| Author | Message | ||
     Captainkirk |
I'm in the market for a set of leathers. I really like the Vanson/Buell stuff but a pair of the pants and jacket will totally demolish my gear budget for the next year. I've read some of the reviews here in the KV, seems like most of the Alpinestars, Joe Rocket, etc is decent gear and priced several hundred dollars less than the Vanson/Buell stuff. My question is this; would anyone who has purchased either V/B or brand "X" (or both) be able to say that the V/B gear was worth the extra money, and why? (such as, my Joe Rocket stitching came apart after two seasons, etc) I'd rather spend all my budget on good gear than half my budget on junk, but only if the other stuff is inferior. If anyone has any gear to avoid like the plague, please let me know as well. I'm also sort of interested in the Aerostich gear, mainly because of the reputation. Feedback? | ||
| Bluzm2 |
Check out www.newenough.com Good stuff at a very reasonable price. | ||
| Henrik |
I bought my suit used from Vanson - they take back track school suits every year, and my suit had hit pavement several times in the year it'd done track school duty. I've crashed 3 times in that suit myself, and it's still holding up fine. Bottom line; Vanson leather is stiff as all get-out in the beginning, but it holds up very well. You can try and contact the Vanson factory, as they have open house, close-outs etc. regularly. As Brad mentions, newenough.com does good business and selles good stuff. Keep in mind though, that none of the Vanson armor has been tested and may or may not be up to CE standard. Henrik (testing and certification of protective gear is a pet peeve of mine  ) | ||
| Kdkerr2 |
I have a Roadgear Xcaliber jacket. So far it's holding up real well. It's good in cold weather, has plenty of pockets, a removable liner for summertime use as well as vents. However the jury is still out as to whether or not it's fully waterproof as claimed. I've only been in one gully washer when we were coming home from the Barber races near Birmingham AL. My hands were soaked but apparently the rain leaked in past my gaunlets. Also I was wet on my chest but again apparently the rain leaked in under my helmet and I may not have had the neck flap fastened down well or the rain flap over the zipper. Time will tell. I also have a Heine-Gerricke Dakar jacket which is all leather and I believe is still being sold. It's a very good jacket with a removable liner and vents for summertime also. Main complaint is that it's too heavey. Fairly expensive too and not water proof. KK | ||
| Geofg |
Henrik, Vanson is advertising CE rated armor these days. Have you looked at it yet? http://www.vansonleathers.com/old_pages2/euro_ce_armor.htm I just picked up their cordura mesh jacket, and it's very nice. Their soft armor is garbage, though: might as well be using foam eggcrate. -Geof | ||
| Henrik |
Geof: thank you for the correction. I hadn't seen their new armor. The stuff in my suit is the old hard shell w/ EVA foam inside. I'm happy to see they're joining in on the Certification. I would have liked to see them using something other than crushable armor though ... And yes, their soft armor *is* a joke. I recently purchased a back protector and padded shorts from Johnson Leather. They're the US distributer for T-Pro armor, and their 2- and 4-layer armor can be made to fit into any suit or jacket. Pricey, but excellent impact absorption. Henrik (no affiliation, kick-back or other perks) | ||
| Shotgun |
Second the Newenough recommendation. I bought a new Joe Rocket 1 piece from them, got it and needed the next bigger size, no problem, I just paid freight one way. Great suit too. | ||
| Geofg |
No problem, Henrik. This is something I'm very interested in as well. Thank you for doing a lot of my homework for me. Fieldsheer is also doing the Right Thing. They've got a new CE rated armor called "Meli.Comb". http://fieldsheer.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=27&products_id=53 Here's more info: http://www.fieldsheer.com/05/fs_files/interface_fr_files/ce.html The back protector, they claim, actually passes the prEN 1621-2 qualifications. And the MSRP for a jacket set (2 shoulders, 2 elbows, and back) is a very reasonable $35. I'm seriously looking at the Meli.Comb for commuter wear, but the T-pro from Johnson Leather is seriously drool-worthy and I may just pony up the $$ anyway. -Geof (Message edited by geofg on March 10, 2005) | ||
| Henrik |
asses the prEN 1621-2 qualifications The 1621-2 is just the newer standard for back protectors. The difference is between 1621-2 Level 1 and 1621-2 Level 2. I checked out the Fieldsheer site, and they don't seem to distinguish? Contact them and ask for specifics. The T-Pro back protector is a *very* nice piece of protective gear indeed. Henrik | ||
| Captainkirk |
Thanks for the replies and the links. Looks like I've got my work cut out for me for a few days! | ||
| Indy_bueller |
Are there any HD/Buell dealers that carry a good supply of the Vanson stuff? I'd like to at least look at it and try it on before I decide what I'm going to buy. | ||
| Kdkerr2 |
None around here. All 3 of the nearby Harley dealers [Louisville KY and Bowling Green] only have Harley stuff. You have to go to the Jap bike dealers for the Vanson gear. KK | ||
| Bomber |
bunch of the buell dealers in NE Ill and SE Wisconsin have a pretty good selection of the Buell-branded Vanson gear -- bit of a hike from Indy, though -- | ||
| Buellgirlie |
i just did a low side crash at NHIS in a rented set of full vanson leathers with armor. it definitely definitely definitely did its job! i'd save up for vanson or get them from newenough.com. i'm a believer now  | ||
| Indy_bueller |
Bomber, I'm passing through that way in July, care to name off a couple dealers for me? I'm driving up to Duluth, MN from Indy. | ||
| Mikej |
Indy, If you're heading to Duluth make a point to stop in at the Aerostich store. Fun place to visit. | ||
| Bomber |
Indy -- Uke's (Kenosha WI) had a bunch a couple of months ago (Jacket and pants, both), and Ill HD/Buell (Berwun -- read Chicago) had some last month -- can't imagine they'd be all gone | ||
| Charlieboy6649 |
Has anyone used the Cycle Gear flagship brand Frank Thomas? They are kangaroo hyde, well armored and fit me like a glove. The guy behind the counter said I couldn't ask for a better fit if I had a set made for me. Sometimes it's like that off the rack. Anyway, any comments? I talked to one guy who said his came unstiched but that was a textile set... | ||
| Ethanr |
Charlie, I've got a FT 2-piece that fits rather well and is very comfy up to about 90 degrees (the "perforated" version) out in the open, or 80 in traffic. I've worn it for about 6K miles so far...no problems with the seams. If the CG shop doesn't have the color you want, they'll have another store send one. They even did that for me (I wanted the black/silver) when I bought mine on clearance. | ||
| Charlieboy6649 |
Yea, the store manager said when I'm ready in a few months to let him know size/color and he'll have it ready (at Decembers sale price, shhhhhh!)  I think I'm going to go for it... | ||
| Bluzm2 |
When I visited the Cycle Gear store in Phoenix a couple of weeks ago, the sales person said they had seen a few problems with seams coming apart prematurely on some of the stuff. This was on the textile stuff though. YMMV...... |
