Waxed cotton - How durable?
 

I bought a nice waxed cotton jacket, and it is a traditional biker jacket, but it doesn't seem to be that resilient. In the event of a crash, how does it hold up? Will it and my skin be torn to shreds or is it actually a durable material?

Thanks.

Waxed cotton will last you for years.
I had a "Stagg" oilskin throughout the 70's and 80's, that survived a couple of offs.
If it's a new reproduction, you should have the option of adding armour and I would advise that you do so.

Where did you get yours?
How much?
What Brand?
Link?
Pics?

Chris.

This Sunstuff gear sounds like a bargain compared to belstaff prices.

Hitchcocks Motorcycles -- Royal Enfield and Amal Parts and Kits

(Click on the accessories catalogue/ clothing)

Belstaff is fashion ware, I wouldn't entertain their high prices and low spec. After that you can pay what you like from £40 for an Egyptian knock off through to the stuff Hitchcocks sell. I'm using a £99 one off E-bay and am very happy.

Crash resistance wise, it isn't leather. It'll rip up just like Horrible Gherkins ****est Goretex'd nylon, so one decent slide and you'll be shopping. The only thing that in my experience survives multiple full-on offs is leather. Don't do any serious sliding and WC will last as long as leather.

Andy

Maybe it's selective memory but I do remember the couple of Belstaff waxed cotton jackets I had at the dawn of my biking career being pretty good for the purpose of keeping water out. The waxed cotton had a long life as well - certainly compared to the nylon jackets available at the time where the proofing layer would stat to peel off after a while.

Crashing in them wasn't something I did much of - a few low speed get offs but again I remember the material holding up well (I could still use the jacket afterwards). Maybe the wax acts as a lubricant as you slide along the ground!

What they didn't have was the built in armour that's in just about every jacket these days, so the impact of hitting the ground still hurt. It was the wax bit that put me off eventually - everything that came in contact with them ended up covered in wax.

Hi
I used to use a old Wax jacket

I was riding a old AJS when I came off the bike riding down Tim lane in Haworth.

I was doing about 30mph and the arm and shoulder worn through taking a bit of my skin with it.

They look the part when riding old Bike's

I would not use one again...They leak in heavy rain and I leke to use a jacket that will help keep be dry and warm and protect my Old Skin and Bone,s :rofl:

Stay Safe

Dazzer

Hey, thanks for the replies.

The one I got was a Belstaff Trialmaster. Knowing it had a history with bikes, I thought it would be pretty durable but obviously it's more of a fashion brand. I probably would get something a bit tougher for any serious journeys.

I think by old you maybe mean worn out? I spent all last winter including the Elefant rally wearing a Drizabone coat. Not one single drip or drop got through (way better collar and cuff designs) and unlike Gore**** there is no freezer bag effect from trapped sweat. All that's required in an annual clean and proofing, which is more hassle that just popping down to the Horrible Gherkin shop for a "free" coffee and £300 worth of jacket, but there you go. For solo riders, armour would be my only concern, but you can buy that loose.

Andy

Belstaff do a fashionline and also a dedicated motorcycle line .
If you have the motorcycle line it will be as good ,if not better, than the old Trialmasters .Some of the new jackets have armour on the shoulders and elbows .
Waxed cotton is tough but obviously not as tough as leather .You can take a few slow speed spills and it will handle that ok ,but a serious slide down the road will cause serious abrasion .
Cordura nylon is tougher but the jackets always feel more bulky and awkward ,waxed cotton on the other hand seems to fit better as it ages and moulds to your body.
Waxed cotton is very warm on hot days and if you are riding in very cold weather can get stiff .
Waterproofing should be excellent but cheaper makes are not as well constructed as Belstaff and Barbour and may leak .

A lot of people complain about the lack of armour in these jackets but then ride their bikes wearing regular jeans or trousers [ duh !!] ,but like Andy said ,you can always wear separate armour underneath the jacket if you want.

After becoming a bit disillusioned with the new technojackets with their multiple liners ,million bloody useless pockets and that infuriating bastard awful velcro ,I'm beginning to like the simplicity of a jacket that doesn't make me look like a space ranger or make stupid whishing noises and has simple pockets that I can actually reach in and retrieve stuff .

At the end of the day.it's your choice

open face helmet...full face helmet.

No armour or full armour

Gore -Tex or Wax cotton

Leather...or cordura.

After 30 plus year's of all year round riding ,I have at last found a Helmet and Clothing that meet my need's

If your happy with your choice that's all that count's

Stay Safe and Have fun

Dazzer

Sound words Dazzer .

Go with what suits you .

Gordon May rode his Royal Enfield Bullet to India and his BSA Bantam to Egypt wearing a Barbour jacket and an open face helmet and lived to tell the tale .

:funmeteryes:

You bring up a very salient point Dodger!

I get a little sick of the ATTGAT crowd proselytizing, on the evils of not being covered head to toe in armour and cotton wool. That's probably a little over the top, but it seems like it is getting that way.

What we have here is pure and simple social engineering, wherein one section of the community, by continually vocalising there point, and rubbishing any opposing, viewpoint are trying to homogenise the entire community into their way of thinking.

The fact of the matter is that I have now ridden for over 35years with a minimum of safety gear (always a helmet, and good footwear), and have survived to tell the tale, Australia, Southeast Asia, United Kingdom, Europe, the Sub Continent and the Middle East.

I've had my share of offs, and my share of injuries, and the injuries that have occoured are unlikely to have been affected by most of the modern gear available.

The Cult of ATTGAT, makes a hell of a lot of money for the equipment manufacturers, and although there is no denying that riding is being made safer, it is also being made less adventurous.

If I wanted to be safe, I would stay at home, I would not ride a motorcycle, nor, do any one of myriad other things that could kill or injure me.

In the words of the Bard:
" This above all: to thine own self be true
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
Farewell, my blessing season this in thee!"

Do what you will, figure out for yourself what is an acceptable level of risk versus reward, and leave others to make their own decisions.

"Most humbly do I take my leave, my lord".

Christo.

And completely missing the point that comfort is half the battle. A racer needs to concentrate for an hour. Soaked leather and a lid like a letter box is an acceptable compromise for young fit blokes going in circles at 150 mph until they wave the chequered flat at them. For those of us riding eight hours a day mostly under 60, we are more likely to react in time to deal with the drunk driver half a mile from the camp site if we are at the right temperature, with a visor that isn't misted up and not suffering from a migrane due to badly fitted gear. This of course doesn't sell four hundred quid jackets and lids.

Andy

You wear what you like.
Just stop crashing, you'll be fine. :biggrin3:

That's what I was thinking. I think a lot of these fancy leather suits look a bit...horrible, if I'm honest. I couldn't resist the classy look that Belstaff have and it's nice to get a product which has some practical use, is fashionable and easy to wear. It just seems a lot simpler and that's what I like about the idea of having a bike - this simple, freedom and, in my opinion, having to wear serious leather suits kind of goes against that.

That's just my philosphy though haha.