Motorcycle Apparel Terminology

August 8, 2008 – 8:20 am

Probably, one of the most daunting tasks when picking out motorcycle apparel has to be figuring out all of the terminology.  What the heck is Carbolex?  And why is CE armor better than normal armor? Well, we wrote this article to help you through the fog that many manufacturers like to keep you in when you try to decide on your next apparel purchase.

As all things in every industry change, we will also add and update this article when new buzz words come out or any changes need to be made.  So check back often, we may have more information for you.  If you would like to see something added, please let us know.

Armor

Armor refers to the padding found in most motorcycle apparel that is used to cushion impact and aid in abrasion resistance.  This padding in typically found on the elbows, shoulders, back and knees (and something the hips).  Armor can be soft and flexible or hard and stiff.

Carbolex

Carbolex is a strong form of the synthetic material known as polyester.  When woven, it is designed to resist ripping, puncturing and abrasion.  It comes in many denier (fabric density) for different applications and cost.  In certain applications, it can have 90% of the abrasion resistance of leather.

CE Armor

CE Armor or CE Approved Armor are terms used to describe armor that has met the European standards set forth for motorcycle apparel armor in order to help ensure the motorcycle rider’s safety.  Currently the US doesn’t have such a standard.  Think of it like this, in this case CE is to apparel as DOT is to helmets.  Having armor that is CE approved means the armor has met or exceeded the CE standards for motorcycle apparel armor.

Cordura®

Cordura® is a strong form of the synthetic material known as nylon.  When woven, it is designed to resist ripping, puncturing and abrasion.  It comes in many denier (fabric density) for different applications and cost.

Denier

Like any other garment, textile based motorcycle apparel is made of some woven material.  Woven materials are rated by something called denier.  Denier is the measure of linear mass density of a fiber.  In other words, it measures how much a piece of thread weights.

When comparing a jacket made of a 400 denier fabric versus a jacket made of 1680 denier fabric, the jacket made of 1680 denier fabric will have more abrasion resistance and be heavier while the jacket made of 400 denier fabric will be lighter and less restrictive of movement.

Gore-Tex®

Gore-Tex® is made by stretching Teflon® into a very thin sheet.  Gore-Tex® is commonly used as a waterproof, breathable and windproof layer in outdoor clothing and accessories.  Stretch the Teflon® a little bit more and you get Gore-Tex® XCR, a waterproof, breathable layer that will let wind pass through it.

Kevlar®

Kevlar®, the material used to make bulletproof vests, is used to provide abrasion resistance to many motorcycle apparel products from gloves to pants.  This material is typically woven and used to line articles of clothing thus helping to protect the motorcycle rider from road rash.

Lorica®

Lorica® is a manmade material with the look and feel of top quality leather without leather’s drawbacks. It is more resistant to water, gas, abrasion, flexing, tearing and sunlight. Lorica® is also easy to clean with soap and water. It will also not smell, rot or mold.

Phoslite®

A fabric with retroreflective particles bonded to it.  So when a light source hits Phoslite, it is returned right back to it.

Retroreflective

When light hits a reflective surface, it bounces off in many different directions.  Retroreflective material is designed to reflect a light source back onto itself.  This means that if a car’s headlights shine on a piece of retroreflective material, the material will be more visible than a normal reflective material.

Road Rash

A term used for abrasions experienced from falling off a motorcycle and sliding on the road.  This usually removes skin in large patches and can lead to serious infection if not treated properly.

Summary
Well, there is a lot of information to absorb but feel free to reference this document as often as you need to.  We will keep updating it with new information as needed.

Don’t see the term or buzzword you have been looking for? Let us know! We will include it in this post for you.

The Credits
Cordura® is a trademark of INVISTA.  GORE-TEX® is a trademark of W. L. Gore & Associates. Kevlar®, Lorica® and Teflon® are registered trademarks of DuPont.  Phoslite® is a registered trademark of Italmatch Chemicals.

She Rides and He Rides Too
5925 Atlanta Hwy, Suite 300
Alpharetta, GA 30004
(770) 967-2453

www.she-rides.com

She Rides® is a registered trademark and protected under the laws therein.

© 2000-2008 She Rides®