Gotta buy leathers? Need some help..............,

[kevinfromrex]

I want to go to track day. Probably road atlanta.
Spent 6 weeks getting to know my bandit, been riding since I was 6 years old, raced mx, hit the street at 16 on 1970 sportster 1000, been riding cruisers for 2 decades, owned a nighthawk 750 for about 3 years now.

Now I am told I must have leathers.
I own a textile, full cs armored jacket, race grade shoei helmet, textile armored riding pants and gauntlet style gloves, but friends say the track says leather or no ride.

I am 6 foot 2, 240 pounds, 36-38 waist, 52-54 chest, short legs 32, whos leathers do you wear?
Do you like them?
Do they fit big guys with stump legs?
Do you wear one piece or two?

I shop chaparral, denis kirk, motorcycle closeouts etc, whos got the deals?

I appreciate all the help thanks, everybody have a safe weekend, especially the USA based riders on this holiday weekend.

[curiousmike]

Loads of ways to go.

You could buy a cheap 1 piece.
You could buy a cheap 2 piece.

You could buy a great set of street leathers (Vanson)

You could try newenough.com

I own textile stuff, but I only use it when the weather is iffy.

I prefer leather.

One of the things you might not consider is this:  You might fall on the track.  Do you want to be wearing $300 cheap crap leathers or a solid set of leathers that costs more ?

Another thing to consider:  You might REALLY like riding on the track.  You might want to go back.... again and again.  Suddenly, you'll realize how ridiculous your $300 leathers feel and wish you had invested more money into some quality leathers.

You could buy quality leathers, ride the track, and sell the leathers later on if you don't use them anymore.

I'm rambling, ain't I ?
 

[curiousmike]

Oh.  Every manufacturer is going to fit you differently.

You owe it to yourself to go into a store and try on some stuff and get a feel for whatever it is.

Whoever is running the trackday will dictate if textiles are ok.  I know many trackdays in California allow Aerostitch suits for trackdays.

[Desolation Angel]

Don't forget chaps!  Gotta have chaps.

With conchos and fringe!

[smooth operator]

After doing a track day,there is no might want to do another.Beware!track days are addictive! Vanson will send you a suit to try on to check the fit befor buying a new set of leathers. As stated "New enough leathers" has some good deals. I happen to be good friends with a motorcycle shop owner and he told me when they were on sale(about 1/2 price on Suzuki leathers) You either want a 1 pc. or a 2 pc.that zipps togehter all way 'round.I went w/ the 2pc. and where it all the time(work,play to dinner )  The jacket anyhow.It held up well under my 4th gear low side. No brush burns,pads in all the right places. They should fit you snug,but leave enough room for a hard shell back protector. You might not need it now for a street school but that may lead to more hard core drugs ( I mean riding). They probably rent leather at the course you want to take,they rent Vanson @ Fasttrax. I think they have a different brand @ Rd Atlanta. But its nice to have a set of your own. You don't have to fall, its nice for bad weather too. ( And you never know when you have to to a formal atire event)

[PitterB4]

I'll third the New Enough remarks.  Great people and good deals.  Plus, they also give you some real-world comentary on fit and features for almost every item they sell.  

I think most of the big brands make decent stuff.  I've got a good bit of wear out of my Teknic stuff.  I like it.  

Other features to consider:

Perforated or solid?

What kind of armor is included - hard or dual density?

Cowhide or 'roo?

[jbrough7]

Don't forget chaps!  Gotta have chaps.

With conchos and fringe!

You're always dissing conchos!  What have you got against conchos?  

Don't you think they have a right to live and pursue happiness?

Some of my best friends are conchos and I know they don't appreciate your remarks.

Some of my best friends are on the fringes, too!  What the heck!!??!!

[Sven]

Let's turn the ol' webcam on Herb and see what *he's* wearing today.  Oh my...

