Lady bikers - advice on kit?

[Tigerlea]

I bought most of my motorbike kit when I still lived in Canada - only replaced the helmet because I didn't trust the heavy-handed luggage handlers. I'm now in the market for some new trousers and, preferably, a set of leathers.

I've noticed manufacturers have a tendency to cinch something in at the waist, splash on some pink and call it ladies kit. This obviously doesn't work..

So I'm just wondering where you would recommend getting some good quality kit from that actually fits.

I was looking at some A* (Stellas) but their size chart indicates I should be a large due to height, and a small due to everything else... So very unhelpful! (I'm 5'8" and a size 8/10)

I also bought a set of Bullit padded jeans the other week which fit in the shop and are now massively baggy at the waist, but when I went to a different shop and attempted to pull on the same size (same brand!) I couldn't even get the button done up!!

I'm losing faith here, and I'm not sure buying online will be any better...


Thanks in advance ^-^

[MarkJ]

The Mrs has a two piece touring type (no knee sliders) set of leathers from BKS which fit well and don't look like like bloke's kit with a bit of pink stuck on.

[stinkwheel]

Sizes on motorcycle gear are meaningless other than to tell you if one item in a particular make and style is likely to be bigger or smaller than another (and even then, not always).

I know you are a woman and this is difficult but if it says size 16 on the label and it fits, wear it. Even if you are a size 10. Nobody can see and it really doesn't mean you are a size 16.

You just have to try them on.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[waffles]

Get to a shop and try stuff on, it's the only way to get something that fits properly.

I wear Alpinestars Stella suits and have a one piece plus and two piece which are both different sizes. Still fit the same though.
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Theory test - 19/8/09, CBT - 11/10/09, MOD 1 - 16/8/10, MOD 2 - 27/10/10
Past rides Yamaha XT125X, Triumph TT600, Honda XR250
Current rides Suzuki GSXR 600, Honda MSX125

[hellkat]

Can't help on that front, sorry.
I am a totally unreliable source of information on riding attire due to never wearing sensible kit
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[Shinigami]

SophR so good has had a nightmare finding woman shaped gear. She's found IXS leathers seem to fit ok but took her ages to find a waterproof jacket and still been unable to find any textile trousers that fit at all.

The most difficult part is finding some that aren't covered in pink or butterflies or a combination of both
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"Once you realize what a joke everything is, being the Comedian is the only thing that makes sense.

[Tigerlea]

[Polarbear]

Girls Bike 2 - If they are still going.

Seems they are

https://www.facebook.com/GirlsBike2/

https://everything-motorcycles.co.uk/girls-bike-2
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[MarJay]

[wr6133]

Your dot on the map is not to far from Swindon. The mega motorcycle store has a quite alot of womens Ixon, Richa and Alpinestars.

80% of my wife's kit is Ixon, the rest Hornee and Alpinestars.

[stinkwheel]

The other alternative is to have something custom made.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[SophR so good]

I feel your pain. Tiny hips, weird shaped waist and a baggy crotch, but it has pink butterflies so it must be for ladies...

FWIW IXS & RST seem to be the most familiar with what human adult women look like. A* seem to err to petite. IXS is a little short on me (5'6) so a 2 piece from them would probably not work for you... Oxford & buffalo have clearly never met a single woman ever. Not much help I know but I'd try on IXS stuff (if you have a J&S nearby they stock them?) if you don't plan to zip together often. There's also a site called ladybiker but I haven't tried anything off there cos trying things in shops has been so fail that I assume internet shopping would be a waste of postage money. They do have some new kevlar leggings which look ace though, I'm picking some up on payday.
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You win again, gravity! - Zap Brannigan, BCF BBQ 2016

[tom_e]

I've got a 50 inch chest, 34 inch waist, 28 inch inside leg and I'm the grand total of 5'6 tall, although thankfully I'm not a woman with that build

Which makes me fucking weird in the clothing world I've had to to spend hours just trying anything and everything on until I found kit to fit that's pretty much the only way to do it.

I find sportsbikeshop great for being able to order various bits online and then they've got free returns for when it doesn't fit.

[chris-red]

I have trouble getting stuff to fit because I'm 6'5" most manufacturers seem to think bikers stop growing up at 6'2" and start growing out.

I'm by no means skinny, but to get stuff to fit my shoulders and arm length it normally ends up being 4-6" too big round the gut.

However I recently went to Laguna motorcycles and explained my issues. The helpful sales girl there said to try the Scandinavian brands. She said my shape is closer to them. I put on a jacket from 'Halvarssons' and it was almost perfect fit. If anything it is too tight round my gut, however I could do with losing weight.

So try gear from Halvarssons and Rukka, the downside is it is dear. My 2 pieces textile suit was about £650

The other option is getting stuff custom made/altered to fit.

I took a jacket to Hideout leather, they are very good there. I think they charged me about £100 to alter the arms in a jacket I had.
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Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
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[hellkat]

Chris_red (I promise this is a non-pervy question):
What is your inside leg measurement?
And do you find things long enough in the leg?
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[Saraya]

I'm afraid I can be of no use, as my 'figure' is closer to tom-e's than yours.

[chris-red]

[ackack]

RST are weird on sizes, my normal T-shirts are L to XL but the jackets that fit me from RST are XXXL with a lot of belly room and my trousers are 40 short leg yet my jeans are 36R.
Mate at work who is as thin as a rake is M yet his textile RST is XL and fits perfect.

Motorbike gear is weird for sizing and it makes internet shopping a nightmare.

[Hahadumball]

maybe if we had a pic it would help us to help you a little better
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Fin: no matter how much I look at It I can't understand what was going through my head, all I remember is going about 80 and redlining it to stop it seizing.
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[Vifferguy]

[Hahadumball]

[Vifferguy]

[Tigerlea]

[blue_painted]

One more for https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/ ... helpful bloke suggested I order three/four different sizes and send back those that don't fit.

Also: ...
I am always puzzled why women's clothes have a single size number, when the female body shape tends to vary more than the male. I can only assume it is down to Marketing.
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[opistho]