What to wear? Advice please
#1
03-24-2009, 06:11 PM
What to wear? Advice please
OK so when I bought my leathers to do my training last year , I bought a second hand jacket and trousers . These provide great protection and the jacket is a good fit but the trousers are a bit on the big side , which isn't too bad on the bike but walking around I have to keep hitching them up every ten paces
.
So time to get some more trousers at least , but I'm thinking of getting a two piece set as well so they can zip together .
So guys with your wealth of experience I would like to hear any advice on 1 piece / 2 piece suits , pro's and con's , leather v's textile .
I've never bought/worn any of this stuff before so treat me like an idiot
Is it better to buy this stuff tight so it can stretch , or is it better to buy pants a size bigger so they don't cut you in half when your bent over on the bike?
Sorry to go on but as stated I'm a novice as far as this is concerned and I don't want more pants that end up round my ankles
.So time to get some more trousers at least , but I'm thinking of getting a two piece set as well so they can zip together .
So guys with your wealth of experience I would like to hear any advice on 1 piece / 2 piece suits , pro's and con's , leather v's textile .
I've never bought/worn any of this stuff before so treat me like an idiot
Is it better to buy this stuff tight so it can stretch , or is it better to buy pants a size bigger so they don't cut you in half when your bent over on the bike?
Sorry to go on but as stated I'm a novice as far as this is concerned and I don't want more pants that end up round my ankles
#2
03-24-2009, 06:57 PM
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Depending on the weather, I use a leather jacket (Vanson Mark2 Lightning) for mild to hot temps and a heavy textile jacket (First Gear Mt Rainer) for early spring / late fall riding (or when it rains). I also have a pair of Tourmaster pants that have a removeable liner for warmer weather. Also,a Biker's Choice balaclava for the cold days will keep my neck and head warm
#3
03-24-2009, 11:05 PM
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#4
03-24-2009, 11:17 PM
Suspenders/braces work well- many guys use them,
As for gear - in the UK
Frank Thomas 2 piece with a zip-together is hard to beat for winter, and have a removable liner for summer in the jacket. I wear them myself and they are excellent, if a little heavy, but I prefer more protection and weight.
Summer - I wear an IXS jacket with the same leather pants as winter.Same gloves, A* SP3's
Buy your jacket 2" bigger than you normally wear, so I have 42" street clothes, and wear a 44" bike jacket.Leave space for gut growth or a fleecy !
Pants should be the same as your street sizes for jeans - buy the right length.
Hope this helps,
As for gear - in the UK
Frank Thomas 2 piece with a zip-together is hard to beat for winter, and have a removable liner for summer in the jacket. I wear them myself and they are excellent, if a little heavy, but I prefer more protection and weight.
Summer - I wear an IXS jacket with the same leather pants as winter.Same gloves, A* SP3's
Buy your jacket 2" bigger than you normally wear, so I have 42" street clothes, and wear a 44" bike jacket.Leave space for gut growth or a fleecy !
Pants should be the same as your street sizes for jeans - buy the right length.
Hope this helps,
#5
03-24-2009, 11:29 PM
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Hawk...I was an old Belstaff ( full waxed cotton) user for 20 years ...but I find them a bit yuck these days ..
All my comments below are in regard to riding for a few hours at least ...not running around town or going to the shops mate .... and I am assuming you do not go flat tack boy racing every time out
Allot of guys buy for style 100% and effectiveness 0% :-( ??
Full Leathers look tough , but are impracticable for general use in most cases ..
I personally think one piece leathers are a great option ... IF ...you have a ton of cash spare ? and have a few other options for when its colder or hotter..
For all round use
Compared with "lined" textiles ...Leathers are sticky when its warm and cold when it freezing ..
These days I ride using a GOOD! fully lined , vented , armored textile jacket ..
The lining is removable when it gets to hot ...
The thing is near cold proof!! and it looks great !
Its got just the right amount of hard and soft Armour.
I used to use a leather jacket ...but as I got older and tended to ride longer distances , so I swapped to textile..
I do like leather pants , except!!!
The better tougher padded ones are bloody uncomfortable to ride in for long trips.. and they are sweaty in the heat !
The thinner leather trousers (which I like ) look great , but go sliding down the road in them and expect to get knocked around as they are not too tough !!
The armored textile all weather pants that I have are loose to wear , water proof , warm as , and great to wear over your normal pants ..
(easy to get off when you get to your destination or stop )
So you ride comfortably in nice under pants/jeans what ever and just rip off your textile over pants when you are done riding , then you are comfy to just hang out again ....
All round these days ... I much prefer my Textile jacket and pants ..
All my comments below are in regard to riding for a few hours at least ...not running around town or going to the shops mate .... and I am assuming you do not go flat tack boy racing every time out
Allot of guys buy for style 100% and effectiveness 0% :-( ??
Full Leathers look tough , but are impracticable for general use in most cases ..
I personally think one piece leathers are a great option ... IF ...you have a ton of cash spare ? and have a few other options for when its colder or hotter..
