Leather suits up to 800 euros

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Leather suits up to 800 euros
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Station wagons, jackets & pants

Leather suits up to 800 euros

Leather suits up to 800 euros
Comparison test leather suits

The leather suit reports back. More and more bikers are increasingly turning to natural clothing. Its first-class protective effect is undisputed. The test clarifies which two-piece suits of the upper middle class have what it takes to be a top model.

Jorg Lohse

04/25/2008

It almost seemed as if the days of the leather suit were numbered. The triumphant advance of Cordura, Gore-Tex and Co began around ten years ago: Suddenly, only synthetic synthesis was in demand in stores. As a result, more and more manufacturers have fundamentally changed their product range. The selection of textile suits is now enormous. Nowadays there are station wagons for less than 100 and well over 1000 euros.

And the leather suit? This was increasingly being sidelined by the product developers. In the attractively priced range between 500 and 800 euros, it was almost impossible to get something with a fresh look. Only racer fans were offered a considerable selection – albeit at a price of 1000 euros and up.

The downward trend seems to have stopped for over a year. According to representatives of well-known brands, customers are increasingly asking for leather suits and want crisp, tight-fitting protective skins in trendy patterns. It remains to be seen whether it is more emotional reasons for the change of heart or rational arguments such as the higher abrasion resistance of leather compared to textile materials. In any case, good for the manufacturers who have stayed on the ball with their leather collection.

For this test, MOTORRAD put together eight models in the price range between 700 and 800 euros and rated them in the tried and tested mix of practical and laboratory tests. Because what looks great on the catwalk can fail mightily in everyday life. And vice versa, so many gray mice – once started – put themselves in the limelight. So now the stage is clear, welcome to: MOTORRAD is looking for the new top model!

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Leather suits up to 800 euros

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Comparison test leather suits

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Alpinestars Octane and Arlen Ness Lizzard


Leather suits up to 800 euros


Schahl

Alpinestars Octane; MOTORRAD verdict: very good

Alpinestars Octane – The MOTORRAD test winner
Provider: Alpinestars, phone 0039/0423/5286, www.alpinestars.com
Price: 689.95 euros

Materials: cowhide, thickness 1.2
up to 1.4 millimeters; firmly sewn mesh lining made of polyester

Colors: blue, red, black, white

Sizes: men 46 to 60, in black up to size 64

Weight: 4.6 kilograms

Features: perforated leather inserts, knee slider

Protectors: CE-certified hard shell protectors on shoulders, elbows, knees and shins; Padding on hip and rump;
Back protector can be retrofitted

plus
Very supple leather, is very comfortable to wear; great, comfortable cut; Protectors positioned very well and slip-proof in the leather; Collar well cut, does not pinch even with a very sporty posture; pleasantly ventilated

minus
Protective surfaces of the protectors are very small; Sleeve cuffs a bit too wide

Conclusion
As smooth as a comfortable sports suit? so the balance sheet for Alpinestars Octane. In addition, the two-piece shines with a clean workmanship and solid features. The protectors fit well, but some (on the knees and shoulders) are only certified for small protective areas. In contrast, they show acceptable values ​​in the shock absorption test.


Leather suits up to 800 euros


Schahl

Arlen Ness Lizzard; MOTORRAD verdict: good

Arlen Ness Lizzard
Provider: Held, phone 08321/66460, www.held-biker-fashion.de
Price: men 699 euros, women 649 euros

Materials: cowhide, thickness 1.2 to 1.4 millimeters; firmly sewn mesh lining made of polyester

Colors: azure, green, red, black / gray / white, white / black / gray
Sizes: men 48 to 58, women 38 to 44 (not available in all colors)

Weight: 4.7 kilograms

Features: perforated leather inserts, knee slider

Protectors: CE-certified soft foam protectors on shoulders, elbows, knees and shins; Padding on thighs, hips and rump; Pocket for retrofittable back protector

plus
Very supple leather; good cut, proportions are right; comfortable to wear even at high temperatures due to the perforation; Fit very comfortable even with an extremely sporty posture

minus
Uncomfortably rubs against the cuffs; Slightly pressing protectors, knee and back stretch made of simple textile fabric

Conclusion
Broadband two-piece, with which you feel comfortable on leisurely tours as well as research sports trips. The workmanship is decent, but details like the arm cuffs could be improved. The test bench results for the protectors are good, but are diminished by defects such as incorrect assignment (shoulder protector inserted in the knee).

