Five of the best motorcycle jackets for under £120

An average rating of 4.8 from the first 29 customer reviews means RST's long waterproof textile jacket is assured of a key place in this list. It's designed for touring and commuting with RST's Maxtex fabric making up the main construction. A Sinaqua membrane keeps you dry and there's a removable thermal gilet to help you stay warm on chilly days. It comes with shoulder and elbow armour. The only mild criticism from owners is a lack of back protection, but adding a basic CE L1 insert at the back only takes this jacket to a fiver over our £120 threshold.

The first 10 customer reviews of this vented summer-only jacket all came with a perfect five-star rating. It’s a ladies jacket, but the Oxford Delta 1.0 Air is the mens equivalent and is identical in all except the fit, and that has a very respectable 4.8 rating from the first 12 reviews. Both womens and mens versions have large mesh panels that are rated well by owners, with shoulder and elbow armour that meets the basic Level 1 of the CE standard, but versatility is clearly lacking as there are no waterproof or thermal liners.

As basic all-round jackets go, it’s hard to quarrel with Richa’s Axel jacket. It’s got a tough polyester outer, a breathable waterproof membrane and a removable thermal liner so it’s got all seasons covered. There are air vents to lower the temperature in summer, and it’s armoured at the shoulders and elbows with an overall CE protection rating to A level. The first six customer-reviewers all gave a perfect five-star rating, which reflects the value for a jacket with a list price of £109.99 at the time of writing.

This waterproof textile jacket from Spada harks back to the post-war era when demobbed pilots deployed their flying jackets for use on their bikes. The Air Force One has a polyester outer that’s protected by a breathable waterproof membrane and a quilted lining for warmth, which is fixed in place. It’s available in several colours and comes with shoulder and elbow armour, and an overall CE protection rating to A level. Only one of the first 17 customers to review the jacket knocked off one star (but even their four-star review was very complimentary).

RST’s entry-level textile jacket has all the basics covered for a decent price, and it also comes in a range of colours. The outer is made from RST’s Maxtex material with their own Sinaqua waterproof membrane behind it, plus a thermal liner that can be taken out for warmer rides. There’s shoulder and elbow armour, and a back protector insert costs an extra £25 (Level 1 protection) or £30 (Level 2). The Axis collected 34 perfect five-star ratings from the first 45 customer reviews. Some say sizing is a bit optimistic and you may want to go up rather than down if you’re on the cusp of two sizes.