Time to Upgrade gear...where to spend the $$$

But isn't that like admitting you know you're going to crash?

 

One thing I'd seriously prioritize as a VFR rider is a proper leather jacket. Not just any jacket, but one built to actually protect you when it counts. I learned this the hard way after a lowside on a back road left me sliding across asphalt. The jacket I was wearing absorbed the brunt of it, and I walked away with bruises instead of road rash.

Leather is genuinely the gold standard for abrasion resistance. A good thick cowhide jacket will outlast textile gear in a slide every time. That said, you also want CE-rated armor at the shoulders and elbows. The leather handles the road rash, but the armor is what saves your joints from the impact. Don't skip that part.

Fit matters too. A jacket that rides up when you're in your tuck is a jacket that exposes your lower back the moment you go down. Look for something cut for a riding position, not just standing in a showroom.

I've been wearing a biker jacket from Washington Outfits lately and honestly the quality for the price is hard to argue with. Genuine leather, solid stitching, and a fit that actually works on the bike. They've got a solid range of riding-style leather jackets worth checking out. It might feel steep to spend $200 on a jacket when you're already putting money into the bike, but after going down once, I promise you won't think twice about it again.