Leathers or just armoured clothings?
Discussion
Im looking into what protective clothing to get once ive got my license. Ive seen an offer on with Frank Thomas - buy the jacket (£200) and the trousers (£150) and get a pair of gloves (£70 apparently) free. Its all armoured proper leather gear. Im not too bothered by the clothes as you can get them pretty cheap anyway, but that does look cheap for two piece leathers anyway.
Alternatively i can get some kit from my local bike shop, just all weather armoured jacket, kind of a nylon material with some trousers of a similar kind. If the paddings not enough i could get an armoured back protector seperately.
So, whats best? Ill be a first time biker on a Suzuki Bandit so i wont look too daft in leathers (i knew a woman whos son wore full leathers and back protectors etc - on a 50cc moped!) except im a lanky b'stard so ill look like a twig in a gimp suit in leathers.
Alternatively i can get some kit from my local bike shop, just all weather armoured jacket, kind of a nylon material with some trousers of a similar kind. If the paddings not enough i could get an armoured back protector seperately.
So, whats best? Ill be a first time biker on a Suzuki Bandit so i wont look too daft in leathers (i knew a woman whos son wore full leathers and back protectors etc - on a 50cc moped!) except im a lanky b'stard so ill look like a twig in a gimp suit in leathers.
As it's your first go, I'd opt for the leathers. You _will_ fall off/crash/get crashed into at some point (we all do) so until you've got some experience at not crashing under your belt then get the best protection you can.
Me personally, I wear the armoured all weather gear, but then I'm reckless ;-p
(and have lived in places where wearing leathers would give you instant heat exhaustion)
Not much help, but there you go.....
Me personally, I wear the armoured all weather gear, but then I'm reckless ;-p
(and have lived in places where wearing leathers would give you instant heat exhaustion)
Not much help, but there you go.....
Mad Dave,
As Barry said, get the best stuff you can afford. Who cares what you look like (?). You'll only go down the road once in your shorts/shell suit pants and trainers, then you'll be in hospital for a long time with renal failure as your kidneys stuggle to cope with producing enough plasma, etc, to cover the massive gravel rash you've given yourself.
Is it better to slide down the road in your leathers when a car driver knocks you off, or slide for a bit, then grip the road, as your nylon tears then flips you around smashing your flailing limbs into the 'mac? Up to you I suppose.
Good morning anyway!
PS once you start using a back protector, you'll probably never ride without one. There have been previous threads on these, so it might be worth doing a search for them (damage to soft tissue, bone protection, etc, etc).
Lovely.
>> Edited by fergus on Tuesday 2nd March 09:36
As Barry said, get the best stuff you can afford. Who cares what you look like (?). You'll only go down the road once in your shorts/shell suit pants and trainers, then you'll be in hospital for a long time with renal failure as your kidneys stuggle to cope with producing enough plasma, etc, to cover the massive gravel rash you've given yourself.
Is it better to slide down the road in your leathers when a car driver knocks you off, or slide for a bit, then grip the road, as your nylon tears then flips you around smashing your flailing limbs into the 'mac? Up to you I suppose.
Good morning anyway!
PS once you start using a back protector, you'll probably never ride without one. There have been previous threads on these, so it might be worth doing a search for them (damage to soft tissue, bone protection, etc, etc).
Lovely.
>> Edited by fergus on Tuesday 2nd March 09:36
Thanks guys. The local bike shop were the ones who said "you probably wont need full leathers" and suggested the armoured nylon stuff - i assumed it did the same job but just didnt look as pretty! lol.
Ive already got proper armoured boots 'Gaerne' i think theyre manufactured by. I also intended on getting proper helmet, gloves and body protection.
Looks like ill be getting leather kit now.
How good are the back protectors in leather kit?
Ive already got proper armoured boots 'Gaerne' i think theyre manufactured by. I also intended on getting proper helmet, gloves and body protection.
Looks like ill be getting leather kit now.
How good are the back protectors in leather kit?
I'd say good synthetics can approach leathers in some conditions for protection, but there's nothing that can provide the basic abrasion resistance leather does. I wear quality synthetics for commuting, mainly for the convenience, but as I start doing more higher speed stuff with IAM rides out, I'll be looking for some leathers too.
Steve.
Steve.
a word of warning with leathers - you get what you pay for. Although the exception to this seems to be Dainese - or 'die-easy' -I've seen several sets of them pop seams when they go down hard on a track... caveat emptor. If you want to buy cheap (ish) leathers, try Hein Gericke. A lot of the cheap suits out there are total crap. See if you can get a year old pair (last year's design, etc) in a sale somewhere.