For all round use
Compared with "lined" textiles ...Leathers are sticky when its warm and cold when it freezing ..
These days I ride using a GOOD! fully lined , vented , armored textile jacket ..
The lining is removable when it gets to hot ...
The thing is near cold proof!!
and it looks great !Its got just the right amount of hard and soft Armour.
I used to use a leather jacket ...but as I got older and tended to ride longer distances , so I swapped to textile..
I do like leather pants , except!!!
The better tougher padded ones are bloody uncomfortable to ride in for long trips.. and they are sweaty in the heat !
The thinner leather trousers (which I like ) look great , but go sliding down the road in them and expect to get knocked around as they are not too tough !!
The armored textile all weather pants that I have are loose to wear , water proof , warm as , and great to wear over your normal pants ..
(easy to get off when you get to your destination or stop )
So you ride comfortably in nice under pants/jeans what ever and just rip off your textile over pants when you are done riding , then you are comfy to just hang out again ....
All round these days ... I much prefer my Textile jacket and pants ..
Last edited by CBRclassic; 03-25-2009 at 12:00 AM.
#6
03-25-2009, 12:00 AM
Opposite view to Steve's -
My buddy fell off his 3 day old R1 due to a St Bernard running into the road. Doing 60 KPH, his jacket and pants (good textiles) were SHREDDED.
I don't trust 'em, even though I wear a textile jacket in the heat, but to each his own.
Buy the best you can afford, and if necessary buy top of the line second hand - better than cheap but new any day !
My buddy fell off his 3 day old R1 due to a St Bernard running into the road. Doing 60 KPH, his jacket and pants (good textiles) were SHREDDED.
I don't trust 'em, even though I wear a textile jacket in the heat, but to each his own.
Buy the best you can afford, and if necessary buy top of the line second hand - better than cheap but new any day !
Last edited by Shadow; 03-25-2009 at 12:04 AM.
#7
03-25-2009, 12:10 AM
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Opposite view to Steve's -
My buddy fell off his 3 day old R1 due to a St Bernard running into the road. Doing 60 KPH, his jacket and pants (good textiles) were SHREDDED.
I don't trust 'em, even though I wear a textile jacket in the heat, but to each his own.
Buy the best you can afford, and if necessary buy top of the line second hand - better than cheap but new any day !
My buddy fell off his 3 day old R1 due to a St Bernard running into the road. Doing 60 KPH, his jacket and pants (good textiles) were SHREDDED.
I don't trust 'em, even though I wear a textile jacket in the heat, but to each his own.
Buy the best you can afford, and if necessary buy top of the line second hand - better than cheap but new any day !
I have gone *** over at speed on the road a few times and in the bush on my 500XR's allot
.. and only ever scuffed and torn stitching on them ... shreaded ? hmm?? wow...These days mate ... I must admit I ride in my gear for comfort , including staying warm and dry
Leathers are great as I did say , but hey ... near no one will tell you that they like spending a whole day in them , especially in the heat
#8
03-25-2009, 12:17 AM
Just an ordinary suburban tar road, Steve - his gear had HOLES in it, and the padding moved off his elbows, so some serious roasties there......A couple of cracked ribs, wrist etc, but his wife went over the top and broke shoulder - now on 3rd operation and still having problems after 6 months. Her kit didn't help much (same brand) either.
Leather's damned hot, I agree, but I'd rather sweat than bleed, any day.
If you buy textiles, get the Kevlar reinforced, double stitched stuff - better by far than jeans, but not cheap. Look at Draggin' jeans......good gear, reinforced in the right places.
Leather's damned hot, I agree, but I'd rather sweat than bleed, any day.
If you buy textiles, get the Kevlar reinforced, double stitched stuff - better by far than jeans, but not cheap. Look at Draggin' jeans......good gear, reinforced in the right places.
Last edited by Shadow; 03-25-2009 at 12:19 AM.
#9
03-25-2009, 12:23 AM
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A couple of cracked ribs, wrist etc, but his wife went over the top and broke shoulder - now on 3rd operation and still having problems after 6 months. Her kit didn't help much (same brand) either.
Are you suggesting that the Leather as a posed to Textile would have prevented all those broken bones too ??
Not bloody likely
The last thing I want to do is give new gear buyers the wrong idea and suggesting that anything will stop or prevent broken bones better , is not quite right mate .. rash ..yup ... but bones ..nup
Last edited by CBRclassic; 03-25-2009 at 12:42 AM.
#10
03-25-2009, 02:33 AM
Quite right Steve - perhaps my explanation could use some work ..........
Good kit is there to reduce your chance of injury as much as possible, but will it stop you getting broken bones ?
Probably not.
Nothing on sale today in the line of protective gear is bullet-proof or broken-bone proof to my knowledge.
Sad, but true.
Good kit is there to reduce your chance of injury as much as possible, but will it stop you getting broken bones ?
Probably not.
Nothing on sale today in the line of protective gear is bullet-proof or broken-bone proof to my knowledge.
Sad, but true.