CE I or II Summer Gloves

[GuzziPaul]

Looking for some new summer gloves and want CE protection for less than £200.
I Currently have some A* GP Plus gloves which are around 15 years old and the the grippy suede bit on the palms has worn through. I have short wide hands swollen with arthritis (XL for width) so want a longer glove that offer some wrist protection as well.
Current favourite are Alphinestar GP Plus R which are level 1 in white red and black, although it doesn't say on the A* website what the leather is.

Dianese gloves appear to use a lot of "micro sheep leather" whatever that is? After several years working in an experimental tannery (40 years ago) I want to avoid, as sheepskin, back in the day was incredibly weak, although they claim "the highest Dainese safety standards" although the Druid 3 is cat II level I despite the sheepskin.

RST have the Tractech Evo but some of the reviews say they are warm.

Recommend me a long cuff Cat II at least level 1, summer glove made from cow, kangeroo or goat with a bit of colour. As I'm fed up of searching. Oh and I will also need to try them on due to the fat hand finger problem, so need to be within 50 miles of central Essex.

[Hot_Air]

Within your budget, you could get gloves from BKS (Brian Sansom’s original top-end outfit). For example, the BKS 003 glove.

While it isn’t within 50 miles of central Essex, BKS states:

To get the best possible fit, please email a photo/scan of your palm showing a standard ruler/tape measure to our team at sales@bksleather.co.uk

This will provide us with a good scale to send you the best fitting glove we have.

I have seen them at the NEC and doubt better gloves exist (if I could afford them, I would love a pair).

[GuzziPaul]

Mmmm I'm going to north Devon next week maybe I could pop down.

[GuzziPaul]

Went to a motorcyle clothing store today and tried on a number of different gloves. Seems I'm 2xl for girth but lacking in length. My wife was with me and commented on the floppy finger ends
One of the gloves I tried on was a A* Pro. As I was pulling it on noticed that the seam between the leather of the thumb and the material in the parlm had split. Not very impressed if that happens just from people trying a glove on.
Mentioned to my wife that there is a company that do made to measure for a similar price and we happen to be going near by next weekend and she's agreed we can take some time out of our National Trust visits to visit BKS.

[Hot_Air]

she's agreed we can take some time out of our National Trust visits to visit BKS.

I’m in awe of your powers of marital persuasion

[GuzziPaul]

Had a trip down to BKS last Friday to try on some gloves. Ending up with a "large" pair of long black and white summer gloves, tried XL first as I'm XL/2XL in A*. Wore them for a couple of hours tonight on the bike (apart from sitting around on holiday with them on Initial comments. They are full leather all over, nice and soft with armour in the right places. they are not as well vented as my old A* and slightly warmer possibly because of the thicker leather. The biggest problem I have is with the left thumb which has a rubber visor wipe along the seam, unfortunately it is also on the inside and presses along the entire length of my thumb leaving a mark. Idealy I would like it removed, I doubt I'll be wearing these gloves when it rains.

[Cousin Jack]

My summer gloves are a Triumph branded pair of unlined perforated leather, made in Germany IIRC, and almost 20 years old. The backs have faded from black to silver, but they are the dogs bollocks. I have never seen a pair that come close, most are just too thick.

[Hot_Air]

They are full leather all over, nice and soft with armour in the right places.

I imagine they are top quality gloves – BKS uses the very best quality leather – and I guess they will break in nicely.

But why do so many manufacturers put the visor wipe on the thumb? I’m a sucker for a sexy visor wipe (who isn’t?), but it works best on the index finger. Doesn’t everyone know this?

[GuzziPaul]

, but it works best on the index finger. Doesn’t everyone know this?

Agree not that my other gloves have a dedicated wipe but I always use my index finger, lest twist of the wrist.

[GuzziPaul]

After a few hundred miles of riding I just wasn't getting on with the visor wipe on the left thumb, it left a mark after every ride and was painful and distracting.
Emailed BKS and asked then if it was possible to have it removed and they said they would do it free of charge if I paid postage. They also said with the latest model they have relocated the wipe away from the seam.
Sent the glove tracked/recorded delivery on a Friday, they got it Monday. I got an email Monday afternoon saying it was in that night post and I got the glove back on Tuesday.

Done 200 ish miles since and halfway through the last ride noticed that I hadn't noticed my left thumb at all, so I guess that's worked.

BKS (made to measure) recommended. They maybe £180 for the long racing glove but much better than A* or Dianese in my opinion,
.
.

[Bigyin]

Well done to BKS on customer service

I have Alpinestars SP8 that are lightly perforated leather. Worn them for the past 4 years as a summer glove with no problems and still going, I also have 2 pairs of Alpinestars SP2, one are knackered after 5 years all year round use as the suede is worn away and the velcro is failing, leather still intact as are all the stitching but the second pair are spot on and just breaking in nicely

[The Spin Doctor]

Went to a motorcyle clothing store today and tried on a number of different gloves. Seems I'm 2xl for girth but lacking in length. My wife was with me and commented on the floppy finger ends
One of the gloves I tried on was a A* Pro. As I was pulling it on noticed that the seam between the leather of the thumb and the material in the parlm had split. Not very impressed if that happens just from people trying a glove on.
Mentioned to my wife that there is a company that do made to measure for a similar price and we happen to be going near by next weekend and she's agreed we can take some time out of our National Trust visits to visit BKS.

My test is always to get hold of the forefinger and middle finger and pull in opposite directions...

I've had a couple of pairs split, one almost ripped in two. Oddly, they went back on the shelf.

[GuzziPaul]

End of season report. Done 500 miles plus in the BKS gloves, 60 miles today. I think this will be the last time this year they will be worn until it gets a bit warmer as my hand got a bit cold after about 10 mins, althogh did warm up when I was working a bit harder braking.flicking round roundabouts. They are the comfiest bike gloves I have owned once I got rid of the visor wipe in the left thumb seam. The leather is very soft and took no breaking in, not crashed in them so havn't done a complete test but the leather is thick, so...
Ventilation on hot days isn't the best, my old A* were cooler but they do have some fancy lining. Cuffs are a bit tight but I can get my textile jacket cuffs in I found out today.
They are the most expensive gloves I have bought, but in my opinion much better value than gloves I was looking at around £120 from A* and others.