Cheap v expensive leathers - whats the diff?

**MGST** · 9th May 2008, 18:39

Looking at getting a set of leathers, probably 2 piece with 360 zip. There seems to be a reasonable range of prices out there. To my untrained eye they all look very similar - 1.2-1.4mm drum dryed leather, hard CE armour everywhere, knee sliders, YKK zips blah blah blah. So what is the difference between say an $800 pair and an $1800 pair? And are some brands better than others?

Yesterday I saw a nice 2 piece M2R ( Made 2 Race brand ) for $500, admittedly it is a clearance line but they would probably be around $8-900 full price. Some others at the same shop were $1500, $2000 etc, and I couldn't really see any difference, apart from the aero hump, but I don't think I want that anyway ( too hard to carry a back pack ).

I'm a poor bastard with a budget of three fifths of fuck all , so if the $500 M2R ones will do 80% of the job that a $1500 pair will do for one third of the price, that will do me. Probably still much better than the cordura I wear now. I know you'll all say get Quasimoto , and I would like too, but I can't afford that much, even his $1K set he had on sale the other Saturday

. So let the masses speak, and please educate me!!

**CHOPPA** · 9th May 2008, 19:09

I have been running an ixon suit, its a very good suit for the $$$ but i have just bought an alpinestar race replica suit for an embarrasing amount of money but the diff is unbeliveable! the suit fits nice and tight but even with all the padding plastic etc etc it doesnt restrict any movement the leathers not stiff its so good.

I would say get a brand like alpinestar spidi dianese if you can afford it now cause in the long run you will save money....

If you want a cheaper suit though check mine out on trade me

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=154559599

**sAsLEX** · 9th May 2008, 19:12

www.quasimoto.co.nz

Guy on the site runs this and his kit is well liked.

**CHOPPA** · 9th May 2008, 19:12

actually if your interested in the ixon try these ones and the boys can do you a no interest payment deal!

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-154538752.htm

**CHOPPA** · 9th May 2008, 19:15

I know the quasi guy he is a very good guy and does well priced gear also my sis and mum have his gear but they have both found the leather to be very stiff and have had problems with domes and flys but all fixed very fast with no hassles. The race suit looks great though with the titanium bits on the shoulders etc

**gmh** · 9th May 2008, 19:19

Hey there, well you in a similar position to me in looking at leathers on a major restricted budget, your budget seems a bit bigger than mine. Anyway i checked out the cheappy set at Botany Honda today, (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-154376795.htm), then looked at the alpine star which is about $1500 and asked the difference. I was told that it is the leather that is used. The cheaper one is made with the leather & silicone, whereas the a-star is pure cow hide (from the back of the cow!!).
This would mean that the a-star would last about 10 years, whereas the cheaper one about three years. Tried both on, and yes the a-star felt much more comfortable, just cannot affoed it now.

**MGST** · 9th May 2008, 19:25

Originally Posted by CHOPPA

I have been running an ixon suit, its a very good suit for the $$$ but i have just bought an alpinestar race replica suit for an embarrasing amount of money but the diff is unbeliveable! the suit fits nice and tight but even with all the padding plastic etc etc it doesnt restrict any movement the leathers not stiff its so good.

I would say get a brand like alpinestar spidi dianese if you can afford it now cause in the long run you will save money....

If you want a cheaper suit though check mine out on trade me

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=154559599

Your suit on TM looks primo. but I'm only 176cm and 74kgs. Probably a bit too big? Otherwise I would take it in a heartbeat. I may be able to get a Spyke (?) 2 piece from a guy at work, couple years old, hasn't seen much use. Is Spyke any good?

Ok so the price difference reflects the quality and softness of the leather etc then?

**MGST** · 9th May 2008, 19:32

Thanks for your comments GMH ( General Motors Holden?? Go Holden!! ). I haven't tried any leather suits on yet, I suppose I should. Maybe I should wait a year or 2 more then and buy a $1500+ pair and then I will be right for a long time?

**Racey Rider** · 9th May 2008, 19:51

My Leathers I brought brand new on sale for $400. No brand name on them.
One piece suit, full body armour, but I added a better quality back protector.

