Let’s face it; a small bloke’s jacket just doesn’t cut it. Women are of a different shape to men and if you wear a men’s jacket, you end up looking square and not very, erm, lady like.
Thankfully motorcycle clothing manufacturers have finally cottoned on to this female thing and there’s now a great range of jackets designed and cut to suit the female form.
And do you know what the best bit is? Not all of them are pink.
We’ve selected our best picks for women’s motorbike jackets to cater for all different styles, applications, and conditions. Whether you want a sharp-looking leather jacket or a fully waterproof jacket for your next adventure, we’ve got it covered.
The rest is down to you.
CE Approval for Motorcycle Jackets
There are a couple of standards that your motorcycle clothing can be tested to. Either EN17092 or EN13595.
It’s important to understand that you don’t have to wear kit that is tested to this standard. You can ride in a T-shirt for example and that doesn’t have CE approval.
However if you motorcycle clothing from a retailer it is classed as PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and therefore requires CE approval.
For motorcycle jackets (and trousers, jeans and leather suits) the standard is the same. Either EN13595 (this is the old standard) and the levels are Level 1 or 2. Or it’s tested to the new standard EN17092. The new standard has ratings from AAA (the best) to C. Any ‘A’ rating means it has been tested to an impact and abrasion standard. If it is B-rated it provides the same level of abrasion protection as an A rated garment but without impact protection and anything C rated designates it has been designed to hold impact protection. The minimum you want is an A rated garment.
TEXTILE JACKETS
RRP: £99
Featuring a fixed quilted thermal lining for warmth, the City Nav is built for comfort and practicality. With CE approved armour in the elbows and shoulders, plus a pocket for a back protector, this waterproof jacket is designed to protect. With adjustable arms, waist, collar and cuffs plus a Ventech cooling system this jacket is available in sizes 8 – 22.
RRP: £129
Designed from a 600D outer shell, with TLS triple-seam lock technology, this jacket is durable and fully waterproof. A detachable thermal lining will keep you warm in cooler conditions while the adjustable hemline, arms, and waist closure aims to keep heat in and the wind out. Featuring CE approved armour in the shoulders and elbows, this jacket also includes provision for a back protector and chest shield. If you need to attach jeans, a zip attachment for ARMR moto jeans is included on the underside.
RRP: £179
A short textile jacket that is both waterproof and breathable making it suitable for any season. The new updated design of this jacket gives a modern look that is both practical on the bike and stylish off. The detachable thermal lining makes it perfect for cooler days while the adjustable zips under the arms add ventilation when you need to cool down. The CE certified shoulder and elbow pads add the protection you need in a jacket with the option to insert a back protector. The addition of padding around the collar makes for more comfortable wear while the adjustable cuffs and waist give a more fitted feel.
LEATHER JACKETS
RRP: £189
This aniline waxed cowhide leather jacket has well-designed stretch panels down the sides which make this leather jacket fit like a dream on us more top-heavy ladies; there’s no need to go up a few sizes and compensate with a less fitted jacket in the waist. A mesh fixed lining adds more comfort during wear and there’s also a removable thermal quilted liner for cooler days. For protection, the Kate jacket has contoured shoulder and elbow pads which are CE certified and an ICM-S Impact Core CE certified back protector is included. With an adjustable waist and antique style poppers, it’s simple yet fashionable so you can get away with wearing it off the bike too.
RRP: £319
Normally, if you want style, you sacrifice on practicality but this ladies’ leather jacket by Furygan breaks the rules. Made from super-soft buffalo leather with a removable thermal lining with aluminum inserts, you get superior quality and style at the same time. The D30 shoulder and elbow protectors give plenty of protection by reducing impact injuries and you even have the option for a D30 back protector. The dual rear zips allow for comfort by adjusting the waist.
RRP: £399
The ultimate fashion accessory. This jacket looks chic from every angle and is thin enough to behave like a second skin and flatter your shape, whatever your size. Made from soft grain leather, it includes stretching zones to optimize fit up top and create all-day comfort. With removable CE certified low profile shoulder and elbow armour, you have a high level of protection while out on the road. The pre-curved arms help to reduce fatigue and an extended low back helps you ride in comfort. The addition of an internal waist connection zip allows for the connection of Alpinestars Vika V2 jeans.
WAX COTTON JACKETS
RRP: £179
Coming in at under £200 this vintage-look waxed cotton jacket by Spada is really good value for money. Waterproof and featuring a tartan-patterned thermal liner, waist adjusters, a removable fur collar, CE-approved armour in the shoulders and elbows and vintage-look brass buckets and poppers. Top quality protection with ’60s style.
GORE-TEX JACKETS
RRP: £649
Made for colder climates, this Cordura 500 textile jacket has a detachable Gore-Tex lining which is 100% waterproof, perfect for our British weather or touring in wetter regions. The D30 Air shoulder, elbow, and back protection are great at reducing damage during impacts. A soft neoprene collar is included which is designed to keep the cold out without the need for a neck warmer and the adjustable upper arms, waist, and cuffs allow you to adjust the fit for your comfort.
