Two Part Leather Fitment

Two Part Leather Fitment

Author
Discussion

TommyBuoy

Original Poster:

1,269 posts

166 months

Thursday 30th June 2016
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Hi,

Picked up a new bike a few weeks ago and now starting to think I'd like to get into track days for a bit of fun.

I like the idea of two part leathers with a 360 degree zip, for convenience. I currently ride in a HELD leather jacket and draggin jeans with armour etc, which I know aren't as protective as leather, but I like it.

I've tried Dianese, RST, Alpinestars and all of them are too tight on chest. To fit they end up being too big elsewhere. The same with trousers - my waist size means they are too tight to get over my legs, unless I get a size far too big so they are too long and baggy.

I'm assuming I'm not the only one who has struggled and these leathers are all 'racey' and maybe aren't even right for a naked bike, so does anyone have any more relaxed leather two parts they could suggest?

Finally - made to measure leathers are too much for me to buy on the basis of only using them a couple of times a year and I might get fatter so I don't want to have them made!

Thanks

Tom

cheesewotsit

285 posts

108 months

Thursday 30th June 2016
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My Dainese leather trousers were available in a short leg version, and fit me very well. I think Spidi and a few others do short leg versions as well.

gwm

2,390 posts

143 months

Thursday 30th June 2016
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I only had an Alpinestars leather jacket before I did my first trackday. So I bought RST leather trousers and had the shop sew the zip into the Alpinestars jacket so they'd fit together.

bogie

16,342 posts

271 months

Thursday 30th June 2016
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You are trying on different size top and bottoms ? i.e. not what they are hung up on the shelf in like 54/54

In Dainese I wear a 56 top and 52R bottom which is not what you get when you order a size 56

Have a look on the size chart on their website and see what size you need then go down a shop with plenty of stock to try on

Once youve tried some on and established size, if its only for a couple of days a year, try ebay. You can pick up some £380 trousers for under £100, and probably £150 ish for a jacket. No point in spending £500 for couple of track days unless you intend to wear them all the time on the road.

catso

14,771 posts

266 months

Thursday 30th June 2016
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My current Dainese 2-piece had a similar issue; jacket OK but trousers too big/long but I got them half price in a sale and then took them to a local leathers alterations place who made them right for £80 so still worked out a good price.

Off the peg used to fit better until the jackets would shrink wink and the mismatch seems to get worse as I get fatter older hehe but I doubt you could (if they even let you) mix and match as the waistband zips would be different lengths...

Graemsay

612 posts

211 months

Friday 1st July 2016
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Wouldn't the cheapest option be to get a pair of leather trousers. Then you could either zip them onto your existing jacket, if it has a full 360 degree zipper, or have a leather tailor add one.

The problem with being different sizes in jacket and trousers is that the zippers might not match. This page from the Held catalogue shows what matches. If you're very powerfully built, with a trim waist, then you might have a problem.

Made to measure leathers are good, and some places aren't much more than an off-the-shelf set. AM Leathers and Scott Leathers start at around £900.

Changing shape isn't a good move with leathers. I got a set by BKS for a small fortune some years ago, and (unfortunately) they didn't shrink, so they're now several sizes too big for me! frown

jhoneyball

1,764 posts

275 months

Friday 1st July 2016
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TommyBuoy said:
Hi,
Finally - made to measure leathers are too much for me to buy on the basis of only using them a couple of times a year and I might get fatter so I don't want to have them made!
One big advantage of made to measure is that they can be adjusted! I have a two piece set from HideOut -- yes, it is expensive. But the quality and fit is beyond comparison. And they can adjust any parts of it for reasonable cost, including entire new sections. So I dont have to worry about the "christmas dinner effect"!

TommyBuoy

Original Poster:

1,269 posts

166 months

Friday 1st July 2016
quotequote all
Thanks for the responses.

No idea why I didn't just look for the option of just trousers with a sewn on zip form a tailor.... think I was caught up in the look of the race suits!

I've got a Held Cosmo II jacket and they do touring style leather trousers which look more relaxed. Looks like the way to go!

Cheers for the help.

Wildfire

9,774 posts

251 months

Friday 1st July 2016
quotequote all
TommyBuoy said:
Thanks for the responses.

No idea why I didn't just look for the option of just trousers with a sewn on zip form a tailor.... think I was caught up in the look of the race suits!

I've got a Held Cosmo II jacket and they do touring style leather trousers which look more relaxed. Looks like the way to go!

Cheers for the help.
Just to add quickly if you go for Jacket and trouser combo, often the zips are not 360, some trackday organisers can be a bit funny about this as often they only zip up 3/4 of the way.

In the case of Dianese, the zips are also different sizes and the height of the waist where they zip up is also different.

Cut on the separates is also a bit more relaxed. Separates do have pockets. Suits usually just having an inner one and nothing on the trousers.

You could try a suit and then taking it to someone like Hill4leather and getting them to alter it?

TommyBuoy

Original Poster:

1,269 posts

166 months

Friday 1st July 2016
quotequote all
Wildfire said:
TommyBuoy said:
Thanks for the responses.

No idea why I didn't just look for the option of just trousers with a sewn on zip form a tailor.... think I was caught up in the look of the race suits!

I've got a Held Cosmo II jacket and they do touring style leather trousers which look more relaxed. Looks like the way to go!

Cheers for the help.
Just to add quickly if you go for Jacket and trouser combo, often the zips are not 360, some trackday organisers can be a bit funny about this as often they only zip up 3/4 of the way.

In the case of Dianese, the zips are also different sizes and the height of the waist where they zip up is also different.

Cut on the separates is also a bit more relaxed. Separates do have pockets. Suits usually just having an inner one and nothing on the trousers.

You could try a suit and then taking it to someone like Hill4leather and getting them to alter it?
Thanks, the different zip lengths / heights were the issue I found, really annoying!

My jacket has pockets which are good enough for me and yes - the 360 degree zip issue is the reason I was looking at 'proper' two parters.

Ideally I don't want to have a third party begin adjusting the leathers - not because of quality, just hassle. I can get a local tailors to sew on a zip which is relatively easy...


Wildfire

9,774 posts

251 months

Friday 1st July 2016
quotequote all
I thought about this when I was looking at the Dianese jacket extender, but my local tailors said they couldn't do it. The Dainese suit zips are pretty massive, where as the combo is small.

Just make sure they do a decent job as in the event of a spill any weak stitching will be the first point to break.