The perfect sport touring leather jacket and jeans

[sinned]

I am again in the market for a leather jacket and leather jeans that fit and is practical for the road. Some advice from Kiwibikers please.

It is a given that whatever I buy will be quality and the have the best protection available.
This request is more about advice on cosmetics and the practical aspects of what works best and what should be designed into the gear. The jacket and jeans are to be worn while riding a sport touring bike, not a full sports bike or a cruiser. I have looked at lots of gear, in shops and online and found a lot of variation in design. Off the shelf stuff doesn’t fit me so as I will be looking at tailored or modified gear there is the opportunity to get some of the small stuff right.

List for Jacket

1. Neck connection:
   
   • Gap above the zipper or
   • Dome across leather flap with 1 or 2 domes or
   • Velcro flap below/over zipper.
2. Cuff: is a dome over zipper necessary, does it add to bulk under gloves?
3. Base of zipper: is a Velcro closed flap over base of zipper necessary or a pain?
4. Adjustable waist: Velcro or buckle adjustment or other?
5. Outside pockets: Most jackets have them but I have found they are impractical. Would you design a jacket without outside pockets? What outside pocket design works?
6. Inside pockets: How big - open, zippered or Velcro closer. What is the best location for the pockets - low, medium or high in jacket?
7. Where do you put your keys when leaving the bike - in a pocket, which pocket, or on a clip? What would you ideally want for key storage?
8. Warm liner: Include a removable warm liner in the jacket design or put on more layers?

List for Jeans

1. Zipper connection to Jacket: given the choice of none, short or full zipper what would you choose?
2. Outside pockets: Yes or No?
3. Waist connection at top of zipper: Dome across or Velcro?
4. Would you have a belt?

Any other advice you can offer?


Thanking you in advance.

[Swoop]

List for Jeans

1. Zipper connection to Jacket: given the choice of none, short or full zipper what would you choose?
2. Outside pockets: Yes or No?
3. Waist connection at top of zipper: Dome across or Velcro?
4. Would you have a belt?

I like outside pockets. Zip closed, flush and not protruding.
The waist connection is a simple belt buckle. Not centered, but offset so as not to scratch the tank.
Full length zip for connection for a serious long ride or if a trackday is intended. A shorter zip for connecting to the jacket during other times.

I purchased a pair of Quasimoto pants that meet all of these requirements and have been most impressed with the comfort. Some leather takes a while to wear in and "sit" where it should. This leather appeares to have had a homing instict from the very beginning...

[vifferman]

Jacket

1. Neck connection:
   Flap with velcro. Mine has a bit in the middle of the flap that is' recessed, and made of softer material (like neoprene, or softer leather). Doesn't strangle me when done up.
   
2. Cuff:
   No domes - velcro's easier to fasten, more easily adjusted, and doesn't poke you.
3. Base of zipper:
   Is this to protect the tank? If so, if you've got a tank pad, you don't need this.
4. Velcro or buckle adjustment or other?
   If it's a reasonable fit to start with, not much adjustment's required, so velcro would do. Mine has looped straps (sewn ends) around plastic buckles. Other jacket has plastic buckles and velcro. Both work fine.
5. Outside pockets:
   Waterproof pockets, situated near the bottom, and in a bit, so they're in from your hip bones and where your hands can find them easily. My other jacket has external chest pockets too, and they're dumb.
6. Inside pockets:
   Internal pockets should be big enough to take a wallet and cellphone, and should have some form of closure. My wallet one has a small zip (which I never use), and my cellphone one has no closure, so I've dropped the phone several times while bending over. I can't swap pockets - the cellphone one is smaller, with a 'window' in it, for if you use a earpiece or other conection.
7. Where do you put your keys
   Bike key goes in my pants pocket. Other keys live in external pocket of jacket, unless I have my tankbag.
8. Warm liner:
   Yes to liner. Also yes to some allowance for summer ventilation - either vent zips or zip-off panels.

Jeans

1. Zipper connection to Jacket:
   Short, although most jackets have provision for both.
2. Outside pockets:
   Yes - need somewhere to stick a hanky (only thing in mine, except when my bike key goes in one.
3. Waist connection :
   No domes!! Domes suck - they're harder to do up, less adjustable!
4. Would you have a belt?
   Yes - allows for adjustment when liner's in/out, and when wearing garments tucked in.
   

10 chars, for some dumb reason. WTF?

[BMWST?]

i hate velcro...it always catches on other clothing...so overlapping cuff and dome for me,except for wrist where a zip.I had my jacket made with two zip positions one for winter and one for summer.I am going to have it altered so in winter i can put in the liner from my teknic cordura jacket(for cold but fine winter rides...I find chest high pockets on the outside unuseable so low pockets on the outise and one big one on the inside....a dedicated place for cell would be good but we didnt have them then....I am gonna get some pants made soon so will watch the suggestions with interest

[Bounce001]

Have also seen recently in a bike magazine that you can now get Kevlar long-johns. Like the idea of these as in summer you an wear jeans but still be safe. Not sure of the price, remember reading about the same as a pair of Dragin Jeans.

