Textile jackets

[Bigyin]

Sizing is random ….. even for the same brand as I have a few pairs of Alpinestars gloves and some are XL and some are 2XL

As RB said sportbike shop have excellent returns policy although I did order my Dainese from Spain based on the sizing of a previous Dainese jacket

[Hot_Air]

I agree with allowing for layers, but with one caveat. If the sleeves aren’t snug, elbow armour can shift out of place in a crash. I think @Noggin mentioned something similar in her accident – shoulder armour dislodging, so it wasn’t where she needed it. Snug is safe

[Mr. Dazzle]

Sportsbikeshop do have a few physical branches - although I don't think it's much use to you Trog.

- Milton Keynes
- Reading
- Leeds
- Boston
- Bristol

[Rockburner]

medium, allows for layers and longer sleeve length

Unfortunately - at the moment, a lot of sizing is 'vanity sizing'. If you think you're a medium... you'll probably find a jacket marked 'small' will fit you properly.

All so [s][strike][st]heiffers[/st][/strike][/s]* gentlemen of the more portly persuasion can wear XXL rather than XXXXL and thus feel good about themselves.




* I know strike-through is possible on here - but how?

[Felix]

* I know strike-through is possible on here - but how?

Think admin magic is needed

https://www.phpbb.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=2053305

[Supermofo]

Last few things I've ordered from Sportsbikeshop I've ordered the 2 sizes I think would work best and send the one that doesn't fit back for free.

[Noggin]

I agree with allowing for layers, but with one caveat. If the sleeves aren’t snug, elbow armour can shift out of place in a crash. I think @Noggin mentioned something similar in her accident – shoulder armour dislodging, so it wasn’t where she needed it. Snug is safe

I have absolutely no proof and some have dismissed my comments in conversation (IRL), but for me, I'm just totally convinced that the need to buy a jacket big enough to do up over my hips meant the shoulders were baggy. Comfy yes, but it meant the armour wasn't in the right place (it does move anyway, but that's worse if the jacket is baggy)

I had, historically, taken armour out of all my jackets because it was never in the right place. Still don't understand why I didn't in that one

Might have made no difference, I did shoulder charge the motorway at some pace, from a decent height and I wasn't lightweight either. But we'll never know

I will be getting a mesh armour thingy that I can make fit so I can wear it under a comfortable jacket

[Mr. Dazzle]

I agree with allowing for layers, but with one caveat. If the sleeves aren’t snug, elbow armour can shift out of place in a crash. I think @Noggin mentioned something similar in her accident – shoulder armour dislodging, so it wasn’t where she needed it. Snug is safe

This is a big part of the reason I bought MTM leathers and why I'd consider MTM textiles. Fair enough I've got freakishly weird proportions, but still...

[Hot_Air]

What is a “standard fit” for motorcycle clothing? It’s a myth. We’ve all got some weird proportions without realising it! Until I bought MTM stuff, I thought I was a standard fit. But the care and detailed attention Hideout took with armour placement was an eye-opener – it’s in precisely the right place, and a crash couldn’t dislodge it. And I was also gobsmacked by the increased comfort.

MTM is an investment, but a more affordable option is getting regular clothing adjusted to fit. Several places (Hideout, Nine Lives, Hill4Leather) can turn off-the-peg leathers into a bespoke fit. Hideout and Nine Lives can tailor textiles too.

But we'll never know

Until I chatted with Kate at Hideout, I had no clue how critical armour placement and fit were. Over the years, I’ve used Hideout and Nine Lives to adjust the armour location in my winter and summer gear – highly recommended and more affordable than MTM. A mesh armour thingy would work too!

[Horse]

A mesh armour thingy would work too!

The wonderful (albeit pricey by standards then) ProTek jacket had a removable liner (actually there was a standard thinsulate & foil thermal - like an anorak - and a mesh optional alternative). Put on the liner, velcro armour in place, put on the outer and attach. Easy as that.

It also had the best ever weatherproof cuffs, plenty big enough to go over gloves, but with a tighter inner to go inside the glove. The cuff could be adjusted easily while wearing gloves.

[Rockburner]

I will be getting a mesh armour thingy that I can make fit so I can wear it under a comfortable jacket

My other half has the Knox 'under-armour' thing and it looks quite comfy and a good idea, as long you either have somewhere to put it when off the bike (eg topbox), or you don't mind wearing it all the time if not. (Tbh she doesn't wear it most of the time and prefers to put armour into jackets.... but then... she also like buying new jackets every 3 months.....)

[Hot_Air]

she also like buying new jackets every 3 months.....)

[Noggin]

A mesh armour thingy would work too!

The wonderful (albeit pricey by standards then) ProTek jacket had a removable liner (actually there was a standard thinsulate & foil thermal - like an anorak - and a mesh optional alternative). Put on the liner, velcro armour in place, put on the outer and attach. Easy as that.

It also had the best ever weatherproof cuffs, plenty big enough to go over gloves, but with a tighter inner to go inside the glove. The cuff could be adjusted easily while wearing gloves.

I will be getting a mesh armour thingy that I can make fit so I can wear it under a comfortable jacket

My other half has the Knox 'under-armour' thing and it looks quite comfy and a good idea, as long you either have somewhere to put it when off the bike (eg topbox), or you don't mind wearing it all the time if not. (Tbh she doesn't wear it most of the time and prefers to put armour into jackets.... but then... she also like buying new jackets every 3 months.....)

