advice on new clothing purchase please
Discussion
hi - i'd value your thoughts as to what makes the best 1st purchase for pants and jacket. i can't afford to get leather and textile. i also can't afford to get heinne gerrick 
i like leather (steady) but hear it's not great in wet or very cold weather (when i may actually not have the bike out at all as it's purely for fun - so this may not even matter).
i do believe the next textiles offer as good a level of protection as leathers - is this right?
lastly, i think a 2 piece would be right for me now - i'm not going to track it and if i ride somewhere and want to walk around, i'd like the option of taking the jacket off.
so - textile or leather - which is the most versatile?
which one would others buy if it was their first bit of gear (and only bit for a while) and why.
many thanks
Spydie
i like leather (steady) but hear it's not great in wet or very cold weather (when i may actually not have the bike out at all as it's purely for fun - so this may not even matter).
i do believe the next textiles offer as good a level of protection as leathers - is this right?
lastly, i think a 2 piece would be right for me now - i'm not going to track it and if i ride somewhere and want to walk around, i'd like the option of taking the jacket off.
so - textile or leather - which is the most versatile?
which one would others buy if it was their first bit of gear (and only bit for a while) and why.
many thanks
Spydie
i started riding jan '07. i got textiles as it was bloody cold & i wanted to be waterproof. most textiles have zip out liners for summer use (my jacket does but trous dont). i think it was about £140 for the lot, its lewis - not an amazing make but its still all in one bit after 25k or so of use in crap weather. i brought slightly big & with enough jumpers/thermals etc under it i can ride in snow & not freeze to death.
if you want to do trackdays etc you'll need leathers, they dont let textiles on the track. two piece is fine as long they zip together all the way around (some have a 4" zip at the back just to keep the wind out).
last summer as it started to get warm i went looking for leathers & got an almost new two piece set of leathers for £80 off ebay in exactly my size which was a bit of a result i thought.
if you want to do trackdays etc you'll need leathers, they dont let textiles on the track. two piece is fine as long they zip together all the way around (some have a 4" zip at the back just to keep the wind out).
last summer as it started to get warm i went looking for leathers & got an almost new two piece set of leathers for £80 off ebay in exactly my size which was a bit of a result i thought.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Black-NANKAI-Leather-Motorcy...
I have only been riding a few months, but bought this off ebay and they are fantastic - been great througout the winter and have loads of protection. Depending on your budget but 200 is a steal for these. I am 6ft and 12 st - got 34 trousers and and 46 jacket - both roomy enough for clothes underneath and can zip together... Jacket is slightly too big, but the padding takes a lot of space
I have only been riding a few months, but bought this off ebay and they are fantastic - been great througout the winter and have loads of protection. Depending on your budget but 200 is a steal for these. I am 6ft and 12 st - got 34 trousers and and 46 jacket - both roomy enough for clothes underneath and can zip together... Jacket is slightly too big, but the padding takes a lot of space
Leathers definitely offer better crash protection unless you are willing to spend the sort of money that would buy you quality leathers on textiles. Textiles are generally warmer but there are ways around that. As I see it you have two options:
1. Buy textiles. – Better weather protection ‘off the shelf’ and are generally more versatile. – It’s easier to wear normal clothes under textiles! I personally find that textiles are not so good when riding the bike in a ‘spirited’ fashion as they don’t allow for the same level of feedback through the seat.
2. Buy leathers. These offer the best crash protection and are great against cold winds but are useless in the wet. Also you will need to budget for a waterproof over suit as well. This can either be lined for warmth but will be hot in summer or it can be unlined, which is also the cheapest option.
If it was me, I would buy 2 piece leathers that were a good fit and an unlined over suit that was several sizes too large. I’d then get an old jacket or similar that could be worn over the leathers for extra warmth but would still fit under the waterproofs for those rare occasions when it rains!
As the budget is tight, e-bay is your friend. You can get some very good quality second hand gear off e-bay for some very cheap prices. My wife currently has an ex-plod BKS 2 piece suit, with extra thermal liner for the jacket, that we got off e-bay for less than £100. It’s in great condition and being BKS, is top quality. I have also previously purchased a full Frank Thomas Gore-Tex armoured suit that was used but looked brand new for £195. They were £495 new in the shop at the time!
Good luck either way
1. Buy textiles. – Better weather protection ‘off the shelf’ and are generally more versatile. – It’s easier to wear normal clothes under textiles! I personally find that textiles are not so good when riding the bike in a ‘spirited’ fashion as they don’t allow for the same level of feedback through the seat.