In the last three years I've had a few good rolls down the race track, and they have handled the abuse ok. Odd hole that has been patched, and they have blown some double thread seams now and again, where more expensive leathers would be triple threaded. But these are easily repaired by the guy down the road. (people who have tent making equipment)

Yes one day I would like an expensive set of leathers, but that will be more about poser value for me, cause I deern't ever scratch an expensive set!

Better cheap leathers, than no leathers!

**Titanium** · 9th May 2008, 20:28

1. Brand / fashion item - Are you paying premium for a name.
2. Manufacturer Margin + Importer Margin + Reseller Margin
3. Quality of material
4. Cut / design / fit

**Citroenjunkie** · 9th May 2008, 21:04

I have Hein Gerike gear which is in my opinion as good as any other european gear (daines etc) I paid US$20 for the pants and US$25 for the jacket on e-bay.

I did a lot of trying on in bike shops before I started looking and once I was certain of what size I was and what fitted I surfed e-bay till I found them. Even after shipping (around US$40 per item) I did a hell of a lot better than trying to buy the same locally, (only place I found the same gear it was well over a grand).

The question is are you willing to wear second hand or not?

I recently bought a set of AGV leather on Trade me for $56. Yes they need a little work, but I'm willing to bet it will be less than a grand!

**TygerTung** · 9th May 2008, 22:34

My advice would be, if you cannot afford good quality new gear, go for secondhand good quality gear (not helmets)

I got a set of one piece feildsheer leathers, about 1992 vintage, not so fashionable these days, but would be fairly good as they are the same model that carl fogerty was wearing when he won the world superbikes.

These were pretty much brand new, obviously hadn't been worn much at all, had no scrapes on them and I only paid $170 for them, so second hand is probably the way to go for you!

**inlinefour** · 9th May 2008, 22:45

Originally Posted by MGST

Looking at getting a set of leathers, probably 2 piece with 360 zip. There seems to be a reasonable range of prices out there. To my untrained eye they all look very similar - 1.2-1.4mm drum dryed leather, hard CE armour everywhere, knee sliders, YKK zips blah blah blah. So what is the difference between say an $800 pair and an $1800 pair? And are some brands better than others?

Yesterday I saw a nice 2 piece M2R ( Made 2 Race brand ) for $500, admittedly it is a clearance line but they would probably be around $8-900 full price. Some others at the same shop were $1500, $2000 etc, and I couldn't really see any difference, apart from the aero hump, but I don't think I want that anyway ( too hard to carry a back pack ).

I'm a poor bastard with a budget of three fifths of fuck all , so if the $500 M2R ones will do 80% of the job that a $1500 pair will do for one third of the price, that will do me. Probably still much better than the cordura I wear now. I know you'll all say get Quasimoto , and I would like too, but I can't afford that much, even his $1K set he had on sale the other Saturday

. So let the masses speak, and please educate me!!

Do you really have to ask??? Your shitting me right

cheap = shit

expensive = quality (usually)

Don't piss around or you will pay (its called false economy) and if you want the best quality for money use QUASIMOTO otherwise I'll know your an idiot as what your talking about being quality is a far cry from what I do lad.

Fuck the 2nd hand stuff to, that is baaaaaaad advice as you never know what your getting. HOW MUCH DO YOU VALUE YOUR LIFE??? Same principle as helmets, irrelevant of if you can afford, you take the risks.

**inlinefour** · 9th May 2008, 22:54

Originally Posted by Racey Rider

My Leathers I brought brand new on sale for $400. No brand name on them.
One piece suit, full body armour, but I added a better quality back protector.

In the last three years I've had a few good rolls down the race track, and they have handled the abuse ok. Odd hole that has been patched, and they have blown some double thread seams now and again, where more expensive leathers would be triple threaded. But these are easily repaired by the guy down the road. (people who have tent making equipment)

Yes one day I would like an expensive set of leathers, but that will be more about poser value for me, cause I deern't ever scratch an expensive set!

Better cheap leathers, than no leathers!

Well if you was not such a skinny prick you could have had the one piece that sensei has now. They was brand new, worn only to check the fit. I see there is some crap advice on this thread but at least listen to the above. Opinions are like arseholes, everyone has one, but on the interweb you cannot smell the stench. Ask those who have been riding for awhile, me I only rode for 26 years and its the gears fault that Im still alive.