Fit and adjustability are the most important factors affecting the safety & comfort of your motorcycle jacket. The strongest shell material and the best impact armor are no good if the jacket moves around, leaving your body exposed.

If the jacket is not comfortable on the days you ride most then it is not safe. You will not wear it. The safest jacket is the one you will wear.

HOW AND WHEN DO YOU PLAN TO WEAR THE JACKET?

SUN. If you plan to ride mostly in warm weather then fit the jacket while wearing a T-shirt. If the jacket has a full sleeve liner and fits well with your new angora sweater then it may be loose & sloppy with no liner and a T-shirt.

RAIN. Making a garment waterproof is complicated. Extra rain flaps add bulk and reduce vent function. If you don't plan to ride in the rain then think hard about how well air gets into the jacket on hot days.

COLD. Does the jacket seal up well? If you plan to ride on cool days make sure the wrist & waist can be cinched down. Air should not be able to flow up the sleeve.

What sort of bike do you ride? Does the sleeve length match up with your extra long ape arms and your new GSXR?

A snug sleeve will keep air out. If air can easily flow into the sleeve, imagine what gravel will feel like.

If the jacket can easily lift up then the torso will be exposed to wind and asphalt. This is where adjustability is vital to your comfort & safety.

Select the smallest jacket that you can wear. Remember to check sleeve length. If you need an over sized jacket to get the sleeve length then shim it up. Most jackets have room for an additional spine pad. Elbow pads are also available.

It is essential to have correct fit at the elbows, waist & cuff. Fit at these areas greatly affect safety.

Lastly don't be afraid to modify your jacket. Call the manufacturer for advice in this area. Local tailors can often shorten or tapper a sleeve or torso for a custom fit for not much money.

These tips come from Marc Bay, head of product development for the Joe Rocket and Power Trip apparel brands. They can be applied to any quality brand of motorcycle clothing.

www.joerocket.com 800-635-6103 and/or questions@joerocket.com