ADVENTURE JACKETS
RRP: £339
Made with an abrasion-resistant multi-fabric shell, removable and breathable Drystar liner, plus a detachable thermal quilted liner, this is a grand touring jacket suitable for all weather. The jacket has CE certified level 2 shoulder and elbow armour plus space for optional back and chest protectors. The jacket has an anatomical design with an adjustable waist belt and arm adjusters for additional comfort. The addition of a removable collar extension makes this jacket ideal for longer rides.
MESH / VENTED JACKETS
RRP: £169
The Airwave has had an upgrade in the form of the Airwave 2. With a more fashionable design, this high-density polyester 600D summer jacket is abrasion resistant and comes with Knox Flexiform CE shoulder and elbow protection. If you want further protection, you have the option to add a back insert. Ventilation panels allow a flow of air on warmer days while the adjustment straps on the arms reduce billowing. If you want to connect Rev’it trousers, there’s a handy hidden zip or jeans loop for denim jeans.
CLASSIC BIKER STYLE
RRP: £269
This short, classic style jacket by Richa is made from high-quality calfskin with a soft cotton-mix liner for comfort. Super flexible for optimum movement with a neoprene collar which is soft and comfortable on your neck. Protection is provided from the D30 CE back, elbow and shoulder armour while the adjustable waist, sleeves, and cuffs allow you to adjust the fit to your requirements. This jacket is available in sizes 6-20 and with well-placed darts, fits the female form well and creates a flattering figure.
OFF THE WALL
RRP: £169
If you’re out there to be seen, this jacket is a perfect choice. Featuring a leopard print design with subtle pink detailing, you’ll certainly be noticed. This jacket is fully waterproof for those wetter days while the vents provide enough airflow to cool down when it starts to warm up. The armour on this jacket includes D30 impact protectors in the shoulders, elbows, and back. Not bad for the price.
Motorcycle Jacket Buying Guide
It's always a good idea to try on different jackets from different manufacturers if you can. This will give you a good idea of how they feel and what you like about each one. If you're looking for the best ladies motorcycle jacket, no matter what your budget is, these are the features that we think you should be looking out for.
- Waterproofing: Assuming you're not loolking at a mesh jacket, a bit of waterproofing always helps. If you only ride in sunny weather, a basic mentionof waterproofing should be enough but if you;re riding all year 'round then you'll want a proper technical membrane such as Gore-Tex, Drystar or Outlast.
- Quality zips: With a touring textile suit you might not use any of the zips except the main zip. But on an adventure touring suit you'll be wanting to adjust air vent openings, disconnect your jacket from your trousers and get access to pockets. If the zips aren't waterproof when they need to be or if they're low quality or use teeth that can break, the jacket may end up leaking.
- Adjustment: You want to be able to adjust the jacket in the waist, upper arms and wrists to maximise air flow or tighten it all up to stay warm and stop the jacket flapping at higher speeds.
- Layers: Some jackets will have two layers, an outer with a waterproof membrane and a thermal liner or three laters; a thermal liner, waterproof liner and then outer layer. There are pros and cons to each setup. If you are going to ride in hot climates, a triple-skinned jacket is a good bet as you can remove the thermal and waterproof layer and only ride with the abrasion and impact resistant tough outer layer. If you want a jacket that has a foot firmly in the winter corner, then a bonded layer - i.e. Gore-Tex or Outlast is a safe bet. The jacket outer will shed water before it can penetrate the outer, ensuring the jacket also dries off faster and you stay warmer. Some jackets will only have one layer with no thermal lining. If it's a cheap jacket it's likely to feature fewer layers.
- Attention to detail: Any fasteners from poppers to Velco adjusters should be positioned in such a way that they won't scratch your bike's paintwork, end up with them pressing into you or make wearing other kit difficult. If the sleeve cuffs don't have much adjustment, getting gloves on will be a pain. If the collar is secured with a zip, wil you be able to remove it with gloves on? If you leave a pocket undone will your stuff fall out (side entry pocket) or will it fill with water?
- Venting: If you're riding in hot conditions you'll want to maximise airflow. Quality vents in the front in multiple areas such as the upper arms, shoulders and chest and exhaust-vents in the rear will ensure you keep cool with maximum airflow. Zips should close in an upward direction and should be waterproof. As a bonus, if there's a storm flap t shield the zip from the elements that'll ensure they don't leak in wet conditions.
- Protection: Last but not least, your jacket should keep you well protected. The outer fabric should be thick enough to feel robust but not so chunky that the jacket feels rigid. There should be CE approved armour in the shoulders and elbows at a minimum but a back protector insert is worth having. Impact zones such as the shoulders and elbows may have an additional layer of fabric or leather to improve their protective qualities.
Motorcycle Jackets Top Tips
If you're never going to ride in the rain, don't go for a Waterproof or Gore-Tex jacket - they're more expensive and you could end up getting too warm on hot days.
Cheaper jackets tend to skimp on areas like multiple layers, the quality of the built-in armour and the zips.
Wearing an under layer will make any jacket more comfortable as it'll move around your body with less resistance.
Don't feel embarrassed or pressured when trying on a jacket. You need to wear it for a few minutes to get an idea of how it fits and ideally sit on your bike or any bike to see how it feels.
Sources
EU CE Testing