Berik Motard and Buse Donington


Leather suits up to 800 euros


Schahl

Berik Motard; MOTORRAD verdict: good

Berik Motard
Provider: Held, phone 08321/66460, www.held-biker-fashion.de
Price: men 799 euros, women 749 euros

Materials: cowhide, thickness 1.2 to 1.4 millimeters; firmly sewn mesh lining made of polyester

Colors: black / white / bronze, black / white, white / red

Sizes: men 48 to 58, women 38 to 44 (not available in all colors)

Weight: 4.9 kilograms

Features: perforated leather inserts, knee slider

Protectors: CE-certified soft foam protectors on shoulders, elbows, knees and shins; Padding on thighs, hips and rump; Pocket for retrofittable back protector; Titanium caps on shoulders, elbows and knees

plus
Very supple, soft leather, extremely comfortable to wear; perfect fit, enables high mobility; pleasant ventilation; very well proportioned lengths; great connection to the motorcycle

minus
Some protectors are only certified for small protective areas; slightly incisive seat fold

Conclusion
Great sports suit with good features and an excellent fit. For those who can handle standard sizes, the Berik almost made-to-measure character. The protector equipment is identical to the Arlen-Ness-Kombi with the same strengths (good damping values) and weaknesses (wrong certification).

Buse Donington
Provider: Buse, phone 02471/12690, www.buese.com
Price: from 699 euros

Materials: cowhide, thickness 1.2 to 1.4 millimeters; removable mesh lining made of polyester

Colors: blue, green, neon red, orange, red, silver

Sizes: men 48 to 62, women 36 to 42 (not available in all colors)

Weight: 5.8 kilograms

Equipment: ventilation inlets, back humps, knee sliders

Protectors: CE-certified soft foam protectors on shoulders, elbows, knees, shins and back; Padding on the hip; sewn carbon fiber caps on shoulders, elbows and knees

plus
Nicely processed; Arm and leg ends softly padded; extensive protector set with first-class damping values

minus
Many bruises; Protectors do not fit exactly and can twist; small protective surface on the back protector; heavy

Conclusion
Heavy touring suit that clearly lacks fit and a cut adapted to the motorcycle. The Buse station wagon has first-class protectors, but due to the poor fit, they can quickly turn away from the joints to be protected.

Hero R9 and IXS Firestroke


Leather suits up to 800 euros


Schahl

Hero R9; MOTORRAD verdict: satisfactory

Hero R9
Provider: Held, phone 08321/66460, www.held-biker-fashion.de
Price: 699 euros

Materials: cowhide, thickness 1.2 to 1.4 millimeters; removable mesh lining made of polyester

Colors: white / blue, white / red, white / silver

Sizes: men 48 to 62; 98 to 110, women 38 to 44 (some not available in all colors)

Weight: 4.4 kilograms
Features: perforated leather inserts, back humps, Velcro mounts for knee sliders

Protectors: CE-certified soft foam protectors on shoulders, elbows, knees and shins; Padding on hip and rump; Pocket for retrofittable back protector; attached titanium caps on shoulders and elbows

plus
Cleanly processed; easy; available in many sizes

minus
Wrinkles on sleeves, legs and upper body, sometimes severe; Collar squeezes when sitting in a relatively upright position; Protectors on elbows and shoulders can move

Conclusion
Nicely processed touring suit, which, however, lies fairly immobile on the body. Pressure points on the collar and annoying folds on the sleeves and legs limit the comfort of the R9 combination considerably. The efficiency of the protectors is good, but the exact fit on the body is not. In terms of weight, the hero suit sets a new record.


