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.

I've got a Vanson jacket I've been wearing for years. The quality cannot be matched. One of these days I'm going to have one of their suits.

Have you heard of Catwalk Leather?
Joel uses top notch leathers and armors and she has been doing custom leather suits for a long time.
She is affordable and very nice lady. I do send all my repairs to her and never been disappointed with the work or price.
My next thing will be to insert the drinking water in the suit hump.
I was about to order a suit from her but I got a such a great deal from Brandt (Ballistik) that I could not pass and she did the alterations to fit me just perfect.
Catwalk Leather Inc
14325 Rogers Rd, Willis, TX 77378
(936) 520-1632

+1 for Jol. She repaired Helena's suit and I was definitely impressed. They look stronger than Alpinestars made them.

Allen, my Syed is built like a tank, not elegant, yet has held up thru some big get-offs.
my Pilot instructor suit is thin, Had the zippers all replaced cause the mickey mouse ones they install failed.
and I would not deal with those arrogant fools at that company.
Amanda w Speed Sport leathers, my angel who repairs my crashed stuff is a good source of info. She repairs them all and several AMA racers stuff, and can tell you who makes good and best stuff.

Comet Racing Leathers.
Nick tested his a few times this season.
They held up great and the price is very good!!!

+1 on Comet Racing Lethers. Give Karl a call and he will do you a full custom suit for a very good price. I have 3 and they're very nice!

Reading....

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Originally Posted by Steve McNamara

Comet Racing Leathers.
Nick tested his a few times this season.
They held up great and the price is very good!!!

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Originally Posted by Brandon Young

+1 on Comet Racing Lethers. Give Karl a call and he will do you a full custom suit for a very good price. I have 3 and they're very nice!

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Originally Posted by Allen Dye

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;
.....

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Originally Posted by Dennis King

Reading....

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wait.. you can read??? ;-) on another note.. get with Ana Duran @ Leather and Lace.. she can get you measured, and if they mess it up, fix it(with whichever brand, but I think she is partial to Hazardous (probably for good reason).

What size are you and your over-pizza'd mid-section, Allen?

Just curious... I "may" have a suggestion for a nice suit for you. It's a new 46/56.

Thanks all very much for your input!!! I've not had good luck with Comet, despite the fact that I really like Karl. My suit was a big miss in a couple of areas...I had two different people measure and paid a tailor to measure as well to be sure...it was so far off in the upper arm to elbow that I'm surprised it didn't raise a flag to whomever was reviewing it! Oh well, live and learn.

Bob...I'm 6'4 or bit less, 225lb...and about a 46" chest. The catch for me is the neck to crotch off the rack. I have to go to a 48' and have it tailored off the rack...

I'm leaning towards Syed right now...

Thanks again!

You don't know anyone that wears Syed? Really? I guess I need a brighter suit.

I use Taichi and love it...but I'm a tall skinny guy - my suit is a 3XL to suit my height, and it's almost tight on me around the waist. I honestly can't lose any more weight or I'd probably die. For me, the only way I could find this out is by going to Motoliberty and trying several brands on - every suit is completely different.

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Originally Posted by Sean Gurevich

You don't know anyone that wears Syed? Really? I guess I need a brighter suit.

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You only wear one? I thought you had a full closet?

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Originally Posted by Sean Gurevich

You don't know anyone that wears Syed? Really? I guess I need a brighter suit.

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I only ever get a glance Smiley...

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Originally Posted by Allen Dye

Thanks all very much for your input!!! I've not had good luck with Comet, despite the fact that I really like Karl. My suit was a big miss in a couple of areas...I had two different people measure and paid a tailor to measure as well to be sure...it was so far off in the upper arm to elbow that I'm surprised it didn't raise a flag to whomever was reviewing it! Oh well, live and learn.

Bob...I'm 6'4 or bit less, 225lb...and about a 46" chest. The catch for me is the neck to crotch off the rack. I have to go to a 48' and have it tailored off the rack...

I'm leaning towards Syed right now...

Thanks again!

