Cheap ebay leathers or wait till I've saved more up?

[APNess]

Hmm, dunno where my first 'in progress post' went. Oh well, hope this post don't turn up twice

My wife booked a holiday and expects me to find a grand spending money by early next month, which coincidentally I was well on my way to getting - to pay for some leathers Have got all weather gear (Richa - so not trendy, but armoured and does the job, save it's bloody sweltering most of the time).

Has anyone bought from this place:

https://stores.ebay.co.uk/NORFOLK-LEATHER-CENTRE

Or indeed, would you? Black leathers will do - I don't wanna look like a power ranger anyway, and for £150 for jacket and trousers, even avail in my size (UK 54 jacket, 40" jeans) when I've struggled to get alpinestars, dainese, arlen ness in my size anyway (and some of their gear had the whiff of power ranger about it).

Thinking of going ahead and hitting the buy button, just wondering if anyone else here knows of similar priced gear to check out now that the wife is reducing my to poverty again Or should I just wait (and sweat) in my Richa gear?

My biggest problem is getting stuff to fit. At 6'4/18 stone most things I try on seem to be half mast... Guy in J&S store suggested stuff I was trying on would be ok and will stretch 10%, but I've been known to tip the scales at just under 20 stone before, so don't wanna have to test the stretching theory too much...

Haven't tried Hein Gerick but I expect their prices will be on a par with Alpinestars/Dainese etc etc. Plus a mate bought all dainese and had it back in the shop a week later as stitching had fallen out, so paying top dollar is no guarantee of quality...

So, cheap leathers or wait (probably until October/November time) till I have another grand or so saved up...?

[Whosthedaddy]

I've bought a couple of jackets and various one piece suits from ebay, you get what you pay for and the fit is sometimes a little off

Not sure of leather sizes are like womens clothes sizes, they vary from maker to maker.

I probably will get more stuff off of ebay for a cheap alternative only because money is tight, or should that be I'm tight .

Best bet maybe to try on some stuff in a shop, then look for it on the internet and see if its cheaper
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Current : MSX 125 Past : CBR 900RR Monkeybike : c50 LAC : ZXR750 H2 : FZR600 : ZX7R P3 : YW100 : TRX850: Trophy 900 T309 : GSXR 600 L0: Monkeybike : XJ6S Whosthedaddy

[Itchy]

wait till the next Hein Gericke promotoion ShaggyDA will tell us about it then buy some leathers, some of the £140 stuff looks good + 50% the price of the trousers and its sub £200 for some good kit.
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[doggone]

I've heard that Norfolk place is a bit too cheap and nasty but perhaps just a jacket would tide you over for now?

You'll often just want a basic jacket that you don't mind getting scruffy so not such a bad idea even if it isn't top quality.

[Madman]

definately wait and save up. can't even think why you're wondering about this.

leathers = safety. You want to get your safety 100% right. Therefore buy new and buy the most expensive you can buy (but don't go crazy) and get something that fits you 100%

[Cillit-BANG]

If you can afford to spend money on a holiday then I suggest you wait until you have saved up a bit more cash again.

Chances are that the Richa Kit without the linings will be a lot cooler than leathers anyway so wouldn't worry about that.

You'd be better off waiting until the summer seaon is over then picking up a bargain somewhere. In fact if you can get yourself to the NEC bike show there are bargains a plenty.

FFIW you are far far better trying the gear on before you buy. As many posts will explain, ill fitting kit is neither here nor there when it comes to protection.

[kawakid]

I bought some leather pants from them just over a year ago, i've had no problems. They came with sliders and armour.

The leather feels good as do the seems, they have a nice lining inside for trapping the sweat in this heat.

I didn't buy the jacket from them, but the zips still fits my jacket.

I've no complaints and would buy from them again. The sizes were spot on, I just went buy my jean size and i'm an odd size too.

To be honest what I did like about them is that they were just plain black, i'm not in to logos and fancy designs, its just not me.

For f**k sake my helmet is just black also.
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I've a twin and a 4.

[G]

I've bought second hand decent quality (not Dianese/A*, I said /decent/ quality ) leathers off ebay and had them altered to fit. Comes out a lot cheaper all in than off the peg, never mind getting made to measure straight out.

Obviously need to get a bit bigger than fit you.

If you're not getting it altered, you should always try them on first.

[Dark]

I would say wait and save up. Its a really good idea to get leathers that fit and leathers stretch a lot when new so its worth going to a shop and getting someone who knows what they're talking about to supply you with proper fitting gear.

When i got my leathers new i was convinced they were too small but the bloke in the shop insisted they't bed in and he was right. I struggled for weeks getting in and out of them but now after five years of use they still fit perfectly.
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[ram_doom]

All my leathers came from ebay... they fit ok especially the hein gericke jacket I got for 40 quid
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TL1000s, KDX200

[APNess]

Thanks for the advice - most seem to be saying "Wait and save up" though interesting to hear at least one has bought from that place and found to be ok.

