Frank Thomas Leathers - any good?

[yorkie_chris]

I would advise buying some secondhand teknics or something rather than alpinestars and definitely frank thomas.

Buy some new ones when you've got some more cash.

HG leather is good, but the zips seem a little lacking in the long wearing dept.

It's the only thing that seems to let HG down- fasteners.

I had some popper issues with the Tricky jacket I bought- wasn't put through the whole shell- so ripped off! Two jackets did that then I swapped them for an Oxan jacket.

Now the inner front zip has gone and the connecting zip to the Tricky trousers has gone (I also had the fly zip replaced on the trousers). They also seem to make the connecting zips different lengths on the same size number for trousers and jackets too- no idea why... (had half baked excuses from otherwise very helpful staff- I can understand why- ie company loyalty- but not why the zips are actually made that way!)

Other than that- the jacket is great- it's a waterproof lined jacket too, so good for all year round and very warm. (not sure what their track style stuff is like though).

Originally Posted by L3nny

Don't want to hijack this thread but I have heard a lot of bad things on this forum re Alpinestars and I am not sure why.

All the kit I have is A*, I didn't buy it cause I am a label tart, I got it because I like the look of it and it fits well.

I had a set of HG leathers before and they don't seem any better the A* ones I have now, there is a lot more armour in the A* stuff as well.

A* stuff is expensive and if buying new it's probably not worth the extra but I got mine second hand off Ebay for a third of the new price.

My advice would be to go to a lot of shops and try a lot of stuff on, if you can afford and/or you get a good deal buy if from the shop if not see if you can get it second hand.

Not sure what size you are but if you are after some cheap gear click the link in my sig. I am open to offers.

I wouldn't stress about it - everyone has an opinion! At various trackdays and club meetings, I have seen pretty much every brand of leathers chucked down the road and not a single pair failed and didn't protect the rider.

The only time I saw serious wear was after a guy lowsided. It was less to do with the brand and more that the guy was a bean pole and his leathers far too baggy. Where he had slid, the folds in the leathers had created a focus point for the friction from sliding and worn straight through. Had they been better fitting, it would have dissipated over a larger surface area.

All this long winded waffle is simply me saying, I'd take good fitting brand X over badly fitting brand Y, regardless of cost or image!

i got a full set of shoei leather for 50 quid of ebay they are mint

Originally Posted by lukemillar

I wouldn't stress about it - everyone has an opinion! At various trackdays and club meetings, I have seen pretty much every brand of leathers chucked down the road and not a single pair failed and didn't protect the rider.

I watched a guy's newish Dainese suit unravel itself from his body like a toilet roll during a 90ish mph crash at Mallory. When I've been working in my mates bike kit shop I've seen numerous expensive Italian leathers with enormous wear holes and burst stitching. That's pretty much what puts me off the Italian makes

It's seeing things like that, and watching a lot of KRC endurance racing that prompted me to buy my MJKs. I've watched the same guy fall off three times in one 6 hour race at Donington and push the bike back to the pits with barely a scuff on his MJKs

Havin read all teh replies, thanks very much btw
im now debating hanging on for a month or so and maybe getting some hideout leathers, made to measure (as im far to skinny and alot of off teh peg stuff dont fit or has to be specially ordered in, resulting in a rather ridiculus price tag over stock)
plus i get a pay rise at teh end of april, meaning i can afford more

Originally Posted by ChrisSV

Havin read all teh replies, thanks very much btw
im now debating hanging on for a month or so and maybe getting some hideout leathers, made to measure (as im far to skinny and alot of off teh peg stuff dont fit or has to be specially ordered in, resulting in a rather ridiculus price tag over stock)
plus i get a pay rise at teh end of april, meaning i can afford more

Have to say, made to measure is definitely the way to go (if you can afford it) - especially if you are ungenerically sized!

Good leathers last for ages, so see it as an investment

I am doin, i want them to last for ages, and do there job properly should it ever be needed.
and i am rather odd sized, i didnt really realise how odd i was until i started trying on loadsa different leathers, and such like, tis a bit fustrating tbh, but ahhh well.

Sorry to steal this thread but do you know if Richa leathers are any good?

[johnnyrod]

Dunno to be honest. I echo the thoughts above on FT, A* etc. Mate you're not a million miles away from Gearchange in S****horpe (about 2 hours I guess, if it helps), they're dirt cheap and have loads of stuff. I got a 1-piece Clover suit that I immediately crashed in and it's the dogs, my Fieldsheers would have been ripped off my ass. There are some very different proprtions so worth trying a few on, some of the suits nearly cut me in half. Made to measure is always the best, but it costs!