One set of leathers - 2 piece or 1 piece?

[patchb]

I'm just about to buy some new leathers, and I'm completely stuck as to which to get. One the one hand you have the practicality of a 2 piece but a 1 piece is arguably more comfortable and safer.

The suits I'm considering are Alpinestars Motegi for the 1 piece and RST Tractech Evo 2 for the 2 piece.

I think my heart says 1 piece and my head says 2 piece, but I need convincing one way or the other. (also opinions and alternatives to both are welcome. (only stipulations are it has to be around £400-450 and have a race hump as I don't like leathers without.)

Cheers

Edit: Bit more info, I'm 6'4" and pretty slim with 32" waist/42" chest. Any brands that are better for people of my build? I was also looking at the Furygan Prime Evo 1 piece. Riding wise, mainly road but I plan on doing trackdays next year.

Edited by patchb on Saturday 26th December 23:10

[CAPP0]

patchb said:

Riding wise, mainly road but I plan on doing trackdays next year.

2 piece all day long, as long as they have a full length zip all round. 1 piece are another ballache for anything other than riding on a track then being able to take them off again.

I have crashed on track in both options, I was going a lot faster when I was wearing the 2-piece suit and sustained no injury other than a friction (heat) burnt elbow which would have happened in either set.

FWIW, the 2-piece, shop bought, well-known brand leathers, which were about 5 years old when I crashed in them, survived the off better than the immensely-expensive British hand-made-to-order 1-piece which were brand new!

Edited by CAPP0 on Saturday 26th December 23:35

[Mastodon2]

One piece. I'm not sure what the supposed benefits of a two piece are, for some unknown reason I got a two piece set, wish I'd just gone with a one piece.

[CarsOrBikes]

2 piece are far more practical

Dainese do a long fit which is about 4" longer overall I understand, I'm about to get another set from Germany, and not far from your budget. It will be my third set, nothing else fits as well. One piece can feel smaller than a two in the same size.

The long fit are hard to find in the U.K.

[theshrew]

Depends on what riding you do, I have a one piece but the odd time I just use jeans and a jacket Two piece certainly has its advantages only you can decide that.

As for which one I think I've tried more suits on than I have had hot dinners this year. They all fit really differently even suits with the same manufacturer, go and try some on

[Reardy Mister]

If you get the two-piece you have the flexibility of having a jacket only for sunny days in jeans.
And the flexibility of actually being able to go to the loo.

[graeme4130]

I run an alpine stars Motegi 2 piece
It was around £400 and has a full zip around and a race hump
Also, unlike a few other brands, alpine stars jackets over lap at the rear with the trousers, so it adds an element of protection over an exposed material section of the zip
Nicely made bit of kit, and offers up plenty of flexibility

Edited by graeme4130 on Sunday 27th December 22:18

[graeme4130]

I run an alpine stars Motegi 2 piece
It was around £400 and has a full zip around and a race hump
Also, unlike a few other brands, alpine stars jackets over lap at the rear with the trousers, so it adds an element of protection over an exposed material section of the zip
Nicely made bit of kit, and offers up plenty of flexibility

Edited by graeme4130 on Sunday 27th December 22:18

[jhoneyball]

I have a custom made 2 piece set from hide-out -- absolutely superb fit and finish. Havent crashed in them, so no advice on that score. But they seem very robust

[moto_traxport]

I could be wrong but from the sounds of the original post it doesn't sound like you've tried any of them on and are about to buy a set internet style? If this is the case it's asking for trouble as you're asking for something to fit your whole body with all it's idiosyncrasies in one hit.

I'm a similar build to you but 4" shorter so immediately can see a crotch to shoulder situation for you in most off the peg numbers if your extra height is in your body and not your legs. Other things to consider are calf and forearm diameters.

[black-k1]

2 piece all the time. Any time you're not on the bike you'll be glad that that you can take the jacket off rather than having to tie the arms of your one piece around the waist. The first time you have to take a dump in a loo with piss all over the floor, not having to juggle keeping your leathers off the floor while sitting there and performing will be the decider.

