Decent and affordable 2 piece leathers?
Discussion
Folks, I'd like to get a set of leathers rather than always having to go out on my old Fireblade wearing my full textile kit.
The thing is I'm a bit out of touch with what is good / good value these days.
I have an old BKS jacket (a cheap one from after the name was bought). I got it second hand and I have never really liked it. Mainly because it required some weapons grade cleaning before I could wear it. Yuck. It is also stiff as a board despite my conditioning the leather.
Are RST worth looking at? They seem well regarded and there are a few jackets on sale in my size for about £160.
I'd like to keep the total cost under £400. I don't do massive miles but I do fancy some comfortable, safe and smart leathers as an alternative to my bulky textiles. I already have some short RST boots which seem pretty good.
Any other suggestions? Are Ixon any good? Frank Thomas?
All suggestions welcome.
Ta.
The thing is I'm a bit out of touch with what is good / good value these days.
I have an old BKS jacket (a cheap one from after the name was bought). I got it second hand and I have never really liked it. Mainly because it required some weapons grade cleaning before I could wear it. Yuck. It is also stiff as a board despite my conditioning the leather.
Are RST worth looking at? They seem well regarded and there are a few jackets on sale in my size for about £160.
I'd like to keep the total cost under £400. I don't do massive miles but I do fancy some comfortable, safe and smart leathers as an alternative to my bulky textiles. I already have some short RST boots which seem pretty good.
Any other suggestions? Are Ixon any good? Frank Thomas?
All suggestions welcome.
Ta.
black-k1 said:
I've said this before, you can get some really good bargains on eBay (and I assume Vinted, Gumtree - etc.) of BKS M2M, HideOut, Scott etc. leathers from people who have either given up biking or who have had a few too many pies to still fit. £3k leathers at less than £300
You need to get lucky with that strategy as you can spend ages driving around looking at stuff that is in reality skanky despite what the seller says.I wouldn’t gamble £300 on posted used leathers.
Have a look at Bikers Paradise in Coventry. Now owned by a PHer, I can vouch for the quality of the goods - I’ve had boots, leathers, gloves and other stuff over the past 30 years and it’s never disappointed.
https://www.bikersparadise.co.uk/
https://www.bikersparadise.co.uk/
trickywoo said:
You need to get lucky with that strategy as you can spend ages driving around looking at stuff that is in reality skanky despite what the seller says.
I wouldn t gamble £300 on posted used leathers.
I have bought loads of used bike stuff off ebayI wouldn t gamble £300 on posted used leathers.
Check the description
Check the pictures
If in doubt, ask questions
If it's not as described, use the money back guarantee
Just bought a nice Klim jacket £600+ new for £180 he described it as "well worn" but it looks like new to me and I'm only going to fall off into various undergrowth in it anyway
Ok, time for a quick update and a question about RST leather trousers sizing.
I actually got off my arse and went to the local (well 30 miles away) J&S Accessories store to see if I could find some leathers.
Very little in the way of stock for 2 piece leathers unfortunately - the store was almost totally given over to textiles.
Of the few things that were in stock I have concluded that an RST S1 size 42 jacket is probably going to work best for me (none in stock but a 42 RST Axis was a good if snug fit) but then I tried on a pair of S1 RST leather trousers - and here comes the question.
I have a 32" waist (prob 33 at the moment because........beer) but the 32" trousers I tried felt huge on me. I then tired the 30" and they fitted much better, and remarkably still not remotely tight.
So do RST S1 trousers run large in general? Anyone here got a pair? I was also not sure what leg length I tried because it did not say on the label. The 32" waist pair felt a bit long with the knee armour sitting too low, but the 30" pair felt just right.
I'm 5'7" with a 32" inside leg. Guy at the store said go with the short leg but he didn't seem particularly interested in verifying that the pair they had in were in fact the short leg version.
Perhaps the best thing to do is order the size 42 S1 jacket and the 30" short leg S1 trousers and then do the whole returns thing if they don't fit.
Just seems odd that the 32" felt so large and the 30" fit well, because trust me, if I tried to get in to a 30" pair of denim jeans these days it would not go well.
Anyone with RST S1 leathers care to comment on sizing or quality in general?
I actually got off my arse and went to the local (well 30 miles away) J&S Accessories store to see if I could find some leathers.
Very little in the way of stock for 2 piece leathers unfortunately - the store was almost totally given over to textiles.
Of the few things that were in stock I have concluded that an RST S1 size 42 jacket is probably going to work best for me (none in stock but a 42 RST Axis was a good if snug fit) but then I tried on a pair of S1 RST leather trousers - and here comes the question.
I have a 32" waist (prob 33 at the moment because........beer) but the 32" trousers I tried felt huge on me. I then tired the 30" and they fitted much better, and remarkably still not remotely tight.
So do RST S1 trousers run large in general? Anyone here got a pair? I was also not sure what leg length I tried because it did not say on the label. The 32" waist pair felt a bit long with the knee armour sitting too low, but the 30" pair felt just right.
I'm 5'7" with a 32" inside leg. Guy at the store said go with the short leg but he didn't seem particularly interested in verifying that the pair they had in were in fact the short leg version.
Perhaps the best thing to do is order the size 42 S1 jacket and the 30" short leg S1 trousers and then do the whole returns thing if they don't fit.
