Leather motorcycle jacket for all seasons

It’s a pretty tall order to suggest a leather motorcycle jacket is suitable for all seasons, but I certainly gave this Victory Magnum motorcycle jacket a thorough test.

I took the jacket to the US for the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb where Victory motorcycles was showcasing their Project 156 prototype racer they built with Roland Sands Design.

In nearby Colorado Springs, it was 32C and about half an hour into the hills, the temperature started to drop, reaching almost zero at the summit some 14,110ft (4300m) high with howling winds.

The jacket comes with a thick felt comfort hoodie liner, so when I got off the bike at the top, the hood kept my bald head quite warm.

The hoodie either zips into the jacket or to itself so it can also be worn separately as stylish casual wear.

There is a two-position button on the collar for comfort and the hoodie has a double press-button collar to keep all the wind and cold out so you don’t need to pack a neck sock as well.

Back down the mountain and into heavy and slow traffic in boiling conditions, the liner came out and the vents were all opened up.

The leather jacket has two, long vertical vents in the front, plus two vents that run along your collar bone to the shoulder that seem to attract the air to all the right parts of your body.

There are also double zips on the cuffs so you can keep the wrists secure, but still allow some air up your sleeve to keep your arms cool.

The back of the jacket has two vertical vents and one big horizontal exhaust vent to let the air flow through the jacket.

And inside there is a mesh liner so you don’t sweat and stick to the jacket.

You can also open zips at either side if you’ve eaten too much for lunch, or just want to make the jacket a little looser for improved airflow.

It’s not as cool as some textile jackets in hot weather, but it’s one of the coolest leather jackets I’ve worn in the heat.

While in the States we rode more than 1000km and it also proved a very comfortable jacket, even though it was brand new and hadn’t been “worn in” yet.

The leather feels thick and protective, yet it’s fairly supple so it doesn’t feel stiff and uncomfortable. Stretch panels in the armpits also aid in comfort.

There are soft CE-approved armour inserts in the shoulders and elbows, and it has safety 3M reflective trim and the Victory logo on the back is also reflective at night.

It has plenty of places to store your phone, wallet, etc with four outside pockets and two inside pockets, all with secure, chunky zips.

Considering you get a casual hoodie for casual wear and can use the jacket in all seasons, it’s pretty good value at $595.

The Magnum jacket comes in sizes SM to 3XL and being a big American make, I found the M fitted me quite well, even though I usually take a large.