The Best Sportbike Motorcycle Jackets for the 2020 Season
We’d Know: We’ve Hands-On Tested 200+ Jackets Since 2000
Recommendations by Segment:
MidRange
Priced under $500, midrange jackets offer a great blend of protection and features.
A note about our recommendations:
There’s a lot of fake “review sites” online today. We get it. We aren’t one of them. Founded in 2000, the team at wBW has extensively tested more than 2,500 pieces of gear. Helmets, jackets, boots, gloves, accessories, and more. We extensively and exhaustively test gear. We do not fluff reviews. Read our review policies.
Priced under $300
Best Entry-Level Sportbike Motorcycle Jacket
Sedici Niccolo
Price: $300
Where to Buy
Why?
The Niccolo is a very well-received mid-range leather sport jacket. It features 1.0 – 1.1 mm construction throughout, CE level 2 armor in the shoulders and elbows, and plenty of venting for airflow. Like the Alpinestars Core, the Niccolo has a sport fit out of the box (bag?) that feels natural when in your riding position. If you want to up the ante on protection, you can add a back protector for $50 or so as the Niccolo does not come with one from the factory.
Specs
- 1.0 – 1.1 mm full-grain cowhide leather
- CE level 2 armor in the shoulders and elbows
- Can be paired to matching leather pants with a zipper connection for a seamless, integrated look
In-Depth Review
To get a sense of what the Niccolo collection is all about, we recommend you have a look at this overview video from Cycle Gear.
REV’IT! Eclipse Jacket
Price: $179
Where to Buy
Why?
The name of the game with the REV’IT Eclipse is comfort and lightness. The Eclipse is a lightweight and stylish sport jacket, with CE level 1 armor in the shoulders and elbows. You can add in a CE level 2 back protector (sold separately). This mesh jacket is ideal for hot summer riding, less so for early spring or late fall riding.
REV’IT avoids unnecessary complexity, instead focusing on strong fundamentals. The result is a basic, but not cheap, mesh riding jacket.
Specs
- Polyester 600D mesh outer shell
- Available in five colors
Overview Video
RevZilla has done an excellent job showcasing the Eclipse jacket. Watch the video here.
Priced $300 – $500
Best Midrange Sportbike Riding Jackets
Dainese Super Rider D-Dry
Price: $499
Where to Buy
Why?
Three-season rideability matters for most of us. Unless you live along the equator, you’re going to face temperatures that range wildly. Your gear should keep you comfortable and safe. The Dainese Super Rider D-Dry jacket is a great three-season option, with a textile shell that features leather inserts. It’s water resistant and comes equipped with a removable thermal liner. And, of course, it looks badass. What’s not to love?
Specs
- Removable composite protectors certified to EN 1621.1 standard
- Aluminium inserts on the shoulders
- Removable light thermal liner with breathable waterproof D-Dry membrane
- Mugello fabric – think of it as space-age stretch material that is oil and water repellant
In-Depth Review
Ride With Rahul has a great review video on this jacket – be sure to give it a watch.
Oxford Route 73
Price: $325
Where to Buy
Why?
The Route 73 is on this list because of its effortless blend of retro styling and modern features. It is one of the best looking leather sportbike jackets around in our humble opinion. Made with a goat leather outer shell, and fitted with CE armor in the elbows and shoulder, the Route 73 offers its wearer plenty of protection. A removable 100g thermal liner also makes it great to wear for early morning/late night rides, or whenever the barometer dips a bit. It’s a great piece of kit, and we’ve had strong experiences with Oxford as a whole.
Specs
Specs:
- 1.2 – 1.4 mm buffalo leather
- SAS-TEC CE level 2 elbow and shoulder armor
- YKK zippers
Video Overview
RevZilla does a great job in this video overview of the Oxford. Check it out.
Priced $500 and up
Best High-End Sportbike Motorcycle Jackets
Alpinestars Core
Where to Buy
Price: $400
Why?
This jacket offers great protection without sacrificing any of the comforts that riders want on a long ride or even just a fast trip across town. The Core is definitely designed with a sportbike rider in mind as the ergonomic shape conforms to your body in an aggressive crouch position without any binding or bulging in the arms or torso areas.
Kathy reviewed the core in January 2019 and has great things to say about it. Check it out.
Specs, Head Shape, & More
- Main construction is 1.1mm thick full-grain leather
- CE level 1 armor in the elbows, shoulders, optional CE level 2 armor in the back
- Removable thermal liner
Our In-Depth Review
Kathy noted that the core provides excellent comfort and abrasion protection, as well as leading airflow. Given that she lives in Arizona, that part is particularly important to her. Read her full review…
Dainese Avro 4
Price: $680
Where to Buy
Why?
Replacing the Avro D1, the Avro 4 is an aggressive race jacket. Removable aluminum composite shoulder armor, composite armor in the elbows, and premium Tutu cowhide leather. The Avro 4 also has a removable thermal liner, making this race-centric jacket surprisingly functional in cooler riding. This is a serious leather sportbike jacket that offers top-end features and function to its wearer.
Specs
- Composite protectors certified to EN 1621.1 standard on elbows
- Pocket for optional G1 or G2 back protector (sold separately)
- Removable composite protectors certified to EN 1621.1 Standard on shoulders
- Thermoformed shoulders with interchangeable aluminum plates
- S1 bielastic fabric
- Tutu cowhide leather
- Removable thermal liner that can be used separately
- Reflective inserts
Video Review
Have a look at the RevZilla overview video for more details.
