With '05 upon us I thought I'd bring up the topic of Race Leathers...
Yes, I'm finally hanging up my 7 year old beloved purple and Yellow AGV suit ;D
I'm torn between custom work through SYED or Vanson and the high dollar Alpinestar GP suit (or equiv). So what can I expect from custom work vs. a 1700.00 off the rack mack daddy? Any suggestions on what to go with... oh, and I'm not necessarily looking to blow 1700 bucks, just wondering how much more I get for that kind of money ???
I also want to get custom letting done (name, team name, etc) on the suit-- who's good with that?
Thanks!
For repairs, lettering AND custom work, see Alexa of www.spyderleatherworks.com
She keeps the MW/GP folks nice and tidy - and does great work at very fair prices.
As for the benefits of a custom suit... ewll, you have a top-quality product that is designed and built to fit YOU perfectly. I don't know how you're built, but if your purchase requires alterations, you'd have been better off having one made to begin with.
Super Dave and others here can attest to the superior protection and durability of Vanson leathers.
I've had a Syed for going on 4 years and it has repeatedly crashed well - I send it to Alexa at the end of every season so she can make sure it's "110%". I would have bought a Vanson, but at the time, $800 was my limit.
Thanks Kim.
wvracer: Get the customs. Alpinestars makes a great suit for off the rack, but you can not beat customs at a comparable price for fit and durability.
Feel free to contact me with any questions you might have.
Vansons are as good as leathers get. My suggestion, (and what I've done) would be to buy a custom made Vanson suit in two colors, and then have Spyder Leatherworks do your graphics. Alexa does the nicest custom work I've ever seen , and she's very reasonable! Check out her site for pictures of her work, and don't be afraid to let her help you with design. I gave her a line drawing on a napkin, and almost fainted when I saw what she'd done with it! The woman is an artist!
Where do you work?
I still work in the United States...
Buy a good quality US made suit.
Mine is made here with US leather, US workers, etc.
Some suits will say "Made in Italy", but that only refers to the liner. Other parts are made in Tsunami zones where workers are paid beans and the MOTOGP riders that wear their suits are paid hefty contracts.
QuoteWhere do you work?
I still work in the United States...
Buy a good quality US made suit.
Mine is made here with US leather, US workers, etc.
With that being said I guess it sucks that we all race Japanese bikes ;D
Yeah, that's one where there's really not a perfect realistic opportunity.
Buell has made great strides, but the budget to maintain one, and buy one, is still beyond me.
I inquired about racing a VR1000 at one time.
I'll add my support for Vanson. Their custom stuff is amazing, and they are good about fixing it if you decide it doesn't fit just right. Also, they have never been hit by a tsunami, which I think is important.
QuoteWith that being said I guess it sucks that we all race Japanese bikes ;D
Well, we don't ALL race Japanese bikes... ;)
Vanson. Spyder Leatherworks. Nuff said.
Anybody ever think about something lighter? I weigh enough already and, although Vanson's have held up well, they weigh a ton.
Do the lighter leathers (kangaroo?) hold up as well and are there any brands at a similar price as Vansons ?
My post holiday diet resolution ain't going so good and I'm not above saving the weight by other means.
I saw a set of the MotoGP Kangaroo at the Lithium Motorsports shop a few weeks ago (BTW, real nice shop you got there Rob!). They are extremely light and pretty cool looking, but I don't know how much protection they offer. They feel so thin it's almost scary, but they are supposed to be tougher than cow hide. It will be interesting to see how well they hold up to crashes/regular use.
QuoteMy post holiday diet resolution ain't going so good and I'm not above saving the weight by other means.
LOL!
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
You and a few ** other ** guys I know.
Dawn ;)
QuoteMy post holiday diet resolution ain't going so good and I'm not above saving the weight by other means.
I'm with ya Don. Every time I eat a donut, I think about Ed Key drilling more holes in his SV all winter.
Then...
I eat another donut.
But I personally wouldn't sacrifice the piece of mind of a good heavy slab of XXXXL cow leather between me and the pavement for a few pounds of weight savings.
QuoteI'm with ya Don. Every time I eat a donut, I think about Ed Key drilling more holes in his SV all winter.
Then...
I eat another donut.
I heard that if you eat the donut holes you'll lose weight.
;D
(yep, that's my story and I'm sticking to it!)
QuoteBut I personally wouldn't sacrifice the piece of mind of a good heavy slab of XXXXL cow leather between me and the pavement for a few pounds of weight savings.
Ha! Well, it's not quite XXXL yet but I'm a long way from Mr. Key's svelt physique.
If it ever stops snowing on this side of the lake I'll get back out running again. Boring as it is, it's the only way I can lose a few pounds.
