Leather Riding Gear

[James Deuce]

I have no issue buying fabric or leather off the rack.

[NC]

The leathers I got had been sitting on the rack for almost 2 years. Got them cheep and they fit great... Yay to being fat and medium hight

[James Deuce]

The leathers I got had been sitting on the rack for almost 2 years. Got them cheep and they fit great... Yay to being fat and medium hight

lol - you filled in my post for me

[FzerozeroT]

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.

Jet Leathers is still around, just no retail outlet.

[Bonez]

lol - you filled in my post for me

Us lanky, taller skinny folk are just so disadvantaged . My leather jacket is designed for those a bit, hmm, shall we say generously proportioned around the tummy.

[vifferman]

We've had threads similar to this one a time or three before. Leather gives the best protection in a spill, due to better abrasion resistance than anything (including kevlar!) It can be waterproofed, either using something waxy, or even with silicon, or by putting cheapish nylon/PVC suits over the top.
However, I like many people on KB, use textile or a mixture of textile and leather, due to convenience. FWIW, I have a textile Teknic jacket, with kevlar patches on the elbows and shoulders, and leather overlay on the sleeves and shoulders due to holes made during a few low-speed and short-distance asphalt surfing episodes. I also wear leather pants, which are quite hot in summer, but which have stood up to the aforementioned episodes very well - a couple of scuffs fixed with shoe polish and some stitching that required replacing.
This brings up another point - not all leathers are the same. Many have inferior stitching (cotton or nylon rahter than kevlar) and aren't double stitched, and the zips aren't strong enough (YKK or similar is best). And if any patches on knees, bum, etc. aren't stitched on top of the other leather but are sewed next to it, if the seams fail, there's no protection. This inludes "top" brands like Teknic, which look kewl, but don't stand up to slides.

[750Y]

... This brings up another point - not all leathers are the same. Many have inferior stitching (cotton or nylon rahter than kevlar) and aren't double stitched, and the zips aren't strong enough (YKK or similar is best). .. This inludes "top" brands like Teknic, which look kewl, but don't stand up to slides.

yeah, i won't touch technics gear, it's a shame really because it's usually just the stitching that causes their gear to fail...

[NC]

This brings up another point - not all leathers are the same. Many have inferior stitching (cotton or nylon rahter than kevlar) and aren't double stitched, and the zips aren't strong enough (YKK or similar is best). And if any patches on knees, bum, etc. aren't stitched on top of the other leather but are sewed next to it, if the seams fail, there's no protection. This inludes "top" brands like Teknic, which look kewl, but don't stand up to slides.

I understand why they put plastic zips on leathers...but they are shit.
And plastic melts when your sliding...so either way, your going to get burned from the friction in a slide from plastic or a metal zipper...

[Bonez]

I understand why they put plastic zips on leathers...but they are shit.
And plastic melts when your sliding...so either way, your going to get burned from the friction in a slide from plastic or a metal zipper...

[OT]Speaking of plastic. How's that fairing coming on?

[NC]

[OT]Speaking of plastic. How's that fairing coming on?

I dunno what to do with it, might just buy a aftermarket set for the whole bike for 800 :spudwhat:

[Sensei]

Stick another 17k in front of that & you'll have a GSXR
SENSEI

[NC]

Stick another 17k in front of that & you'll have a GSXR
SENSEI

Need money!!!

[Zapf]

I understand why they put plastic zips on leathers...but they are shit.
And plastic melts when your sliding...so either way, your going to get burned from the friction in a slide from plastic or a metal zipper...

I think thats why on better leather suits, there is a leather backing behind the zip.

[Wellyman]

I have seen plenty of spool stuff. I was looking at a spool jacket that i quite liked. it was very warm also.

[Racey Rider]

I've found my one peice leathers to be a bit restrictive in the legs when trying to move around on my bike, (ie. get the knee down).
Is there a easy way to stretch them at all? I was thinking of wearing them soaking wet. Would that work? Would they shrink again onced dried? Anyone know?