New leather jacket – How should it fit?

[325rocket]

im looking at getting a new leather jacket and have been trying a few on. problem is, they all feel good when im standing but when i jump on a bike they ride up at the back and bunch around my neck. is this normal?
will it loosen up or am i a pretty abnormal shape???
any help would be appreciated.

[bert_is_evil]

The leather does soften around the neck, they tend to be a bit pinchey at first. However it does sound like it might be a bit tight across the shoulders, did you try on the same jacket in a larger size? I think a good guide is that it should feel more comfortable when you're on the bike than it does standing up.

[riffer]

Leather jackets are like new shoes. I've always gotten them so they're a bit tight at first, because I damn well hope at that price that they'll last a fair while.

My Quasimoto leathers were ridiculously tight at first, but they're like a second skin now and so, so comfortable.

[pritch]

The important thing is how it feels when you are on the bike. Does it ride up your back displaying your builders crack? Do the sleeves ride up too far? Etc etc.

It really doesn't matter what it feels like while you are standing round in the shop. Unless of course you are really buying it for posing down at your local pub...

You might want to allow a bit of extra room for a jersey too?

In Melbourne last year a salesman was showing us a top of the line Dainese jacket made of extra thick leather. He said a lot of people would put it on then try to stick their arms straight up in the air. They would then announce, "I can't do this."

The salesman was saying that this was perplexing because nobody rides a bike like that.

I told him next time somebody says that, tell them if they high side they'll do it no trouble at all.

[Movistar]

The important thing is how it feels when you are on the bike

Good point pritch. And make sure it's your bike you're on. I've seen people try on different gear, then go and sit on a cruiser that's in the showroom of the bike shop to see how it feels, then ride off on a sports bike?!?!

[325rocket]

thanks for the help guys
all sorted

[beyond]

Tighter the better.
Leather strecthes and gets more supple. I have a two piece and when I first put it on I could barely get into it and then could hardly breathe.

Then when I tried to get on the bike could hardly get my leg over (keep the jokes to yourself

After a couple of weeks of sitting around the house in it a few times and doing bends and riding a lot it came right. Now it fits like a glove and is perfect.

Also, when they fit like this and you come off you get no movement. My long slide down the asphalt snake resulted in none of the armour shifting at all and prevents bunching up as you are sliding as well.

My earlier pair of leather pants were really tight at first but after a couple of months ended up too loose. So, the tighter the better.

[HungusMaximist]

Tighter the better.
Leather strecthes and gets more supple. I have a two piece and when I first put it on I could barely get into it and then could hardly breathe.

Then when I tried to get on the bike could hardly get my leg over (keep the jokes to yourself

After a couple of weeks of sitting around the house in it a few times and doing bends and riding a lot it came right. Now it fits like a glove and is perfect.

Also, when they fit like this and you come off you get no movement. My long slide down the asphalt snake resulted in none of the armour shifting at all and prevents bunching up as you are sliding as well.

My earlier pair of leather pants were really tight at first but after a couple of months ended up too loose. So, the tighter the better.

Just make sure it's tight but not so tight that it actually suffocates your 'package'.

[beyond]

EEEWWWW nothing worse than a suffocated package

Mine wasn't that bad.

[mitchilin]

Get a size or two larger.You tend to keep them forever and you tend to get fat after twenty years.That's my experience anyway.

[Bobski]

dont go for the baggies cos they will get too loose! Just had a megga bounce down the highway in my hein gerick leathers that are an awsome fit and only broke a wrist, without all the armour would have been far worse. go for the best protection!!! And generally you'll get the best style, shouldnt buch up round neck, esp if you have a zipp to attache to pants as this will prevent that nasty draft!!!! LOL