Dilemma : Full Leathers/Textile

[Welsh_Wizard]

Hi,

Want to invest in a proper set of either leathers or a textile suit.

What are the pro's and con's of either?

How cold do you get in the winter in leathers?

Is it just going to be a preference thing or is there tangible benefits to either/or ??

cheers,

Wiz..

[yorkie_chris]

So far been fine in leathers, I just stick a big fleece over the top of my jacket or waterproofs if its that bad.
Having worn various goretex stuff when I had the 125, I reckon im warmer in leathers with seperate waterproofs than I was in the textiles, The downside being full waterproofs are a right pain to get on and off and get into for keys/fags/mp3/wallet etc.

[hovis]

2 piece leathers

& waterproof oversuit (£12 lidls)

[yorkie_chris]

When my draggin jeans arrive Ill let you know how they do, sick of getting changed or having sweaty nuts in lectures.
I do about 20 miles each way, so not really worth an extra 10 minutes to get changed.

[northwind]

I love my textiles... Leather's more protective but not when the temperature drops below zero and your bits drop off. I wouldn't be without my bomb-proof Belstaff Celsius jacket in midwinter, I've never been cold in it. I do own a very warm Furygan leather jacket with an aluminised layer in it, but even with waterproofs over it it's just plain not warm enough for proper cold riding if you ask me.

Leather trousers and textile jacket is a popular choice though, since you tend to take more impacts and slides on the legs than the upper body, and since keeping your torso warm is most important. But I wear my textiles over work clothes for commuting so that doesn't work so well for me.

If you do get textiles, you want them fully armoured- not just knees, hips too, the textile layers alone aren't very impact resistant. Teknics Sprint 2 are very good IMO, mine were £100, never leaked, came with proper knox armour (though I think I had to add the hip panels, the pockets were the right shape for it) and stood up well to a crash too.

Goretex is like voodoo for bikers, fantastic stuff, but it does cost.

[454697819]

Textiles all the way..

Wet? stick em on the radiator-

Dirty- Washing machine -

Need extra water proof - spray with nickwax

crash - impact ce armour...

Cold.. stick the fleece liner back in

Warm - take out fleece liner and undo all the vent zips

I have never had leathers and cant see me doing...

will swap to draggin jeans or simmillar when i can...

[gettin2dizzy]

Decent textiles are ace. I never really wear my leathers unless going for a hoon (and what a good summer for it this year... hmmmz). Draggin jeans are great for hot hot weather, popping to the shops and a wet crotch.

[fizzwheel]

If you're gonig to ride through winter then IMHO get textiles, If you can afford it get something with Goretex and look after them properly.

Leather does give more protection, but thats no use on a freezing cold wet day, riding when your cold and wet is no fun and you're just as likely to have an accident when your cold and wet because your cold and wet and tired and not paying attention properly.

But if you're gonig to down the leathers route then IMHO dont bother getting cheap leathers they are a false economy, spend out a little more and get something thats decent ( dont assume named brands are decent ) and make sure they fit properly.

If your new to riding and its your first set of gear, then get textiles, you can always get leathers later on if you want to.

[Pedro68]

Textiles for commuting now. Leathers for the weekend and the odd bimble.

Reasons?

Textiles go over my "office clothes" easier and more snugly than leathers.
With the leathers I'd have to carry shirt/trousers in rucksack and wear just a t-shirt. Then it's 5-10 mins to get changed when I get to work. In textiles I just take them off and stick my shoes on :)

As per a prev. post also ... textiles are good in summer - they are lighter than leathers, and you can take the fleece linings out.

I have Scott Leathers textile trousers which have knee and hip armour and they have protected me in a low-speed (<40mph) spill. Also have an Ixxon Ranger jacket that is in need of repair thanks to my 2nd off. However, it's still warm, and still waterproof :)

When I started out and thought about getting myself kitted out, I budgeted for leathers AND textiles, but cos I started last October, I decided to just get the textiles (for the winter) and to get my leathers when the weather got better. So depends on what your budget is and whether you intend getting just one, or both?