On the bike, there is little difference if you have a good fitting set of leathers.

[WaferThinHam]

jhoneyball said:

I have a custom made 2 piece set from hide-out -- absolutely superb fit and finish. Havent crashed in them, so no advice on that score. But they seem very robust

Crashed three times in the same set of Hideout leathers. They are very tough. Not a mark on me. I still wear them.

[WaferThinHam]

CAPP0 said:

FWIW, the 2-piece, shop bought, well-known brand leathers, which were about 5 years old when I crashed in them, survived the off better than the immensely-expensive British hand-made-to-order 1-piece which were brand new!

Edited by CAPP0 on Saturday 26th December 23:35

Who were they by?

[patchb]

moto_traxport said:

I could be wrong but from the sounds of the original post it doesn't sound like you've tried any of them on and are about to buy a set internet style? If this is the case it's asking for trouble as you're asking for something to fit your whole body with all it's idiosyncrasies in one hit.

I'm a similar build to you but 4" shorter so immediately can see a crotch to shoulder situation for you in most off the peg numbers if your extra height is in your body and not your legs. Other things to consider are calf and forearm diameters.

I have tried on my brothers RST tractech Evo 2 2 piece, he's a similar height to me but a little bit fatter, they fitted ok but if I were to go for those I would go one size smaller than his.
I am intending on going and trying some sets on when the shops open again, just thought some people may have an idea of how certain brands fit.
Also all my height is in my legs so I can generally get away with slightly smaller sizes, I manage to get wetsuits that fit and I'm sure leathers should be easier as my boots will allow the legs to come up a little bit short.
My other consideration is that I am starting to get to the age where I'm going to fill out more! I currently have a buffalo 1 piece that I bought when I was 17, and despite being the same height now, there's no chance of me getting into them.

Edited by patchb on Sunday 27th December 09:27

[WaferThinHam]

patchb said:

My other consideration is that I am starting to get to the age where I'm going to fill out more! I currently have a buffalo 1 piece that I bought when I was 17, and despite being the same height now, there's no chance of me getting into them.

I had my leathers made to measure when I was 18, I've had them altered once as I had got taller. Haven't got any fatter though. I'm 27 now.

[Stone Cold]

I've had both in my time but bought a RSTaichi one piece earlier this year and whilst yes it can be a pain off the bike it's great on it, more comfy in my opinion that a two piece but I think you just need to try some on and see how you feel, I suspect two piece are more popular though

[patchb]

Stone Cold said:

I've had both in my time but bought a RSTaichi one piece earlier this year and whilst yes it can be a pain off the bike it's great on it, more comfy in my opinion that a two piece but I think you just need to try some on and see how you feel, I suspect two piece are more popular though

Im jealous, I've got a set of RStaichi gloves and they are such good quality. You certainly pay for it though, Their leathers are waaay out of my budget.

[Stone Cold]

patchb said:

Stone Cold said:

I've had both in my time but bought a RSTaichi one piece earlier this year and whilst yes it can be a pain off the bike it's great on it, more comfy in my opinion that a two piece but I think you just need to try some on and see how you feel, I suspect two piece are more popular though

Im jealous, I've got a set of RStaichi gloves and they are such good quality. You certainly pay for it though, Their leathers are waaay out of my budget.

They are for me too but Crescents were shifting old stock in March this year for £450 so seemed rude not to

[patchb]

Stone Cold said:

They are for me too but Crescents were shifting old stock in March this year for £450 so seemed rude not to

Really, I might hold on in the hope they do that again then. Considering I live no more than 20 miles from any of their shops, I'll definitely get down there and have a look.

[Stone Cold]

patchb said:

Stone Cold said:

They are for me too but Crescents were shifting old stock in March this year for £450 so seemed rude not to

Really, I might hold on in the hope they do that again then. Considering I live no more than 20 miles from any of their shops, I'll definitely get down there and have a look.

They still had a few last time I was there early December (Verwood shop) no idea about sizes etc though