Discussion
Get my first big boy bike next week and went to try on some leathers earlier as previously been riding with a textile jacket and armoured jeans. Been looking at a 2 piece to replace these along with a new set of boots and gauntlet style gloves.
Looked at a few pairs but noticed that they were a bit "saggy" around the bottom... Is this normal? I was expecting them to be a tight fit. Really like the RST stuff and leaning towards it.
Not obviously had leathers before and as they aren't exactly a small investment I want to make sure they fit "properly".
Looked at a few pairs but noticed that they were a bit "saggy" around the bottom... Is this normal? I was expecting them to be a tight fit. Really like the RST stuff and leaning towards it.
Not obviously had leathers before and as they aren't exactly a small investment I want to make sure they fit "properly".
Is that saggy when stood in them?
Remember once sat on a bike you might be slightly bent forward - more so on a sports bike so need that extra room in the back of them.
Also you need a little room so that you can move your legs around.
Its a balance between comfort and movement plus being snug enough to offer the correct protection.
Remember once sat on a bike you might be slightly bent forward - more so on a sports bike so need that extra room in the back of them.
Also you need a little room so that you can move your legs around.
Its a balance between comfort and movement plus being snug enough to offer the correct protection.
The best way to try the fit of leathers is to sit on a bike, or at the very least “assume the position”. They rarely fit well when stood bolt upright, but should be evenly snug all round when in a crouch (or whatever position your bike demands).
They do loosen up in time, so eventually they mould to the correct fit if they are a touch stiff/tight to begin with.
They do loosen up in time, so eventually they mould to the correct fit if they are a touch stiff/tight to begin with.
RossF1984 said:
Get my first big boy bike next week and went to try on some leathers earlier as previously been riding with a textile jacket and armoured jeans. Been looking at a 2 piece to replace these along with a new set of boots and gauntlet style gloves.
Looked at a few pairs but noticed that they were a bit "saggy" around the bottom... Is this normal? I was expecting them to be a tight fit. Really like the RST stuff and leaning towards it.
Not obviously had leathers before and as they aren't exactly a small investment I want to make sure they fit "properly".
They need to be tight enough in all the appropriate places so that the armour doesn't move if you crash, but having a bit of room in the arse area when standing up isn't necessarily a bad thing,Looked at a few pairs but noticed that they were a bit "saggy" around the bottom... Is this normal? I was expecting them to be a tight fit. Really like the RST stuff and leaning towards it.
Not obviously had leathers before and as they aren't exactly a small investment I want to make sure they fit "properly".
RossF1984 said:
Looked at a few pairs but noticed that they were a bit "saggy" around the bottom... Is this normal? I was expecting them to be a tight fit. Really like the RST stuff and leaning towards it.
I just bought some RST leathers, jacket sizing was about right but the trousers were way off, a good 2 sizes too big. I wear 34" in jeans etc. but needed the 30" trousers - the 34" were absolutely huge.That said the 30" are a good fit and not at all baggy round the arse (they also do 3 leg lengths to cater for short/tall).
I bought these to replace some ageing Dainese leathers that are definitely on the 'baggy' side and I am quite impressed with the quality, fit and price of the RST.
As for trying them in a riding position, I got them from Sportbikeshop in Boston and they have a bike simulator frame thing that you can sit on for this very reason (I went in the car so couldn't sit on my bike).
catso said:
I just bought some RST leathers, jacket sizing was about right but the trousers were way off, a good 2 sizes too big. I wear 34" in jeans etc. but needed the 30" trousers - the 34" were absolutely huge.
That said the 30" are a good fit and not at all baggy round the arse (they also do 3 leg lengths to cater for short/tall).
I bought these to replace some ageing Dainese leathers that are definitely on the 'baggy' side and I am quite impressed with the quality, fit and price of the RST.
As for trying them in a riding position, I got them from Sportbikeshop in Boston and they have a bike simulator frame thing that you can sit on for this very reason (I went in the car so couldn't sit on my bike).
SportsBikeShop in Boston is also my go to!! I will try the frame on Saturday when I go back for a second try! That said the 30" are a good fit and not at all baggy round the arse (they also do 3 leg lengths to cater for short/tall).
I bought these to replace some ageing Dainese leathers that are definitely on the 'baggy' side and I am quite impressed with the quality, fit and price of the RST.
As for trying them in a riding position, I got them from Sportbikeshop in Boston and they have a bike simulator frame thing that you can sit on for this very reason (I went in the car so couldn't sit on my bike).
Also I am a 34" but obviously, and stupidly, tried a 36" first as thought they would be tight! Tried a 34" and still wasnt happy. Will try and undersize when I go back. Definitely will help my ego if nothing else
Dog Star said:
I wear armoured jeans, leather jacket/textiles on my 2017 R1 - I m not riding it any faster than my other, lower capacity bikes on the road.
I have AAA rated jeans and textile jacket already, which I am more than comfortable with. I was just under the impression that leather was "safer"?Leather is considerably better for abrasion resistance than textiles.
However, as said above, this is more relevant on track where you are more likely to slide further - higher speeds, more space.
I'm a two-piece leather guy
. Always wore them when I started biking and my first port of call when I got back in last year. Two-piece Dainese. Btw, anyone noticed Dainese quality going downhill? Leather on the inside knees of the trousers started wearing after a few hundred miles. Poor.
It's difficult for me to step back from leathers, but I'm going to try to - I'm looking at Hood jeans and some textiles for touring which can cope better with heat, cold and rain and be more comfortable on and off the bike.
Leathers trump everything else for 'safety' but they come with compromises.