Leather suits up to 800 euros


Schahl

IXS Firestroke; MOTORRAD verdict: good

IXS Firestroke
Provider: Hostettler, Telephone 07631/18040, www.ixs.de
Price: 729 euros

Materials: cow nappa leather, thickness 1.2 to 1.4 millimeters; firmly sewn, antiseptic mesh lining made of polyester

Colors: black, black / blue, black / red, white / black

Sizes: men 48 to 60 plus long and short sizes, women 34 to 44 (short only available in black)

Weight: 5.1 kilograms

Equipment: knee slider

Protectors: CE-certified soft foam protectors on shoulders, elbows, knees and shins; Padding on hip and rump; Pocket for retrofittable back protector; Plastic / metal caps
on shoulders, elbows and knees

plus
Soft, very supple leather, is very comfortable to wear; balanced, well proportioned sizes and lengths; clean processing with practical detailed solutions

minus
Sleeves cut too wide, elbow protectors are not exactly fitting; Collar opens very far

Conclusion
Neatly equipped leather suit at an attractive price. The Firestroke will especially convince comfort-conscious touring riders, while sports riders would generally want a tighter, more body-hugging cut. The protectors only show average values ​​on the test bench, and above all they could be better positioned.

M-Tech Skorpion and Spidi Varitek Touring


Leather suits up to 800 euros


Schahl

M-Tech Scorpio; MOTORRAD verdict: satisfactory

M-tech Scorpio
Provider: Bewa Motorsport, phone 06284/920910, www.bewa-motorsport.de
Price: 799.90 euros

Materials: cowhide, thickness 1.2 to 1.4 millimeters; firmly sewn nylon mesh lining

Colors: black / silver, black / blue, black / red, black / yellow, black / green

Sizes: men 44 to 60, women 38 to 50

Weight: 4.6 kilograms

Features: Leather with heat-reducing features, backed with windproof Cordura, Kevlar inserts, reflective inserts, air inlets on the shoulders, knee sliders

Protectors: CE-certified soft foam protectors on shoulders, elbows, knees and shins; Padding on the chest, hips, knees and shins

plus
Supple leather; neatly and nicely processed; precisely positioned protectors; easy

minus
Very tight cut; partly unbalanced proportions; Press arm and leg ends; slippery seat

Conclusion
Overall, a very unbalanced cut leather suit that can neither stand out well on upright tours nor in a sporty stooped position. Convincing, however, are the equipment package and the workmanship. Commendable: the many reflectors.


Leather suits up to 800 euros


Schahl

Spidi Varitek Touring

Spidi Varitek Touring
Providers: Spidi Sport, phone 0039/0444/436411, www.spidi.it
Price: 787.90 euros

Materials: cowhide, thickness 1.2 to 1.4 millimeters; firmly sewn mesh lining made of polyester

Color: Black

Sizes: men 46 to 62

Weight: 4.7 kilograms

Features: reflective piping, back humps, collar and arm cuffs edged with neoprene

Protectors: CE-certified hard shell and soft foam protectors on shoulders, elbows, hips, knees and shins; Pocket for retrofittable back protector; Padding on the chest and thighs

plus
Supple leather, fits very comfortably; extensive protector equipment, except for hip protector good damping values

minus
Sleeves cut too wide, elbow protectors can shift; slight feeling of tension on the back and in the collar area with touring sport posture

Conclusion
Simple touring suit that lacks some freedom of movement. The upper body is cut very tight compared to the trousers, pressure points on the shoulder protectors and ?? despite the neoprene edging? on the collar.

Buy right – crouch down

When posing in front of the mirror, little can be said about the quality of the leather suit. After all, it has to work especially when you are seated. When trying on something in the store, a chair on which you can adopt the usual driving position definitely helps. It is even better if your own motorcycle is in front of the door. Then you can easily determine whether the feeling of contact with the base is right or whether the seat is a bit too slippery. Particular attention should be paid to the seat of the protectors. Do they fit well or can they easily be pushed away from the joints to be protected? It continues with the collar: Is it gaping or uncomfortably pressing on the neck? Problems can also arise in combination with gloves and boots: glove cuffs and arm cuffs press on the wrist, or the boot shaft is simply too tight for the shin with protection. That’s why you should definitely have your equipment with you when buying a leather suit.

Caring for leather properly – caresses

Regular maintenance is necessary to keep the leather suit in its usual good shape. Otherwise the natural product will quickly become brittle. Leather suits should not only provide optimal protection against injuries, but should also be comfortable to wear in all weather conditions. So that the good piece remains breathable and can also transport sweat to the outside in the form of water vapor, the outer grain side must be kept open as deep as possible. By treating with fat or balm, the pores of the tanned skin are literally smeared up. It is better to use a leather care oil that can soak into the leather, impregnate it and keep it supple.
If the protectors are removable, suits can also be washed in the washing machine with a special leather detergent (reference: www.leder-fein.de) on a gentle cycle (30 degrees). After gentle drying (basically taboo: heating or sun), the combination becomes nice and supple again by oiling.

