Knock Wood Leathers - anyone used them?

[wsn03]

Found some pretty cool retro biker jackets on ebay - looked into it because Im concerned they may be too cheap, but made in UK, a load of really good reviews. Anyone used them?
Their leather jackets are around £70, but they have the 60s, 70s look I'm after, not seen it anywhere else, but can't find much outside of the website. They use ebay as their shop window.

Any help welcome, I've seen 2 jackets I want, but don't want them coming apart on me if I ever slide down the road

Their website
https://www.knockwoodleather.co.uk/

Ebay jackets
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/233965835736?_trkparms=...

[bogie]

They look fine for fashion leather jackets with a motorcycle look to wear on a night out, but they are not really protective equipment. Modern motorcycle clothing usually comes complete with CE approved armour, back protector and meets test requirements for abrasion resistance.

If you want the traditional look jackets then a number of the mainstream motorcycle clothing manufacturers offer jackets that look "retro", Alpinestars, RST , Spidi etc

If you want the real thing then try ebay for a used Lewis Leathers or you may find a Vanson leather. They wont be sub £100k though, but they will last a lifetime.

[bimsb6]

Run away !

[wsn03]

bogie said:

They look fine for fashion leather jackets with a motorcycle look to wear on a night out, but they are not really protective equipment. Modern motorcycle clothing usually comes complete with CE approved armour, back protector and meets test requirements for abrasion resistance.

If you want the traditional look jackets then a number of the mainstream motorcycle clothing manufacturers offer jackets that look "retro", Alpinestars, RST , Spidi etc

If you want the real thing then try ebay for a used Lewis Leathers or you may find a Vanson leather. They wont be sub £100k though, but they will last a lifetime.

Thank you
I don't mind paying proper money, I would expect £300. I don't want decorative. Really appreciate the tips, I will look into the ones you mention - last time I bought kit was some 20 years ago!

[bimsb6]

Have a look on ebay for used quality stuff , there are bargains out there , also try facebook marketplace for local items .

[wsn03]

bimsb6 said:

Have a look on ebay for used quality stuff , there are bargains out there , also try facebook marketplace for local items .

That's a good shout, I will look on ebay and Facebook. Thank you

[bogie]

You will find some really nice lightly used leather jackets for £300 budget, and some new ones

have a look here for lots of choice. Richa and Merlin have some traditional look jackets too

https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/

[black-k1]

bogie said:

They look fine for fashion leather jackets with a motorcycle look to wear on a night out, but they are not really protective equipment. Modern motorcycle clothing usually comes complete with CE approved armour, back protector and meets test requirements for abrasion resistance.

If you want the traditional look jackets then a number of the mainstream motorcycle clothing manufacturers offer jackets that look "retro", Alpinestars, RST , Spidi etc

If you want the real thing then try ebay for a used Lewis Leathers or you may find a Vanson leather. They wont be sub £100k though, but they will last a lifetime.

It is now a legal requirement that ALL clothing offered as "motorcycle protective clothing" has to, itself (not just the armour), be CE approved. See recent conversation on the subject here: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

The fact that there is no mention of any CE approval rating suggests that not only are these not protective motorcycle leathers but, by being presented as motorcycle leathers, are actually breaking the law. I wouldn't touch them with a barge pole.

[KTMsm]

If you like retro ebay really is the place for used leathers - I got a cracking Hein Gericke tribal jacket for £10 !

Note - biker's clothing is (generally) in the Vehicle Parts & Accessories section so not where you might think to look

Edited by KTMsm on Monday 24th January 14:28

[wsn03]

bogie said:

You will find some really nice lightly used leather jackets for £300 budget, and some new ones

have a look here for lots of choice. Richa and Merlin have some traditional look jackets too

https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/

Excellent, thank you very much, I shall look through that

[wsn03]

black-k1 said:

It is now a legal requirement that ALL clothing offered as "motorcycle protective clothing" has to, itself (not just the armour), be CE approved. See recent conversation on the subject here: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

The fact that there is no mention of any CE approval rating suggests that not only are these not protective motorcycle leathers but, by being presented as motorcycle leathers, are actually breaking the law. I wouldn't touch them with a barge pole.

If you search Knock Wood there is no mention of CE. I would have been concerned by the price 20 years ago to be fair. Love the styling, but was hoping I was onto something. They probably are breaking the law as you say. Not even interested now and will pursue the other options.
Thank you

[wsn03]

KTMsm said:

If you like retro ebay really is the place for used leathers - I got a cracking Hein Gericke tribal jacket for £10 !

