Custom Leathers Thoughts?

[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.

[Keith Hertell]

Custom suites like Syed and Z Custom last forever.

[Josh Henke]

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.

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.

[Brad Thomas]

Hey Josh,

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