[BM-GS]

I've worn a BKS (UK) made-to-measure suit for 10 years now, and it's still perfect. Only one crash (low-speed) but lots of daily wear & tear which it's brushed off nicely. As I understand it, BKS are now available off-the-peg as part of the Frank Thomas empire, but made-to-measure is still under the control of the original owner Brian Sansom. I figured he'd made a living making suits for people (racers, cops) who had a few crashes, and he'd know what worked better than me. I mentioned a key-pocket and was rebuffed with a few gentle comments about safety. A paramedic mate likened keys to knives in a crash, so I wound my neck in. If quality is what you want, these guys are it.

He used to make suits for a lot of UK racers until they came along wanting him to pay them for wearing them. He stopped until Toseland, but I seem to remember Toseland made no money from that deal. BKS have a truly impressive set of photos of their customers testing their leathers, and you get to meet the people who be make them when you visit. Small, bespoke and top-quality.

Cut is what makes road or race leathers different. I was asked what bike I rode and if I would continue to do so. Not had a problem riding CBRs, etc in my BMW-shaped suit, though! The only other thing is sliders, which you won't be wanting.

www.bksleather.co.uk/

My $0.02:

List for Jacket

1. Neck connection:
Popper with leather strap above zip, velcro flap below. One popper - is your neck prone to swelling? I use a neck tube nearly all the time, unless trundling around town in the summer.

2. Cuff:
Velcro over the zip. No noticeable bulk added.

3. Base of zipper: is a Velcro closed flap over base of zipper necessary or a pain?
Stops scratched tanks, may help with zip-rip. Not a pain for me.

4. Adjustable waist: Velcro or buckle adjustment or other?
Not adjustable at all. Be moderate at xmas dinner...

5. Outside pockets: Most jackets have them but I have found they are impractical. Would you design a jacket without outside pockets? What outside pocket design works?
What will you put in them? Anything likely to damage you in an off? Use a tank-bag.

6. Inside pockets: How big - open, zippered or Velcro closer. What is the best location for the pockets - low, medium or high in jacket?
Big enough for bike docs & wallet. Zip is high, but pockets quite deep.

7. Where do you put your keys when leaving the bike - in a pocket, which pocket, or on a clip? What would you ideally want for key storage?
In my tank bag.

8. Warm liner: Include a removable warm liner in the jacket design or put on more layers?
Removable warm liner included. Thinsulate & very effective. Pocket for back-protector & swaps for mesh liner.

List for Jeans

1. Zipper connection to Jacket: given the choice of none, short or full zipper what would you choose?
Full zip. Easier to see than a half zip! more secure, too.

2. Outside pockets: Yes or No?
No.

3. Waist connection at top of zipper: Dome across or Velcro?
Velcro.

4. Would you have a belt?
No.

[BuckBuck#1]

Extract from separate PM sent.

Dennis, the Aplinestars jacket, and also the leather trousers that I bought later, do zip together. Generally, I think the outfit is a good product. Like a lot of things though it is made in China, yes that's right China. So if there was some European or American made gear to compare with, then perhaps you could get some worthwhile feedback from other Kbers out there.

[Hitcher]

Some people look for different features in motorcycle clothing than do others.

I like garments that are comfortable and functional.

I see little need for being able to co-join trousers with jacket for the sort of riding I do.

I only wear leather for the daylight saving period, and will wear it with Draggin jeans. If it's really hot I wear my mesh jacket. In summer, if it's wet or cold I'll don a rain jacket either over or under my main jacket, depending which one I'm wearing.

Velcro has its place, but it can make a real mess of cordura if it gets a chance to rub on it. Not an issue if it's used around leather.

I love my QMoto jacket, as illustrated in my profile pic. I must get it cleaned ready for summer!

[Owl]

I must get it cleaned ready for summer!

Buy some Baby Wipes and do it yourself. Get ones without alcohol!

[Hitcher]

Buy some Baby Wipes and do it yourself. Get ones without alcohol!

I always do it myself. I use Elephant Leather Preserver and a soft cloth.

[Mom]

I always do it myself. I use Elephant Leather Preserver and a soft cloth.

A firm grip and ever increasing stroke rate too?

[Hitcher]

A firm grip and ever increasing stroke rate too?

Aided by a touch of Parkinson's.

[Mom]

Aided by a touch of Parkinson's.

.*shiver*.

[The Pastor]

i'd say armour is the most important thing in any jacket or pants, but what would i know

[Hitcher]

I think that armour is over-rated. But what would I know?