New leathers.

Ace says...

I had a pair of IXS leathers. They were very well made for the money
and survived a couple of offs without any serious damage. My daughter's
first leathers were IXS as well, and she had a number of crashes in
hers before she lobbed them out.

 

"Far Eastern" does not have to automatically equate to "shit". IME,
factories from Sialkot to Shanghai can produce quality to rival that of
the leading UK specialists - if they are instructed, trained and paid
to do so.

Many - but not all - of the European distributors of motorcyclists'
clothing are only after the lowest price they can screw the subcontract
manufacturer down to - they have to do this so that they can sell the
same product to motorcyclists for the same price this year as they
charged two years ago - against increases in materials costs and
overheads. Something has to give, and quality is generally first in
line. Consistent quality can only be maintained by the implementation
of practices which are not commonplace in the offshore manufacturing of
motorcyclists' clothing.

 

If the leather and construction methodology used in your suit is the
same as the suit which I evaluated recently, sold under a different
brand name by your employers, that's a pretty robust product for not a
lot of money.

 

Is that what's going on? Harpers seem to be really cheap for Wolf stuff,
definitely cheaper than when I bought mine a couple of years ago.

Reading between the lines on their site, I got the impression that they were
manufacturing some of the lines themselves, with some of the new stuff
(including Kangeroo (sic)) pointedly not being made in the UK.

I was going to get a set of Alpinestars pants to go with my new-ish jacket,
to make a 2-piece, but reading some of the replies I'll probably stick it on
eBay and get something else - possibly Wolf from Harper's

 

Paul Varnsverry says...

I'd guess it is. I haven't put one to the ultimate test yet, and hope
never to, IYSWIM

 

Thirded.

I travelled from Manchester to get my MJKs, so shut your (reduced
intake) cakehole on that score.

I've had one low speed off in mine. Most of the time I forget it
happened, the leathers show very little in the way of damage. I didn't
even get a bruise either. Chuffed I am.

Graham is a top chap that'll try his best to make sure you get what you
want. My only problem with him is that his shop's fucking miles away.

 

Take the Akito Python 2 for example. Used to be a fucking excellent
jacket, but then they started making them in Shitville.

As I'd had the old model for a few months before I did a Road
Polishing on it I just ordered the same thing, but in black, mail
order.

NEVER again. It was utterly, utterly shit. It looked shit too. The
material used just looked worse than the old one. The reflective
tubing wasn't the 3M style stuff, but 'nearly reflective' white
plastic. It was thin, had pockets missing, no velcro on the remaining
pockets - where there was velcro on the neck it was half the size of
the old velcro and the cordura style stuff just freyed around it. The
tubing around the neck was thin and floppy. Even the poppers were
shit. Utter crud, even the Apollo I bought previously was a higher
quality product. The Python 2 started to fall apart after just 7 days
use.

Thankfully I managed to source the 'old' model Python 2 and the 'new'
version got sent back for a full refund. Horrid.

 

"Hello, is that Nigel? Hello sweetheart, can you do me a favour? What
is the gayest leather outfit you've got in stock for a boy?"

 

[snip]

I've crashed in mine 3 times and they still work well, so they can't be
/that/ bad. Besides, they fitted better than anything else I tried on in
Fowlers - and they've got a pretty large selection. The Spyke leathers I
had before were better, but their zips weren't much cop, and the poppers
kept on coming off!

 

Don't go for a cheap fleece either. They're shite for tarmac surfing
and hedge diving.

 

Oh dear!

 

You forgot 'rant over'

 

The ones that areon offer are the UK made ones. I don't think they can
compete any more.

£85 for a pair of wolf nimbus trousers is a good price, if you like red.

 

But I live in Essex which is close to London.
I'm sure there is someone more local.

Are you on the payroll then?

 

says...

I think your boyfriend's calling you back to bed, off you mince now.

 

Cooo, I didn't realise it was that close.

 

Linger says...

If you want quality then sometimes you have to get off your lazy fat
arse and go find it.

Bear's not, but I have been in the past. I sell stuff and I'm fucking
good at it, Graham sells stuff too, but he's better. I won't sell stuff
I have no confidence in or wouldn't buy myself, Graham is the same. I
went to Graham for a set of leathers and was that happy I offered to
help him sell them at shows. I used to use up 2 weeks of my annual
leave to work for him at the NEC and Ally Pally. That's the kind of
confidence I have in his products.

We had folk from all over the UK coming into Graham's shop when I
worked Saturdays there. Some of the people would fly in from Belfast or
from Glasgow to be measured up, then come back again for another
fitting and delivery. Those people used to come back for another set to
match their new bike, or a set for the wife/husband. You're complaining
about a 70 mile/ 1.5 hour trip!

 

oh dear oh dear.

tsk tsk!

 

Champ says...

He's a teacher, don't expect intelligence ffs.

 

Lozzo was seen penning the following ode to ... whatever:

Fourthed.

I really rate my MJK made-to-measure leather jeans. No signs of any
damage to the leathers after I fell off the Pan at something like
30mph, no bruises, just a slightly sore hip.

OTOH, if you go see Graham, your credit limit is doomed as I just
found out again recently...

--
Timo Geusch
Morini Corsaro 125 | CB450K4 | ST1100 | XL250 Motosport | 900SSD
R1150GSA (pending)
BOTAFOF #33 TWA#10
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