Into Leather?

Made to measure? Isn't that just a technical term for outrageously expensive'?

It always seemed that way, especially about motorcycle leathers. There never seemed to be much point in getting a riding suit individually cut, not when it raised the price by around 30%. Leathers are expensive enough, after all...

But after two years riding, my old Frank Thomas classic jacket and jeans were pretty well worn, and to be honest I was less than happy with riding in lightweight jeans - even if they are made of hide. My knees were crying out for triple-thick layers of leather and maybe some armour, too. My joints have quite enough to grumble about already, so a riding suit needs to offer extremely good protection, yet remain comfortable. A tall order, especially as female sizes are never well accommodated by the major manufacturers. Which is how BKS entered the scene. Famous for amazingly coloured race outfits, BKS also offer a tasteful range of black, charcoal and gunmetal shades which can be used with their touring two-piece patterns to produce a practical riding suit. If you choose to look like a technicolour starship trooper, then that's up to you!

BKS do sell some standard sizes, but most of their leathers are indeed made to measure. And there's plenty of measurements - over 130 of the things to check. Years of tailoring experience enable BKS to interpret your actual measurements for a motorcycle suit, so that there's always enough material to allow for a racing crouch or a strenuous kick-starting session. It takes about twenty minutes for all your dimensions to be recorded, and about twice that long to wade through the myriad options BKS can build into your suit. Then you sit back and wait for around six weeks while the leather is cut and stitched.

The result? Astonishing. My suit was quite a snug fit the first time, but the leathers' initial stretch soon made it extremely comfortable. And instead of the legs being a few inches short and the cuffs being a few inches long and the back being really baggy while the front is tight... they actually fit. Me. Properly. The knee pads, for example, are exactly over my knees. After years of wearing off-the-peg kit, this is something of a revelation. Worth the 30% extra? Oh yes. My two-piece suit cost £1200. A similar product with inner pockets, perforated panels, full waist zip and lightweight and flexible armour would cost around £850 from your local friendly accessory shop.

That's a lot of cash, true, but it's even more cash for something which doesn't ever fit quite right and doesn't come to your own specification and colour choice. No real contest...

If your riding is restricted to occasional local rumbles in the countryside then you won't get your money's worth from this kind of service. If you enjoy clocking up the miles, though, then I bet you'll enjoy them even more in a set of leathers which actually fit!

 

Rowena Hoseason

BKS Leathers are on 01395 278861 fax 01395 225244, email info@bksleather.co.uk

June 1999