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Sorry you had such bad luck with Comet, Allan. I actually had a similar problem the first time also but they fixed it quickly for me. I hope they don't continue to have this problem going forward because I do like their product and it is awesome for the price.

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Originally Posted by Rebecca Caudle

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.

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+481 on what Becka said.

I've worn and crashed in all sorts of stuff. RS Taichi is hands down the best in every single way in my opinion.

Talk with Audrey or Joseph at Moto Liberty. Fantastic people. They have plenty of stock to try on. If they can't fit you in a Taichi suit (I'd be really surprised), they'll know what would fit you after you try a few on.

Edit: You're in Dallas, go to Moto Liberty!! :slap:

Moto Liberty IS THE BOMB...no question...

I think Taichi has a new suit...or same suit, new size out in the last year...quite literally, the largest Taichi suit they had I couldn't pull up past my thighs...

Motoliberty FTMFW. My rev'it was off the rack there. Rev'it is a fantastic brand, my suit has held up through my very annoying growing up phase with moto riding/racing.

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Originally Posted by Allen Dye

I'm 6'4 or bit less, 225lb...and about a 46" chest. The catch for me is the neck to crotch off the rack. I have to go to a 48' and have it tailored off the rack

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48 feet? Yeah that's going to require custom for sure.

I have similar issues with fitment and have tried alot of different option in last 15yrs. I started with off rack w/alterations and always on sale. i dont know why my head lets me spends thousands upgrading a bike and when it comes to protecting my skin i suddenly go into clearance mode. A couple years ago, i broke down and did the custom tailored route. i really wish i would have done that much sooner. If you're planning to race for any significant period of time, get a custom tailored kangaroo suit from a reputable vendor. Yes they are very expensive, but you wear it every time you go on the track. they will last much longer than most mass produced off the rack imports.

I have worn Vanson on and off for 25 years and I swear by them.

My Syed suit was the best suit I've ever owned and lasted for years. I had it cleaned a few times over the years but mostly the suit was neglected. Rick Hogge and my brother Derek both had good luck with Vanson's. I currently have an Alpinestar suit I picked up used. Not a bad suit but it hasn't held up as well as my Syed.

Whatever you decide I think custom is the way to go, just send it back until you are happy or at least comfortable in them. I wanted to support Audrey at Moto Liberty because she has and continues to support racers and racing. She worked with me and we tried to find a Taichi to fit me but every single off the rack suit squeezed my neck enough to choke me while in a tuck position. Alteration may have helped but the suit just didn't fit my build.

Try not to use white in crucial areas of the suit. Apparently the process of getting the leather white weakens it. My Syed suit was mostly white and those areas rotted while the colored areas remained pliable. If I were doing it again I would avoid white on the butt and hip areas of my suit and take better care of the leather.

Custom suites like Syed and Z Custom last forever.

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Originally Posted by Brad Thomas

My Syed suit was the best suit I've ever owned and lasted for years. I had it cleaned a few times over the years but mostly the suit was neglected. Rick Hogge and my brother Derek both had good luck with Vanson's. I currently have an Alpinestar suit I picked up used. Not a bad suit but it hasn't held up as well as my Syed.

Whatever you decide I think custom is the way to go, just send it back until you are happy or at least comfortable in them. I wanted to support Audrey at Moto Liberty because she has and continues to support racers and racing. She worked with me and we tried to find a Taichi to fit me but every single off the rack suit squeezed my neck enough to choke me while in a tuck position. Alteration may have helped but the suit just didn't fit my build.

Try not to use white in crucial areas of the suit. Apparently the process of getting the leather white weakens it. My Syed suit was mostly white and those areas rotted while the colored areas remained pliable. If I were doing it again I would avoid white on the butt and hip areas of my suit and take better care of the leather.

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I'd not heard or considered that. My suit is mostly white. I wonder how much sunlight affects the lighter leather colors vs darker, too.

Hey Josh,

I have zero evidence of this claim, just something I read somewhere and have discussed with suit builders and leather repair folks.