Ballistic Nylon

Ballistic nylon is a heavy, tightly woven nylon fabric, originally developed by DuPont for military flak jackets during the Second World War. It was later replaced in body armour by aramid fibres such as Kevlar, but its toughness made it popular for luggage and protective clothing.

In motorcycle textiles it is used mainly in the impact and abrasion zones of jackets and trousers, such as shoulders, elbows, knees and the seat. Fabric strength is often given in denier (D); higher numbers mean thicker yarn but say nothing on their own about how well a garment protects.

A better guide is the EN 17092 rating (classes AAA, AA, A, B, C), which tests the whole garment. Ballistic nylon panels are durable, but even tough textile wears through in a long slide, so armour and a good fit still matter.