Most women know roughly what size they wear.

You walk into a clothing shop, pick up your usual size and there's a reasonable chance it'll fit.

Motorcycle clothing is a different story entirely. When a size 14 rider owns jackets in sizes 16, 18 and 2XL, something has clearly gone wrong.

The Problem

Unlike the fashion industry, motorcycle clothing manufacturers don't work to a common sizing standard. A size 14 from one brand can fit like a size 10 from another.

Some brands are designed around:

  • Italian sizing

  • Scandinavian sizing

  • Generic European sizing

  • UK sizing

  • Male body shapes scaled down for women

The result?

Women often end up ordering multiple sizes, returning items and becoming increasingly frustrated.

The Curvy Rider Challenge

Motorcycle clothing has traditionally been designed around a fairly narrow body shape.

Women with:

  • Curvier hips

  • Larger busts

  • Broader shoulders

  • Shorter torsos

  • Shorter arms

often find themselves choosing between:

Protection that fits poorly

or

Comfort that leaves armour in the wrong place.

This is one reason brands such as MotoGirl have built such loyal followings by designing specifically for a wider range of female body shapes.

Why Armour Position Matters

This isn't just about comfort.

If shoulder, elbow or knee armour sits in the wrong place because clothing doesn't fit properly, protection can be significantly reduced during an impact.

The safest jacket isn't necessarily the one with the highest safety rating.

It's the one that fits correctly.

Check out this month's Gear article, We review a pick of Jackets that are recommended by women riders, offer genuine female-specific designs and have built loyal followings within the riding community.