A fast bike can be a blast. There’s a real joy to letting loose on a motorcycle, heading out to nowhere in particular, where the journey itself is your source of happiness. But as all you experienced gearheads out there can attest, motorbikes also leave you a lot more vulnerable to the elements and other drivers than a car.
There’s no such thing as a completely safe motorcycle, it’s just the nature of the beast. But that doesn’t mean you can’t up your safety game. A helmet and the right jacket can significantly increase your safety on the road.
That being said, there are a mountain of motorcycle riding jackets on the market today. Which are the safest? Which riding jackets will keep out wet or windy weather? Which are going to look the best riding up top of your vintage Indian or modern-day electric bike?
Let’s go for a ride with the best men’s motorcycle jackets—the best looks, the safest features, and what you should be looking for when you’re on the prowl for new threads.
The 15 best motorcycle jackets for men
| # | Brand | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Jacket Maker Ionic | Best overall |
| 2 | Joe Rocket | Best high-end |
| 3 | Alpha Cycle Gear Hi Vis | Best value |
| 4 | Alpha Cycle Gear All Season | Best armored |
| 5 | ScorpionExo | Best leather |
| 6 | Speed and Strength | Best textile |
| 7 | Viking Cycle | Best mesh |
| 8 | Milwaukee | Best for hot weather |
| 9 | Klim | Best adventure |
| 10 | The Jacket Maker Alex Brown | Best cafe |
| 11 | Xelement | Best cruiser |
| 12 | Borleni | Best riding |
| 13 | HWK Dualsport Enduro | Best waterproof |
| 14 | HWK Adventure/Touring | Best budget |
| 15 | Philipp Plein | Most expensive |
The Jacket Maker Ionic: Best overall men’s motorbike jacket
The Jacket Maker’s Ionic Leather Jacket is a masterclass in sleek and efficient design. The Ionic doesn’t waste a stitch with its tight lines and detailing. And aside from looking cool, it also looks fast, just like a motorcycle jacket should. And here’s the cool thing about The Jacket Maker—for a paltry extra $30 they’ll hand-make your coat to measure. If you want to learn more about The Jacket Maker’s awesome bespoke services, check out our deep dive review of their gear.
Best for: Representing speed with a bespoke fit. Colors: Black, Red, Brown + More
Joe Rocket Classic ‘92: Best high-end motorcycle jacket for men
Let’s get retro. Joe Rocket’s Classic ‘92 is exactly that, a leather jacket with a muscular motorcycle retro look. Pockets allow for the addition of optional armor to help secure your back, elbows, and shoulders. How you intend to wear the jacket will make a difference in your sizing—if you’re looking to wear it in cool weather with a sweater or hoodie underneath you’ll find it snug, so maybe go up a size when you order.
Best for: Revvin’ up with a primo retro look. Colors: Brown, Black
Alpha Cycle Gear Hi Vis Mesh: Best value motorcycle jacket for men
New to motorcycles? Alpha Cycle manages to give you a whole lot of biker jacket for a very reasonable price. Featuring high visibility designs (especially with the Hi Viz Green color option), and standard removable armor in the back, elbows, and shoulders, Alpha Cycle Gear’s Hi Vis Mesh will help keep you safe as you get your bearings.
In addition, the mesh design will keep you cool in warm weather, and you can just pull on a sweater or hoodie underneath when the temperature dips, making this an all-season jacket.
Best for: Getting onto your bike with a complete package on your back. Colors: Black, Hi Viz Green, Red + More
Alpha Cycle Gear All Season: Best men’s armored motorbike jacket
The best armored motorcycle jacket in the game is Alpha Cycle Gear’s Armored All Season Jacket. Protective high-visibility artwork makes you stand out at night and in a fog. And if things go the wrong way, you’re padded with shoulder, spine, and elbow armor. The jacket also comes with a removable thermic lining, meaning you’re all set warmth-wise for every season.
