Leather jackets - cheap vs expensive?

[ellipsis]

...in my earlier days the only leather jackets I ever saw had big ugly cunts inside them and my windbreaker with a thick jersey was about as much thought I could put into safety gear...oilskins seemed pretty much like body armour then...my older bro bought an old leather coat and cut the arms off to make leggings so his pants weren't wet when he got to work on his Francis Barnett...I ended up with leather patches leftover from that sewn onto my windbreaker...fuck, life was simple then...

[Paul in NZ]

I wouldn't worry about it, I've been driving around rural NSW for the last couple if weeks (about 4hrs north of Sydney) and the amount of dead roos on the side of the road is amazing, a ten minute drive any direction out of town would turn up atleast a couple. Given the price of kangaroo leather gear I have considered carrying a knife and skinning some of the fresher ones.

I wouldnt bother - its over rated. Just ask a kangaroo....

[Paul in NZ]

...in my earlier days the only leather jackets I ever saw had big ugly cunts inside them and my windbreaker with a thick jersey was about as much thought I could put into safety gear...oilskins seemed pretty much like body armour then...my older bro bought an old leather coat and cut the arms off to make leggings so his pants weren't wet when he got to work on his Francis Barnett...I ended up with leather patches leftover from that sewn onto my windbreaker...fuck, life was simple then...

Yup - I have still got my 'Union Steamship Company' yellow PVC jacket and trou ($20 to a wharfie mate and 10 mins with a bottle of meths to wipe off the lettering)... That was the height of luxury to me then....

Big cable knit jersey, woolie undies and pvc jacket...

Later I borrowed an old flying jacket - useless....

[Big Dave]

I wouldn't worry about it, I've been driving around rural NSW for the last couple if weeks (about 4hrs north of Sydney) and the amount of dead roos on the side of the road is amazing,

Aye. If you are riding north of Richmond past dusk - slow right down - or better still - stop for the night.

[Big Dave]

Yup - I have still got my 'Union Steamship Company' yellow PVC jacket and trou ($20 to a wharfie mate and 10 mins with a bottle of meths to wipe off the lettering)... That was the height of luxury to me then....

Big cable knit jersey, woolie undies and pvc jacket...

Later I borrowed an old flying jacket - useless....

My old man told me to go to the Army surplus store and buy a 'great coat'. He could be funny-cruel, my old man.
Coat weighed more than me and my CB450 combined when it was wet.
He also advised lining it with newspaper for warmth. I didn't buy that one however - no matter how often 'they did it in the depression'.
'Papier maché' body cast anyone?

[p.dath]

try 1tonne

I third that.
www.1tonne.co.nz

[Big Dave]

I like Rev'it.

I was partly sponsored by the importer and Motomail for my magazine work in NZ so I've used a fair bit of it.

Plus I've been using my own kit for over 6 years now and can vouch for its longevity - and integrity in a crash... OK, several crashes, but ADV riding doesn't count. Even the linings are all intact.

Good value for money.

[Paul in NZ]

My old man told me to go to the Army surplus store and buy a 'great coat'. He could be funny-cruel, my old man.
Coat weighed more than me and my CB450 combined when it was wet.
He also advised lining it with newspaper for warmth. I didn't buy that one however - no matter how often 'they did it in the depression'.
'Papier maché' body cast anyone?

I conned my then girl friend into making me some 'ski overalls'. Yeah - got wet and all the fluffy white stuff that keeps you warm ended up around my ankles.... sigh....

In the end I bought a $100 car as it was cheaper than a leather jacket....

[tigertim20]

my 1tonne stuff was pretty affordable and i can unfortunately confirm that it holds up exceptionally well in a high paced get-off.

earlier comments MIGHT well be very true,- cheap gear MIGHT last well in a crash.

Since you have family, and friends and a job and all that though, might be a better option to go for something for which you have seen/heard reviews for and can be sure of in regards to its performance in a crash though?
Its only an extra couple weeks worth if a few less beers on the weekend if you are short on coin!

[Big Dave]

'ski overalls'.

Now tell them about the rest of the outfit:

[Grubber]

I like Rev'it.

I was partly sponsored by the importer and Motomail for my magazine work in NZ so I've used a fair bit of it.

