/BikeLeathers

Of the many motorcyclists who take to the road, only some of them will get the opportunity or have the desire to take part in some days at a local track. Those that do will almost certainly need to go down the route of purchasing a leather motorcycle suit – otherwise known simply as leathers. Here at motorcycle leathers we aim to bring you all the information you require to make the right choice.

Truth be told, newer versions of these are coming equipped with less and less cow skin. This is due to the ever increasing strength of synthetics. For now, though, there are only a few choices, either the standard bovine variety or you can go marsupial with kangaroo hide (there are even goat hide suits). Each of these has their positives and negatives, but cost is often the deciding factor for most of us mere working-stiff mortals. Though, being mortal has its own drawbacks as we must also have gear which lets us hold on to our lives should something go awry. It can be difficult to make this decision, and a rider can end up spending serious time on it – however, that is all we really want to do, ride.  In that vein, here are some simple guidelines to help figure out the best approach for finding the leathers which will suit you.

The most important factor to consider is your own comfort in this case; an uncomfortable suit is one which is not safe. Discomfort leads to distraction, which leads to loss of concentration, etc. The outcome is never good in such circumstances, so take the time to get the measurements you will need. Sizing between the many manufacturers in this niche varies significantly. It is not unheard of to see suits from different companies as much as two or three sizes off from one set to another. Having access to a tailor’s measuring tape is useful here. If you do not have that, use some string, a marker, and any standard measurement tool. Write all of the normal areas on a piece of paper so that you are sure to not get any wrong – that can be painful. Knowing your height, weight, inseam, waist and chest numbers should be good enough to get started. From that you may derive the proper size based on each producer’s sizing charts. When you do get to try on a set of leathers, they should fit snugly without being painful or binding. As you use them, they will break in and stretch a little – as much as half a size. Remember, leathers will be shaped to fit you when you are sitting on the bike and riding at speed, so they will be a bit uncomfortable when you are not mounted.

When considering comfort, determining the best suit for the weather conditions you will face also factors into this. There are numerous options here including mesh panels for airflow and even cooling fans that can attach to the speed hump present on many modern leather suits. Some models even come equipped with a hydration system for those beyond-hot days on the track – it gets very hot out there. Lastly, there are also custom fitted suits, but those are usually quite expensive unless you are fortunate to find a trustworthy budget-minded supplier or have a good sponsorship deal.

Safety is second on the list, but equally – or more - important to this question. This is the main reason to purchase this sort of protection, so it makes no sense to skimp in this area. Choosing the hide and construction come first; do you want lightweight kangaroo or the normal drum-dyed variety that came form around your dinner? Oftentimes, price is the determining factor with this choice, but either will do a perfectly good job of sacrificing themselves to save your skin. Also, look at the areas which are protected – shoulders, back, chest, lower back, hips – and ensure that a durable material is used to armor the suit against serious impact. There are also many types of this armor, so pay attention when buying and look for “CE Approved” as that European standard is the only one available for motorcycle leathers. If you must purchase a separate piece of armor for the leathers you purchase, make sure that it will fit properly in your suit.

Another consideration is the one-piece versus two-piece leather suit debate. Most professionals will only use a suit which is completely sewn together as it is the safest in case of very high-speed crashes. However, if you are only doing track days and not out there dicing it up with the professionals, a two-piece is perfectly sufficient provided it has a connecting system to hold the two parts, jacket and pants, together. This brings up how the suit is assembled as another important concern. The stitching must be of top quality given the forces the outside world will throw up against the suit in the event of an impact. A poorly sewn suit may ‘explode’ on impact and offer virtually no protection at all. The various gussets and stretch panels must also be in the appropriate areas to allow freedom of movement when riding. Your elbows, shoulders, knees and other joints must not have the suit interfere with the range of motion one needs to operate a motorcycle.

Finally, a good suit of leathers is supposed to be like a ‘second skin’ against your natural flesh, and they should protect you as if they are a part of you. That is their sole job – to make sure you are safe on the motorcycle. Be sure that you choose the right leather suit for your ride, for your body, and for your intended use, and you will be safe and secure should you suffer and unfortunate fall. The right set of leathers is worth whatever you must invest in them once you consider what a crash would do to you if you are not properly protected....