Dawn,
Tell Paul I said to enjoy all the donut holes he wants. ;)
try contacting Barnacle Bill (http://www.racingleather.com/home/home.html)
I was having a tough time finding leathers that really fit. I had really stressed about the whole custom thing...one conversation with him and I felt totally at ease and I have 100% confidence in the suit he's making me. and it's EXACTLY what I want...gotta love it.
he does alot of repair work, so he sees what works and what doesn't...and his pricing is VERY reasonable in comparison with other custom suit makers. win-win.
good luck,
Bret
QuoteI saw a set of the MotoGP Kangaroo at the Lithium Motorsports shop a few weeks ago (BTW, real nice shop you got there Rob!). They are extremely light and pretty cool looking, but I don't know how much protection they offer. They feel so thin it's almost scary, but they are supposed to be tougher than cow hide. It will be interesting to see how well they hold up to crashes/regular use.
I've seen pics of those and they do look comfortable. The price is comparable to Vansons too.
QuoteVansons are as good as leathers get. My suggestion, (and what I've done) would be to buy a custom made Vanson suit in two colors, and then have Spyder Leatherworks do your graphics. Alexa does the nicest custom work I've ever seen , and she's very reasonable! Check out her site for pictures of her work, and don't be afraid to let her help you with design. I gave her a line drawing on a napkin, and almost fainted when I saw what she'd done with it! The woman is an artist!
That's the route I went - got my Vanson in white, red and black. They only charge an extra $50 above what it would have cost in either all black or all white - they call this an "oddity suit" - you get to choose the color of the various panels.
Alexa worked with me to come up with my whole logo design idea, and then drew it up and executed it. Turned out great.
And don't forget about matching stickers for your helmet, bodywork, trailer and friends - from Stumpy, of course.
QuoteI'm with ya Don. Every time I eat a donut, I think about Ed Key drilling more holes in his SV all winter.
Then...
I eat another donut.
What if Key was required to mount saddle bags on his Sv and put a 24 pack of cream filled Krispy-Kreems in each bag
;D
QuoteWhat if Key was required to mount saddle bags on his Sv and put a 24 pack of cream filled Krispy-Kreems in each bag
;D
Hmm. Might slow him down a tad and as a bonus make me want to chase him harder...
Or maybe just make him strap a couple of 80lb bags of rock salt on his gas tank. Feel my pain Ed!
QuoteHmm. Might slow him down a tad and as a bonus make me want to chase him harder...
Or maybe just make him strap a couple of 80lb bags of rock salt on his gas tank. Feel my pain Ed!
LOL!!!
We were (Paul, K3 and I) had this very discussion today. Perhaps we could lace is food with a little concrete, that would stick to his bones wouldn't it? Isn't the SV frame hollow? Could we fill it with lead?
Perhaps we should just have a Big Man Lightweight Championship?
Dawn ;D
QuotePerhaps we should just have a Big Man Lightweight Championship?
Dawn ;D
We start with a pizza each. When you've finished the pizza, you pull on your helmet, pull off your tire warmers, and go. At the finish line, there is desert...
QuoteWe start with a pizza each. When you've finished the pizza, you pull on your helmet, pull off your tire warmers, and go. At the finish line, there is desert...
I thought that was Formula Fatty? :o ;) ;D
QuoteI thought that was Formula Fatty? :o ;) ;D
Baaahhaa!!!! ;D ;D ;D
QuotePerhaps we should just have a Big Man Lightweight Championship?
I think the rules should be that the rider must weigh at least as much as the bike. I'd only need to gain 20 lbs or so to weigh as much as my TZ. :P
-z.
Let me see.... If I bought Ed Key's super SV and gained 20 lbs....
What would y'all recommend out of all these options?
http://www.ridersinc.com/store/customer/home.php?cat=18
Lowe, email me with what your price point is and which leathers you were thinking of buying and I can help you narrow it down to your best choices.
I have a couple of my rental suits for sale...
Vanson's...no compromise.
Tell me your size.
QuoteI have a couple of my rental suits for sale...
Vanson's...no compromise.
Tell me your size.
Dave, why don't you list the size, color and prices of the suits you're willing to sell?
Dave's got good prices for these suits, it's worth a short email to find out what he's got to offer.
Big Vanson fan here! Custom fitted, very well vented, great armor and (sadly :'() they hold up great in a major crash. If only the EMT's didn't have to cut mine off to save my life. . . ;)
I've heard great things about Barnacle Bill's too.
Now I just need to get my Leathers repaired. Hey Alexa, how do I get a quote on some major repairs? ;D
Email me with pictures of what you need done. I've actually fixed "filleted" leathers in the past. Success depends on how badly they chopped stuff up. spyder@wi.rr.com
Although your new graphic scheme may be lightning bolts! :o
Alexa will hook you up. I'd trust my life to her work. Oh, wait... I already do! :D
QuoteEmail me with pictures of what you need done. I've actually fixed "filleted" leathers in the past. Success depends on how badly they chopped stuff up. spyder@wi.rr.com
Thanks Alexa! I'll get some good quality photos together over the next week and email you with them.