Note - biker's clothing is (generally) in the Vehicle Parts & Accessories section so not where you might think to look

Edited by KTMsm on Monday 24th January 14:28

Another really helpful tip, thanks for this, very much appreciated

[ThreadKiller]

I got a virtually as-new BKS vintage jacket off ebay for GBP70. Was quite pleased with that. Some bargains if second hand is ok for you.

[bimsb6]

wsn03 said:

black-k1 said:

It is now a legal requirement that ALL clothing offered as "motorcycle protective clothing" has to, itself (not just the armour), be CE approved. See recent conversation on the subject here: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

The fact that there is no mention of any CE approval rating suggests that not only are these not protective motorcycle leathers but, by being presented as motorcycle leathers, are actually breaking the law. I wouldn't touch them with a barge pole.

If you search Knock Wood there is no mention of CE. I would have been concerned by the price 20 years ago to be fair. Love the styling, but was hoping I was onto something. They probably are breaking the law as you say. Not even interested now and will pursue the other options.
Thank you

They look to be trading from a virtual office so why would they not have a proper office in a factory ? Suspect the uk factory does not exist .

[wsn03]

bimsb6 said:

wsn03 said:

black-k1 said:

It is now a legal requirement that ALL clothing offered as "motorcycle protective clothing" has to, itself (not just the armour), be CE approved. See recent conversation on the subject here: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

The fact that there is no mention of any CE approval rating suggests that not only are these not protective motorcycle leathers but, by being presented as motorcycle leathers, are actually breaking the law. I wouldn't touch them with a barge pole.

If you search Knock Wood there is no mention of CE. I would have been concerned by the price 20 years ago to be fair. Love the styling, but was hoping I was onto something. They probably are breaking the law as you say. Not even interested now and will pursue the other options.
Thank you

They look to be trading from a virtual office so why would they not have a proper office in a factory ? Suspect the uk factory does not exist .

They have a good story, some strong implications and some great photos bought off the internet. What could possibly go wrong?

[Salted_Peanut]

ThreadKiller said:

I got a virtually as-new BKS vintage jacket off ebay for GBP70. Was quite pleased with that. Some bargains if second hand is ok for you.

If that jacket was BKS Made-to-Measure (not the BKS that J&S owns), you got an unbelievable bargain.

Then again, I often see some of the very top-end leathers (Hideout, BKS, Scott Leathers) on eBay for a song despite being lightly used. Nearly new can be a great way to get über leathers for a bargain, especially considering these three brands can tailor (new or second-hand) clobber to fit, and their leathers are built to last 10-20 years with occasional hide food.

[black-k1]

Salted_Peanut said:

ThreadKiller said:

I got a virtually as-new BKS vintage jacket off ebay for GBP70. Was quite pleased with that. Some bargains if second hand is ok for you.

If that jacket was BKS Made-to-Measure (not the BKS that J&S owns), you got an unbelievable bargain.

Then again, I often see some of the very top-end leathers (Hideout, BKS, Scott Leathers) on eBay for a song despite being lightly used. Nearly new can be a great way to get über leathers for a bargain, especially considering these three brands can tailor (new or second-hand) clobber to fit, and their leathers are built to last 10-20 years with occasional hide food.

Many people also have difficulty with the term "made to measure". A lot view that as if it wasn't made for them then it won't fit. What they forget is that off the peg suits are simply made to measure to a set of standard measurements. As long as the suit wasn't made for Quasimodo then a jacket made to measure someone with a 44" chest will be pretty much the same size as an off the peg jacket with a 44" chest label.

[Salted_Peanut]

I agree, plus many people don't realise that the made-to-measure companies also sell off-the-shelf stuff. For example, Scott Leathers' Retro jacket costs £225. Their website might be low-quality, but their leathers are among the highest quality on the market, so £225 is an utter bargain.

Scott Leathers said:

We have a full range of our products available in off-the-peg sizes that can be made tweaked to your spec etc.

[328]

https://www.knockwoodleather.co.uk/about said:

Established in 1970, as a humble family business which has now been passed over to the second generation.

and then...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/knockwoodleatheruk said:

A humble family business that has now been passed over to the third generation.

Difficult to know whether the second generation made a bit of a hash of it and couldn't wait to move on, or retired in paradise with an abundance of riches. Or perhaps someone is still getting to grips with the concept of numbers higher than 1.

Still, good to see the family's humility persisting through the generations.

[Drawweight]

Searching for this image comes up with interesting results.

The most common being advertising sunglasses.

Always a good way to spot an iffy retailer.