Best leather jacket?

[SteveKTMer]

There's no such thing as waterproof leather, not without waxy or oily coatings on the outside that mess up the breathing (think walking boots) or a waterproof membrane on the inside. If they have coated the inside of the leather then the leather will still get waterlogged from the outside and get heavy and very cold. Maybe you wouldn't get wet ?

I had a Wiese set of leathers a few years ago that claimed to be waterproof, I bought them because I'd put a few Kgs on, but I did try them once in the rain and the trousers in particular took a week to dry out properly, quite miserable to ride in. Much, much easier and cheaper to use a boil in the bag jacket for the few hours it's raining.

[black-k1]

My BKS suit is roo leather. It's not waterproof but its considerably more water resistant than my previous cow hide suit. I understand that's because they use roo tail skin for the leather and that has no pores (apparently to stop the kangaroo losing vital water as sweat in the desert. ) It also doesn't get waterlogged like cow and goat hide does.

I believe that the lack of pores is also why roo hide can be thinner (thus lighter) than cow hide but still offer the same level of protection.

However, roo is more expensive than cow!

Edited by black-k1 on Friday 5th July 10:48

[Biker's Nemesis]

black-k1 said:

However, too is more expensive than cow!

Surely you mean One?












Yes, I know. Don't give me a tongue lashing David.

[black-k1]

Biker's Nemesis said:

black-k1 said:

However, too is more expensive than cow!

Surely you mean One?












Yes, I know. Don't give me a tongue lashing David.

That's the first time you've EVER asked me to not give you a tongue lashing!

Edited by black-k1 on Friday 5th July 11:35

[Tango13]

I thought about turning Skippy into a suit when I had my BKS two piece made earlier in the year. I know it's stronger than Daisy Moo cow so can be thinner for the same strength and abrasion resistance but it just didn't feel 'right' when I examined the swatches.

In the end Daisy had a staring role in my new suit as well as several roast dinners

[Salted_Peanut]

Hugo Stiglitz said:

LFrom my original post I guess I mean all round, not head down high speed etc.

The advantages of Hideout and BKS bespoke leathers are protection, made-to-measure comfort, and longevity. They’re built to last a lifetime, which goes some way toward offsetting the high initial outlay.

However, a more affordable alternative is a made-to-measure jacket from Scott Leathers. Their leather jackets start from £225 plus a made-to-measure service charge. I wore one for years, and it was superb quality (much better than Dainese).

[bolidemichael]

black-k1 said:

My BKS suit is roo leather. It's not waterproof but its considerably more water resistant than my previous cow hide suit. I understand that's because they use roo tail skin for the leather and that has no pores (apparently to stop the kangaroo losing vital water as sweat in the desert. ) It also doesn't get waterlogged like cow and goat hide does.

I believe that the lack of pores is also why roo hide can be thinner (thus lighter) than cow hide but still offer the same level of protection.

However, roo is more expensive than cow!

Edited by black-k1 on Friday 5th July 10:48

I did not know this. Fascinating

[bolidemichael]

Salted_Peanut said:

Hugo Stiglitz said:

LFrom my original post I guess I mean all round, not head down high speed etc.

The advantages of Hideout and BKS bespoke leathers are protection, made-to-measure comfort, and longevity. They’re built to last a lifetime, which goes some way toward offsetting the high initial outlay.

However, a more affordable alternative is a made-to-measure jacket from Scott Leathers. Their leather jackets start from £225 plus a made-to-measure service charge. I wore one for years, and it was superb quality (much better than Dainese).

That’s a good shout. I spoke to him at the London bikeshow having mistaken them for BKS and when I realised, he assured me that their textile suits were also used by police forces and made to measure but cost an unbelievable £500-£600! BKS is £3,000 or so.

[jhoneyball]

hideout

[SteveKTMer]

black-k1 said:

My BKS suit is roo leather. It's not waterproof but its considerably more water resistant than my previous cow hide suit. I understand that's because they use roo tail skin for the leather and that has no pores (apparently to stop the kangaroo losing vital water as sweat in the desert. ) It also doesn't get waterlogged like cow and goat hide does.

I believe that the lack of pores is also why roo hide can be thinner (thus lighter) than cow hide but still offer the same level of protection.

However, roo is more expensive than cow!

Edited by black-k1 on Friday 5th July 10:48

I'd especially not want to get a made to measure suit wet, given the cost and risk of it changing shape when wet. Sometimes the leather will stretch when it's damp, even of it's not soaking wet.