Just seems odd that the 32" felt so large and the 30" fit well, because trust me, if I tried to get in to a 30" pair of denim jeans these days it would not go well.
Anyone with RST S1 leathers care to comment on sizing or quality in general?
trickywoo said:
black-k1 said:
I've said this before, you can get some really good bargains on eBay (and I assume Vinted, Gumtree - etc.) of BKS M2M, HideOut, Scott etc. leathers from people who have either given up biking or who have had a few too many pies to still fit. £3k leathers at less than £300
You need to get lucky with that strategy as you can spend ages driving around looking at stuff that is in reality skanky despite what the seller says.I wouldn t gamble £300 on posted used leathers.
TorqueDirty said:
Anyone with RST S1 leathers care to comment on sizing or quality in general?
Your size experience mirrors mine - I'm 5'10" and a bit rotund, size 34 normal leg fits me fairly generously which is convenient to move around in and get comfy. Quality is excellent for the money imho, comparing my kit to my neighbour's A* stuff at twice the price there's nothing in it.
It makes me look a bit of a gimp with everything matching, but I'll keep on buying RST kit as long as it continues
KTMsm said:
I'm a 32 inside leg - don't go with the short
They might seem fine in the shop but when you sit on a motorcycle with your knees bent they ride up enough that you get to chill up your leg
I always go with the normal length, and my stubby legs are just 28" long, exactly for the above reason. As for the waist my RST jeans are size 34" and my actual waist size is 33". I have to wear a belt to keep them up, a size 32" waist are just a bit too snug.They might seem fine in the shop but when you sit on a motorcycle with your knees bent they ride up enough that you get to chill up your leg
Hungrymc said:
TorqueDirty said:
Anyone with RST S1 leathers care to comment on sizing or quality in general?
I think S1 are a 'more generous' fit than the rest of the RST leather range by quite a margin, a size or two up in my experience. They are a more relaxed, less race cut than most as well.Hopefully the 42 S1 jacket that I ordered last night from another supplier does not turn out to be too big - I only had the Axis model in a 42 to try.
Hungrymc said:
I think S1 are a 'more generous' fit than the rest of the RST leather range by quite a margin, a size or two up in my experience. They are a more relaxed, less race cut than most as well.
I'd agree with that.I have RST 32 trousers and 44 jacket and the reality is I'm 34 and 46.
I have the s1 jacket, I have it in the leather version and textile, and been more than happy with both. I tend to wear the textile jacket the vast majority of the time just because it allows for quite a bit more movement and obviously with vents etc. But I'll switch to the leather one for trackdays or bigger road rides, for trackdays I take the standard back protector out and use a forcefield one with a dainese chest protector, which the jacket deals with fine. I like that it doesn't have a hump on the back as 95% of the time I like to ride with a backpack.
I'm not actually sure what my RST leather trousers are, they may well be S1 unless they do another fairly basic jean, they have knee sliders/protection in the hip area etc. I wear them ALL the time. I basically never ride in anything else and or course they zip up to either jacket.
Been really happy with both, no real issues, though on one of the legs I think the zip is slightly more rotated round compared to the other, so perhaps a slight inconsistency in that panel, not enough to cause bother though.
Sizing - yes on the trousers - I'm generally a 34, trousers are a 32 and are still not super tight on the waist.
I always wear base layer leggings under the trousers.
I'm not actually sure what my RST leather trousers are, they may well be S1 unless they do another fairly basic jean, they have knee sliders/protection in the hip area etc. I wear them ALL the time. I basically never ride in anything else and or course they zip up to either jacket.
Been really happy with both, no real issues, though on one of the legs I think the zip is slightly more rotated round compared to the other, so perhaps a slight inconsistency in that panel, not enough to cause bother though.
Sizing - yes on the trousers - I'm generally a 34, trousers are a 32 and are still not super tight on the waist.
I always wear base layer leggings under the trousers.
Well 30" waist regular leg length S1 trousers purchased. I also bought a pair of RST Tractech Evo 3 CE Waterproof Boots.
Very pleased with both and managed to get the shop to price match the boots because they were selling them for £30 more than other online shops. Boots are surprisingly comfy.
Just waiting for the S1 jacket to turn up tomorrow or Wednesday and I'll have the full gimp outfit sorted. It was the last size 42 with the orange accents I could find. Might take the knee sliders off the trousers to avoid scoring too many unnecessary tosser points - but we shall see.
After that I'll just need to wait several years for the next nice sunny day here in central Scotland and I can take test it all out on the bike!
Actually going to head out in to the drizzle shortly just to see how it all feels, but there will be no heroics on the damp Scottish country roads, especially since my old blade has no TC or ABS.
Very pleased with both and managed to get the shop to price match the boots because they were selling them for £30 more than other online shops. Boots are surprisingly comfy.
Just waiting for the S1 jacket to turn up tomorrow or Wednesday and I'll have the full gimp outfit sorted. It was the last size 42 with the orange accents I could find. Might take the knee sliders off the trousers to avoid scoring too many unnecessary tosser points - but we shall see.
After that I'll just need to wait several years for the next nice sunny day here in central Scotland and I can take test it all out on the bike!
Actually going to head out in to the drizzle shortly just to see how it all feels, but there will be no heroics on the damp Scottish country roads, especially since my old blade has no TC or ABS.
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