Just because leather looks nicer and is thicker and better protection (allegedly) doesn't necessarily mean that it will be more expensive. Although my leathers cost me TWICE what I paid for my textiles. I wanted the sort of "not quite budget, but still fairly decent" textiles, and they cost me £220 (100 for the trousers, 120 for the jacket). However you could go right to the other end of the scale and spend > £1,000 on a set of Rukka textiles (but by god you'd be more than happy with them ;-))

Also, if your budget will stretch to it, then why not consider both? I'm sure you can probably get "end of season" or "last seasons colours" fairly cheap in some places, so if ya not too bothered about having the latest gear, might be worth considering ;-)

HTH,
Pete

[thor]

My take is this. When in my textiles I don't care if it rains. I just keep riding. Hence I tend to wear them in winter. Therefore they are slightly larger so I can get more clothes under them. My leathers I have for summer and track days. I have a leather jacket with zip out panels. The zips let air through even when cold so I can't wear them even in the autumn. Therefore I just put them away when the winter comes. Sames goes for my boots and a gloves. Vented race type stuff for summer, and water proof textile stuff for winter.

[G]

Everyone above has pretty much summed it up.

I have textiles for commuting, bimbling about and general rides, they are good for when its cold, damp and wet.

I have leather for when I know I will be riding 'more progresively' and generally at high risk of doing myself an injury.

As it turn out the latter is not very often and mainly during 3 months of the year. Meaning textiles for the other 9 months and bimbles during the other 3 months.

I would say get yourself some textiles, unless you are definately going to be going on tracks often.

[Welsh_Wizard]

cheers chaps, wicked advice..

[Alpinestarhero]

2 piece leathers

& waterproof oversuit (£12 lidls)

Keeps you warm as anything. Too warm, infact, if you continue to layer up like me.

Mind you, spada textiles are also mega toasty, and you dont have to wrestle in and out of an oversuit. leathers always have ultimatly more protection though, but textiles hold up well under normal (legal) speeds from what others have experianced

Matt

[thor]

Whatever you get, make sure it zips together. Some jackets will have the other half of the zip attached so you can sew it on to the trousers yourself. Might be worth looking out for.

[Alpinestarhero]

Whatever you get, make sure it zips together. Some jackets will have the other half of the zip attached so you can sew it on to the trousers yourself. Might be worth looking out for.

Good point. And the zips arnt general across all manufactures I.e. alpinestars wont zip to dainese, spada wont zip to frank thomas etc etc

Matt

[thor]

Either way, a heavy duty zip doesn't cost much from your haberdashers.

[Ceri JC]

I see you're in Cardiff. Pop along to the Cardiff HG store, they are most helpful. As others have said, if you commute and ride all year round I'd go for textiles. If you just ride for pleasure when it's nice, I'd go for leathers.

[Welsh_Wizard]

yeah, going for a quick sneak into HG and Bevan's this weekend to see what is about.. Also going to take the Egg card up the motorcycle show methinks too :smt077

[sarah]

yeah, going for a quick sneak into HG and Bevan's this weekend to see what is about.. Also going to take the Egg card up the motorcycle show methinks too :smt077

There's Infinity in Cardiff too and South Wales Superbikes in Newport. If you get anything from Infinity ask them to give it to you for the online price as it's cheaper.

[ooger]

If you get anything from Infinity ask them to give it to you for the online price as it's cheaper.

I was wondering about this - I live close to the shop, but can't be bothered to wait for shipping - or pay the postage for that matter! :D


Surely you can't do this ..... can you? Has anyone else?

[sarah]

I was wondering about this - I live close to the shop, but can't be bothered to wait for shipping - or pay the postage for that matter! :D


Surely you can't do this ..... can you? Has anyone else?

Went there a few weeks ago and got Sidi black rains for the online price. Has to be worth asking. Infinity are in financial difficulties at the moment (http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/mcn/2007/October/october8-14/oct1207infinitymotorcyclesupforsale/)I think so they are prob desperate to sell anything.

[Welsh_Wizard]

Where's Infinity too in Cardiff ??

[Ashy]

2 piece Akito leathers (with armour and junk) and a waterproof overall. In the p*ssing rain, a couple of carrier bags over your boots before you put the overall on will keep your feet dry.

Another tip; When putting waterproof trousers on over boots, put plastic bags over them. AMAZING how much easier it is.

[sarah]

Where's Infinity too in Cardiff ??

http://www.infinitymotorcycles.com/images/maps/Cardiff.JPG

It's easy to miss, the sign is rubbish.

[Welsh_Wizard]

oh i know it.. down by the aston martin garage isn't it.. cheers.

