Custom Leathers Thoughts?

I'm going a different route for leathers this year and I'm looking for input. Unfortunately, I'm orangutan sized with over pizza'd mid section. In the past, and with pretty good luck, I've gone the off the rack route with custom alterations. I'm still open to that. Most recently, I tried a deal with Comet Leathers...and I just can't recommend them with issues in fit similar to others here. So that leads me to this round of;

1. Avidan- I know Jim Whitten is using them and has had a pretty good experience I think. Very reasonably priced.

2. Hazardous- Ana likes them...about the same price as Pilot, Syed I think...don't know much more....

3. Syed-I don't know anyone who uses them, but the stuff I've seen is old school thick leather...good looking stuff. 'Merican made? Not sure...

4. Pilot-Mixed reviews on these folks from what I gather...

5. Vanson-??? Expensive but good I think...

6. Off the rack Dainese with custom alterations?

7. RS Taichi? No...I'm way too western built for those...but they rock...


Thanks for the feedback!!

Syed is good stuff from a family owned business in Florida. More expensive than Pilot by a little but but much, much better quality. Pilot is junk. Zippers are cheap and the shiny power rangers trinkety thingies fall off when you sneeze. They'd be ok for a costume next halloween but pretty cheesy for the track.

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Originally Posted by Mitch Williams

Syed is good stuff from a family owned business in Florida. More expensive than Pilot by a little but but much, much better quality. Pilot is junk. Zippers are cheap and the shiny power rangers trinkety thingies fall off when you sneeze. They'd be ok for a costume next halloween but pretty cheesy for the track.

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Thanks Mitch!!

I don't share Mitch's review on the pilot suits. I've owned three, and had two major unplanned dismounts in them with only modest injury of the class one would expect leathers to protect one from. I literally wore through the leather AND the knee guards in the crash at Cresson...

The Zippers are 50/50 in them for sure, though. I've had one great suit, one totally crappy one as far as zippers.

I think Hazardous also has a racer program where you can get cash back. Been over a year since I looked into it, so may have companies mixed up.

Barnacle Bill (HEAVY) or Syed.

Take a look a the Heroic brand as well. Todd McNabney is the owner and a stand up guy in all aspects. Great customer service and quality hand built suits. Can be customized how you want. They offer full leather, hybrid leather/.Kangaroo, or full Kangaroo. Just a thought

I wouldn't discount the Taichi so soon. If they can make a set to fit me they can make a set that fits anybody. Yes, mine are a hideous pink and look rather terrible in general, but they are 6 years old and crashed enough I've lost count. Other than having a patch here or there, only other repair work was a new zipper last year.

+1 on Syed - I used and abused mine for years, until the sleeves finally rotted away (from zero leather care on my part - oops!).

One of the advantages of the old school, heavy leather suits (Syed, Barnacle Bill, Vanson, etc.) was the ability to crash them repeatedly (occasionally, multiple times in a minigp race :lol:) without requiring extensive (or in my case, any) repairs.

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Originally Posted by Michael Snyder

Take a look a the Heroic brand as well. Todd McNabney is the owner and a stand up guy in all aspects. Great customer service and quality hand built suits. Can be customized how you want. They offer full leather, hybrid leather/.Kangaroo, or full Kangaroo. Just a thought

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Just depends if you can wait for a heroic suit to arrive.