Motorcycle Leathers
Motorcycle leathers actually originate from tank corps gear just after World War I, and today are probably one of the most atypical associations made with the riding culture. There is a very logical reason for this -leathers offer some of the best abrasion, impact and puncture protection all of available riding materials. The most common leather used for riding is cowhide because of it’s well known strength and durability. Buffalo hide, is also an increasingly popular leather made from the water buffalos found in Asia.
Ever thought of designing your own leathers?
Learn all about motorcycle leathers in the following sections:
- The types of motorcycle leathers
- Tips on maintaining and buying leathers
- Where to buy NOTE: You can actually buy your leathers in this section!
- Mens and Ladies Motorcycle Leathers Size Conversions
Types of Motorcycle Leathers
You have a choice between buying one piece leathers or two piece leathers.
One Piece Leathers
Think of the one piece as a jump suit made of leather. One piece motorcycle leathers are tighter and more colourful suits first adopted by the café racers in Europe. (Read more here about Café racers.) One Piece Leathers offer the best form of protection and on most track days this is required as standard.
The suit should be made from large panels of leather and the graphic should not be patchworked in, but rather stitched over the top.
Two Piece Leathers
Two Piece Leathers offer similar protection to a one piece, except you would connect the trousers to the jacket with a zip. Some have a zip that fastens approximately 60% of the way around the waste, and others have a shorter connecting zip. he danger here is if you are in an accident, the zip could break. The best feature of the two piece suit is its versatility
Tips for Buying and Maintaining Motorcycle Leathers
- There is a wide range of materials that can be used in making leathers, from all leather, to part leather/textile, but nothing compares to the abrasion resistance of leather
- It is important to check that the suit has armour in all the crucial areas when buying motorcycle leathers, like the elbows, shoulder and back
- The armour should be CE approved plastic, but if your budget does not allow for this, aim at least for hardened (high density) foam. Some areas may have reinforced leather
- The same goes for trousers where the armour should be on the hips, backside knees and shins
- Ensure that your leathers have double or triple stitching
- The seams on the shoulders, hips, knees, back and butt should be protected with reinforced panels in the case of the stitching coming apart on the road
- Knees and shins should have two layers of leather, Keprotec or Kevlar
- Slider patches should be large enough to let you move them around according to your body type
- Bright coloured gear is not going to do you any harm, however if you do have all black gear, consider buying a high visibility jacket, especially if you are going to be riding at night
- Your leathers should last minimum 3 years, but good quality leathers will be on your back for over a decade
- If you are going to be doing lots of winter biking, try and find a jacket with side laces that will allow you to tighten it for a more snug fit when it gets cold
- You can also wear a leather vest underneath your motorcycle for extra warmth
- For predominantly summer riding, a leather motorcycle jacket with air vents will allow your body to breathe better
- For all season riding, I would recommend finding jackets that have zip air vents or a removable insulated lining
- Think about wearing a rain suit over your leathers in wet weather as water depletes the natural oils, but if your leathers do get soaked (hey – it’s going to happen no matter how prepared you are!) allow them to dry naturally
- Removable linings are really useful, but make sure that they are fastened securely and don't come off with your suit!
- You will need to send your leathers to the cleaner every so often depending on use. (I send mine to the cleaners about every 6 months)
- I would suggest that you buy some mink oil to oil your motorcycle leathers when they start to look a little dull. This will not only give them their luster back, but it will also increases the lifespan of the leathers quite drastically by supplementing the natural oils lost by exposure to the elements – namely water
- Leathers can cost anywhere from £200 - £1000
Recommended
Suppliers
Where to Buy Motorcycle Leathers
- SPORTS BIKE SHOP have a great selection of mens and ladies motorcycle leathers and you can search their product listings by make
- Weise Leather Jeans (Prices range from £99.99 - £149.99)
- RST 1 Piece Leathers (Prices range from £299.99 - £399.99)
- RST 2 Piece Leathers (Prices range from £119.99 - £299.99)
- RST Ladies 2 Piece Leathers (Prices at £129.99)
- Texport Leather Suits (Prices range from £249.99 - £399.99)
- Texport Mens Leather Jacket and Jeans (Prices range from £99.99 - £119.99)
- GET GEARED also have a diverse selection of leathers. They offer the following makes; VANUCCI, PROBIKER, STREETFIGHTER, MADHEAD, CAFE RACER, AJS and HIGHWAY. You can search their product listings by the following categories:
- Sports Motorcycle Leathers (Prices range from £94.99 - £399.98)
- Classic Motorcycle Leathers (Prices range from £49.95 - £209.98)
- Custom and Streetfighter Motorbike Leathers (Prices range from £29.99 - £179.99)
- Leather Combinations (Prices range from £209.98 - £399.98)
- Leather Accessories (Prices range from £9.99 - £24.99)
- BECONI specialise in tailoring custom made leathers to match your exact measurements. They will do any colour or design you specify at a competitive price. Beconi can make:
- One Piece Suits (Price: £499)
- Two Piece Suits (Price: £499)
- Jackets (Price: £299)
- Trousers (Price: £299)
Don’t cut corners with this one – your motorcycle leathers could be with you for a lifetime.
Motorcycle Leathers Size Conversions
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