors, the brown leather is fine, but I like basic black. So I guess I'm one of those stereotypical riders you all ***** about and love to put down on here.

I like who I am, don't really care what people think of me, it's their problem or opinion. I am who I am and love every minute of it.

Answer 2

Black Motorcycle Riders

Answer 3

#1 They are not always the color Black

#2 Leather has been a known source of warmth from cold weather, and it protects the skin should a rider go down on his motorcycle.

#3 Other Jackets that are NOT made of Leather may keep a rider warm, but may not
act as a second layer of skin like leather does.
Road rash is not pretty.

Answer 4

Leather jackets last a long time. They are excellent protection for your body should you go down or from rocks and stones that fly up, usually from trucks, and hit you. They block wind. This is important if you ride where the temperatures are cool or cold. The color of leather isn't important but black is most popular. I think it's because that's the color most people have been conditioned to associate with motorcycles. Black also looks the best, in my opinion.

Answer 5

Leather is a great protector from the weather and the road. If you find a quality leather jacket that you like then it will most likely be with you longer than your current motorcycle so getting a color matched jacket means you need to change jackets when you change bikes and since black goes with everything it is just the most obvious choice.

Answer 6

Black [with white and blue] was the cheapest I could find... the money I saved that way, just suited to repaint the bike to match the leather combination. Worked out...

Black is dang hot when trapped in traffic on an air cooled 4 cylinder inline in the baking sun during the May 24 weekend on a 400 series highway in Canada.

Theoretically though, black is better at dissipating heat... and readily mentioned doesn't show dirt, the plethora of flying things that splatter on your gear, and is pretty universally adaptable to about any colour of motorcycle.

Keep the rubber side down... Happy Trails.

Answer 7

As said leather is bests to prevent road rash. Black was only color they came in when riders needed a good jacket "back when" had to have snaps so the collier wouldn't slap you in the face or keep closed up all the way when cold. Look back and you see we wore white T's . Also the belt was wider for back support, no back rest on them bikes ."Tiny" rider of over 45yrs

Answer 8

The type of leather is cowskin, which is much thicker than human skin and protects the rider's epidermis should the rider wipe out and her body skids along the road for a bit.

Bullet proof Kevlar is slowly replacing leather as a more durable, lightweight, breathable fabric as time goes on.

As for the color black.... that's just biker tradition. Probably started because black goes with anything and also doesn't show road dirt & smooshed bugs as much.

Answer 9

Protection, I hit a deer once and went down. Scoffed the jacket and kept me from road rash. Leather is all so a very good wind barrier. Some bikers are wearing brown jackets now.

Answer 10

Leather is about the most resistant material to road rash that you can get, so a good leather jacket can protect you from injuries as well as from the cold.

And black - well, black goes with anything, as they say.