2. Buy leathers. These offer the best crash protection and are great against cold winds but are useless in the wet. Also you will need to budget for a waterproof over suit as well. This can either be lined for warmth but will be hot in summer or it can be unlined, which is also the cheapest option.
If it was me, I would buy 2 piece leathers that were a good fit and an unlined over suit that was several sizes too large. I’d then get an old jacket or similar that could be worn over the leathers for extra warmth but would still fit under the waterproofs for those rare occasions when it rains!
As the budget is tight, e-bay is your friend. You can get some very good quality second hand gear off e-bay for some very cheap prices. My wife currently has an ex-plod BKS 2 piece suit, with extra thermal liner for the jacket, that we got off e-bay for less than £100. It’s in great condition and being BKS, is top quality. I have also previously purchased a full Frank Thomas Gore-Tex armoured suit that was used but looked brand new for £195. They were £495 new in the shop at the time!
Good luck either way
Edited by black-k1 on Sunday 3rd February 17:46
black-k1 said:
If it was me, I would buy 2 piece leathers that were a good fit and an unlined over suit that was several sizes too large. I’d then get an old jacket or similar that could be worn over the leathers for extra warmth but would still fit under the waterproofs for those rare occasions when it rains!
That's a good suggestion. I would never get on a bike without well fitting (tight-ish) leathers unless I'd got something like a Rukka £1000 textile suit.Other things to consider are gloves and boots - don't skimp on these, have a look in Busters http://www.busters-accessories.co.uk/ for some budget but OK kit.
thank you all - that's very helpful
i think a 2-piece leather suit is the way to go (thank goodness as i love the leather - weight, feel etc) with an oversuit in case of freak showers (and i saw some 1 piece rain suits for about £20 yesterday).
will have a look on ebay, but need to be vey sure of size before i bid.
many thanks
i think a 2-piece leather suit is the way to go (thank goodness as i love the leather - weight, feel etc) with an oversuit in case of freak showers (and i saw some 1 piece rain suits for about £20 yesterday).
will have a look on ebay, but need to be vey sure of size before i bid
.many thanks
black-k1 said:
If it was me, I would buy 2 piece leathers that were a good fit and an unlined over suit that was several sizes too large. I’d then get an old jacket or similar that could be worn over the leathers for extra warmth but would still fit under the waterproofs for those rare occasions when it rains!
Definitely.When I used to ride pillion on my dad's bike I used to wear a sailing jacket over a jumper, waterproof trousers from a camping shop over jeans, and welly boots. Hate to think what would have happened if I'd come off but it kept me dry and warm as toast. The waterproofs wouldn't come to that much so just add a layer of leather underneath and you've got a winner. When I get out on the roads on my own bike this is pretty much what I plan to wear but with proper boots.
as a general question on fit...
my leathers are a 'tight' fit, that is, they are just about right, but I cant get anything other than some thermals and a t-shirt on underneath. Hence they are fairly chilly after a while at the moment...
I've been thinking of getting some textiles to start commuting to work in a few weeks when the mornings get lighter, but one thing I have wondered is.. should textiles also be a 'tight' fit, or is it ok to have enough room in them to wear my work trousers and shirt underneath ?
my leathers are a 'tight' fit, that is, they are just about right, but I cant get anything other than some thermals and a t-shirt on underneath. Hence they are fairly chilly after a while at the moment...
I've been thinking of getting some textiles to start commuting to work in a few weeks when the mornings get lighter, but one thing I have wondered is.. should textiles also be a 'tight' fit, or is it ok to have enough room in them to wear my work trousers and shirt underneath ?
The reasons leathers have to be a snug fit is so the armour doesn't move and stays where it's needed and so the leather doesn't roll around, bunch up and pull your skin off the bone.
I'd guess textiles should be the same hence the Rukka stuff for example is a snug and well tailored fit.
I wear leathers in this weather plus a textile jacket (minus armour) over the top, either with or without the thermal lining. Very warm and not too bulky. Having crashed in an expensive textile jacket I'd not want to trust one again unless it was really a lot more substantial.
I'd guess textiles should be the same hence the Rukka stuff for example is a snug and well tailored fit.
I wear leathers in this weather plus a textile jacket (minus armour) over the top, either with or without the thermal lining. Very warm and not too bulky. Having crashed in an expensive textile jacket I'd not want to trust one again unless it was really a lot more substantial.
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