Leather Riding Gear

[Jantar]

Why is it that motorcycle shops appear to have stopped stocking a decent range of leather riding gear? When we recently tried to find a two piece riding suit for my wife we ended up visiting 8 different bike shops. Only 2 had plain black riding gear, and neither had anything in my wife's size. (she is rather tall & slim.) Most tried to sell us fabric gear, and one Christchurch shop even tried to sell coloured road racing gear.

We eventually found reasonably priced leather riding gear at a leather FASHION SHOP!!!

However congratualtions to Eric Woods in Christchurch and McIvor & Veitch in Dunedin for at least having some gear in stock, even if it was two sizes to large.

[Gixxer 4 ever]

Why is it that motorcycle shops appear to have stopped stocking a decent range of leather riding gear? .

A problem experienced by all bike riders. We had Mary's gear made at Jet leathers but they are now gone. I got mine off Trademe for a very good price. You just have to look around. Our local Suzuki shop had a give away brochure on their counter that Mary grabbed and it had good priced leathers in it. i gave it to a mate but if you want to know more just PM me and I will call him and get the contact details.

[Jantar]

A problem experienced by all bike riders. We had Mary's gear made at Jet leathers but they are now gone. I got mine off Trademe for a very good price. You just have to look around. Our local Suzuki shop had a give away brochure on their counter that Mary grabbed and it had good priced leathers in it. i gave it to a mate but if you want to know more just PM me and I will call him and get the contact details.

Thanks for that Gixxer, We did buy a set from the Fashion Shop (I think it was called "Leather Image"), so she is all set now. Up till then she had been using an old one piece suit of mine that I had made when I weighed about 20 kg less than I do now. But one piece suits and females just don't go together somehow.

[sels1]

For you Mainlanders - there is a secondhand dealer/pawnshop in Invercargill I was browsing in recently - they stock quite a range of new and used leather jackets and pants. I think the new stuff was imported from Pakistan.
just checked Yellow Pages - its The Pawn Shop, 71 Yarrow St
ph214 4696

[Gixxer 4 ever]

Thanks for that Gixxer, We did buy a set from the Fashion Shop (I think it was called "Leather Image"), so she is all set now. Up till then she had been using an old one piece suit of mine that I had made when I weighed about 20 kg less than I do now. But one piece suits and females just don't go together somehow.

No problem. Others might read this thread so go to
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=7209
Leathers offered here for all on KB.
Hmmm one piece....bushes on the road side..... not all bad

[Velox]

I had the same prob - there's just not much to look at in the shops and even if there is it'll be the wrong size. I recommend Leda leathers (another thread in the 'Biker Chicks' bit) - he makes them to fit and to your design. And not too expensive.

[warren35]

Mate i know what your talking about as i have been looking for a long time now for a sports jacket in black.It may also be that im after something abit different to the normal thunder jacket.Scored some good pants off trade me tonight so at least my arse is now covered.

[Balrog]

http://www.nzleather.com/bikesuits.html

bought a set of bike leather pants from these guys for $250.00 brand new.
They make all kinds of leather stuff as well as bike gear.

[Sensei]

I think no one stock's it as with all the new stuff around now people don't want to buy leather any more Get's heavy when wet doesn't breath that well
I still have some pant's but wear my Corda now .
SENSEI

[Jantar]

I think no one stock's it as with all the new stuff around now people don't want to buy leather any more Get's heavy when wet doesn't breath that well
I still have some pant's but wear my Corda now .
SENSEI

This is exactly what most of the salespeople in the bikeshops tried to tell us. However leather is a natural product that does breathe quite well. It does get heavy when wet, but it takes one hell of a lot of water before it starts to leak through.

I also believe that many of the replys in this thread, and comments made in other threads shows that leather does still have a great following. Perhaps this question is worth a thread of its own?

[scumdog]

Yeah, I like leather myself (and tassles in Cordura somehow just don't look right!) - plus leather never seems to get that 'grubby' look that man-made fabric does.

It's not waterproof but thats what the Warehouse waterproof leggings an a Drisabone coat are for.

[Bonez]

It's not waterproof but thats what the Warehouse waterproof leggings an a Drisabone coat are for.

Tornado and Para Rubber yellows
do the trick too. But most bigbadmotherfuckingbikies/zoomeverwereracerwannabeis seem to be proud to wear them. Ruins the image poor things.

[lewis_walker]

This is exactly what most of the salespeople in the bikeshops tried to tell us. However leather is a natural product that does breathe quite well. It does get heavy when wet, but it takes one hell of a lot of water before it starts to leak through.

I also believe that many of the replys in this thread, and comments made in other threads shows that leather does still have a great following. Perhaps this question is worth a thread of its own?

Leather certainly does have a following, but I think it is exactly that - a following, i.e. more of a faith / style / personal preference thing.

I have fully synthetic gear, as I ride 30 miles each way to and from work each day. After a few days of doing that through the rain, I think leather gear would be absolutely saturated. Well-fitting synthetic stuff will keep you dry as a bone, and is relatively light-weight. Admittedly it doesn't look as cool, and the harley riders probably scoff. But - hey.

[moko]

We eventually found reasonably priced leather riding gear at a leather FASHION SHOP!!!
However congratualtions to Eric Woods in Christchurch and McIvor & Veitch in Dunedin for at least having some gear in stock, even if it was two sizes to large.

Bear in mind that your fashion shop stuff is probably designed for looks rather than protection as decent bike gear will have.bike gear might look the same but anything half-decent will have been destruction-tested and designed so the stitching dosnt rip apart if it slides down the road,to be comfortable while seated on a bike e.t.c. Also there`s leather and there`s leather,buy a cheap leather jacket and that`s exactly what you`ll get,it`ll be thinner,less water-resistant and not so hard-wearing as the stuff you`ll pay top money for.
I make do with pvc-lined pants most of the time Bonez,only thing I dont like is that if you walk around with them on,even for a few minutes,they get very sweaty.As a recent convert to synthetic gear I dont think I`ll going back to leather,my synthetic jacket is great 90% of the time just chucked over whatever I`m wearing,leather needs either something more waterproof over the top or a couple of extra layers underneath when the weather`s not too good.

[Jantar]

Bear in mind that your fashion shop stuff is probably designed for looks rather than protection as decent bike gear will have.

No, I can assure you that it is genuine motorcycle gear, with heavy duty sacrificial pads etc. The owner of the shop stocks it for the simple reason that the motorbike shops just don't want to stock it. It is reasonably priced, but don't read that as another way of saying "cheap". It isn't cheap.

As for being rain proof, I have used leather gear for over 20 years, and I have almost always been drier than those who use the modern synthetic gear. I do treat all my leather with beeswax at least every 2 months or 2000km of riding, whichever comes first. Leather does slowly absorb water, and there will reach a point where some dampness will come through. I find that it takes about 3 hours of solid rain before that happens. (faster on that cheaper gear you talk about).