Since the dawn of the age of motorcycling, it was apparent that something was needed to protect the exposed human body from the elements. The natural solution was leather. The leather jacket, a style made popular by such movie icons as James Dean and "the Fonz", not only serves as a fashion statement, but is an essential piece of equipment to any serious biker for keeping warm, dry, and in one piece. Great motorcycle leather jackets combined with leather vests and leather chaps , will act as a second skin between you and the road, and can quite literally "save your hide". With all this in mind, let's explore the things to consider when purchasing motorcycle leather.

The most common material for motorcycle leather is cowhide, chosen for its strength and durability. Buffalo hide, another high quality leather, is made not from the U.S. buffalo, but the water buffalo most commonly found in India and Pakistan. Many leather products come from this part of the world, and the Pakistanis are world renown for their expertise in the manufacturing of leather garments.

Finished Split Leather The middle or lower section of a hide that has been split into two or more thicknesses. A polymer coating is applied and embossed to mimic grain leather. Finished splits should only be used in low stress applications because they basically have no grain. If the polymer coating is left out it is often used to make suede. Not considered to be riding grade, but can look good nevertheless.

Top Grain Top grain leather has been sanded to remove scars and imperfections, then sprayed or pasted for a uniform look. The smooth side is where the hair and the natural grain used to be. Top grain is not the same quality as full grain or naked leather, but thicknesses of 1.2-3mm make this type of leather a very strong and durable riding grade material.

Full-Grain and Naked Leather Full-Grain leather is made from the finest hides, and has not been sanded to remove imperfections. Only the hair has been removed. In the case of Naked Leather, where nothing other than the dye is added; this very soft leather requires no breaking in period. Hides are typically 2mm thick, and must be hand picked for uniformity. The natural full-grain naked leather will wear better than other leather, and will actually improve over the years. This type of leather is the ultimate riding grade; the most sought after, and consequently, the most expensive.

Now that we know what type of leather we want, we must understand the fact that leather is hot, and understand the options that we have for the climate we live in. For winter biking, a jacket with side laces and a belt will allow you to adjust the jacket to fit snugly against the upper body. Of course, being able to fully zip up only adds to your protection from the wind. You can also wear a leather vest underneath your motorcycle jacket for extra warmth. For hot summer days, a leather jacket with air vents allows the air to circulate underneath the jacket and around your body. For an all year round jacket, consider one with a zip or snap out insulated lining.

Leather is not meant to get wet, as that tends to deplete the natural oils, and it is advisable to wear a rain suit over your leathers in inclement weather. However if they do get wet, allow them to dry naturally away from extreme heat. If the leather seems to be losing its luster, it can be oiled to improve its appearance. This supplements the natural oils in the leather itself, which can be washed out through repeated exposure to water. Frequent oiling of leather with mink oil or other commercially available products will keep your leathers supple and improve their lifespan dramatically.

Now that you have found the perfect motorcycle leather jacket, take care of it, and it will reward you with years of wear. The typical lifetime of a heavy textile jacket will be from 3 to 6 years at the most. A well maintained top quality motorcycle jacket will easily give you 10 years and more of riding pleasure.

We carry a multitude of great motorcycle stuff other than, jackets, vests, and chaps. We also carry biker jewelry so you can ride while looking stylish or motorcycle jewelry that is great for everyday wear. You can't go wrong with our bracelets, motorcycle necklaces, and rings.

Don't forget to check out all of our Lethal Threat motorcycle decals and patches. You are sure to make your motorcycle stand out with a great set of these high quality decals. Our motorcycle patches are top notch and outstanding for sprucing up that biker jacket.

We have a great selection of christian motorcycle clothing, such as christian t shirts, leather motorcycle jackets, vests, and christian leather jackets.

Other items that we also carry are saddlebags, wallets, leather lingerie, short sleeve motorcycle t shirts, long sleeve shirts, womans t-shirts, and denim t shirts.

Dobberhead.com is a direct importer of fine motorcycle leather . We carry biker helmets and biker leather , such as Harley Replica motorcycle boots, leather vests ,leather saddlebags, leather pants, leather biker jackets,biker leather vests,motorcycle leather jacket,leather chaps and leather jackets . We also sell an extensive line of motorcycle clothing and biker clothes, such as biker t shirts, biker jewelry , biker babes lingerie, motorcycle t shirts, and our new biker babes t shirts. Check out our huge line of biker gear and novelty helmets. Our line of Christian t shirts and Christian biker jackets are exclusive to Dobberhead.com. Check out our awesome prices on biker chaps. Our motorcycle clothing is made of top quality materials. Don’t forget to check out our biker jewelry department, knives, patches, belt buckles, and other gifts. We offer a 10% discount to Christian clubs or Associations, give us a call for a quote. We offer a 30 day satisfaction guarantee. Shop Dobberhead.com where the wheels hit the road.