[jeepskate99]

The cost of leathers has nothing to do with the quality.  Look for CE approved suits.  NOT CE approved armor but the whole suit.  And remember "cheap" leahters are better than "great" textiles.  A cheap leather will protect you once.  A good Vanson or Spidi suit will last through more than one get-off.  But cheap leathers will do the job.  
    Also new enough has great deals.  Just got a brand new pair of Sidi Vertebra Race boots for 250 to my door.

[curiousmike]

The cost of leathers has nothing to do with the quality.

I disagree.  If you look at the construction of a quality set of leathers, you'll notice more than just the cowhide thickness.  You'll notice how the seams are put togther.  And ( as you eluded to ) the armor.

A cheap leather will protect you once.

This sorta goes against what you said up above.
And I will again disagree with this statement.  A cheap pair of leathers can burst at the seams upon first impact, leaving you exposed, which is no better than riding in your underwear.

But cheap leathers will do the job.

You meant to say, "But cheap leathers will do the job if you're lucky."

[speedytriple]

before you rant anymore about vansons, a racer buddy of mine who had on a set of full perf vansons went down and they burst his hip now has a very nice deep purple scar from his vansons. so price does not always determine safety. i would say go with a two peice not perf pants, and only part on the jacket full perf have a habit of splitting.

mike

[jeepskate99]

The cost of leathers has nothing to do with the quality.

I disagree.  If you look at the construction of a quality set of leathers, you'll notice more than just the cowhide thickness.  You'll notice how the seams are put togther.  And ( as you eluded to ) the armor.

A cheap leather will protect you once.

This sorta goes against what you said up above.
And I will again disagree with this statement.  A cheap pair of leathers can burst at the seams upon first impact, leaving you exposed, which is no better than riding in your underwear.

But cheap leathers will do the job.

You meant to say, "But cheap leathers will do the job if you're lucky."

All of this comes down to CE APPROVED SUIT.  They can be found cheap (under 600 dollars), and this rating assures the quality of the seams AND leather.  Many only use CE approved armor and that is why I told  the nice man to look for the suit to be approved as well.  So now I am glad I cleared that up.  

[mike]

Leather riding gear deals:
http://www.motorcyclecloseouts.com/prod_category.asp?ManId=149
http://www.newenough.com/product_group_closeout_leather.htm
http://www.newenough.com/product_department_mens.htm

[IcyChaos]

I want to go to track day. Probably road atlanta.
Spent 6 weeks getting to know my bandit, been riding since I was 6 years old, raced mx, hit the street at 16 on 1970 sportster 1000, been riding cruisers for 2 decades, owned a nighthawk 750 for about 3 years now.

Now I am told I must have leathers.
I own a textile, full cs armored jacket, race grade shoei helmet, textile armored riding pants and gauntlet style gloves, but friends say the track says leather or no ride.

I am 6 foot 2, 240 pounds, 36-38 waist, 52-54 chest, short legs 32, whos leathers do you wear?
Do you like them?
Do they fit big guys with stump legs?
Do you wear one piece or two?

I shop chaparral, denis kirk, motorcycle closeouts etc, whos got the deals?

I appreciate all the help thanks, everybody have a safe weekend, especially the USA based riders on this holiday weekend.

Keving look into the organization running the track day. Some don't require leathers at all, hell NESBS supposably lets you wear street clothes on the track. My buddy has a textile suit, 2 piece, and has done 3 track days. 2 with Ed Bargy, 1 with NESBA.

Another alternative is renting a suit,  sportbiketime rents suits for $75 I believe,  Nesba had alpinestars suits for $50 last week here.

look further into the tracl day your doing. you may want to consider going on a different day with a different group. I do however suggest full leathers, I would try to rent a suit if possible.

[texasbandit]

I raced Vintage for a few years - bought a cheap (Akito) one-piece set and added a high quality back protector.  It never got tested, but it is one solid suit and would be fine to find out if you like playing on a track.