Leather #1?

[Jantar]

I was in the market for new gear earlier this year and intended to buy leather, but every shop I went to recommended I buy Cordura for all sorts of reasons including safety. It was a bit unexpected and I'd love to know why. It didn't really make a lot of sense.

Anyway I bought a hybrid jacket for around town because it has two liners and a leather 2 piece suit for the fast stuff.

When My wife decided that she would like a two piece leather suit we went to 9 different bike shops (5 in Christchurch, 2 in Dunedin, 2 in Alexandra) and none of them had anything suitable. Then we went to Leather Image in Christchurch, a fasion leather store, and they had the best selection of bike leathers that I have seen for years.

Almost all of the bike shops had some leather gear, but it was mainly 1 piece road racing gear, and they all wanted to sell my wife Cordura gear rather than leather. I don't know why they prefer to push cordura. Maybe it has a bigger markup, or maybe they just don't know where to get good leather products, yet Quasi seems to import leather with no problems.

Or perhaps its becuase leather is so desirable that it is more likely to be stolen, and the bike shops have trouble getting insurance if they carry too much leather.

Whatever the reason, shop around and you'll get the right gear for the job.

[henry]

Whatever the reason, shop around and you'll get the right gear for the job.

I did. I ended up buying the leather gear from one of the shops that was pushing cordura. They had the gear, they just didn't want to sell it to me initially.

[blossomsowner]

i like the longevity of leather and the security that it provides in an accident, I have jacket with armour and removable lining (thanks quasi) and yeah it seems a little awkward just wearing it around.......but its like wearing a wetsuit, once you are in the right environment you forget its on. Next stop is the leather pants to go with it.

[kjc2010]

welcome to the site.

leather is the way to go.
BUT as you pointed out its a rite shitter when its new. it will become more comfortable the more you wear it.

if you plan on riding in all weather conditions remember leather is not waterproof, which is interesting as i have never seen a leaking cow.

Thank u for the warm welcome
Yeah today I wore it and it was like as if it's my new body, stuck to me like superglue.... i really cant think of better way of putting it.. lol

[kjc2010]

Road and track are two different use/requierements. Requiring two sets of gear. I have not heard of many using the the same gear, for road and compitition. How much protection do you need ???

True. thats right...i just wanted to get a gear that i could wear both. As for Protection.. enough to save me from trouble yet not too much.
At the moment i most likely to be on the road but wanting to go to track shortly

[kjc2010]

I have full leathers, synthetic jacket and Kevlar jeans. I wear full leathers 60% of the time; Leather jacket and kevlar jeans 30%; Synthetic jacket and kevlar jeans 5%; other combinations 5%.

Leather is by far the best choice.

The best combination advice so far
Thank u, will work my way around it... really appreciate it

[kjc2010]

Go with leather and save your skin.

Yeap, already got leather so might stick to it....
but not sure about pants... i think i'll look like a manwhore

[kjc2010]

Wow~! Thank u so much for being informative.
I feel im am wearing protection just by knowing the infomation
Yeah will have to find some products out there

[kjc2010]

Get the best product for the job ...

For racing, get leathers. For commuting and road work get really good textile gear.

Ok why?
- Racing leathers are brilliant on a race track but not that good for road riding as they may have holed front panels and cannot get wet. They are quite cold so are not suitable for winter or even autumn riding. Yes you can get a rain suit but they're just thin nylon and provide no warmth at all. They usually have hard armour (which is good). Racing leathers from $1,200 to $1,800 (or more)

- Textile gear, sometimes called "Cordura" because that's the DuPont product they're made of. Good textile gear (not internet cheap crap) will keep you warm and dry in zero temps - there's nothing better. They provide reasonable skid protection. They're bit like a helmet in that regard. If you come off they're dispensible. Coming off at speed, they will be munted but you will probably not loose any skin. Good textile gear has hard armour too, the cheaper ones have soft "padding", calling it armour isn't really accurate. Good jackets $450-$900, Pants $280-$400.

- Kevlar jeans sound like a good idea but beware. They have no armour at all! All they are good for is stopping abrasions. The trouble is that before you get to the sliding bit you have to fall down and hit the road. After the sliding bit you maybe will hit something.

There is no such thing as 'one is better than the other', they have different applications they're suited to. I have both but never wear my race leathers on road trips. I don't own kevlar jeans and never will - they give people a false sense of security.

Hope that helps

Wow~! Thank u so much for being informative.
I feel im am wearing protection just by knowing the infomation
Yeah will have to find some products out there

[kjc2010]

I agree with that to, but if you cant afford two sets as most cant I still say go with leather, most leathers (jackets anyway) have a zip out liner which helps keep you warm, as well as that you can buy really good under garments that will definately keep you warm for example Oxford "chill out" range or our (soon to arrive) KNOX Cold Killers, any of these products under your leathers will keep you very toasty a full set about $250.
in saying that, what do I wear ? well I wear leather and Textile, depending what Im doing but Im lucky in the sence I own a related business I guess.

Great, thank you
Yeah I got leather jacket, now waiting for synthetic pants with armour
I reckon my bottom half of body needs to be comfortable... especially for men

[kjc2010]

recently purchased a set of Strada synthetic gear.

Had a good thick leather jacket before that. Always felt safe & strangely staunch in my leather jacket however just had jeans on which didn't make me feel safe. Thought about kevlar jeans but thought the initial impact falling of the bike would be worse than the sliding abrasion factor.

The new gear is warm& so far waterproof though have noticed on my trou my legs & crutch have felt wet but when taken off have been dry inside - apparently the dampness gets trapped between the layers giving that yukky feeling.

I have noticed though on my naked bike with either jacket the wind hits in the chest pushing the material against the body & the cold comes thru. Have cured this on a long trip with a newspaper stuffed down but hopefully my new faired bike will redirect the wind.

Yea I tried strada gears, and i think they are just marvelous!!!
Such a good finish and niceley on ur body, im waiting for my strada pants that i ordered. I was wearing my leather jacket today and i could feel the wind just redirected itself away from me, did feel a lil push but not enough to push me to lose balance

[kjc2010]

I was in the market for new gear earlier this year and intended to buy leather, but every shop I went to recommended I buy Cordura for all sorts of reasons including safety. It was a bit unexpected and I'd love to know why. It didn't really make a lot of sense.

Anyway I bought a hybrid jacket for around town because it has two liners and a leather 2 piece suit for the fast stuff.

That is exactly what i got from bike shops, not all but most of them told me to get condura synthetics and i was confused... but maybe condura isnt sell much at the moment and probably want to get rid of the stock?! lol...

[howdamnhard]

I was wandering what is gear you wear on when I bought a leather jacket and it seems very
rugged and looks nice but seems but stiff and not comfortable as
Synthetic I think... Biker's Waterproof Jacket.

I want to buy gear for the road but also good enough for me wear at the
track. Let me know what you think the best gears are, in your opinion

Never heard of those brands.If you intend going on the track you will need leather.If its a two piece then it will need to be able to zip together around the complete circumference.Leather is more stiff initially but will get more comfortable with time.Quasimoto makes some good gear.