| Author | Message | ||
     Lemonchili_x1 |
Looks like I'm doing my first track in 10 years in November... Woohooo!!!!  (I'm looking forward to it just a little!) I'm on the hunt for some "good value" 2-pc leathers and boots. I'm looking for something which includes back armour/padding and sliders (I'll get my knee down one day). The leathers I've found here so far which seem ok are around the AU$400 region. Any suggestions on features or brands to look for? With our exchange rate being very healthy at the moment, any suggestions on U.S. suppliers? Any of the sponsors here? cheers, chili | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
Why are you set on 2-piece? I ordered a 2 piece teknic chicane suit from sportbiketrackgear a couple years ago and if I had it to do over again, I'd go with a 1 piece. There's no point in having a 2 piece IMO because there's never a time that I would wear one piece without the other. With a zippered attachment, that's just one more weak link to break if/when you go down and put a suit to the test. The jacket on the 2 piece suits is much shorter than a normal riding jacket - doesn't extend nearly to your waist, and would look really odd and not offer full torso protection if worn by itself. That being said, my review of the teknic chicane suit is that I got what I paid for. $400 for a suit.. I feel like it would protect me just fine once, but will need to be replaced after that because the seams would most likely not fare very well. I've seen a couple Alpinestars 1-piece suits in person that look to be higher quality than my suit. More supple leather and more reinforced stiching at the seams. | ||
| Littlebuggles |
There's a outdoor and motorcycle shop I like to visit that sells Joe Rocket at a pretty good discount. They've been sitting on a black and grey size 42 one piece for a few years and have it priced down to about $350 USD. I can call them and see if they've still got it. Might be your size from the pics you and Vamps have posted. I bought a two piece for track days and have worn the jacket a few times with jeans but as little as I use it I wish I had gotten a one piece. I'm with Pk on that, if it's just track days consider a one piece. But since you've been on the track you should have an idea what you want... Check out Joe Rocket's online catalog and if you see something there you are interested in I can call and see what these folks are charging, maybe get luck and have a factory second in stock for a steep discount. Their website doesn't show full inventory, but it's outlet 4 outdoors dot com. Their info is on there if you want to contact them directly. Not sure if any of our sponsors are selling riding gear beyond the standard stuff that you get out of the HD shop. (Message edited by littlebuggles on September 14, 2009) | ||
| Lemonchili_x1 |
My logic behind getting a 2-pc is for two reasons - First being that even if I get into doing track days, I'll probably only do 2 or 3 a year, maybe 4 max, so I want something that I can use for saturday morning rides. Second reason is that on saturday morning rides it gets pretty warm here so I want something I can take the jacket off when I stop for coffee etc. That's my logic, but I've never had 1pc leathers before, so I'm happy to hear from others experience  . *If* I get seriously bitten by the track day/racing bug I figure I'll buy a good 1pc suit then. I'll check out Joe Rocket and outlet 4 outdoors. This is the 2pc I've been looking at: http://www.stormleathers.com/leather-race-suit-p-1 59.html | ||
| Smoke |
if you do 4 trackdays a year the 1st year you will either get hooked and do more the next year or find that the track experience is not for you. me i'm hooked! ebay-used 1 piece. also check the club race boards in Au and the US for deals. i heard that a famous Australian racer has an import business there! tim | ||
| U4euh |
I thought exactly the way you did and bought a two piece for the same reasons. It has seen one track session, after I came in I out my one piece on. It just seems to allow me more COMFORTABLE movement on the bike. That being said, I bought a one piece off ebay for bout 70bucks, the guy had it mis labled as a motocross suit! Frank Thomas has some one pieces they are selling for 299.99 through Cycle Gear. The two piece I have is made by the same and is very good quality. We have a friend who has F. T. leathers and has been down 7 times in his and they are still pass the trackday tech inspections. | ||
| Oldog |
We have a friend who has F. T. leathers and has been down 7 times in his and they are still pass the trackday tech inspections. Pete ? Cycle Gear for the suit? } | ||
| U4euh |