The 'get what you pay for' comment I don't always think applies - as I mentioned, a mate paid top dollar for Dainese and it fell apart (at the seams) in a week. Maybe a one off, but a lot of things seem to be priced on name/brand rather than quality. Probably all knocked out in the same sweat shop by 8 year olds in Taiwan/Pakistan/China anyway...

Still, thanks again all for the advice - looks like I'd better carry on saving up...

[GearboxGeezer]

Find a proper seller who sells alot of motorbike stuff. There not going to sell you crap stuff as this could effect there way of putting food on the table!

A good tip is to go to a bike shop, try the item you wona buy off ebay, till you get the right size, then once you find the right size everything shoooould be alright

[TheShaggyDA]

[jonboy22]

I'm with the wait and save up crowd on this one.

I bought a very power rangery jacket plastered in Suzuki crud and sponsors for just under 50 quid off ebay actually. Similar to the ones that Norfolk sell. And although it was a bargain I would save up and get a proper set of leathers, I reckon my jacket has maybe, MAYBE, on fall in it before all the seams burst open and I'm left skidding down the road in my baby suit.

Saying that though there are some amazing deals to be had on eBay if you're willing to traul around for genuine stuff on sale. As for the size issue I'm about 6"2, 6"3 and an XL is a little short round the midriff but ok in the sleeve, so XXL for you

hth

[APNess]

Heh, XXL The Richa jacket fits fine (the shoulders and sleeves are biggest issue with me) and is 4XL. I know there are bigger guys than me out there who must struggle with clothes/shoes etc (14 Boots though I'm normally size 13 shoe) and just been looking at Hein Gericke website (signed up too, cheers for link) - sizes seem to go up to about 52UK which I tried on in the shop. A 54 fit better, but then that limits choice... to about 1. (that was a Frank Thomas jacket, which I liked, but guy in shop said there were better leathers out there, and did himself out of a sale. PLus he put a face on when I asked for discount. Miserable twat.)

Any links to online retailers greatly appreciated, I'll trawl through looking for a) things that fit b) are safe/decent quality then c) worry about if I look a tit in it

[jonboy22]

Afraid to say that for you Yetti proportioned lads out there off the hook stuff is very hard to find. A mate of mine is about 6"4 around his waistband so had to save up to get some custom leathers made, that may be an option for you if you want a decent set.....

As for looking like a tit, well my jacket is bright yellow and has "Racing" written across the shoulders....may as well wear a giant tit on my head. I'm so ashamed of it that I wear long sleeve t-shirts on top to hide it.......

[G]

You get what you pay for, yes.

Sadly often what you are paying for is a 'Dianese' badge, rather than good quality protetive equipment.

I'm traditionally an all-black leathers kinda person. However recently I've been wearing some of the worst power-ranger designs you can get.

In the end, I don't care as they were cheap (second hand) and will protect me. I don't tend to look at them while I'm riding and random people standing by the side of the road that I'll never see again may actually think black looks crap, or may think these make me look a cock. I don't really care.

[Villers]

I bought some textiles from the company you mentioned, norfolk nofolking idea or whatever ( ). The first hitch came when they didnt send everything I ordered, so I got some free gloves that I wouldnt have worn whilst waiting for a bus let alone on the bike. The jacket wasn't waterproof. The armour was pathetic. LIke it has been said, you get what you pay for but this stuff was cheeeeeep to say the least (note not 'inexpensive' but 'cheap').

Wouldnt bother with them again TBH. I like Richa stuff, good price and good durable gear, especially with a good fit.

Enjoy the holiday!
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[mario]

I've got all my stuff from cissbury leathers online and they have been great everytime, price is excellent as is service! Managed to get a great Arlen Ness 2 piece leathers for about £200 as well as a winter jacket by Arlen Ness too for only £40. Maybe look there if you are looking for cheaper prices but good gear.

Mark

[Gradog]

I bought a pair of leather jeans from them a year ago. After an initial problem with not having a popper at the top, they were apologetic and fast to sort the problem out. They refunded all return costs without hastle and frankly they are standing up fine to daily punishment. Not what you would call stylish, but practicle, and well made.
I am afraid that the " pay for what you get" brigade are right in the way of styling and pretty logos, but i dont want to be a walking bill board. i just want quality and comfort at affordable pricing.
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[colin1]

i recommend getting quality 2nd hand leathers from ebay.

so much cheaper than shoddy new leathers that you can have padded winter leathers and perforated summer leathers, a one piece and a 2 piece, and various others all of which are good in particular situations. you wont know what you want at first, so buy a few cheap ones to see what you like and dont like
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