leather riding gear?

[lightfighter]

ok, oh fast ones...

so I am down to one bike. If i cant get there on the GS, I dont wanna go. for now.

but I am working on securing a second pair of wheels for the pig so i can have 80's on wire and street( and track) tires on cast wheels. Partly cuz they built a track nearby and they have $155 track days.

now, this particular track day will let me ride in my R2P enduro suit, IF i send it off and pay $150 to have a 360 zipper put in. so thats an option.

but im thinking maybe i want leathers. but i have lots of 'requirements'.

1. two piece, so i can take off the jacket and so i can use the jacket alone.

2. the less they look like racer X, the better, im not going to be entering any GP events. but i do want something that would pass muster at other tracks should i evolve that direction.

3. targeting $1250. I wanted to say under a grand, but so far shopping says 1250.

so does anyone have any suggestions?

Im looking at vanson challenger 2 jacket(or the mark 2 cobra) and sport pants or tech pants. comments on that?

MARK 2 COBRA - COB2
http://www.vansonleathers.com/dw/prod/jacket/cav2.html

also looking at alpinstars RC1 2 piece, which im pretty sure i wouldnt wanna wear riding the pacific coast.



1st track day i can make is oct 24th.

[jduke]

If you seriously think you'll do a lot of trackdays, go the one piece route.
Here's a set for under $600: Cortech Latigo Rr One Piece Leather Suit - RidersDiscount.com

[lightfighter]

hmmm... im actually pretty sure i wont do more than a couple a year, which is why id like somthing that can serve touring and daytrip duty as well, but at $512, thats not a bad option. I assume you mean to say those entry level type suits are of reasonable quality and protective abilities?

[jduke]

To me a one piece is a trackday suit. When mine "shrunk" I replaced it with a two piece and haven't regretted it once. Plus with a BMW I'm a little more careful about the corners than on a bike my brother and I put together for trackdays....

[lightfighter]

shrunk... yeah, im afraid of "shrinkage" too! but ive managed to hold off shape changes so far.

[AZ-Twin]

Brian, have you been to the cycle gear in Tucson? Might be worth it just to try some stuff on.

[lightfighter]

hadnt thought of it. i guess im entrenched in web shopping from too many years of small town living. just called them, they have dianese and frank thomas stuff.

[GotRoad?]

My FT summer riding jacket


Fall/Winter Jacket


+ Pants for track days or for when I'm feelin bad


Got my gear used (off a former board member who bought it all new then got out of biking before wearing it more than a couple of times). High quality & very comfortable. The more I wear it the better it fits. Look around at places like newenough & ebay

the Vanson stuff uses a 3 piece & not a circumferential zipper system, if that matter to you.

[lightfighter]

Originally Posted by GotRoad?

the Vanson stuff uses a 3 piece & not a circumferential zipper system, if that matter to you.

the TI2TT guys are ok with that zipper arrangement, i havent asked anyone else. I want to believe they will take it, but planned to check before i buy anything.

[lightfighter]

is the difference between perforated and nonperf sleeves that great or does the non perf also have a liner?

its hot here more than not. this would be alot easier if i wasnt trying to wring multiple purposes out of everything i own!

come to think of it, rob looked kinda warm in his leather stuff when we hit Moab last year.

[GotRoad?]

The full perf is a lot cooler than partial perf jacket which also zippered sleeve and back vents. The perf frontal area can be covered from the inside with a zippable insert. If I lived in S. Arizona, I would go with the full perf & wear a windproof liner underneath when needed.

[lightfighter]

did the waist size on those pants run true? i notice they have 1 inch increments, which is cool, since im an odd 37.

and if you happen to have tried on BMW sizes, would you think that their sizing is close to that? In looking at charts, vanson calls me a 44, euro 54, which happens to be the size of my R2P, which fits nicely, if snug when wearing a sweater.

Originally Posted by GotRoad?

The full perf is a lot cooler than partial perf jacket which also zippered sleeve and back vents. The perf frontal area can be covered from the inside with a zippable insert. If I lived in S. Arizona, I would go with the full perf & wear a windproof liner underneath when needed.

[GotRoad?]

Yes, the sizes run true. There is about 2" of adjustment in the waist.

[bradzdotcom]

maybe an agvsport palomar two-piece leather suit in black?
Palomar 2-Piece Leather Suit - 2 Piece Racing Suits - MotoNation

or you can go with their variations of leather jackets (normal and perforated)
Leather Jackets - MotoNation

which zip up to the leather pants with the 360 zipper.
Leather Pants - MotoNation

[SpaceManSpiff]

I am tempted by the Aerostich Transit leathers.

Perforated leather treated with all kinds of fancy stuff backed Goretex Proshell. About $1450. Handy for all weather use and more versatile than a track-only type suit. Got a great review recently in Motorcyclist

[lightfighter]

That is on the list too actually. I amnleaning toward vanson or dianese, since I have got good phone support from vanson already and I can go to Tucson and try on the dianese stuff.

maybe an agvsport palomar two-piece leather suit in black?

Palomar 2-Piece Leather Suit - 2 Piece Racing Suits - MotoNation



or you can go with their variations of leather jackets (normal and perforated)

Leather Jackets - MotoNation



which zip up to the leather pants with the 360 zipper.

Leather Pants - MotoNation

[CoffeeGuy]

Originally Posted by SpaceManSpiff

I am tempted by the Aerostich Transit leathers.

FWIW, I watched a guy go down at 80mph in the Aerostitch Leathers. He was fine, and the leathers held up extremely well, save for some rubbing at the hip area.

I'm sure (I hope) the same can be true for other leathers, but I saw this firsthand and was impressed.

[AZ-Twin]

Originally Posted by lightfighter

is the difference between perforated and nonperf sleeves that great or does the non perf also have a liner?

its hot here more than not. this would be alot easier if i wasnt trying to wring multiple purposes out of everything i own!

come to think of it, rob looked kinda warm in his leather stuff when we hit Moab last year.

It was pretty hot in Moab last year. My jacket is perforated, and my pants are not. Perforated is the way to go for out here and some day when I get new leather gear jacket and pants will be perforated. While the perforated leather lets air in, it is not as drastic as a textile mesh jacket. I don't wear those because i get dehydrated very quickly. The perforated leather seems to let just enough air through to cool but without sucking all the moisture out of my body.

[lightfighter]

Damn if vanson doesn't have my size in stock. But, they can make them 'pretty soon'. 'pretty soon' is 2 months or more.

[blkduc1]

You can get a custom set that has a heavy-duty system to zip together that are allowed for track days. And they do work (don't ask how I am so sure).

Then, you have the jacket only if you want to go that route, or pair it with regular leather pants or synthetic perf pants, etc. I have a set of Z leathers. I have not priced them in a long time, and I am sure they would be more than you say you are looking to spend. But .... they last a long time if you keep the waist line in check . And you can design them to look any way you want, even basic black.

There are various makers besides Vanson and Z, of course, and you might find a good used set like GotRoad did. Just go ahead and get some really good quality, with good protection, that you like and that fit well. Good luck...

Those Aerostitch weather-proof leathers sound pretty darn good, too. Wouldn't mind having a set of those myself.......

dp