when buying motorbike leathers - why do they have to be sooo tight?

Question

When i bought mine I was told by a number of people including the shop owner to get the smallest tightest pair even if they are uncomfortable......why is this?

Answer 1

if the jacket isnt snug, it will balloon up in the back in the wind blast. it also tends to turn into a 'parachute' with drag, and as a semi rolls past in the other lane, u will feel his wind blast almost trying to rip u off the bike. if u go down the jacket will just ride up; not a good idea when u'd rather have it protecting the skin.
get chaps the same way. only difference with the chaps are, they'll be snug while walking, but when ur sitting on the bike, then they will snug up even more. best way to check to see if u have the right set of chaps on, is to sit on a bike in riding position. u dont want these to balloon up either, or the wind will go right up ur leg.....and if a bee happens to find that... owwwwwwwwwwwwww. leather will break in while u ride over time.

Answer 2

Here are some tips on buying leathers that I have had a lot of success with. I sell three sets a day and size people everyday. I know the AGV and Alpinestars lines very well and feel I have a good insite to sizing. At Cycle Mart USA we offer size exchanges free so I NEED to get it correct most of the time.

First I evaluate the customer. Are they a racer or are they a track day guy.
Racers tend to want as your friend described; Tight not restrictive, just tight.

Racers want tight (Not Restrictive) to reduce drag from the wind and to protect themselves better when crashing. They are going to crash having tight leathers makes sure the pads don’t roll and there aren’t folds which can cause injury in a crash.
Comfort is not that important because they ride 40 minutes to an hour at a time.

Most Track day riders wear there leathers on weekend rides, as well as on the track, and this is a great idea. If you plan to wear them for any length of time and enjoy them they can’t be tight.

Snug would be good. A good set of 1-Piece race leathers should be more comfortable than anything else while riding. They should be snug enough your pads stay in place but not cause pain or restrictions. Fitment should be while sitting on the bike not standing next to it. Many people are not used to the way leathers feel and it can be strange at first but sit on the bike and see how they feel.

When buying leathers buy the most you can afford. Each level has benefits related to quality, safety, fit, and weight. If you can only afford the lower priced leathers that is fine. I sell AGV Forza suits all the time for $291.96 and people love them. They will protect you but a more costly set will be a better fit, nicer leather (more plyible), lighter, and have creature comforts like removable liners.

I recommend the AGV SP4 ($458.96 Shipped / retail $600)and the Alpinestars Stage ($500 / retail $769) which are both on-sale at Cycle Mart USA.com 1-866-204-0942

Have fun shopping, new gear rocks!!

Answer 3

They don't have to be so tight if it's just for street riding, but if it's a SUIT then they should fit tight at first, almost uncomfortably so.

This is because the leather is your second skin. You don't want loose leather allowing the armor to shift in a crash and not protect you, and any loose leather will just roll up and make a hole when you slide. The idea in a crash is to scuff all your leather just a little bit instead of a little patch all the way through.

A couple rides in hot weather and wearing the suit around the house will warm it up and let it stretch to fit your body perfectly, so give it some time.

Answer 4

Bike leathers arent meant to be a fashion accesory or comfortable. They are meant to protect you. They are tight when you buy them because for one the leather does stretch over time and most importantly they have the protection in them which protects the impact points..knees hips,shoulders. You obviously havent had a crash in a set yet but god forbid you do..the leathers need to be tight to keep the protection where it is supposed to be otherwise it wouldnt work if your leathers are too large. I have tested this myself a few times ;>)Trust what the people at the shops say..they know what they are selling you and how it should fit. Wear your leathers a few times and they will be ok.

Answer 5

Leathers should be snug not tight. Remember you will layer clothing under it for cold weather. It should be tried on while sitting on the bike with your riding position. This will make sure it fits correct. Leathers, especially 1 piece race suits are not made for standing upright. They are molded to be in the seated race bike position.

The purpose of leather being snug is to act as second skin. If the leather is too loose or baggy it will bunch up and tear apart faster when its sliding across the asphalt.

Answer 6

You're listening to people who think fashion is more important than saving you skin. You should get a set that fits snug when you're in your natural riding position, not tight. Leather does give in time but you dont want to be straining the seams. This means that when stood up you should have a baggy ****, but hey, they wont be cutting you in half whilst you're riding and you'll be able to move around on the bike easily. OR, you can look good and be in constant agony, your choice !!!

Answer 7

it's for if you have a spill and go sliding down the road, if the leathers are tight then you'll still have some skin left on your body and not a lot of leather depending on how fast you were going,

if they were loose, as someone before says it creates drag which in effect slows you down and if you had a spill or some damn car driver "didn't see you" then the leathers would move around and you basically would need skin grafts.

hope this helps

Answer 8

If it's uncomfortable, don't get them.

They try to sell you a set you don't fit right so they can sell you more in a few months.

It's supposed to be to reduce air resistance but unless you're racing in BSB or above class, I'd just get the comfiest you can afford.

I bought a 2 peice set that fit alright for £350 then paid £120 and had them professionally adjusted to fit.
I can wear my work suit underneath them to go to work.

Answer 9

I don't recommend this myself. Leather does have some stretch to it, but if you're not riding on the track, you will want a set of leathers with enough room to wear some extra clothes to keep out the cold.

However, you also don't want to wear extra-baggy clothes - they will really flap around at over 60.

Answer 10

well, if you fall at high speeds, do you really want your arms and legs to be flailing wildly around as you cartwheel down the asphalt? No... They would break a little bit more each time they smacked into the ground/tree/curb/car bumper/whatever...

Ever notice the really expensive, good leathers are "shaped" and bent at the elbow/knee? That is so you don't hyper-extend those little chicken wings when you are doing said wild-flailing above...