Protectors on the test bench – a good service

The cut is impressive: of 26 protectors tested, all are in the green area. Based on the European standard for joint and back protectors (EN 1621-1 / -2), MOTORRAD has determined the residual force values ​​of the protectors built into the station wagons on a drop test stand (Sas-Tec, Markgroningen, www.sas-tec.de) . During the drop test, a five-kilo falling body hits the protector from a height of one meter. A measuring head records the residual forces, the average values ​​of which are 35 kilonewtons (kN) for joint protectors and a maximum of 18 kN for class 1 back protectors. It is interesting to take a look at the attenuation curve. Certain soft foam protectors distribute the impact energy over a long period of time (see graphic). With other types, the curve rises steeply. In the event of an emergency, there is a risk of a broken bone.

Eight station wagons under the microscope – detailed work

Eight brands, eight philosophies, respectable work. Some details are good, but some need to be reconsidered. We noticed these things during the test.

Just don’t get a thick neck:
It is important that the collar fits comfortably in both an upright tourist and a sporty stooped position. Well done at Alpinestars

Just don’t do any tricks:
It is important that the suit is abrasion and tear resistant in the stretch zones. Therefore, like on the knees of the Arlen-Ness station wagon, these should not be made of textile, but of leather

To corner:
To prevent the sleeves from twisting dangerously in the event of a fall, they must be cut tightly. The seat of the Berik station wagon was particularly impressive

A knee fall:
Stretch zones make a combination nice and flexible. With the Buse-Kombi, however, the stretch insert on the knee has no function. A technically clean is missing here
constructed joint

Really disguised:
More and more manufacturers are equipping their station wagons in particularly endangered zones with abrasion-resistant caps, which can be quickly and inexpensively replaced if necessary after a fall

Frictional losses:
Poorly sewn cuffs lead to uncomfortable pressure points on the wrists. The softly edged sleeves of the Ixs are particularly pleasant

A brave little tailor:
The newcomer brand is due to its particularly neat workmanship with many valuable details M-Tech noticed. In terms of fit, there were still deficits

Positioning:
Protectors must be sufficiently large and completely cover the joints. Almost all manufacturers had deficits here

One or two piece? – Divided opinion

There is no discussion among the professionals on the circuit: racing drivers all start in one-piece suits. One thing is clear: the leather suit must offer the best protection under all circumstances, which is why it should offer as little attack surface as possible in the event of a fall. With one-piece suits, the connection zipper is not an issue as a possible weak point at which the suit can tear apart. However, this type of suit is more of a hindrance in everyday life. Two-piece suits, where you can take off your jacket during breaks, make more sense here. Two-piece leather suits offer sufficient security if they are equipped with all-round connecting zippers that are firmly sewn into the leather and do not open when pulled. Stay away from specimens where the zipper is only a few centimeters long or only hangs on the lining.

This is how MOTORRAD tests – to the point

We examined eight two-piece suits of the upper middle class in a tried and tested form through a mixture of practical and laboratory tests and rated them according to points. The distribution of points including the awarding of grades can be found in the final evaluation on page 76. The station wagons were assessed in the following categories.

Security (35 points):
The sum of the points to be awarded makes it clear that this is the most important category in this test. In addition to the shock absorption test of the protectors (see below), their fit and other safety features such as seams, doubled leather and material reinforcements are also included in the assessment.

Equipment / processing (20 points):
What equipment details does the combination offer (pockets, removable lining, ventilation options)? Is the processing quality right?

Fit (25 points):
Two different standard sizes were evaluated during a detailed fitting and while driving on a clearly defined test route. If the arm and leg lengths are correct, the collar squeezes in different sitting postures, the back tenses, and the proportions and cut of the suits are correct?

Carrying comfort (20 points):
Can the station wagon convince in practice? On the super sporty Yamaha YZF-R1 and the all-round flagship Suzuki Bandit 1250, the two-piece pieces had to show whether they were convincing in sporty and touristy pace: Do they offer sufficient freedom of movement, do they sit comfortably without pressure on the body? Do they go well with gloves and boots? And finally: Is the value on the scales correct??

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