Thanks mate, ill have a look. Im a little concerned about buying clothing/helmets etc over the net as it really needs to fit properly and theres no way of trying anything on over the internet!
Plus im tall but skinny, so most stuff will probably fit me around the chest but the legs will be too short, or theyll be long enough and the chest will be too baggy!
Thanks for the advice though mate, ill see what i can do.
Plus im tall but skinny, so most stuff will probably fit me around the chest but the legs will be too short, or theyll be long enough and the chest will be too baggy!
Thanks for the advice though mate, ill see what i can do.
dave
try and buy leathers slightly tight if any thing, as they'll 'give' and form to your body shape. I'm 6'5" and about 18 stone (not fat!) so have had similar probs to you with regard to short legs. This isn't a problem as long as your boots cover the bottom of the legs. Try www.leatherworkshop.co.uk (or something like that) and they can alter any off the peg leathers to fit like custom jobs.
I get them handmade these days - which solves any problems.
try and buy leathers slightly tight if any thing, as they'll 'give' and form to your body shape. I'm 6'5" and about 18 stone (not fat!) so have had similar probs to you with regard to short legs. This isn't a problem as long as your boots cover the bottom of the legs. Try www.leatherworkshop.co.uk (or something like that) and they can alter any off the peg leathers to fit like custom jobs.
I get them handmade these days - which solves any problems.
they might do you some nice arm covers...
try www.leather-workshop.co.uk/ instead... Debbie will sort you out (oh er)
try www.leather-workshop.co.uk/ instead... Debbie will sort you out (oh er)
Only been riding since last July.
Bought proper boots and helmet staright away and 'corner' material jacket. Bought leather trouers a short while after and completely agree that you get what you pay for.
The trouser stitching soon started to fail but the shop allowed me to upgrade for some better quality ones.
You feel safer in the right gear so buy the best that you can afford. The bike is easier to repair than your body!
Hoping to get a leather jacket too this week, ready for the spring.
Bought proper boots and helmet staright away and 'corner' material jacket. Bought leather trouers a short while after and completely agree that you get what you pay for.
The trouser stitching soon started to fail but the shop allowed me to upgrade for some better quality ones.
You feel safer in the right gear so buy the best that you can afford. The bike is easier to repair than your body!
Hoping to get a leather jacket too this week, ready for the spring.
fergus said:When was the last time you tried Debbie, the numbers are out of date
try www.leather-workshop.co.uk/ instead... Debbie will sort you out (oh er)
Dave,
Try J & S in Newbry, Berks they have good discounted or last yrs leathers. My personnal preferance is to use leather instead of other materials. Only through experiance, i had one off in an alpine material jacket = bin, i've had seven offs in Carrera Leathers and still in great order. In fact just about to order another suit from them.
As has been said usually pay you money and take your choice. Look for double or more stiching and good leather, not to thin and i always go for soft dense foam armour as opposed to plastic/ foam. I had a spyke suit which the stiching burst twice, I've had texports which are like paper. Its a good idea to have clothing as close fitting as poss as 'when' you come off, if armour is loose it will move and not protect.
Try J & S in Newbry, Berks they have good discounted or last yrs leathers. My personnal preferance is to use leather instead of other materials. Only through experiance, i had one off in an alpine material jacket = bin, i've had seven offs in Carrera Leathers and still in great order. In fact just about to order another suit from them.
As has been said usually pay you money and take your choice. Look for double or more stiching and good leather, not to thin and i always go for soft dense foam armour as opposed to plastic/ foam. I had a spyke suit which the stiching burst twice, I've had texports which are like paper. Its a good idea to have clothing as close fitting as poss as 'when' you come off, if armour is loose it will move and not protect.
Dave,
Don't scrimp on protective gear. These guys are the mutt's nuts!
www.bksleather.co.uk/home.htm
Don't scrimp on protective gear. These guys are the mutt's nuts!
www.bksleather.co.uk/home.htm
Dave have a look in Bransons in Yeovil on the pen mill trading estate , Ive got Richa gear and it pretty good , my all weather fabric jacket does not leak one bit ! and the chaps there rate the stuff very well , ok its not diann'seasy but great kit for the price , failing thet get a hiene gereke (SP?) catalouge thier gear is also well rated , my problem is ive been out in jeans and jacket and can throw the bike round a lot more , got my knee down in jeans ...that hurt 
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