Jacket: waist length or 3/4 length?

Looking for opinions on this difference between jacket styles. There are some nice touring jackets that are 3/4 length...any problems with this style for a VFR? One person mentioned his bunches up on the Joe Rocket vs. Scorpion thread, so I'm looking for people's views before I decide which style to go with.

 

Shorty jackets ride up depending on how tall you are. Seen dudes who want to look like _______ _______ (fave racerdood) wearing shortys and what ya see is mostly buttcrack. This may be popular in some circles like HOG Chapters.

Overall IMO the longer jackets may be the best choice.

Moi: Hein Gericke Paris-Dakar and Aerostitch.

 

The only suggestion I have is to make sure that the jacket can be zippered to your pants in the back, regardless of the length. In my particular case, the airflow around the VFR fairings and my thighs found its way right underneath the lower part of a 3/4 length Cortech jacket and up my lower back. At higher speeds, it would lift the jacket up, no matter how I adjusted the waist cinch straps. That particular jacket did not have an easy way to attach a zipper because of the inner liner, so I just got another jacket with the zipper already attached. Problem gone!

 

Not trying to bag on any gear, but sometimes spending a little extra cash for jackets you're going to use for years to come, is worth it. I.E., coats that are designed to fit properly all the time and won't ask you to choose waist or 3/4. I know the extra $100-$150 seems harsh, but you'll never experience riding up, excessive stretching, riding low, problems in wind, or buyers remorse.The worse thing to do (I've done it) is to buy something on the cheap and discover you needed something better the whole time, buy the better product and then be out for both pieces of gear. Easier and cheaper to just buy the good piece right of the bat. Again, not trying to knock Joe or Scorpion, but you may want to see if you can find an Alpinestars or Dianese, if you look hard enough you can usually find a good clearence price on them and you'll be much happier in the long run. They last longer, provide better protection, more comfotable, etc. There is good deal on this jacket right now, it was $550 last year.

Alpinestars Interceptor Leather Jacket - KneeDraggers.com

 

Lot depends on YOUR size/build. All the 3/4 length jackets I've tried are too long and bunch up when riding my 4th gen, but I'm only 5'6'-135#. Most "shorty" jackets fit me like a 3/4 on a 'normal' size person. The comment on the ability to zip jacket and pants together is right on. Fit is important also, you don't want it too loose if the bad thing happens. I've got a jacket for colder weather that I can wear an extra layer or two underneath (I commute year round) and one for warmer weather that fits a bit tighter.

 

The 3/4 jackets I have seen, including the Olympia one I wear now have special zipper. Zip it up and then the bottom can zip up a little to prevent bunching when you are on the bike.

 

I forgot to mention that a really good reason for having a jacket that mechanically attaches to your pants is that the jacket will tend to stay in place in the event of a spill. All of the padding will protect what it was intended to.

 

I started with a Joe Rocket Alter Ego 2.0 waist length jacket for my 6.'4 frame and 96 VFR. Used it a full season, both winter and summer and it worked out ok....much better in the summer...obviously. It was a tad chilly for the winter, however I really liked the form fitting, and it didn't bunch up, due to the waist cut. I rode from Whistler, to Jasper, to Banff, to Nelson, to Kewlona, and back to Whistler in 4 days in it, and it performed great. Just threw in the liner when it got chilly. However I wish I had a proper touring jacket though.

Went to a 3/4 length, mainly cause I ride whenever it is not raining, and in Seattle, it gets a little chilly in the winter. Most good winter jackets are 3/4 length...as they are more touring specific. The key to any jacket, is to figure out when you are going to use it the most (season), what you are going to wear underneath it, and buy the jacket according to those variables. Basically what you get from that is a jacket that fits correctly the majority of the time, and pretty good at all other times.

However what I have seen many do with any jacket is buy them too big....way to big. A jacket should fit snug for two reasons.

1. So you don't turn into a parachute or sail on the freeway.
2. So when you decide to slide down the road, it does't move much.

I just made sure my Joe Rocket touring jacket was made out of that heavy duty nylon on the outside, so it blocked all wind. It does bunch up a little, and I purchased it so it would fit super snug. Nothing you can really do about it bunching up. The nice thing about a 3/4 jacket is that it goes all the way down your back and further, so the cold doesn't get in, like it does on a waist length.

I used my 3/4 all through this last summer, and took out the liner on hot days, however it doesnt get that hot in Seattle, so it was fine.

For next summer, I will be buying a waist length jacket again. You can't beat that comfort and fit of a waist length, especially in the warmer months.