SHIFT Racing Streetfighter Jacket Review

I recently got the opportunity to test Shift's Streetfighter jacket. It is a bit different than most jackets out in the market since it uses both textile material and leather to combine the best of both worlds.

Leather and Textile

I've worn my fair share of full textile jackets and full leather jackets in the past. My preference leans towards the leather since I feel it is a bit more protective than most textile outfits, plus it gives you that cool biker look. The StreetFighter jacket is about 40% leather and 60% textile which gives it an interesting appearance and feel. The leather bits are placed in all the key areas you would expect to grind against the pavement in the event of a crash: Chest, back, forearms, shoulders, elbows. This leaves the parts that most likely won't be sliding on the ground (stomach, inside of forearm, inside of elbow etc...) to be protected by ballistic textile.

Fit and Feel

If I had to say one thing about this jacket I would say it is VERY comfortable. The stretchy accordion style panels in specific areas of the jacket really helps to increase my freedom of movement while I wear this jacket. This is especially noticable when I am in the full tuck position while riding on the freeway. I really have to crouch down to avoid all of that icey cold wind at 5am and this jacket makes it much easier to get my chest to the gas tank. The wind does not creep up my back when I zip these pants up to my Shift Havoc pants either.

The jacket comes with a removable liner but even with it installed this is definitely not a winter jacket. The liner is a bit thin and definitely not as plush as other liners I have seen. I think it's primary purpose is to block the wind, and at that it does a pretty good job. This jacket would be PERFECT for the summer since it offers the best qualities of leather while still giving you enough airflow to stay cool in the hot weather, especially if you took out the liner.

The cut of this jacket is similar to other Shift gear, but I find that it hangs oddly on my frame when I am not on the bike. There seems to be extra room in the torso area which would be ideal for anyone with a little extra weight, but since I am so skinny it tends to puff up where the leather and textile meet in the front. It's not a huge issue and is purely aesthetic, but it is something I thought I should mention. In a way it is a bit of a mixed blessing since it allows me to squeeze a small sweatshirt on in between myself and the jacket on really cold days which helps keep me warm in the mornings.

Features

The jacket comes with 2 inside pockets and 2 outside pockets to fit your wallet, keys, and other miscellaneous items. It has hard CE approved shoulder and elbow armor which would help protect your bones in the event of a get-off. There is also a pocket for a back protector, but they do not include one with the jacket.

One thing that I did notice is the closures on the cuffs and neck have velcro strips instead of the usual metal snaps. I am still on the fence of how I feel about this, but it seems to be the general trend in all jacket manufacturers, not just Shift. I personally like the snaps a little bit better since they feel more secure to me even though I have not had any issues with the velcro thus far. The velcro is nice since you can adjust the sizing but it just does not feel as secure to me.

Conclusion

The Shift StreetFighter jacket has dethroned my old Shift M1 jacket as my go-to gear that I will be wearing this summer. The look and design is really flattering and I love the bits of color that they added. I have the green version and I have to say that they matched the Kawasaki green on my bike very well. I think this would be a very good first jacket, especially since Shift has slashed the price down to $149.99. If anyone buys this jacket please post up in the comments and let us know what you think!

Pros

• Great summertime jacket when you want something beefier than mesh.
• Awesome compromise between leather and textile.
• Increased freedom of movement from accordion panels.
• Decreased sale price makes this jacket a bargin.

Cons

• Velcro instead of metal snaps.
• Extra room in the torsoe if you are a skinner guy/girl. This might be ideal for women with larger breasts, or guys with a bit of a gut.
• Jacket doesn't handle cold weather very well.

Specifications

• Unique leather and textile design.
• 1.2-1.4mm premium grain leather on front and back panels as well as key abrasion zones.
• Articulated design for superior comfort.
• Removable CE approved shoulder and elbow armor.
• Accordion panels in key flex areas for unrestricted movement.
• Stretch Cordura panels for added flexibility and comfort.
• Connection zipper for attachment to compatible SHIFT pants.
• Reflective piping for added visibility.
• Removable/Washable quilted vest liner.
• Integrated pocket for a back protector.