Leathers

[xxdcmast]

So seeing as how I just secured my track bike for next year I am in the market for some leathers. Being new to racing I have never bought leathers before and am kind of lost where to start.

I have seen teknic suits that I could get for between 4 and 6 hundred dollars. I have spoken to a few people who race and they basically said you get what you pay for.

Most people reccomend the vanson leathers but I know those are going to be big money between 1500 and 2000 dollars. I know that the vansons would be good because there a good name company and they have a repair facility in massachusetts just in case.

My question to all of you is what do you reccomend and how much? Anyone know where you can get deals on vansons?

[a13x]

My advice is shopping around for a used deal.

I got a fairly used, yet functional, Joe Rocket suit for $200 and spent another $80 having Barnicle Bill fix it up for me. $280 total.

I later in the season found a used Dainese suit (see avatar) that was in brand new condition for $400. Needless to say, I was stoked (a 1100+ suit).

You've got all winter to find a sweet deal. Keep your ear to the ground and eyes open. Worse case scenerio is you buy a 2nd hand suit, it doesn't fit quite right, and you sell it to get your money back (something I did a few years back).

I used to haunt these sites looking for deals.

newenough.com (closeout section)
cycleforums.com (classifieds)
ebay.com (blah, too much malarky here)

Can also try:
superbikeplanet.com Classifieds
clubracer.net classifieds
lrrsracing.com classifieds

Racing is expensive, but it can me managable. For my Rookie Season (2005) I tried to put together a gear package that was quality, yet didn't cost me $$$$. Here's what I found

Suit - Joe Rocket Highside $280 (cycleforums.com)
Suit - Dainese Tattoo - $400 (friend from cycleforums.com)
Helmet - Arai Quantum/f - $275 (cycleforums.com - brand new thou)
Boots - Alpinestar SMX's - $75 (cycleforums.com)
Gloves - Vanson - $40 (Vanson store in Fall River)
Back protector - Bohn - $40 (craigslist)

Total - $710 Joe Rocket suit package
Total - $830 Dainese suit package

[lee955i]

Also, www.1888fastlap is having a blowout of sorts on the Kobe suits and also have some wicked pricing on the Kobe racing boots.

Cheers, Lee S.

[benVFR]

How tall are you?

I have a set of Teknic leathers which really don't fit me well, I've worn them 5 times or less. Size is 46/56 whatever that means.

If you want them I'll give them to you really cheap as I got them on closeout anyway. They have GP armor all around except for the back protector, it had a cheesy back protector so I took that out and use my Dainese one. I don't want to sell the back protector.

Ben

[xxdcmast]

Ben Im about 5-9 5-10 and weigh about 220 lbs. I dont know how the sizing goes on these suits but I might wanna take a look and try it on just to check. Where are you located?

[OreoGaborio]

46/56 is a 46" chest size. 56 is the european sizing.

xx, what size suit jacket do you wear? that'll give you a good indication.

[xxdcmast]

Im a 50-52 suit jacket

[benVFR]

Yah mine will be all wrong for you. Sorry.