How should a motorcycle jacket fit? It should feel snug, but not tight. The armor should sit on your shoulders, elbows and back when you sit in your riding position. You should have room for one warm layer underneath. And the sleeves should still reach your gloves when your arms stretch to the bars.
Many riders check a jacket in a mirror while standing up. That is only half the test. A jacket can look right when you stand, then pull and ride up once you lean forward on the bike.
A motorcycle jacket should fit snug enough that the armor cannot slide off your joints, but loose enough that you can breathe and reach the bars. In your riding position, the sleeves should cover your wrists. The back should cover your lower back. The collar should close without pressing on your throat.
Here is the short checklist. Use it every time you try on a jacket:
Always judge the fit in the position you ride in. Sit on your bike, or sit on a chair and hold your arms out as if you were holding the bars. A riding jacket is cut for this pose. If it only feels right while you stand, the size or the cut is wrong for you.
Once you are in position, check these four things:
Armor only helps where it sits. The elbow pad should cover the elbow with your arm bent. The shoulder pad should curve over the point of the shoulder. The back protector should stay in the middle of your back and should not push the collar into your helmet. If the pads slide, the jacket is too loose.
Do these simple checks with the jacket zipped up:
You will often see the terms CE Level 1 and CE Level 2. These are the two levels for motorcycle impact protectors. Level 2 lets less force through than Level 1. Level 2 pads can feel a little thicker, so try the jacket on with its armor in place. To learn more, read our guide to CE Level 1 vs Level 2 armor.
The , the and the share the same armor. Each has CE Level 2 shoulder and elbow protectors. Each has a CE Level 1 divided insert chest protector and a CE Level 2 insert back protector. There is also a protective print at the elbows.
Leave room for one warm layer, and no more. Try the jacket on over the layer you will really wear, such as a fleece or a windproof base layer. Then do the hug test. If you can wrap your arms around yourself and the armor stays in place, the room is right.
Here is how to do the hug test:
Too loose lets the armor move away from your joints. Too tight squeezes out the warm air between layers, so you feel cold and stiff on a long ride.
Do not size up just to fit a thick sweater. Thin layers work better than one bulky one. For ideas on what to wear under your jacket, see our layering guide.
A textile jacket is cut with a little more room, so liners and layers fit inside. You then use its straps and zips to take up the slack. A leather jacket fits closer to the body. Leather jackets use stretch panels and an action back to let you move without a loose fit.
Textile touring jackets are made to change with the weather. The Hawk, Revolt and Vertex each have a 3D mesh lining and detachable liners, including a thermal liner. With the liners out, the jacket should still hold the armor in place. You do that with the adjusters, which we cover in the next section. Our liner guide explains how removable liners work. You can also see our .
Leather does not stretch much, so the cut matters more. Look for an action back. This is a panel across the shoulders that opens up as you reach forward. The is cut from cowhide. It has an action back with a stretch panel in the liner arms and a removable quilted lining. The is also cowhide. It has an action back, stretch panels in the liner arms, a zip-out insulation liner and two front vents built into the pockets.
With a leather jacket, take the liner out and try it again. It should still feel snug at the chest and arms. If it turns baggy, the size is too big for warm days.
Some leather jackets are made for street riding and style. The has a slim fit, zippered cuffs and a tab-adjustable waist. For more jackets of this kind, see our .
Adjusters let one jacket fit you in summer and in winter. Straps, tabs and zips pull the jacket in when the liners are out. They let it out when you add a layer. Each time you put a liner in or take one out, set the adjusters again so the armor stays put.
The Hawk, Revolt and Vertex jackets have these adjusters:
There is also stretch at the elbows, which helps you bend your arms on the bars. A cuff zipper lets the glove cuff go under the outer shell and over your base layer. Long and short connection zippers are there too.
Your jacket is the wrong size if the armor moves off your joints, the back rides up, or your shoulders feel stiff on the bars. A zip that strains or a gap between your glove and cuff are also clear signs. If the adjusters cannot fix it, you need a different size.
Too big:
Too small:
The fix starts before you buy. Measure your chest, waist and arms, then compare them with our size chart. The jackets named above also offer a Custom Size option. It is made to your measurements. Our how to measure page shows you how to take them.
Fit is not the same as style. If you want help with the cut that suits your build, read our guide to leather jacket styles by body type.
Try the jacket on over the layer you will really wear. Zip it up and do the hug test. You should be able to hug yourself without the zip straining. The armor must still sit on your elbows and shoulders. If it slides off, the jacket is too loose.
A textile jacket fits a little roomier, so its liners fit inside. You then use the adjusters to take up the slack. On the Hawk, Revolt and Vertex, that means the waist straps, side-seam zips, lower-arm strap, cuff tabs, hem drawcord and Flexisnap collar.
Tight enough that the armor does not shift when you move. You should still be able to breathe deeply and reach the bars with ease. If your shoulders feel stiff or the zip strains, it is too tight.
Yes. With your arms reaching forward, the cuffs should still cover your wrists. Your glove can go over or under the cuff. On the Hawk, Revolt and Vertex, a cuff zipper lets the glove cuff go under the outer shell and over your base layer.
It can. An insert back protector, like the CE Level 2 one in the Hawk, Revolt and Vertex, takes up a little room. Try the jacket with the protector in. Then check that it stays centered and does not push the collar up into your helmet.