One-piece vs zip-together?

[superjackal]

I ride pretty briskly and do a lot of motorway Ks. Can’t help but wonder whether I should either invest in one piece leather suit or articles that zip up together. I’m wondering as, when you come off at 100kph, I gather that your jacket could slide up and expose your torso somewhat? Ouchie?

Jacket and pants seems ok for city commuting but not highway?

Anyone had this happen?

[slofox]

Haven't had it happen, no.

But I use zip together gear. Wouldn't feel happy without it now.

No experience with one piece. Maybe harder to get in and out of? I'm sure others on here will have more info about that aspect.

[Dogboy900]

I have a 2 piece zip together for the road and a one piece for the track.
The advantages of the two piece are its easier to get on and off. you can take off the jacket if you stop somewhere, If you are touring and need to go for a crap you can unzip the jacket before doing your business rather than either take off the whole suit or have it laying on the ground around your ankles in a public toilet. Also if you are just popping out to the movies or whatever you can wear the jacket with jeans.

The one piece is inherently stronger in case of a big off. Having said that I have had a couple of offs at moderate/slow speed in my 2 piece suit and it has performed fine.

For commuting general road riding I would go for the 2 piece for convenience.

[Maha]

I don't understand the separation thing, one piece for the track and two pieces for the road?...they are essentially both very hard things to slide/bounce on.
Those who wear a one piece for the track possibly do so for the look more than anything else, if they indeed revert back to a two piece for the road riding.

[Dogboy900]

I don't understand the separation thing, one piece for the track and two pieces for the road?...they are essentially both very hard things to slide/bounce on.
Those who wear a one piece for the track possibly do so for the look more than anything else, if they indeed revert back to a two piece for the road riding.

One of my offs in the 2 piece was on the track and it was fine, but my track 1 piece has more/heavier armour. Ooh and it has one of those super sexy speed humps on the back so i can pretend to be a TMNT!
Also if I have an off at the track I can still ride on the road with my other leathers if the track ones are damaged (Not that I am actually racing at the moment, bloody mortgage, bills, partner back to uni... mutter mutter :( )

[HenryDorsetCase]

I have a 2 piece zip together for the road and a one piece for the track.
The advantages of the two piece are its easier to get on and off. you can take off the jacket if you stop somewhere, If you are touring and need to go for a crap you can unzip the jacket before doing your business rather than either take off the whole suit or have it laying on the ground around your ankles in a public toilet. Also if you are just popping out to the movies or whatever you can wear the jacket with jeans.

The one piece is inherently stronger in case of a big off. Having said that I have had a couple of offs at moderate/slow speed in my 2 piece suit and it has performed fine.

For commuting general road riding I would go for the 2 piece for convenience.

I absolutely agree with this. One piece is a pain in the arse on the road: for a start, no pockets. (or at least not in mine). Two piece gives you the option of mixing and matching too. You can (quelle horreur) wear jeans and stuff with the jacket....

[The Reibz]

You won't survive with a 1 peice on the road. They need to be almost skin tight and kind of force you into a racing position. Not the best idea if you like riding around with free movement of all body parts.
I find my suit extremely comfortable as it supports my back well, but no pockets, gets hot as fark, shit in the rain and cold and makes you look like a gimp when your doing the shopping.

I find T-shirt and Jeans the most comfortable shit to ride in, but I too care for for my skin so chuck a leather jacket on at the very least if I am going more than 2km from home. A tight fitting leather jacket shouldn't ride up in a crash, ive come off at 80kph and slid along my back for about 20m. No skin off the back or the arse, just a tiny bit off the bottom of the wrist from where the wet weather glove wore through slightly

[bosslady]

I wear two piece zip together textiles, they're super easy no problem to just do an extra zip, ya know and, I do know of someone who wasn't wearing a one or two piece zip together and their jacket slid up and took off some of the skin on their back, not severely or super serious but if the only difference is one extra zip then...? I don't think one piece leathers etc. would be suitable for road riding like I think someone else said, they're pretty tight eh, not to mention no where near as convenient, also the people who use them for the track are usually only using them in short bursts, not for hours on end. I can also understand why one would wear one piece leathers on the track but not on the road. You tend to be going at faster (non road legal) speeds on the track, say 250kmh++

[Akzle]

http://global3.memecdn.com/Dont-Fart-In-The-Gimp-Suit_fb_124538.jpg
. .
y u no work img html??

[puddytat]

2 peice full waist zip, leather with armour from a reputable brand....& spend more than you'd like to.:yes:
You'll get years of wear out of it & if you desire it'll be good enough to club race & trackday in.:woohoo:

[Milts]

IMO the real test is:

Is there anyone who has had a 2 piece tear at the zip during a crash, or seen it to happen, or know someone who had it happen?

If not, why not use a 2 piece?

If so, how common is it - if it is not uncommon, then maybe consider a one piece. If it's a case of "it happened to this one guy who had 20 year old leathers who binned at 400 km/h" then maybe it's worth the chance?

[Gremlin]

I have 1pc and 2pc leathers, and rarely wear either now, opting for the flexibility of textile.

However, I had the 1pc leathers first, undoubtedly the best protection, but really impractical for a typical weekend ride. When stopped you can't remove the jacket only, instead you have to have it hanging about your waist, or leave it on, with the zip open. Either way, easier with 2pc, just unzip and remove the jacket. 1pc are also more difficult to get into. Then I bought the 2pc, wanting more practicality. As said, you can wear the leather jacket with Draggins, jeans, etc. A mate wore his 1pc a lot, but had to wear an entire set of clothes underneath it so he could shed the suit when arriving somewhere.

Then I got textiles, which work better for the mixed bag that is NZ weather.

