Bike Leathers Over A Suit?

Question

I'm considering buying a motorbike to commute to work, but wearing bike leathers over a suit sounds like a problem.

Does anyone wear a suit and leathers? How do you find it?

Answer 1

Having ridden in many a summer month with an old air-cooled four cylinder motorcycle under the blazing sun, the less you have on under your leathers the better. I wore the suit under the leathers once, that was enough to deter me to find another way.

Any set of leathers where it's either a one piece, or a zipper joined top and bottom (what I have) is going to be warm. Mental note, if you have the zipper variation, make sure it's zipped together, this prevents the jacket from riding up your back in the event of an accident (spoken from personal experience).

I found that carrying a backpack and carefully rolling my suit, and placing it in the pack worked well. Keep it loose, as it'll want to wrinkle, but it beats showing upto work with your suit drenched right through from sweat [lesson learned]. Plan on arriving about 10-15 minutes early to leave yourself enough time to change in one of the bathroom stalls out of the leathers and into your 'required' business wear. The leathers can then be rolled and stored in the backpack.

Leathers are always a good idea, irregardless of the distance being travelled. I have the road rash scars to prove that the ONE day you decide not to wear your leathers because it's too hot, you'll end up having a nasty crash. Nearly every serious rider at some point has dropped their bike, it's inevitable.

Enjoy your bike... Aside from that, cages in general are a plague to bikers... Seatbelts are for sissies, and keep the rubber side down. What bike to get, is the next question. ;)

Happy trails...

Answer 2

I have had this problem in the past, The solution I found was to buy a pair of Ashman leathers one size to large (2 piece not 1 piece) the extra room allows for the suit and also means the suit is not crumpled.It does seem a bit snug when you put the leathers on though.

Answer 3

I wear street clothes under my riding gear most of the time, and it works all right. But a good wool suit wouldn't be very comfortable in warm weather, and is likely to get wrinkled. Instead, I'd buy a set of saddlebags and carry the suit in them, then change when I get to work.

Glad to see you're thinking of safe clothing.

I would disagree about steel-toed boots - I highly recommend them. I've worked in a factory and wore those boots daily. Had a piece of factory machinery roll over my foot once, and dropped some pretty heavy parts on my toes, and the boots provided great protection. Anything that hits a good set of steal-toed boots hard enough to crimp the steel toe into your feet would have severed your toes if the steel wasn't there.

Answer 4

Buy a set of saddle bagsto store the suit in and change into the suit once you get to work better yet leave the suit at work

Answer 5

You don't need leathers just to go to work. All you need is a light weight riding suit,and maybe an extra jacket for added warmth.Unless your riding threw the bush, a great distance or are trying to make a statement;leathers over a suit won't work well.Try a Kevlar or nylon riding suit.

Answer 6

hi climb into leathers ,journey to organic triumph in wellingborough this saturday, the place i can probally set up for 5 - 6 leather-based oil rubbing inners, (regardless of each thing northamptonshire is definitely popular for making leather-based products) after a vigarous rubbing in consultation a warm meal and drink courtesy of myself come out on a journey out or head domicile ,with delicate leathers a feeling of achievment(iciness driving) get domicile take a seat in front of hearth / radiator to heat nevertheless in leathers ,you have suited setting up leathers that are delicate and delicate ,and a few heartbroken bikers crying into thier beverages at your departure all of the main suitable and happy driving jo58 triumph fan

Answer 7

Who said you have to wear leathers in the first damn place!? Buy a textile jacket with overpants for your commute to work. Wearing full leathers for a short ride is for posers & RUB's.

Answer 8

Yes...the tie will blow behind you in the wind and become very annoying...trust me I tried it but quickly removed it and put it on my handlebars for the rest of the ride.

Can you leave your suits at work and change in the bathroom in the morning? I had to wear nice shirts for meetings at my old job...so I kept a few in my cubical hung up behind my desk and I would change just before the meeting.

Answer 9

Consider getting a job where you don't wear a suit

Answer 10

Can you not keep your suit in a locker at work, and feel more comfortable in jeans/sweat shirt under leathers until you get there??