What Clothes?

[at123]

Hi lads and ladies hope its all going well out there in the biking world especially with summer on its way!

Any who, just after some advice on which gear would be best

I will be doing about 20 miles a day, basically a commute, starting out on a 50 and then moving onto a 125 (RS125 if anyone is interested )

I am planning to get a 2 piece leather suit so that I don't have to go and buy more gear when I get my 125 and I am just after your input on whether you think this is a good idea, I was also wondering if it might get too hot with a leather jacket on in the summer especially when I can only go 30mph.

Anyway thanks a lot in advance and I look forward to your input!

Happy Riding!

[SonicTheHedge...]

Just my tuppence, but I avoided leather for my first purchase of gear.
Given I was commuting, I picked up a set of textile gear - water-resistant (enough, anyway), removable thermal layer so usable all-year round, and I can wear it over standard office clothing.
I'm not sure starter-price leathers are really suitable for all-weather commuting...

[lou_lou]

I also started off with textiles and eventually bought myself a set of leathers. I did have to try on loads of different sets before i found the pair that fitted the best and looked nice on ( i am a girl after all )

Your budget can play a big part in what you decide to buy when you first start out - my textiles were far cheaper than my leathers were.

It all depends on personal choice - I know people that prefer textiles to leathers and others that wouldn't dream of wearing textiles. I definitly find my leathers far more comfortable these days - wore my textiles one day for a bike lesson and really struggled with them as I hadn't worn them for so long (they felt so big and bulky compared to my leathers) - it was far to cold for leathers that day though.
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[at123]

Thanks for the reply,

I know this might sound silly but aren't leathers very hot during the middle of summer about July time?

Thanks guys and gals

[SonicTheHedge...]

Everything's hot during the middle of summer about July time.

Seriously - it depends on the kit. I find my leather trousers are cooler in the summer than the textile ones, and you can get a wide variety of stuff in both flavours, from thermal inners to so vented it's barely there. I'll probably look for a vented textile top for the summer, myself.
But most manufacturers/stores seem to try and cover all bases, so just look around.
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[raak]

Hi at123.

Probably coming to the same point but from the opposite end.
(older NOT wiser)

Coming back to bikes after a long lay off (20 + years)
so had similar concerns
Whats looks good.
What works best.
Which is best in Summer/Winter.
how much does it cost in the long run.

Just to point out that, just like any new learner although I wanted a bike, how could I be sure the bike thing was still for me,
so I didn't want to spend loads of money on kit that I would be selling come the first drop of rain or near-off.
(If your commited fine, but do you really want to spend XXX pounds on a jacket/suit in your size to sell it months
later for a fraction of its cost..............?)
Plus leathers on a 500cc + looks cool, does it look as cool on a 125cc+...unless it does a ton.???. (Discuss)

Because I bought the bike in december (BBrrhh)
I went the route of DEFINITE winter COLD protection and
MAYBE some summer possibilities.

IMHO textiles SHOULD be on your list
(Unless you only like sunny day riding..No offence meant to sunny day riders )
simply because the English summer is SO unpredictable.

In terms of cost effectiveness, Please, buy the kit You want from the stores you choose, But i think
you'll quickly discover that one mans perfection is another mans curse.
( read the reviews, some love this one, some love that one!)
I tend to think Couriers + all day in kit= Honest opinion, if it's good enough for professionals it's good enough for an amateur like me!

Why not google bike jackets etc, and get some input from people who HAVE bought the kit your looking at.

In the meantime why not try E-Bay/ they do a LOT of bike stuff, (leathers Included)
Got most of my kit from there, cost effective and i got myself kitted out at low cost plus I can now say
what manufacturers actually suit ME! without spending BIG bucks

latest jacket almost new, less than £25 !!

Just my tuppence worth, but whatever you buy,
make sure it fits and enjoy the ride, Ye haw!!

Ride safe, and give a biker a nod when you see em on the road,
could be me

take care
Jim

[Itchy]

textiles defo , can wear normal clothes under for office work like I do , also remember textiles grip and roll , leathers slide, in a traffic heavy environment gripping and rolling (ie decelerating faster) is better than sliding into something nasty.

thing is textiles fall into two cats , winter and summer , the summer stuff is often not water proof like my belstaff which has lots of vents but is not water proof , and the manual suggests an under parker for water protection.

, while super waterproof warm stuff like akito pythons are excellent in winter but you'll cook in summer ,

ditto with leathers , although HG do a sort of all weather set of leathers they are called Panthers , how they manage this trick is beyond me since they look like normal leathers but are reputed to be waterproof but I;ve not looked too closely,
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[Annabella]

I have textiles and 2 piece leathers.

For commuting when it's a bit chilly, but dry I generally wear my leather trousers and textile jacket. If it's chucking it down, textiles bottom and top (though waterproof fishing trousers over the top of my leather trousers is just as good).
When it's hot, leathers top and bottom otherwise I am far, far too hot.

The majority of the time I'm in leather trousers and a nice toasty, waterproof textile jacket.
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[krebsy]

I've a set of Frank Thomas Aquaforce textiles which can be zipped together to form a single suit and have removable thermal layers and armour. I can even take the inner thermal layer out and put all the armour from the outer jacket into it and use that if it is really bakingly hot. Done that once or twice but it feels a little too exposed for my liking. .

Actually looking at getting some leathers, new boots and gloves and whatever else I need in the run up to summer. Mainly to start replacing the Textiles as I've used them most days for the past 2 years and the trousers are looking slightly tatty now. (Duck Tape holding one seam together on the legs etc...)

Can anyone recommend a good source of entry level leathers? Probably go for two piece rather than a suit but any pointers would be appreciated.

K.
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[17-in-87]

[krebsy]

Cool, will check some out.

K.
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[ninja6]

leather suit will certainly offer great protection should you have a spill but if you are going to use the bike all year round as i used to you will need to carry a waterproof skin to slip over the top as the weather is very unpredictable. When i had my 125 i bought textiles with a waterproof membrane built in and removable thermal lining perfect all year round in all weather. I would recommend a back protector especially if your commute is in city traffic with lots of lane changing i don't ride without mine and i know some people who were glad to be wearing one. Whatever your choice hope you have many happy hours riding as i have.