Custom Motorcycle Leather Jackets: How to Design, Size and Order One
Quick answer: A custom motorcycle leather jacket is made to your measurements and your design: your colours, your logos, your name and number. A good one is also a proper riding jacket, with full-grain leather, CE Level 2 armour at the shoulders and elbows, a back protector and pre-curved sleeves. You send a design idea and your measurements, approve the final design, and the jacket is built to order.
Key takeaways
- A custom jacket should be built on a protective base first: full-grain leather plus certified armour.
- Your design can be anything, from your bike's colours to a full race livery with your name and number.
- Stitched leather patchwork graphics last. Printed graphics can crack and fade.
- Made-to-measure keeps the armour on your joints, which is what protects you in a crash.
- A jacket can be made to zip to matching leather trousers to form a two-piece suit.
Why go custom?
Off-the-rack jackets are cut for an average body and come in a few colourways. That works for some riders, but many find the sleeves too short on the bike, the waist too loose, or the colours wrong for their machine. A custom jacket fixes all three. It is cut to your proportions, it matches your bike or helmet, and it can carry your own name and race number. See examples in our custom motorcycle jackets collection.
Start with protection
Some "custom leather jackets" are fashion jackets with a biker look. A riding jacket is different. Before you think about colours, check that the jacket has:
- Full-grain cowhide, about 1.3 to 1.4 mm. It is the dense outer layer of the hide and wears away slowly in a slide instead of tearing. Avoid split, bonded or PU-coated leather.
- CE Level 2 armour at the shoulders and elbows (EN 1621-1:2012).
- A back protector, ideally CE Level 2 (EN 1621-2:2014), in a dedicated pocket.
- Triple-stitched main seams with bonded nylon thread, so seams hold in a crash.
- Pre-curved sleeves and stretch panels, so the jacket fits in the riding position, not just standing up.
Every armoured racing jacket in our custom range has all of these. Our CE Level 1 vs Level 2 guide explains what the armour levels mean.
Designing your jacket
Choose a style
- Racing jacket: sporty cut, armour, often a team-style livery. Best for sport and naked bikes.
- Two-piece suit jacket: a racing jacket with a connecting zip, so it joins matching leather trousers to make a full suit.
- MotoGP-style jacket: the colours of a Grand Prix team, or your own colours in a Grand Prix layout. See our MotoGP leather racing jackets.
Pick your colours
Two or three colours work best. Use the main colour on the body, and accent colours on the shoulders, sleeves and collar. Send a photo of your bike if you want an exact match. Bright panels on the shoulders and back improve visibility on the road.
Add your name, number and logos
A "motorcycle jacket with name" is one of the most requested custom features. Popular placements are the name across the upper back, the race number on the chest or the back, and logos on the chest and sleeves. Club and team names work well across the shoulders.
Patchwork, not print
We build designs from leather patchwork: each colour is a piece of dyed hide, cut and stitched in. Because the colour is the leather itself, it cannot crack, peel or wash out. Printing is used only for detail too fine to cut in leather.
Getting the fit right
A riding jacket must fit closely. If it is loose, the armour can move off your shoulder or elbow in a crash, exactly when you need it.
- Shoulders and chest: snug, with no loose leather when you zip up.
- Sleeves: they should reach your wrist bone with your arms stretched forward as if holding the bars.
- Back length: long enough to cover your lower back in a riding crouch.
- Room underneath: tell us if you wear a base layer or a separate armour vest so we can allow for it.
Our jackets come in standard sizes from XS to 3XL, or made to your own measurements at no extra cost. Our sizing guide and the size charts show how to measure.
Women's custom jackets
A made-to-measure jacket is cut on your own measurements, so a women's jacket is built on female proportions rather than scaled down from a men's pattern. See our women's leather motorcycle jackets.
How much does a custom motorcycle leather jacket cost?
Price depends on the leather, the complexity of the design and the options you choose. At the time of writing, our armoured custom racing jackets start at $279.99, with made-to-measure sizing included at no extra charge. Shipping by DHL or FedEx is free to the US, Canada, the EU and Australia. For how gear prices break down in general, see how much a race suit costs.
How ordering works
- Choose a jacket from the custom jackets range, or start from your own idea.
- Send your design: a sketch, photo or description, plus any name, number and logos.
- Send your measurements, or pick a standard size.
- Approve the design before production starts.
- Production and delivery: custom items take about 14 to 21 business days to make, then 5 to 7 business days to the US and Canada.
Jacket or full suit?
A jacket is ideal for road riding. For track days, most circuits require a one-piece suit or a two-piece joined by a full 360-degree zip. If you plan to ride on track, order the jacket with a connecting zip and matching trousers, or choose a custom racing suit instead. Our 1 piece vs 2 piece guide explains the difference.
Caring for a leather jacket
- Wipe it with a soft, slightly damp cloth after rides.
- Condition the leather when it feels dry.
- Never machine wash or tumble dry.
- Let it dry naturally, away from heaters and direct sun.
- Store it on a wide hanger so the shoulders keep their shape.
More detail is in our leather cleaning guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a leather motorcycle jacket custom made with my name?
Yes. Your name, race number and any custom text can be added in leather patchwork, wherever you want them.
Is a leather jacket enough protection on a motorcycle?
Only if it has certified armour and proper riding leather. A fashion jacket is not enough. Look for CE Level 2 armour at the shoulders and elbows and a back protector.
Will a leather motorcycle jacket stretch?
Full-grain leather relaxes and moulds to you over the first few rides, but it does not grow a size. Order it snug, not loose. See how to break in new leathers.
Can the jacket match my bike?
Yes. Send a photo of your bike and we match the colours. Riders on the Honda CBR, Kawasaki Ninja, Yamaha R1 and R7, Suzuki GSX-R, Ducati Panigale and BMW S1000RR have ordered jackets in their bike's colours. Our guide to matching gear to your bike has ideas.
Can I zip the jacket to trousers later?
The connecting zip has to be specified when you order. It cannot be added afterwards.