[Stevemr]

Another vote for Scott. Bought a venom jacket and jeans from them a couple of years ago. Didn’t want the perforated panels on the jacket, so they did them in leather. Wanted a bit of a loose fit on the hips, cos bionic hip. And wanted the jeans legs to fit over my boots. All done.
I think for the price they are amazing, but then you aren’t paying for overheads. The showroom, in barnards castle is the opposite of flash!! You can hardly find it. And they are made in the room next door. No idea what ce rating it may be ( and I normally pay a lot of attention to that sort of thing!) But by the number of TT riders that have worn them and paid for them! I think they must be ok!

[Hugo Stiglitz]

Agree but the issue is there's no CE certification for the Venom anywhere on their site. That's a big leap of faith for a jacket without knowing what it is or any sort of reviews from buyers etc.

[Stevemr]

Agreed, not something I would normally do, but no regrets.

[Salted_Peanut]

I’d happily buy Scott Leathers again and trust them more than the usual suspects (Dainese, Alpinestars, etc.).

Scott Leathers is among the few brands selling gear made by the same people with the same construction as their professional racers’ leathers.

Also, Scott Leathers openly criticised the AAA rating for being too easy to pass.

The founder, Jimmy Aird, can be brusque. However, his son and staff are friendlier, and their leathers are excellent.

[black-k1]

SteveKTMer said:

I'd especially not want to get a made to measure suit wet, given the cost and risk of it changing shape when wet. Sometimes the leather will stretch when it's damp, even of it's not soaking wet.

Any motorcycle leather suit manufacturers who expects their kit to stay dry, especially in the UK, are not living in the real world. My BKS suits have ended up very wet on more occasions than I care to remember, but have never suffered as a result.

... although, that may explain the shrinkage around the waist that must have happened during 20 years of ownership.

[Tango13]

black-k1 said:

Any motorcycle leather suit manufacturers who expects their kit to stay dry, especially in the UK, are not living in the real world. My BKS suits have ended up very wet on more occasions than I care to remember, but have never suffered as a result.

... although, that may explain the shrinkage around the waist that must have happened during 20 years of ownership.

If you eat pies and drink beer they will react to create a totally harmless chemical that is excreted with normal human sweat. The problem is that when the chemicals used for tanning leather are exposed to the chemical byproduct of beer/pie consumption they create yet another third chemical which causes leather to shrink.

Some of the above might not be strictly true...

[Stevemr]

I found Jimmy great to deal with. No nonsense sort of guy.
Was interesting to hear what he had to say about sponsorship. And how most of the TT riders used to buy from them. But then the likes of RST would pay riders to use their gear, and they just couldn’t compete with that.
I really like the idea, that they are designed and made right there in England.

[bolidemichael]

Is Jimmy the Scottish fella? He’s who I chatted to at the London Bike Show and liked him.

[hiccy18]

I went to see Jimmy in Barney as we used to often go down that way, decent bloke, decent kit and no BS. I purchased textile trousers and a couple of pairs of gloves, really happy with the trousers, I'd be no less comfortable crashing in them than any other textiles, and they do the job outside of six hours in yellow warning rainstorms. Great vfm.

The gloves are also great for the money, but some stitching on the velcro started to go, after a reasonable amount of use to be fair. I know I could have popped in with them, but I haven't been down that way for a while and not sure if I ever will again. So I "splurged" on some BKS MTM and they are by far the best gloves I've ever owned, worth every penny.

For perspective, I'd put the Scott's ahead of anything off the shelf, my now backup/torrential weather gloves are Rukka, they're cheap pish in comparison to the BKS, despite costing a good 60% of the price. The Scott's were a good bit cheaper than the Rukka, but I think the BKS will last at least twice as long, and they've been certified if that additional peace of mind matters to you (I'd agree with others that in the context of the small volume manufacturers being discussed, that's less crucial than normal). I used to swear by Alpinestars, but I regret buying a 2pc a few years ago rather than giving the money to Jimmy, as I'd considered at the time.

There's another manufacturer of leathers in Barney, can't remember their name atm but believe they're well regarded too.

[Stevemr]

Jim Aird, yes Scottish chap, multiple motocross / scrambles champion.
If he can make leathers for Mcguiness and JoeyDunlop, I don’t need an EC mark to feel they are good enough for me! https://i.pinimg.com/736x/cb/15/af/cb15af84de0e305...