[hovis]

Went there a few weeks ago and got Sidi black rains for the online price. Has to be worth asking. Infinity are in financial difficulties at the moment (http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/mcn/2007/October/october8-14/oct1207infinitymotorcyclesupforsale/)I think so they are prob desperate to sell anything. how much did u save?

Where's Infinity too in Cardiff ??

oppersite the old porshe garage inbetween gabalfer flyover & maindy pool

[sarah]

oh i know it.. down by the aston martin garage isn't it.. cheers.

Might be worth giving them a ring to check if they are open as that article from MCN said that they had been closed for stock taking.

[sarah]

how much did u save?



£20 I think

[hovis]

if i dont go to westo beach race, im going to bike shops

[jumjum_0214]

Hi mate,

I too am still having the leather textile debate. Ive been looking at some leather textile mix clothing recently.

They seem pretty good from what i can see. Leather on the vulnerable areas like elbows/shoulders/knees/bum and textile in the not so vulnerable areas.

Have a look at Richa Viper on google. Alpinestars also do a nice pair of trousers but i dont know the name.

Best of both worlds.

[sarah]

Hi mate,

I too am still having the leather textile debate. Ive been looking at some leather textile mix clothing recently.

They seem pretty good from what i can see. Leather on the vulnerable areas like elbows/shoulders/knees/bum and textile in the not so vulnerable areas.

Have a look at Richa Viper on google. Alpinestars also do a nice pair of trousers but i dont know the name.

Best of both worlds.

My trousers are leather and textile, but aren't remotely waterproof so don't have the advantage of waterproof textiles but are very comfy. I just wear waterproofs over my trousers if it's wet or cold.

[Mogs]

Leather is obviously the better option in any accident (or racers wouldn't use them), but theres a compromise to be made, leather and waterproofs or textiles. If you're on a budget I'd go for the 2 part leathers and cheap one piece waterproofs. I've got all textiles and leather trousers. I find that the textile top and leather trousers work best for me with on piece overalls for the wet.

[Ceri JC]

http://www.infinitymotorcycles.com/images/maps/Cardiff.JPG

It's easy to miss, the sign is rubbish.

Oooh! didn't know there was one there (well done infinity's marketing dept! ;)). Ta.

[sarah]

Oooh! didn't know there was one there (well done infinity's marketing dept! ;)). Ta.

It's relatively new and like I said before the signage outside is awful so it's really easy to miss

[timwilky]

What is with you lot, riding motorcycles after the end of September. Next you will be bragging that you also ride them during the week.

I have never heard such outrageous boasting. My power ranger suit only comes out at weekends and then only when the temperature exceeds 20°C.

[northwind]

My take is this. When in my textiles I don't care if it rains. I just keep riding. Hence I tend to wear them in winter.

Ah, that's it in a nutshell. On the way up to aviemore the other week we got caught in a wee bit of a downpour, everyone else spends five minutes fighting their way into waterproofs, I just had to pull on a jacket over my leather jacket. If I'd worn my textile jacket as originally planned I wouldn't have even had to stop, other than to watch people do the Waterproof Dance. I really don't like waterproofs, they're sweaty in warm wet weather, they can puff up, and they're a hassle to carry around.

By the way, if you want waterproof trousers, don't buy bike-specifics IMO, one pair of mine are from a camping shop and work as well as the Ride-magazine winning bike specific pair I have, and cost 1/6th as much. Or, there's an Ebay army surplus place that sells thin goretex overtrousers, that'd be a good choice.

[Ceri JC]

By the way, if you want waterproof trousers, don't buy bike-specifics IMO, one pair of mine are from a camping shop and work as well as the Ride-magazine winning bike specific pair I have, and cost 1/6th as much. Or, there's an Ebay army surplus place that sells thin goretex overtrousers, that'd be a good choice.

+1

As with most things bike-related where you can buy stuff for other outdoor pursuits, the bike stuff is generally fragile, overpriced and crucially, not very waterproof, when compared to the hiking/camping/canoeing equivalents.

[Draper]

2 piece leathers and about to get a cheap waterproof suit or a black plastic bag 8-[

210 quid Dainese off ebay, right size, colour, all the armour, mint condition

oh and did someone say the armour in textiles is an advantage?

[Paws]

textiles for winter etc
leathers for summer and the odd blat