LOL funny how you knew that, yea its Pete! Cycle gear it is! I've got 180 invested in my Two piece, but it was on sale and they messed up!! | ||
| Fahren |
you get some bad reviews of FT leathers, and they are probably not as nicely made as more expensive suits, but they do cost less, and as noted above, others say they are just fine. a lot of track day organizers will rent you a suit if it's just a one-off occasion. | ||
| Lemonchili_x1 |
I see what you mean about the one piece suits. I've still got a bit of time so I'll keep an eye out for used stuff. I had a good search through U.S. sites and U.S. ebay last night and the best prices for leathers (1 or 2 pc) aren't that much different than here. Prices for postage vary from $35 to $100 though. That grey Joe Rocket suit (nice!) is on ebay for $350, and correct, I'm a size 42. I will check out Cycle Gear too. I'm guessing I'll get bitten by the bug pretty hard... Biggest problem is distance. The track I'm going to in November, Morgan Park, is 3 hours drive away  . See circuit here. There is another track, Queensland Raceway (aka the "paper clip"), which is about an hour closer, but it's much more open and more straights, less corners. Any tips on what to look for in boots? There was a thread a little ago mentioning some AlpineStars I think, SMX4 or something? | ||
| Froggy |
I have a Frank Thomas $300 1 piece. Long story short, I hate the thing, its probably the worst suit in the world for what I use it for. Its not waterproof, the vents can't be closed, no pockets, no zippers to access pockets under suit, no snaps or any adjustments, and there is some stupid hunchback thing that gets in the way of backpacks. For $300US, I can't complain | ||
| Littlebuggles |
I bought a Fieldsheer one piece 10 years ago, it was heavy, perforated leather and was a pretty good fit. The wife freaked though, said I looked like an astronaut and asked me to get rid of it. That's when I got my Fieldsheer jacket. The Joe Rocket has been a pretty good fit for me, I'm also a 42 I have thick legs from many years bicycling though, so I had to soak the pants and wear them around the house to loosen them up. If I didn't have several jackets already the two piece would have been a better choice for me, I won't push my street riding to a level where I feel like I need leather pants though, so they only see track use. While a one piece can be peeled halfway you'll still have that bulk hanging off of you. Pushing through a coffee shop with all that extra leather hanging behind you could be a real pain. If you'll use the pants for street riding the two piece is probably a better option for you. For pure track comfort though, I think the two piece is probably a bit more restrictive. That suit you are looking at is pretty nice, would look sharp with that white bike. | ||
| Badlionsfan |
Check out sport bike track gear dot com. They have many good detailed reviews on a lot of different suits. I've been window shopping myself lately, and the teknic stuff looks pretty solid for the money. But I may end up treating myself to a Dainese suit and boots cuz I totally dig the pants over boot style. | ||
| Slaughter |
Pants over boot won't be allowed in track riding in any organization that I've heard of. I'm sticking with Alpinestars SMX though Sidi Vertigo Corsa are supposed to offer super ankle protection. My SMX have been crash tested more than a half dozen times (3 pair now) | ||
| Lemonchili_x1 |
Pants over boot won't be allowed in track riding in any organization that I've heard of. The do look damn cool though  . I treated myself a Dainese jacket 10 years ago, and it's only just got to the point of wearing out. Nice stuff, it'd be fine if I'd taken better care of it The Storm leathers are looking pretty good price and quality wise. Hoping to check them out soon, they have a warehouse here and have one and two piece versions. Found some Diadora boots at good prices too. Itching to get to the track...  | ||
| Badlionsfan |
Pants over boot won't be allowed in track riding in any organization that I've heard of. really? Rossi wears a pant over boot Dainese suit in moto gp (as do a few others), and I'm pretty sure Cory West was rocking the same suit on the 1125rr at NJMP AMA season finale. Bear in mind that these suits are made to be worn like this, and the inside of the pant leg is velcroed to the outside of the boot. | ||
| Badlionsfan |
Like this one--  | ||
| Badlionsfan |
LOL @ Froggy! Dude, that's a track suit. No pockets are needed for a wallet or house key, race "hunchback" for aerodynamics and crash protection. Some day, we'll get into the reasons track bikes don't have everything from gps units to toasters on them. |
