leather or fabric?

[pablo666]

Hi all travellers, I have a fabric, 'lewis leathers' two peice suit with protective pads here and there. Totally water-proof and serves me well. My only concern is how good it would be in a spill? Is leather better in preventing gravel rash etc? What is the best protective clothing? Can you give me your wisdom o wise ones?

 

[Scott]

I wear either depending on what I'm doing.

I wear GoreTEX lined Textile for touring and commuting because weather protection is important in those situations and it's easty zip them over my regular clothing.

I wear leather when I'm not so worried about the cold or rain...mainly because it looks and feels better...... I hope that doesn't sound too

Real leathers are more protective than textiles in a crash, but that shouldn't be the only concern. Textiles are better for body temperature management, better at water protection, lighter, and good cordura is supposedly very good at abrasion resitance.

If I could only have one riding suit...it would be a GoreTex lined 2-piece Cordura suit....good for all occasions but track days or racing.

 

[beemerboy9]

Pablo,

there is cheapest fabric (lightweight cordura), cheap fabric (heavyweight Cordura), expensive high-melting point fabric (BMW Dynatec and Rukka equivalent) and there is the Halvarssons Safety suit which is apparently as good as leather for abrasion resistance in a real-life scenario.
Generally leather is better than fabric, but .............................. you have to promise yourself not to hit a dry-stone wall when negotiating a LH bend at speed, because you will be as dead as dead can be whatever type of suit you're wearing - even if you don't hit your head.
And even if the fabric is good, the stitching can be mediocre (yes, even on BMW suits) and the panels can tear apart.
Did someone say motorcycling was a risky pastime?

 

[Big Lee]

The best protective clothing IMO , for abrason protection not hitting a wall!, is a set of made to measure leathers Far better than any of the off the peg stuff & made in the UK. Then any waterproof oversuit, jacket, pants, etc etc to keep you warm & dry in bad weather
I wear a set of MTM Crowtree leathers with Hein Gericke jacket & trousers on top when I need pockets & warmth

 

[BaldBaBoon]

Good quality leathers,that doesnt mean the most costly by the way are still the best protection you can get in my opinion.

However i actually wear a Cordura/Gortex suit all year round.....a Hein Gericke Cruise two piece to be precise.Plus i wear the Hein Gericke Toureg off road stuff when out for a play.The reasons for this are the Cordura is comfortable,weatherproof,pratical with a multitude of pockets,can be made very warm or quite cool for the conditions.....and the most important apsect is that im built like a body building orang-u-tang and i scare myself when wearing tight leathers let alone what innocent females must think when im shuffling along in a stooped stance in Tescos's.

Plus ive crash tested the Hein Gericke stuff when hitting a deer doing 80mph...me,not the deer doing 80.Very impressive over the handlebars action and a nice long slide along the road....the gear was ripped,but nothing actually got through to me,went straight out and bought a new load of the exact same stuff.

 

[terayon]

I have the Cruise 2 piece as well, but tend to wear HG Leather trousers with the cruise jacket most of the year. I always wear leather trousers as thats normally the main part of your body that's going to slide down the road the longest. If I'm not wearing leather it's normally cause it's winter and raining hard so I'll be wearing the cruise pants

 

[Betty Swollocks]

I have several suits at my disposal. Tailor made BKS, mega heavy, but definately the best thing to crash in. I dont do track stuff, but would consider myself to be a fast 'touring' road rider. The BKS hasn't been on me for over a year. I currently only ride in a two piece fabric suit. Either HG bib and brace with HG jacket. or, change the jacket for a Fabric Dainese one.

all my fabric stuff is Goretex, to guarantee waterproof-ness and breathability. If anybody asks my recommendation, If you plan to crash... then all leather... If you tour and hope not to crash, leather trousers and a good quality, armoured Goretex jacket. But I do all fabric Goretex stuff and so far have been ok as far as luck goes!

 

[alimey4u2]

No GP racer wears BMW pyjamas, if it's protection you want, leather is THE material.... As for spill proof, check the seams (must be at least double) & the zippers, that's where a two piece fails......