Plus I've been using my own kit for over 6 years now and can vouch for its longevity - and integrity in a crash... OK, several crashes, but ADV riding doesn't count. Even the linings are all intact.

Good value for money.

I'm with you big fella.
I have been buying Rev it for a few years now and I've crashed a couple of one pieces and they have held together really well.
My textile touring gear has been awesome also. Had it for about 4 years now and still doesn't let the H2O through.
Price is about mid range i would have thought, so not bad gear overall for me.
Mind you Dave, i'm a bit like you, i got some good deals out of Motomail so made it easier.
but $2000 ish for a decent one piece is ok by me.

[pritch]

He also advised lining it with newspaper for warmth. I didn't buy that one however - no matter how often 'they did it in the depression'.

It does work though. Works even better if the paper is wrapped around hot chips.

Then again that is only extemporising because of having been caught without the proper kit. Some of the handwarmers that the out-door shops sell could be handy to shove up the jumper if the weather turns to crap unexpectedly.

Meanwhile back with the kinky leather gear...

[Ender EnZed]

my 1tonne stuff was pretty affordable and i can unfortunately confirm that it holds up exceptionally well in a high paced get-off.

earlier comments MIGHT well be very true,- cheap gear MIGHT last well in a crash.

Since you have family, and friends and a job and all that though, might be a better option to go for something for which you have seen/heard reviews for and can be sure of in regards to its performance in a crash though?
Its only an extra couple weeks worth if a few less beers on the weekend if you are short on coin!

Yeah, my current gear cost >4x what 1tonne kit would've but I bought it because I had the money and I wanted approximately the best.

1tonne has a pretty solid rep in NZ and they already undercut all the major international brands by a significant amount. You'd have to be pretty fuckin tight for it to be necessary to go cheaper for new gear. Those listings in the OP might be alright for what the buyer wants them for, but when you can get a leather jacket and pants from an established, reputable company for ~$400 it seems kinda silly.

[AllanB]

I wonder if Drew heads out looking for the cheapest old hooker he can find. After all a fuck is a fuck surely .......

[Erelyes]

Unless someone has crashed in one of the cheap ones, they have no basis for comparison.

True. I was kinda hoping someone had bought one and came in saying yea or nay on them, comfort/fit/etc wise, or if I was really lucky had taken a 100k tumble in one.

This third one is interestingly made to measure at $239 with CE this and 1.2-1.3mm that. I guess it comes down to the stitching, quality of the armor, comfort and general good fit (and whether they're telling porkies). Although I've found the same general product lines with near identical descriptions under 3 different usernames (all ex Auckland)... hmmmm.

Bit like helmets, a $50 lid can protect as well as a $500 one, but you get no pinlock, lots of noise, optically iffy visors, lackluster parts support, etc.

I have the Berik SECA II and its a really comfy jacket, haven't crashed in it though. I found it great value for the dollars considering an equivalent Astars or Dainese would have been almost twice the price.

Yeah, tried it on instore and didn't wanna take it off. But SWMBO said 'My bloody wedding dress was cheaper than that'. I think it might have been a hint but I'm not sure

Problem is - you just can't always go by price either ie my then state of the art $1000 Spidi NT tour is now as waterproof as a sponge. A new $300 one will last longer than it did because technology moves on. (ie a cheap new jacket now is most likely better than a cheap new jacket was 10 years ago)... Its more about fitness for purpose and what is the intended use.

Very true, shoulda said what I'm doing I suppose. 20-25m commute twice a day most weekdays. And the odd weekend cruise with some moderate fanging. I guess longterm I might do a trackday but would prolly get an ugly secondhand 1piece if I did, so thats moot.

Can agree that pricey gear can be shit, too. Sometimes manufacturers just have a mare.

my 1tonne stuff was pretty affordable and i can unfortunately confirm that it holds up exceptionally well in a high paced get-off.

earlier comments MIGHT well be very true,- cheap gear MIGHT last well in a crash.

Since you have family, and friends and a job and all that though, might be a better option to go for something for which you have seen/heard reviews for and can be sure of in regards to its performance in a crash though?
Its only an extra couple weeks worth if a few less beers on the weekend if you are short on coin!

Mmm, really like the look of the 1tonne terminator jacket at the mo. Lot of jacket for $270, I'd forgotten about 1tonne and it puts the trademe stuff into perspective.