£800 to spend on a two-piece suit - Leather or Textile?

[Monkeyonwheel...]

Hi folks,

I've got some cash saved for a new 2-piece suit. I'm riding everyday, on average 60 miles a day, doing maybe a couple of +150 miles trips a month and planning to do a 8-9 track days a year. Mainly riding in the 'country', B-roads are my natural habitat, but also doing quite a bit of daily city riding and a little bit of motorways.

Never owned a leather suit before. I'm looking for a high level of protection, but with all year usability and enough comfort for touring. Around £800-£900 to spend.

Now - I can't afford both (leathers and textiles) So which in your view would be a better choice? I mean, I would prefer a decent 2-piece leather suite such as Dainese aero or laguna evo or RST pro series for that 'extra level' of protection and then use a rain suit on top for the wet days, but I'm slightly concerned about the ergonomics and comfort of the leathers for the everyday commuting, touring or short strolls.

What do you guys and gals think, and how many of you wear leathers on everyday rides? ...and what leathers do you think would offer the best fit for touring with good safety?
Wouldn't buying a good quality 2-piece textile and renting the leathers for the track days instead, be a more sensible option?

Thanks in advance for some good thoughts and safe riding!

Cheers! Monkey on wheels.
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CBT - 17/07/10
CBT - 2 03/08/14
A2 (MOD1, MOD2) - 08/07/15

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[Monkeyonwheel...]

Thanks for the suggestions. Didn't come to my mind at all using a 'standalone' protection gear'. Tried the RST Adventure II some time ago. Really liked the fit and with that chest protector and some other stuff added it could be the ultimate all-rounder protection gear set. Might try the Tundra II now as well. Have you wore it yourself? Still, considering my track days aspirations, isn't the leathers (with a rain suit tucked in a bag) really the answer?

...Also wouldn't using the leathers for some minor walking such as at stop-by's when touring etc. compromise the rigidity of the suit and it's lifetime?
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CBT - 17/07/10
CBT - 2 03/08/14
A2 (MOD1, MOD2) - 08/07/15

[....]

[Monkeyonwheel...]

Seems that the RST CPX-C PRO SERIES leathers might meet my requirements, with adding some extra protectors. Supposed to have a bit more relaxed fit, and they're fairly well priced for what features they have. Will see if I can give them a try today. p.s Nice pic!
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CBT - 17/07/10
CBT - 2 03/08/14
A2 (MOD1, MOD2) - 08/07/15

[....]

[tom_e]

If you want to do track days you'll need the leathers you have no choice in that.

Can you even rent leathers?

Personally I'd split the cash, buy decent textile kit to start with which you should be able to pick up for £500 easily then either pick up a cheaper 2/1 peice set of leathers if they're only going to go out on track or save a little more and pick up something a little higher end.

Once you get past a point it's not about how much you spend on the kit really but more on how it fits you, no point in blowing £800 on the best kit ever on paper if it's not as good for your shape as something half the price that fits like a glove.

[NJD]

Thread smells of two spam accounts talking to each other. Those long list of links well displayed out from a "new" account also. Hmm.

..

RST Blade Textile Jacket: £129.99
RST Blade Textile Jeans: £99.99

RST R-14 / R-16 Leather Jacket: £169.99
RST R-16 Leather Jeans: £139.99

Total = £539.96. So, that's just to prove that you can afford a set of both. It then comes down to personal taste and what guidelines the track that you'll be using has to follow. The RST gear all zips together despite not being a one piece and as that is the only rule outside of not being allowed to wear textile that I am aware of on track (although haven't done a track day so await advice regarding suitable leathers). Even then that price is high and you could get used leathers (since you're only going to be doing track days anyway) on ebay for far less than that. As good as RST is for textiles I'm not sure they're all there with the leathers (and this is coming from someone who has purchased nothing but RST since discovering them.. for the most part) based on past reviews of gear, I've only one leather jacket though so far less experience than I have with their textiles.

What gear we all wear daily has been discussed endlessly. Commuting - Textiles, Fun - Leathers. Adjusted, naturally, depending on the weather for that day.

[BTTD]

Leathers are a requirement for most trackdays. They just won't let you on without them.

Most of my leathers were bought off ebay, hardly worn, much less than full retail. I've been lucky with the fit and not had any issues. I've measured myself and asked clear questions to the seller. I've also measured other kit / tried it on to see what stuff works for me (I seem to have a Hein Gericke shaped body).
I've won an unworn, tags still attached pair of Sheltex lined leather trousers retail £330 for £150, a no noticeable wear goretex lined leather jacket retail £500, £160. That's my rainy day / not a scorchio day kit.
The placky stuff still gets carried with me on hot days when I'm wearing my summer vented leathers, just in case the weather changes for the commute home.

Walking around - generally I find my summer leather trousers more comfortable than my armoured jeans, and no hotter. The jeans have the extra kevlar lining which makes then quite warm. On really hot days I do notice the jeans flowing a bit more air once on the move.

On a hot day, leathers or textile, you're going to get warm walking around.

[chris-red]

Textile if you can only get one and ride a lot. I just bought a set of Halverson's Textiles and it is top, really quality gear. Not cheap mind, mine was £720 which I haggled to £650.
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[Aceslock]

Can't afford to buy both with £800?????
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Previous Bike: Skyjet SJ27
Sold: Yamaha YZF 600 R Thundercat. Sold: ZX636R
Current bike: R1 14B (Beast)

[BTTD]

[P.]

[Monkeyonwheel...]

[rhys99]

As others have said, buy both. You can easily get 2 sets of quality gear for that kinda money.
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K̶5̶ ̶S̶V̶6̶5̶0̶S̶ K3 SV650N

[P.]

[BTTD]

[derillius24]

You could very easily buy both with that budget. I've got the Alpinestars Andes Drystar textiles which I've been impressed with. They're warm, comfortable, light and have kept me dry in a number of proper downpours up here in William Wallace Land.

You can get the set for a smidge North of £300 online, leaving you ~ £600 for leathers.
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CG125, CBF250, DRZ400-SM, Z750, Street Triple R, Tuono V4R

[chris-red]

[Doink]

I just couldn't imagine finding a set of leathers that fit me, it's bad enough with textiles, I'm 5ft 9 with a 52 inch chest and 32 Inch waist.

[tom_e]

[chris-red]

[johnsmith222]

I got myself a 2 piece alpinestars leather suit in black for £100 on ebay. Surely you could get something similar?

£800 seems a bit excessive to spend on a suit imo. You can buy a good car for that.

[andyscooter]

[Alpineandy]

You could take a ride to the Essex Bikers Centre on the A120 and see what they've got in their 2nd hand options.
I've only bought a few textile bits from them but they seem like a decent bunch.
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