Women's Leather Racer Jackets: How to Choose One

A good leather racer jacket is the piece of gear many women riders wear most. It works on the road on its own, and with the right trousers it can go on track too. But a lot of the jackets sold as "women's" are just men's patterns in smaller sizes, and they show it the moment you lean forward on the bike.

We make women's racer jackets to order in our own factories. Here's what we'd check before buying one.

1. Racer jacket or café racer jacket?

The names sound alike but they're different things. A motorcycle racer jacket is built for riding: armour at the shoulders and elbows, a back protector, and sleeves shaped for reaching the bars. A café racer jacket is a fashion style with a similar clean look, and usually no armour at all.

If you're buying a jacket to ride in, make sure it's the first kind.

2. A women's cut, not a smaller men's one

Men's jackets are cut straight through the body with broader shoulders. On most women that means a jacket that fits the shoulders but pulls at the hips, or fits the hips but leaves the shoulders and waist loose. Loose leather lets the armour slide off your joints in a fall.

A proper women's racer jacket is shaped at the chest and waist and has room at the hips. If you're between sizes, made to measure solves it. We make women's jackets to measure at the same price as a standard size.

3. How it should fit on the bike

Try the jacket on in a riding position, leaning forward with your arms out as if holding the bars. Then check:

• Sleeves reach your wrists and overlap your gloves. Pre-curved sleeves help here.
• The back doesn't ride up and show your lower back.
• Shoulder and elbow armour stay on the joints with your arms stretched out.
• The chest is snug but you can still breathe deeply.
• The collar doesn't press into your throat when you look up.

Our guide to how race leathers should fit goes through each check in more detail.

4. Armour: check the level

Look for armour certified to EN 1621-1 at the shoulders and elbows, ideally Level 2, the higher of the two levels. A back protector, tested under EN 1621-2, is worth having too.

Every Leathers First women's racer jacket has CE Level 2 armour at the shoulders and elbows, plus a back protector. The certificate numbers are on our armour certifications page.

5. Leather and airflow

• Cowhide is the usual choice. It's tough and breaks in after a few rides.
• Kangaroo leather is lighter and stronger for its weight, and costs more.
• Perforated panels on the chest and back help a lot in summer. Keep the shoulders and elbows solid.

6. Will it zip to your trousers?

If you might ride on track, ask whether the jacket can zip to a pair of leather trousers. Most track days only accept a two-piece outfit when the jacket and trousers connect all the way round the waist. If you want a full track setup from the start, have a look at our women's race suit guide.

7. Price

Women's leather race jackets from the big brands usually cost around $500 to $650. Our women's racer jackets cost $349, made to your size or measurements. We make them ourselves and sell direct, which is where the difference comes from.

Common questions

Find your jacket

Browse women's leather racer jackets and women's leather motorcycle pants, or design your own jacket. Not sure about your size? Message us on WhatsApp.