Best summer motorcycle jackets | keep your cool

Everyone loves riding in the summer. The sun’s out, the temperature is up, and the beach is a perfect ride away – what can be better than a blast to the seaside for fish and chips or an ice cream. We’ve all seen, and shivered in terror at, riders of motorcycles or scooters in summer wearing full-safety flip-flops, T-shirts and shorts as they whizz around enjoying the warm temperatures. My blood freezes when I see this kind of thing because, as romantic and cool as it looks, the damage even a low-speed off can do without a summer motorcycle jacket doesn’t bear thinking about.

Warm weather is no reason not to be properly protected so thankfully there are numerous summer motorcycle jackets that will keep you safe and protected while allowing you to enjoy the freedom and warmth of a summer ride. Paired with a great pair of summer gloves, a quality base layer and summer trousers, you’ll be set to head out and hit the roads in comfort and safety this summer.

Safety first

First and foremost, you need to look for protection. As with any motorcycle clothing, summer jackets will have an overall CE rating which shows how protective it is. This is a measure of its abrasion resistance, to protect you in case you end up sliding along the road as well as its construction methods, so it won’t come apart in a crash.

All motorcycle gear is classified as PPE and must contain a CE label stating it’s protective rating in letters; from C, B, A, AA and AAA, the latter being the most protective.

Like all other protective clothing, summer motorcycle jackets should also include CE-approved armour. This can be either Level-1 or Level-2; the latter indicates a higher absorption of impact and hence, protection.

Look for armour in at least the shoulders and elbows and ideally, a back protector as well though even if a jacket is not supplied with one, there should be one available as an option from the manufacturer, usually either Level-1 or Level-2. You may also find that chest armour is available to add more protection.

Staying cool

One thing a summer jacket needs to do differently from say a year-round or a winter jacket is keep you cool, rather than warm.

You may find that some come with removable thermal liners and these can be handy for early-morning starts or late-evening finishes but generally, a summer jacket will either have mesh in the low-impact zones to allow huge amounts of air flow into the body or at least several vents that can be opened to do the same thing.

Leather jackets may have perforated sections to allow air in since they can retain heat more than textiles sometimes.

Materials

Think summer motorcycle jacket and a classic leather jacket may spring to mind. Leather is great for protection – that’s why racers and track day riders use leather suits – it offers the best abrasion resistance and generally, excellent construction too.

However, leather can be hot and heavy and doesn’t necessarily make the best summer jacket for very warm weather. Textiles can be better, as they can be lighter yet reinforced in key impact areas and can even be breathable without opening vents, if necessary.

Think about cleaning as well – insect roadkill can be a real issue in summer and you may find it easier to get dead bugs off textile material than say leather but conversely, you might feel the extra effort is worth it if you prefer cowhide, for example.

Features

Like any motorcycle jackets, summer versions will have a variety of features. A thermal liner, as we said, might be handy if you’re leaving home early or expected late back. While it may be nearly 30° at lunchtime, it could be much less as dawn approaches…

Related: Best summer motorcycle trousers

You may also find waterproofing could be useful. British summers are notorious for unexpected rain and an element of rainproofing may go down well when an inevitable shower approaches. Alternatively, just keep a small waterproof overjacket under the seat in case.

Style

You can get a decent summer jacket in almost every style you would want; traditional touring, street or sports, casual or urban, adventure, classic or retro. Whatever your personal style or your bike, there is something out there for everyone.

Here’s our pick of some of the best summer motorcycle jackets.

How MCN tests products

At MCN, our team of expert journalists have decades of experience gained over hundreds of thousands of miles. We don’t test our kit to destruction; we use it exactly how you do, in the real world and in all conditions. That means we can deliver impartial buying advice you can rely on.

Each of our writers has an in-depth understanding of the needs of today’s biker… because they are one.

If you can’t see a review against an item on this page, it’s because we haven’t tested it yet. These items will only be included if we think they’re important and relevant in the market, and rest assured, we will be working on bringing you a review as soon as we’ve done the miles.

To find out more, head to our dedicated page explaining how we test motorcycle products.

- Just so you know, we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website - read why you should trust us.