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Sulley · 04-26-2005, 01:06 PM

First post virginity gone!

sportbikebandit · 04-26-2005, 01:08 PM

Good question, I am in the same boat.

red916 · 04-26-2005, 01:09 PM

Spend some bread - buy a custom suit. Vanson, NJK, Z, etc.......

Steven_Verschoor · 04-26-2005, 01:56 PM

If you've got the dough, a custom suit is the way to go. I think Z leathers will do a custom for about the same price as high-end off-the-rack stuff.

Otherwise, try buying a two-piece suit. You can get a quasi-custom fit by purchasing different sized jacket and pants that will zip together.

yoavy11 · 04-26-2005, 02:27 PM

I did some research not too long ago, so here's my input:

Each manufacturer has it's own criteria,

Spidi split its line of clothing to sport, naked, custom & enduro. The sport line is tight fitting naked is loose. Leathers that'll fit both categories are somewhere in the middle.

Alpinestars tell you in a 7 grade level how the fit is between relaxed & fitted, the sleeve profile between straight & 90 degrees curve, the ventilation low to high and water resistance 0% - 100%.

Each manufacturer has it's own parameters.

Avoid buying without trying on first, or at least make sure you can send the leathers back if you don't like the fit or to change to a different size.

Best companies in my opinion are: Spidi, Dainese, Axo, Alpinestars, Arlen Ness, Berik and Spyke. (I think Berik is sold in the USA in limited form under the brand name MOTOGP, the logo looks identical).

A 2-piece suit is a good idea, you can mix sizes for top & bottom pieces.

sconley · 04-26-2005, 03:04 PM

I bought a Teknic Silverstone one-piece as a leftover for 290 bucks... It was a deal and I like the suit for the price. However, it doesn't fit as well as a custom suit and if I had to do it all over again, I'd spend the extra cash and look into Syed leathers (which seem to be the bargain in custom suits). Check them out:

http://syedleathers.com/

Anyone have any positive or negative experiences with Syed?

BMW4VWW · 04-26-2005, 04:14 PM

Quite a few years ago I went to Bates leathers and had them measure me for a custom suit. Despite my odd proportions the suit fit beautifully, and lasted many years. VWW

travisyoung · 04-26-2005, 05:39 PM

Langlitz...custom fit for a reasonable price, but the wait is several months.

ntschwartz · 04-26-2005, 06:26 PM

Another question - in FASTER, the type of leather is brought up, and Kangaroo is preferred - half the weight, but stronger. Anyone here have experience with a kangaroo suit?

Fenton · 04-26-2005, 06:37 PM

I wanted to pick up a pair of perforated leathers for summer riding. I tried on everything I could find, Vanson, Bates, Dainsee, Motogp, Joe Rocket etc... I ended up running into a gentleman named Mansoor, owner of Road Gear, at the international motorcycle show. He had me try on the XKJ Jacket and I was sold. I recently purchased the XKJ pants also. They come with full liners that I have been using for 45-65 degree riding. The armor is well placed and comfortable. They will send you 2 sizes if you are unsure, but then, they do have your credit card at that point. Pull out the liners and it better be fairly warm cause these things flow air everywhere.

Downside- No zip together option for the pant and jacket.

Although they fit me perfect off the rack, custom made is custom made and you can't go too far wrong with any of the brands mentioned above.

I bought the jacket at the show for $300 (normaly $49

and ordered the pants over the phone for $300. Not a bad deal when you start adding up armor and liners.

Best of Luck, ride well.

04-26-2005, 01:06 PM	#1
Sulley Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 11	Re: Need Help with Leathers First post virginity gone!

04-26-2005, 01:08 PM	#2
sportbikebandit Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 1,072	Re: Need Help with Leathers Good question, I am in the same boat.

04-26-2005, 01:09 PM	#3
red916 Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 103	Re: Need Help with Leathers Spend some bread - buy a custom suit. Vanson, NJK, Z, etc.......

04-26-2005, 01:56 PM	#4
Steven_Verschoor Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 441	Re: Need Help with Leathers If you've got the dough, a custom suit is the way to go. I think Z leathers will do a custom for about the same price as high-end off-the-rack stuff. Otherwise, try buying a two-piece suit. You can get a quasi-custom fit by purchasing different sized jacket and pants that will zip together. __________________ http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/tsmileys/d.gif

04-26-2005, 02:27 PM	#5
yoavy11 Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 145	Re: Need Help with Leathers I did some research not too long ago, so here's my input: Each manufacturer has it's own criteria, Spidi split its line of clothing to sport, naked, custom & enduro. The sport line is tight fitting naked is loose. Leathers that'll fit both categories are somewhere in the middle. Alpinestars tell you in a 7 grade level how the fit is between relaxed & fitted, the sleeve profile between straight & 90 degrees curve, the ventilation low to high and water resistance 0% - 100%. Each manufacturer has it's own parameters. Avoid buying without trying on first, or at least make sure you can send the leathers back if you don't like the fit or to change to a different size. Best companies in my opinion are: Spidi, Dainese, Axo, Alpinestars, Arlen Ness, Berik and Spyke. (I think Berik is sold in the USA in limited form under the brand name MOTOGP, the logo looks identical). A 2-piece suit is a good idea, you can mix sizes for top & bottom pieces.

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04-26-2005, 03:04 PM	#6
sconley Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 79	Re: Need Help with Leathers I bought a Teknic Silverstone one-piece as a leftover for 290 bucks... It was a deal and I like the suit for the price. However, it doesn't fit as well as a custom suit and if I had to do it all over again, I'd spend the extra cash and look into Syed leathers (which seem to be the bargain in custom suits). Check them out: http://syedleathers.com/ Anyone have any positive or negative experiences with Syed?

04-26-2005, 04:14 PM	#7
BMW4VWW Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 1,833	Re: Need Help with Leathers Quite a few years ago I went to Bates leathers and had them measure me for a custom suit. Despite my odd proportions the suit fit beautifully, and lasted many years. VWW

04-26-2005, 05:39 PM	#8
travisyoung Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 113	Re: Need Help with Leathers Langlitz...custom fit for a reasonable price, but the wait is several months.

04-26-2005, 06:26 PM	#9
ntschwartz Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 8	Re: Need Help with Leathers Another question - in FASTER, the type of leather is brought up, and Kangaroo is preferred - half the weight, but stronger. Anyone here have experience with a kangaroo suit?

04-26-2005, 06:37 PM	#10
Fenton Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Arvada, CO Posts: 1,898	Re: Need Help with Leathers I wanted to pick up a pair of perforated leathers for summer riding. I tried on everything I could find, Vanson, Bates, Dainsee, Motogp, Joe Rocket etc... I ended up running into a gentleman named Mansoor, owner of Road Gear, at the international motorcycle show. He had me try on the XKJ Jacket and I was sold. I recently purchased the XKJ pants also. They come with full liners that I have been using for 45-65 degree riding. The armor is well placed and comfortable. They will send you 2 sizes if you are unsure, but then, they do have your credit card at that point. Pull out the liners and it better be fairly warm cause these things flow air everywhere. Downside- No zip together option for the pant and jacket. Although they fit me perfect off the rack, custom made is custom made and you can't go too far wrong with any of the brands mentioned above. I bought the jacket at the show for $300 (normaly $49 and ordered the pants over the phone for $300. Not a bad deal when you start adding up armor and liners. Best of Luck, ride well.