Frank Thomas goes bust !

Originally Posted by speedplay

Apart from the made in china tag sewn into the back

That must be a fairly recent thing, virtually none of the clothing I've ever looked at when I was selling the stuff had anything informing the customer where it was made. A/stars and Dainese certainly never used to after they shifted production from Romania and other eastern European factories to China and Pakistan.

You must be a rare creature, no-one I know ever looks at the labels unless it's to see what size they're trying on.

Originally Posted by Lozzo

You must be a rare creature, no-one I know ever looks at the labels unless it's to see what size they're trying on.

Mine was next to the size tag...

But I know a lot of stuff doesnt have the country of manufacture in it.

The A* boots that fell apart on me had to be sent to italy for their waranty people to inspect before anything would be done with them.
Odd really for a boot they had never seen before as it had come from Vietnam

Funnily enough, A/stars boots and gloves are normally very good quality, but their clothing is crap. I have a pair of A/star MX boots that I have abused on and off for about 7 years and they have held up well, and a few years ago I had some GP Plus or Pro (Can't remember which, but they had the carbon on the knuckles not the hard plastic) gloves that were fantastic until some low-life stole them. I fell off a couple of times in those gloves and they weren't even scuffed that badly.

Originally Posted by Lozzo

Funnily enough, A/stars boots and gloves are normally very good quality, but their clothing is crap. I have a pair of A/star MX boots that I have abused on and off for about 7 years and they have held up well, and a few years ago I had some GP Plus or Pro (Can't remember which, but they had the carbon on the knuckles not the hard plastic) gloves that were fantastic until some low-life stole them. I fell off a couple of times in those gloves and they weren't even scuffed that badly.

Yup I have a A/S boots, x2 gloves and x2 jackect textile and mesh and they have all been really good quality so far, I haven't crashed in them I don't want too but I have been happy with them. I dislike my jackect for two reason;

1 Around the neck, the collar isn't high enough.
2 Can't adjust the arms, no straps there which I would fins useful

I have washed my jackect twice with tech wash its still fine, and water proof. The rest of my gear Hein Gerkie and Draggin.

I've got 2 pairs of smx+ boots and they are fine although the smx5 I had, the sole ejected itself after 5k

Jeez can't believe ive missed this thread

Haven't owned any ft stuff so can't comment on it, have got alpinestars leathers though which I have had 2 years nearly and apart from a little stitching on a badge they are still top notch, I would also be reasonably confident they would hold up to a ar5e slide should the need arise.

Originally Posted by specialone

Jeez can't believe ive missed this thread

Haven't owned any ft stuff so can't comment on it, have got alpinestars leathers though which I have had 2 years nearly and apart from a little stitching on a badge they are still top notch, I would also be reasonably confident they would hold up to a ar5e slide should the need arise.

Let's hope you never have to find out

Time for a group hug

Originally Posted by reeder

Time for a group hug

Sod off ya bloody hippy

[dizzyblonde]

I think I bought some FT gloves when I first got into motosickles. I may as well have bought some sort of seive!

These days I much prefer to buy Halvarssons especially if they are bargains, as they can be expensive. Pete has always had Wolf gear until I persuaded him to go textile last year at the NEC and he picked Rukka troosers and jacket for half the price of what they should have been. I must admit I've always advocated Halvarssons as the dogs dangles, but Rukka are better still.
Some may say that the likes of Dianese are superb, but I've only ever known the suits to be shoddy, and only those at the real high end of their products to actually be of any use as protection. . . ie they don't split at the seams or unstitch when put under pressure.

To be perfectly fair, you can get crap or good stuff from whatever brand you choose, theres always those items that were sewn up and QC'd on a Friday afternoon by a blind dwarf!

I'm sure there are many that are satisfied with their budget FT clothing, and perhaps its all they can afford, but for me I won't loose sleep if they fold, as I save up the pennies and buy bike gear that actually works.
Halvarssons jacket and gloves, crash tested by moi, not a scratch...lives for another two (not that I'd like to do that) also my budget Richa monsoon pants were surprisingly unscathed. Wouldn't even like to feel safe in FT clothing at a 5mph roll!