Thoughts on BKS (not custom) Leathers?

I've been looking around for a one piece suit and ended up trying on the BKS Sphinx in J&S Acc in Brum, it fitted brilliantly with nice big stretch panels in all the right places. I've tried on a few other A* and Dainese suits but thought this BKS one was brill, only thing is the price and that I have heard a few iffy things about the new BKS, anyone had much experience with them?

Cheers,
Peter

BKS are Frank Thomas now and their quality has gone down (so has the price).

My BKS Silverstone suit is now 2 yrs old and no issues at all, no fraying, no missed stiching very well made.

My mate bought one in the George White sale about 4 weeks ago, fitted in the shop but not on the bike. As he had done 4 race laps George White wouldn't exchange them (after lots of faffing around).

He took them to our local bike leather alterations shop JOYDA who told them they are rebadged Frank Thomas as they come from the same stable and they arent too bad but not great.

They did say stay away from Alpinestars for a while now and very recently Arlen Ness as they have lowered there quality very recently.

They do rate my Hein Gericke leathers when I got them altered but they are about 5 years old now.

I thought Frank Thomas went bust and they are now owned by J&S Accessories?

From MCN

"The Thomas Group is parent to the Motrax, Frank Thomas and BKS off-the-peg brands, and has been in administration since late-January"

[peterco]

Originally Posted by hardhat_harry

From MCN

"The Thomas Group is parent to the Motrax, Frank Thomas and BKS off-the-peg brands, and has been in administration since late-January"

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About Frank Thomas


J&S Accessories acquired the Frank Thomas brand in February 2011. The brand has been established for 30 years and is at the pinnacle of the motorcycle industry. Frank Thomas continues a tradition of craftsmanship and excellence with exemplary design and fantastic quality of manufacture; we have added a speedy distribution service that covers all of the UK. With each product our aim is to combine excellent design with serious functionality.

We are proud to be able to provide our fellow riders with high quality riding kit at a sensible price. Frank Thomas products are available in all of our 12 J&S Accessories stores as well as our Internet shop; we also have a major National dealer network which has over 50 dealers. Check out our range today, you won’t be disappointed.

Yes I know that Frank Thomas was bought by J&S as well as Motrax, I assume the BKS off the peg brand was taken by them as well.

[Wideboy]

Originally Posted by SUPERSTARDJ01

My BKS Silverstone suit is now 2 yrs old and no issues at all, no fraying, no missed stiching very well made.

+1 same suit, got my suit nearly 3 years ago with the silverstone gloves, im guessing soon after they went over to frank thomas as most people started slagging them off. i treat mine like crap (literally), never been cleaned, out in all conditions including snow, been over a car bonnet and down the road in the jacket and gloves with barely a mark on either..... despite all that the only problem with them now is my gut has increased alot so i struggle to get in them but im going to shift that as they are still **** awesome leathers.

it was between that and a dainese suit but the BKW felt to have alot thicker material as well as thicker armour. The silverstone gloves are the thickest and most rigid I've worn personally, not everyones cup of tea but i like that

if you can find a good quality suit second hand or before twonk thomas got their mits on them its worth it

Thick leather does not always equate to good leather. You can get some horrendous quality thick leather and some exceptionally good thin leather. Same goes for armour - you could have a 2 inch thick piece of crap armour between you and the tarmac, it'll perform worse than a 1/4 inch of good quality stuff.

As soon as BKS sold out to FT the quality of the leathers went down the toilet as production stopped being primarily made to measure and everything available in the shops was made in Pakistani and Chinese sweatshops alongside all the other FT rubbish. Lots of people were fooled by James Toseland wearing a suit identical to those on sale in the shops, but the two were very different (he wouldn't have got on a bicycle wearing an off the peg BKS suit). Brian Samson, formerly of BKS, pretty much only supplies the emergency services now.