Best for: Arriving safe, and in style. Colors: Black With Orange, Black With Red
ScorpionExo 1909: Best leather motorcycle jacket for men
The search for a humdinger of a leather jacket is nothing new. For over a hundred years now, bike enthusiasts have understood that a good motorcycle jacket could add protection from the road and the elements. ScorpionExo’s 1909 Vintage Jacket harkens back to the styles of yesteryear, when Great-Grandpa was zooming around, looking for ways to doll up like the heppest of hep cats.
Aside from its classic turn-of-the-previous-century good looks, the 1909 also features removable Sas-Tec armor in the shoulders and elbows with a pocket for more in the back, and an EverHeat thermal liner that can be zipped in for chiller days on the road.
Best for: Connecting with the cool cats from the previous chopper generations. Color: Brown
Speed and Strength: Best textile motorbike jacket for men
Off the chain but certainly not off the mark, Speed and Strength’s Off The Chain textile jacket does a bang-up job of keeping you dry. The water-resistant body of the jacket features Speed and Strength’s trademarked SpeedZip ventilation, which makes it easy to maintain temperature-control on the fly. Couple that with a solid-looking design, and this jacket is sure to make it off the hangar and onto your back for the riding season.
Best for: Teaching the weather to respect the rider. Colors: Stealth, Vintage Black
Viking Cycle Ironside: Best men’s mesh motorcycle jacket
Hammer down in comfort during the hot summer days with Viking Cycle’s Ironside mesh motorcycle jacket. One of the best combinations of breathability and protection on the market, the CE approved armor covers you up while the mesh and the zipper-accessible vents on the chest let you adjust your temperature while on the move. The adjustable collar and wrists also give you control of how much cooling wind will come whistling in, providing welcome relief on the hottest high-season days.
Best for: Taking control of your temperature. Colors: Black, Hi-viz, Silver + More
Milwaukee: Best men’s motorcycle jacket for hot weather
If you’re looking for the straight-up best summer motorcycle jacket then we have to point you in the direction of Milwaukee Leather’s armored denim shirt. A sneaky entry in this motorcycle jacket list, this bad boy actually comes across more as a ruggedly stylish long-sleeve button up. 100% cotton, its construction is more lightweight and breathable than its leather-based counterparts. But that cotton is backed up with Kevlar shoulder and elbow guards, and Aramid fiber to strengthen the whole match.
Best for: Staying cool and tough at the same time. Color: Grey
Klim: Best men’s motorbike jacket for adventure
Thinking of taking it off-road? Backwoods trails can take a toll on conventional motorcycle jackets, but they’ve met their match in the Klim Adventure Rally Jacket. The triple-layer Gortex shell laughs at water, and the internal mesh wicks away moisture leaving you feeling dry. The jacket is packed with pockets, and has a 3-liter hydrapak reservoir, meaning you’ll be able to carry everything essential for a day of off-roading right on your back.
Best for: Adventure riding without interruption. Color: Gray
The Jacket Maker Alex: Best café motorcycle jacket for men
The Jacket Maker’s Alex leather jacket is one of the most handsome examples of this throwback design aesthetic. It’s a very sleek and simple cut, but it’s so easy on the eyes that it would also work just fine as your outerwear as you head into an upper class eatery or a dimly-lit bar with a laid-back feel.
Best for: Bringing old-school sex appeal back to the biker scene. Colors: Brown, Burgundy, Black + More
Xelement Bandit: Best cruiser motorbike jacket for men
If Marlon Brando in 1954’s The Wild One is your inspiration, then you’re going to want to check out cruiser-style motorcycle jackets. We wouldn’t recommend thrifting for a genuine 1950s or 60s jacket though, as they weren’t built with today’s safety requirements.
Instead, we’re going to point you at Xelement’s Bandit. It’s an updated take on that all-time great bad-boy biker look, but includes all of the safety elements you’d expect from a current-day coat.
Best for: Giving ‘em attitude without compromising yourself. Color: Black
Borleni: Best riding motorcycle jacket for men
Sleek and modern, Borleni’s windproof four-season riding jacket would look right at home on a fast bike. Lucky for us, its interior is built for the common man, which means you’re getting a waterproof, wind-breaking jacket that will keep you warm and dry on the days when Mother Nature is kicking up a fuss. The interior also features a removable cotton liner, so you’ll be ready to roll when cold days take over the calendar.
