Recommend Me some leathers.

Can't comment on RST as my leathers are Spyke. I wear a back protector and it's irritating that the 'tail' of the back protector fouls the zip that zips the 2 piece together, meaning that I can't easily do it up. So if you have a back protector, take it with you when you try on the kit.

[yorkie_chris]

I've got some teknic pants and am impressed with their quality. The akito gloves I had seemed ok (bought in late 90's?), didn't stop my wrist getting smashed to bits though.
Belstaff gear, jacket is excellent but the pants seem to have the weakest stitching in the hardest hit areas.

Originally Posted by Lozzo

Personally I wouldn't touch RST, Alpinestars or Dainese. If you're looking for affordable good quality in the 200 to 300 quid bracket then have a look at Teknic, Hein Gericke and, believe it or not, Akito. Above all, avoid anything made by Frank Thomas, Bikezone, Lewis Leathers and BKS (now owned by Frank Thomas and making some awful cheap crap with BKS badging) their returns department is the busiest team in the bike clothing business. FT quality is absolutely dire and to be avioded at all costs.

Gericke isn't as well made as it once was but is still good. the Teknic stuff I've seen has been surprisingly good for the money. Akito have had a major turn around in quality - once upon a time it was awful cheap rubbish, but they have had a long hard look at what they do and made significant changes to their manufacturing and quality control. The upside is that prices are still on the affordable side.

If you search through the forum you'll see plenty of examples of why I wouldn't touch Dainese or A/stars stuff. I've looked at RST and to be honest I am not at all impressed. Leather quality is poor and the stitching is not sufficiently strong enough to withstand a heavy impact.

You have to remember that there is a safety standard applicable to motorcycle clothing. If the garment you are looking at does not bear the CE label then it is not a safety item and can be of any shoddy quality - treat these types of garment as fashion clothing, nothing more, nothing less. You'll see big bright 'CE Approved', labels on just about every piece of bike clothing, but this usually only applies to the armour inside, the garment the armour is in could possibly fall apart in a 5mph crash. Unless you're paying upwards of £1000 for a leather suit, it will not be CE approved as safety clothing.

This advice is worth exactly what you're paying for it, but bear in mind motorcycle clothing/helmet sales, design and development was my bread and butter for a fair few years.

May have a look around at these recommendations. Thanks all.

A bit late I know, but £200 would barely even buy decent leather (roo) let alone the stitching.
I stopped wearing leather a few years ago, but I was happy enough to wear one-piece under a textile jacket so that I didn't look too silly on the street. The over-riding factor should be safety anyway.

Cheers

I have an Arlen Ness twosie and it's fantastic, I feel great in it and it's crashed pretty well (little tear in the stretch panel above the knee).

Originally Posted by Balky001

Lozzo (or anyone else that may have had Wolf), as it's free what's you opinion on Wolf m2m 1 piece? The local Harpers do some nice looking Wolf leathers and they seem pretty good but I've not heard of anyone whose has actually owned a set or what the quality of the stitching or leather is like.

Top quality kit fom what I've seen. I have a UK made Wolf jacket I bought in 1980 - it's been crashed in so many times I've forgotten. It's still in one piece and looks great.

Their newer stuff looks equally as well made.

Originally Posted by mike_avfc

Since when have Gericke had a tie-up with Barbie dolls?

Nice pink colour

Originally Posted by Lozzo

Since when have Gericke had a tie-up with Barbie dolls?

Nice pink colour

Hovis' next jacket, perhaps?

What issues have people had with Alpinestars leathers? Mine are Alpinestars - never crashed but still all there after 3 years at least, lol. I haven't compared the stitching to other leathers though, I'll try and remember when I next use them

one to avoid. i crashed in IXS leathers and they didnt fair well. burst the shoulder and tore the **** out of them