However, as said above, this is more relevant on track where you are more likely to slide further - higher speeds, more space.
I'm a two-piece leather guy
. Always wore them when I started biking and my first port of call when I got back in last year. Two-piece Dainese. Btw, anyone noticed Dainese quality going downhill? Leather on the inside knees of the trousers started wearing after a few hundred miles. Poor.It's difficult for me to step back from leathers, but I'm going to try to - I'm looking at Hood jeans and some textiles for touring which can cope better with heat, cold and rain and be more comfortable on and off the bike.
Leathers trump everything else for 'safety' but they come with compromises.
RossF1984 said:
catso said:
I just bought some RST leathers, jacket sizing was about right but the trousers were way off, a good 2 sizes too big. I wear 34" in jeans etc. but needed the 30" trousers - the 34" were absolutely huge.
That said the 30" are a good fit and not at all baggy round the arse (they also do 3 leg lengths to cater for short/tall).
I bought these to replace some ageing Dainese leathers that are definitely on the 'baggy' side and I am quite impressed with the quality, fit and price of the RST.
As for trying them in a riding position, I got them from Sportbikeshop in Boston and they have a bike simulator frame thing that you can sit on for this very reason (I went in the car so couldn't sit on my bike).
SportsBikeShop in Boston is also my go to!! I will try the frame on Saturday when I go back for a second try! That said the 30" are a good fit and not at all baggy round the arse (they also do 3 leg lengths to cater for short/tall).
I bought these to replace some ageing Dainese leathers that are definitely on the 'baggy' side and I am quite impressed with the quality, fit and price of the RST.
As for trying them in a riding position, I got them from Sportbikeshop in Boston and they have a bike simulator frame thing that you can sit on for this very reason (I went in the car so couldn't sit on my bike).
Also I am a 34" but obviously, and stupidly, tried a 36" first as thought they would be tight! Tried a 34" and still wasnt happy. Will try and undersize when I go back. Definitely will help my ego if nothing else
The jacket wasn't bad with regards to sizing, though slightly loose across the back/chest but the trousers were absolutely massive, not just the waist but also the leg width and easily room for a full nappy in there.
So I went to the shop to exchange/try others and ended up with a 42" jacket and 30" trousers which are as good a fit as I have ever had - helps that, particularly the trousers have stretch panels in the legs because with all-leather (as I have previously had), you can never quite get the perfect fit (unless custom made or you are the exact shape of the model) so you inevitably end up with a compromise, usually resulting in loose fitting legs and a baggy arse.
As I said above, I'm impressed with the quality of these RST leathers, the only area where they fall short to my old Dainese are the joining zip is not fully round the waist though it is most of the way and there are no shin pads in the trousers although I think they were only present to allow the use of 'in' boots that go inside the trousers (have an extra zip to open the legs wider) which I never had anyway and my Sidi boots have good shin protection so not a problem.
Nothingtoseehere said:
...
Leathers trump everything else for 'safety' but they come with compromises.
100% this, but everything comes with compromises.Leathers trump everything else for 'safety' but they come with compromises.
I've used BKS M2M 2 piece leathers for commuting, touring and general road riding since 1996. I'm on my second suit, the first "shrunk" and was replaced in 2016. Those 30 years include riding in sub zero temperatures (thankfully, not often!), riding in extreme rain, riding in 30+ degree heat, as well as lots of riding when the conditions are closer to "just right". At the same time, I've had good quality textiles (HG Master 5, BMW Street Guard) that have done well but they don't get anywhere near the comfort or safety of the leathers which, with the addition of a waterproof over-suit, have always been the best option for the job.
black-k1 said:
Nothingtoseehere said:
...
Leathers trump everything else for 'safety' but they come with compromises.
100% this, but everything comes with compromises.Leathers trump everything else for 'safety' but they come with compromises.
I've used BKS M2M 2 piece leathers for commuting, touring and general road riding since 1996. I'm on my second suit, the first "shrunk" and was replaced in 2016. Those 30 years include riding in sub zero temperatures (thankfully, not often!), riding in extreme rain, riding in 30+ degree heat, as well as lots of riding when the conditions are closer to "just right". At the same time, I've had good quality textiles (HG Master 5, BMW Street Guard) that have done well but they don't get anywhere near the comfort or safety of the leathers which, with the addition of a waterproof over-suit, have always been the best option for the job.
. I'm not saying he was comfortable all the time mind you. 
.Nothingtoseehere said:
You know what, I'm thinking I might just do everything I want to do this year in my leathers... save the £££ and put it into a ferry to Santander and some hotel accommodation. See how it goes. I watched TeapotOne https://youtu.be/bfE_SzOXNuw?si=9Gn118A-IxYJ5Ppi and he went round the world in a one-piece . I'm not saying he was comfortable all the time mind you. .
For me, if textiles and ferry to Santander are an XOR (Boolean logic) situation then it would be Northern Spain, here I come! . I'm not saying he was comfortable all the time mind you. .black-k1 said:
Nothingtoseehere said:
You know what, I'm thinking I might just do everything I want to do this year in my leathers... save the £££ and put it into a ferry to Santander and some hotel accommodation. See how it goes. I watched TeapotOne https://youtu.be/bfE_SzOXNuw?si=9Gn118A-IxYJ5Ppi and he went round the world in a one-piece . I'm not saying he was comfortable all the time mind you. .
For me, if textiles and ferry to Santander are an XOR (Boolean logic) situation then it would be Northern Spain, here I come! . I'm not saying he was comfortable all the time mind you. .It's not really, but it will at least give me a great idea of what kit I would benefit from changing!
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