Best for: When the wind pushes, you push back. Colors: Red, Gray, Black
HWK Dualsport Enduro: Best men’s waterproof motorcycle jacket
If you live in an area of the world with rainy seasons, you know that it’s just no fun going out for a ride and ending up a soggy mess in the first ten minutes. That uncomfortable sensation can even be dangerous since it distracts you from the road and the other drivers around you.
HWK’s Dualsport Enduro is our go-to biker jacket for wet environs. As you might expect, it’s waterproof, and its waist connectors let you hook up a set of waterproof pants into one dry unit, leaving you able to appreciate your ride.
Best for: Bad weather? What bad weather? Colors: Black, Black With Red, Black With Blue + More
HWK Adventure/Touring: Best budget motorcycle jacket for men
Sometimes you just want to get out on the road without having to wear out your wallet first. The best biker jacket we could find at an easy price is HWK’s Adventure/Touring jacket. We’re not exactly sure how HWK is managing to pack this much jacket into such a reasonable price, but they’ve certainly delivered. This jacket has all the bells and whistles—back, elbow, and shoulder armor, breathable waterproofing, and it comes with a 5-year warranty. Plus it’s an all-seasoner, meaning you save even more money by not having to swap it out when summer’s heat or winter’s chill comes rolling around.
Best for: Tearing up the road, not your wallet. Colors: Hi-vis Green, Light Grey, Black
Philipp Plein Classic: Men’s most expensive motorcycle jacket
Going all-in on the classic black cruiser look, Philipp Plein’s classic motorcycle jacket is an ode to “The Wild One” and then some. This one is all about the fashion, as it doesn’t come with armor or any of the other safety standards you’d usually go for in biker gear. What it does come with is a 100% sheepskin exterior matched with a 100% Viscose (a silky semi-synthetic fiber made from wood pulp). If you want to bring that classic biker look with you into your modern upscale world, pair this guy with a good-looking watch and stylish boots and get ready to feel waves of envy coming your way.
Best for: Carving your own path with a blast from the past. Color: Black
Buyers’ guide to motorcycle jackets
Just like there are a variety of motorbikes geared towards different uses, there are different motorcycle jackets that are meant for certain situations. Some lean heavy into style, while others may be all about heading offroads.
As you dig deeper into the jackets we’ve listed above, you may have questions concerning materials and the build of different jackets. Let’s take a moment and clarify some of the points you’ll want to consider before you hit the “buy” button.
Does the jacket have armor?
This is one of the biggest factors you should consider. Some jackets like Philipp Plein’s Classic are really just into the coolness of biker jacket fashion, but won’t do a lot to protect you if you take a tumble.
On the other hand, jackets that are specifically designed for protection as well as looks will feature armor inserts located at the shoulders, elbows, and the back (and occasionally the chest). Quite often these inserts are removable, allowing you to swap them into other jackets, and to allow for easier washing of the jacket.
Nowadays, some jackets go beyond armor to have a built-in deployable airbag system.
A quick note to our readers in California—some jackets will not be available for sale or shipment to California because the armor bumps up against Proposition 65, which requires businesses to show elements that can possibly cause cancer or reproductive harm.
What’s the weather like?
Does your location have four seasons? Or does it experience a lot of rain? You should take these factors into account. If you do get a lot of rain, you should consider something along the lines of HWK’s Dualsport Enduro, which is built to keep you dry in the wettest of weather.
If you get all four seasons, and know you’re going to be biking on both chilly and hot days, then an all-season jacket with a removable liner and adjustable vents will cover you in all four seasons, and can also save you money since you don’t have to buy more than one jacket for different temperatures. Some jackets even have plug-in heating, which can be especially nice on frosty days. (If you’re going to get a plug-in jacket, make sure the voltage is right for where you live.)
Additionally, some jackets have fasteners along their bottom hem that latch onto motorcycle pants. So you can in effect make yourself into one long weather-resistant motorcycle-man.
If you’re facing a lot of hot weather, then you might want to leave the leather behind and opt for light-weight textiles and meshes, like those found in Milwaukee Leather’s Armored Denim Shirt.
