Discussion
Hi all. Having bought a proper bike recently I feel it's time for some proper protection so I'm looking at leathers.
I'll be doing road riding and it highly unlikely I'll be doing any track days.
Would you go for a 1 piece or 2 piece? Are there any reccomenations for brand? Bûse look quite good but can't seem to find much info on how good they are.
I'd like to spend up to around £400 on a decent set.
I'll be doing road riding and it highly unlikely I'll be doing any track days.
Would you go for a 1 piece or 2 piece? Are there any reccomenations for brand? Bûse look quite good but can't seem to find much info on how good they are.
I'd like to spend up to around £400 on a decent set.
+1 Two piece is more versatile, especially in hot weather when you want to stop and take the jacket off. Ideally get matching make so you can zip together (a requirement for trackdays), or you can get a zip put in to non matching. You only need a one piece for racing, or for wearing your speedhump and shouting loudly about how fast you are in car parks 
I'll start by answering your actual question, for £400, I'd get an RST two piece.
Don't forget a big trade off for safety is comfort, so don't be scared to compromise a little based on your actual needs. I'd ask a knowledgeable salesman personally.
I'd point out that don't all ride around in £1,500 CE marked, air bagged leather jackets, so safety is important, but remember there's other things to consider.
Don't forget a big trade off for safety is comfort, so don't be scared to compromise a little based on your actual needs. I'd ask a knowledgeable salesman personally.
I'd point out that don't all ride around in £1,500 CE marked, air bagged leather jackets, so safety is important, but remember there's other things to consider.
Might be worth visiting a show - NEC Birmingham is in Dec and then there's the Carole Nash one at the Excel in Feb. The latter is where I got a set of Richa Rebel two piece leathers for £260.00. Good quality, came with CE armour, comfy and somehow both warm in winter and cool in summer. I rode 2400 miles in them in August from 10 Celsius at the top of the alps to 38 degrees through Stuttgart on the way to the Nurburgring. Worn with an underlayer they were comfy throughout, just a bit sticky in the really hot weather but undoing the jacket a bit really helped with that
I once asked the same question. The reply was 'Do you ever go for a poo?'. Two piece it is!
Decent fit and quality armour with a seperate back protector would get my vote. I'm in RST at the moment and it holds up to 10k per year well enough, but I would happily wear pretty much any of the branded gear out there (and have over the years).
Avoid the very cheap 'made to measure' eBay leathers.
Decent fit and quality armour with a seperate back protector would get my vote. I'm in RST at the moment and it holds up to 10k per year well enough, but I would happily wear pretty much any of the branded gear out there (and have over the years).
Avoid the very cheap 'made to measure' eBay leathers.
Have a look at Essex Bikers Centre on Ebay. They specialise in used leathers. I bought a Clover race suit from them a few years ago. If it doesn't fit they will take returns and work with you to get it right.
My suit was spotlessly clean, and in pretty much brand new condition, cost me about £300 for a £800 suit.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/essex_bikers_centre/m.ht...
My suit was spotlessly clean, and in pretty much brand new condition, cost me about £300 for a £800 suit.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/essex_bikers_centre/m.ht...
This as well, RST were the worse fit for me, Dainese and Alpunestar fit my son and Furygan fitted me best.
graeme4130 said:
Different brands fit different people, so worth going along to a shop that stocks a few different makes to see what fits best
The cut on Dianese Vs Alpinestars is very different for example
If you're not going on the track, 2 piece is the way forward, certainly
The cut on Dianese Vs Alpinestars is very different for example
If you're not going on the track, 2 piece is the way forward, certainly
I struggle to get my legs into Aplinestars, especially my calves and I'm not as fat as I once was! RST fit me really well.
However, just to put a different spin on the 1 vs 2 piece debate, I used to always buy 2 piece and then zip them up. The 1 piece is so much more comfortable to wear on the bike and not too much hassle off it either. The extra stretchy leather and elastic makes it much better IMO and much easier to ride a sports bike.
However, just to put a different spin on the 1 vs 2 piece debate, I used to always buy 2 piece and then zip them up. The 1 piece is so much more comfortable to wear on the bike and not too much hassle off it either. The extra stretchy leather and elastic makes it much better IMO and much easier to ride a sports bike.
I agree with the above poster, but wear a 2 piece anyway as they are much more practical to wear on a daily basis but a 1 piece is more comfortable on track.
Fit is everything, I tried all the usual brands on with no real restrictions on budget and it was only BKS that fit me properly in a 2 piece, shame I didn't take my back protector with me when buying though
Go and try some on, buy the ones that fit you well, it also helps if the shop has a bike to sit on.
Fit is everything, I tried all the usual brands on with no real restrictions on budget and it was only BKS that fit me properly in a 2 piece, shame I didn't take my back protector with me when buying though
Go and try some on, buy the ones that fit you well, it also helps if the shop has a bike to sit on.
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