Leather vs Textile for my new FZ6R

[foofighterky]

I am a brand new FZ6R owner this year! This is my 2nd season riding. I don't ride on tracks, just a daily commuter and weekend backroad rider.

I want to upgrade my kinda cheap Shift mesh jacket with my $300 rebate from Yamaha! So I'm debating perforated leather vs. textile. I have to remain within budget.

I like the looks of ICON Overloard Type 1 jacket in red (to match my raven/red FZ6R). And for $215 its well within budget.

However, a local dealer has a vendor demo model of the stealth black Alpinestars Reloaded leather jacket (which happens to fit nicely). They have it listed at $230, which it retails for $380ish.

Temperatures around here are currently 90F, so I know the leather is going to get hot. But should I jump on the leather jacket, or buy the Icon textile instead? (Or get something totally different?)

I see people on some forums flame ICON. I have never owned one, so I don't know how they are.

I want to make a smart, safe, but practical decision. Any suggestions would be great.

 

[MichaelInVenice]

I had the Icon Hooligan, which is the mesh version of the Overlord. Thought it was well made and only selling it because I lost weight. The reality is that it will provide more than adequate protection, but is likely to be good for only one fall. Many insurance policies will replace it if damaged in an accident, but some won't.

To me, the choice was pretty simple. For most around-town riding which involves lots of slower riding and a fair amount of "stop and go," leather of even the perforated variety is going to get too hot. Which for me means that my shirt is ruined by the time I get to where I'm going. If you're moving all the time, the difference is much less significant.

Ideally at some point I'll own "commuter gear" and a seperate set of "weekend" gear. The latter will be perfed leather, for use on those weekend trips when slow speeds, traffic and frequent stops in the sun aren't issues. In the meantime I'm using good quality textile all around, with quality boots and perfed leather gloves.

 

[buzzbomb]

I'm not familiar with either jacket. However the leather vs. textile debate is pretty well worn over. Leather is better protection, textile is generally adequate, but a lot cooler.

Personally, I'm all textile. It was in the 90's here today, and it was frickin' hot when I wasn't moving, and sometimes when I was. Given an unlimited budget though, I'd have perforated leather for the kind of riding I do on my days off, and textile for all the other days.