On top of that, some jackets now have water reservoirs built right into them. That’s a handy feature when you’re out for a long ride under a hot summer sun, or you’re offroading away from amenities.
What is the size and shape of your motorcycle?
Some bikes require you to lean pretty far forward. Others keep you in an upright seated position. And yet others, especially cruisers with long handle-bars, have you leaning slightly back.
All of these positions can make a difference in which jacket you choose. If you’re required to curl yourself forward the wrong cut of jacket will bunch up. This can actually become pretty distracting if it’s made of a stiff material. Go with shorter lengths (especially in the front) for forward-leaning bikes, and longer lengths for uprights.
Does it fit?
It actually makes quite a bit of difference to your safety if a jacket fits properly or not. If the worst happens and you get launched, a loose jacket is going to slide up along your arms or your torso, exposing your skin to the less-than-tender embrace of the road. A proper, snug fit will keep this from happening.
However, if you want your jacket to serve you in multiple seasons, then you’re going to want something that leaves enough room underneath for a hoodie or sweater. Quite a few jackets do offer adjustable sleeves and cuffs, allowing you to alter your jacket to fit your situation.
Can drivers see you?
We know, dark leather jackets look way cool. The problem is, they make it way harder for drivers to spot you, especially at night. If you’re going to be spending significant amounts of bike-time in moderate-to-heavy traffic, you should definitely consider a jacket with built-in high-visibility panels and/or coloring.
Adventure jackets
Adventure jackets are generally the hardiest of the bunch since they’re built for rugged terrains. These are the jackets that are meant to protect you from off-road tumbles, where your body might encounter jagged rocks, abrasive sand, spiky plants, and so on. Also, this kind of jacket is probably the one most associated with built-in water reservoirs. Klim’s Adventure Rally Jacket is a good example of the breed.
Café jackets
Born out of the post WWII rock n’ roll devil-may-care biker scene, the café biker look has since become a classic. Acting as an aesthetic bridge between 1950s’ cruiser jackets and modern day gear, café jackets also look just fine as outerwear all on their own, minus any motorbikes. The Jacket Makers’s Alex leather café jacket is a prime example of what this style has to offer.
Cruiser jackets
Cruiser jackets follow in the footsteps of Marlon Brando’s look in The Wild One. They’re generally dark leather with contrasting zippers, and feature slightly looser fits than the other jackets in our list. Do keep in mind, actual vintage cruiser jackets didn’t have armor of any kind, so find a contemporary cruiser jacket like Xelement’s Bandit if you’re hunting for that classic look.
Sports jackets
The gear worn by professional track racers is what you would associate with motorcycle sports jackets. Flashy, highly visible, and sleek, they’re built to reduce your wind resistance. Use HWK’s Dualsport Enduro as your leaping-off point for this species of outerwear.
Textile jackets
Textile jackets like Speed and Strength’s Off the Chain are pretty much what you’re expecting—jackets fabricated with textiles like nylon and cotton rather than leather. They’re more breathable than leather, which makes them the more obvious choice for riding in hot weather.
Frequently asked questions about men’s motorcycle jackets
The best jackets for riding will depend on a number of factors: weather, location, kind of bike, style you like, and safety features. A good starting point for your search for stylish riding jackets is The Jacket Maker’s Ionic black leather jacket. Looking for safety? Try Xelement’s Bandit. Check our list of the best men’s motorcycle jackets for more inspiration.
If by “coolest” you mean temperature, you’ll want a textile jacket with adjustable venting, like Milwaukee Leather’s Armored Denim Shirt. If “coolest” means “cool, daddy-o”, that will depend on your tastes. But we’d definitely put Xelement’s Bandit in the mix. Check our list of the best motorcycle jackets for men for all the coolest options.
The Jacket Maker tops our list for style. For a small extra fee they will tailor a jacket to your specifications, making for a perfect bespoke fit. If you’re on the hunt for safety features, try out Alpha Cycle Gear’s Armored All-season jacket.
Alpinestars’ Viper Air is a solid blend of comfort and safety mixed with a modern shell design. An alternative is this jacket from Borleni, which has many of the same features in a more colorful package.