[HenryDorsetCase]

. A mate wore his 1pc a lot, but had to wear an entire set of clothes underneath it so he could shed the suit when arriving somewhere.


Shirley they must have been at least a size too big, and bloody uncomfortable to boot...

I have often wondered about something like the Aerostitch Roadcrafter: Tres expensive though. and armour optional. It does seem well engineered though.

http://www.aerostich.com/

The thing I dont like about textile, (or at least the ones I own) is the flapping. And the moist crotch and swamp ass on a hot day if wearing the pants.

[mulletman]

Amoured 2 piece full zip for me, hardest part when looking for new gear was having solid leather everywhere, i didnt want neoprene breathable panels in the arms . torso or crotch which at this time of year is a tad breezy, i will put up with a bit of heat in summer for warmth in winter.

[Drew]

I don't understand the separation thing, one piece for the track and two pieces for the road?...they are essentially both very hard things to slide/bounce on.
Those who wear a one piece for the track possibly do so for the look more than anything else, if they indeed revert back to a two piece for the road riding.One piece suits simply put, are less likely to come apart. Since people ride faster on the track it makes sense to wear a 1 piece.


You won't survive with a 1 peice on the road. They need to be almost skin tight and kind of force you into a racing position. Not the best idea if you like riding around with free movement of all body parts.
I find my suit extremely comfortable as it supports my back well, but no pockets, gets hot as fark, shit in the rain and cold and makes you look like a gimp when your doing the shopping.

I find T-shirt and Jeans the most comfortable shit to ride in, but I too care for for my skin so chuck a leather jacket on at the very least if I am going more than 2km from home. A tight fitting leather jacket shouldn't ride up in a crash, ive come off at 80kph and slid along my back for about 20m. No skin off the back or the arse, just a tiny bit off the bottom of the wrist from where the wet weather glove wore through slightly

I dunno how much difference a tight suit makes to protection, but I know for a fact the leathers last a lot better in a crash when they are. My shift suit is much better off after seven or so slides along the road, than many I've seen after just one.

[Maha]

One piece suits simply put, are less likely to come apart. Since people ride faster on the track it makes sense to wear a 1 piece.


I dunno how much difference a tight suit makes to protection, but I know for a fact the leathers last a lot better in a crash when they are. My shift suit is much better off after seven or so slides along the road, than many I've seen after just one.

On those points...

In your opinion then, would it be a fair assessment to suggest that, the wearing a one-piece when road ring, would/could lessen the degree of some incurred injuries?

Just trying to a get clearer understanding as to why some ‘protect’ their bodies (perhaps more so) on the track than they do when on the road.

[Drew]

On those points...

In your opinion then, would it be a fair assessment to suggest that, the wearing a one-piece when road ring, would/could lessen the degree of some incurred injuries?

Just trying to a get clearer understanding as to why some ‘protect’ their bodies (perhaps more so) on the track than they do when on the road.

A one piece suit is stronger, so safer in my book. Less practical for road riding in many cases though.

Ya wanna be maximum safe though? Air bag one piece for the win.

[superjackal]

Thanks for all your responses!

I've come off twice at under 50kph wearing a 2 piece that doesn't zip together. Maybe just dumb luck but I've not had any issues except gloves/trousers wearing through and light injuries. I have wondered whether my jacket would ride up at a great speed with a higher speed off.

But then, I'm never going to fall off again. Ever. :whistle:

[Bikemad]

i bought a 1 piece for track days.........great except after a dozen or so laps flat out on a nice hot summers day one tends to get a bit sweaty and i can't get the top part of the fucker off without assistance......and yes i could stand to lose a few pounds...........have textile jacket and leather pants for the road

[Drew]

get a bit sweaty and i can't get the top part of the fucker off without assistance.That's how it should be.

[Bikemad]

That's how it should be.

yeah i guess so but would be handy to be able to drop the top off without the big tug of war...........i would consider a 2 piece if i need to ever buy another suit

[Drew]

yeah i guess so but would be handy to be able to drop the top off without the big tug of war...........i would consider a 2 piece if i need to ever buy another suitProper fitting two piece, with a zip right around the bottom, should be exactly the same.

[Bikemad]

Proper fitting two piece, with a zip right around the bottom, should be exactly the same.

what......you still need a hand to get them off?............wait for it..

[Jantar]

Having owned both, I now prefer two piece leathers. In my early riding days I crashed at Levels at over 200 kmh wearing a two piece suit and never even got bruised. My leather trousers did need some repairs though.

I have come off on the road at around 90 kmh wearing a one piece, and never even got bruised. My leathers did need some repairs though.

I came off at around 50 kmh off road and wearing textile, and ended up doing a tour of outback Australian hospitals. The textile jacket survived just fine and only needed a clean afterwards.

So for protection and convenience its two piece leathers for me every time, and I'm just about ready to replace my current set after more than 200,000 km of riding.

[Grant`]

yeah i guess so but would be handy to be able to drop the top off without the big tug of war...........i would consider a 2 piece if i need to ever buy another suit

Get some compression gear i.e Skins or another brand - Torpedo7 normally have them fairly cheap, and even with sweating it allows the suit to slide on and off fairly easily.

I have 1 piece and 2 piece leathers plus also 2 piece zip together cordura gear. The 1 piece is a pain in the ass for anything other than the track, but I definitely feel the safest in it (mind games?). The 2 piece Leather is great for the road as you can remove the jacket when posing at a cafe etc and normally has pockets in the jacket at least, but its not so great in cold/wet weather or touring which is wear the Cordura gear comes into the equation for me anyway.

[Drew]

what......you still need a hand to get them off?............wait for it..All the help I can get.

On a serious note, dudes at the track still need someone to hold a sleeve to get out of them.