I've looked at both ProTek and Knox stuff in the past and the problem for me is that I've got broad shoulders, narrow back (and usually waist), but none of the manufacturers think women with big boobs ride bikes Apparently they just lie around on bikes!!

So I need to go look at some kit IRL to see what fits closest, in womens or mens, that I can then alter the body fit to actually fit me. I'm happy to do that, just need to make sure that the fabric is something I can work with at home


And that's something that I can't do on decent textile (the road proof fabric apparently needs special machines/needles, but I haven't tried) or leather kit


One day when I've financially got back up off the floor, I will definitely look to get MTM stuff as even when slim I can't find gear to fit my shape (more Marilyn Monroe than Kate Moss!!)

[Hot_Air]

@Noggin One future option is to buy used-but-quality clothing from eBay, erring on the large size. Then get Hideout or Nine Lives to tailor it to you. It’s MTM on the cheap! It’s what I did for my jacket (I could only afford Hideout trousers, not a full suit).

You can often find used Hideout or Scott Leathers for a bargain if you keep a watchful eye on eBay. If they’re prehistoric, Hideout (or Scrubbers Leathers) offer a professional rejuvenation service. More cheaply, I clean and feed the leathers myself.

I realise you’re probably not in the UK at the mo. But it’s leather food for thought.

[Horse]

The wonderful (albeit pricey by standards then) ProTek jacket

I've looked at ... ProTek

That jacket was launched at the Bike Show in 1988
I have no idea what their current stuff is like.

[IIRC launching an expensive weatherproof suit just ahead of a run of mild winters and warm summers bankrupted the company]

[Horse]

@Noggin One option is to buy used-but-quality clothing

Do Hideout do trade-ins?

[Hot_Air]

Hideout doesn’t do trade-ins. However, eBay is your friend for used leathers. I’ve had some utter bargains. You have to be in the know to buy Hideout, the right BKS (Brian Samson’s BKS, not the crap BKS from J&S) or Scott Leathers. Consequently, not many people buy them secondhand and they can go for low prices on eBay. You just need patience and a watchfulness

Hideout will tailor any leathers or textiles you bring them, including used leathers from other brands. Chris Stone at Nine Lives is another excellent option for tailoring secondhand leathers (less slickly organised than Hideout, but brilliant workmanship).

If you’re after professional cleaning and leather rejuvenation, Scrubbers Leathers will sometimes do trade-ins (accepting old gear towards payment). And his Reloved store is good for finding secondhand clothing in first-class condition: https://scrubbersleathers.co.uk/shop/

[Noggin]

@Noggin One future option is to buy used-but-quality clothing from eBay, erring on the large size. Then get Hideout or Nine Lives to tailor it to you. It’s MTM on the cheap! It’s what I did for my jacket (I could only afford Hideout trousers, not a full suit).

You can often find used Hideout or Scott Leathers for a bargain if you keep a watchful eye on eBay. If they’re prehistoric, Hideout (or Scrubbers Leathers) offer a professional rejuvenation service. More cheaply, I clean and feed the leathers myself.

I realise you’re probably not in the UK at the mo. But it’s leather food for thought.

I guess if I can find someone here to do that, I could. I'm not likely to be in the uk long enough to get that sort of thing done for quite a while. Maybe next spring. But I do have some stuff that should be a bit big soon (ish), so I'll ask around here for someone that could alter stuff

The wonderful (albeit pricey by standards then) ProTek jacket

I've looked at ... ProTek

That jacket was launched at the Bike Show in 1988
I have no idea what their current stuff is like.

[IIRC launching an expensive weatherproof suit just ahead of a run of mild winters and warm summers bankrupted the company]

I'm sure I saw ProTek advertised when I looked a couple of years ago, but maybe it was something else?? I did look at a few as, after a friend's accident on track, I was looking for an amoured vest that had a chest plate - gave up on that idea pretty quickly Bad enough having the 'plastic Zena' look when I broke my back 25 years ago - so wish I'd been born a boy!!

[Whysub]

When I was at Hideout leathers the other day I saw they also do made to measure Textiles. Given how much better/more comfortable my MTM leathers are I do wonder if MTM textiles would be worth the (considerable) price.

My employers very kindly paid for Hideout to do a made to measure textile suit for me. Best suit I. have ever had with the best armour and the abrasion resistance is near to that of good leathers. Water droplets just shake off, so suit always dry for the next wear.

Previous 20 years I mostly had top of the range Rukka stuff, but it always leaked somewhere, either on the front or shoulders. Not much in the way of leaks, but little ones are as annoying as big ones.
Had an Alpinstars jacket for one winter (about £500 I think) which was not great at keeping out water or wind, so was really a summer only jacket.


Rode 10 hours in torrential rain in Montenegro couple of years ago in the Hideout suit, not one drop got through. Always warm in winter, maybe just a tad warm in the warmest of British summers.

Not cheap, but top, top quality (including high rate Forcefield armour) and it is still in excellent working condition. Don't think I will need to replace it.

[Horse]

https://www.infinitymotorcycles.com/new ... ng-history

Protek now Knox