Leather Riding Gear

[GaryWWhite]

I just found a website with great deals on leather riding apparel, especially stuff like jackets and gloves I'd thought I'd turn you onto.  I'm going to get an all leather (armored) jacket made from buffalo for about $145 and a pair of cowhide gloves with cool tec and touch screen fingers for about $35.  This stuff is considered first quality and the reviews are great.  You join their little VIP deal for $20 and you get their VIP price on some items like the jacket.  You don't have to pay shipping on items over $39 and you get cash back 10% of the price.  Anyways, it has about everything you need to ride clothing wise including helmets, boots, etc.  I'm sure you have all heard of Revzilla but this outlet has some really fine deals not found on Revzilla.
Hope you enjoy this website.  Their url is leatherup.com.
Best Regards,
Gary

[GaryWWhite]

There is a Company in the U.S. called Leather Up.  See Leatherup.com.  They sell some fantastic riding clothes at really ridiculous prices and the products are excellent.  They have a lot of clothing made from Buffalo (American Bison) which is thicker and more resilient than cowhide.  All there products are guaranteed.  I am getting a Buffalo Jacket, Buffalo Vest, and full leather pants.  I'm getting my wife (who usually doesn't ride pillion) a nice Vest to display our Chapter's colors.  Just sayin' this might be a way to get really good leather products at prices far below other vendors. I would like to have a Trophy leather jacket but am not going to pay $400 for it when I can get all the leather products mentioned above for that amount.

Best Regards,
Gary

P.S. For those who have kept up on my cycling disasters since returning to riding will understand my wife not wanting to be a pillion 

[Ghostrider25]

I have seen this company in ads and have been curious. I am with you on the ridiculous prices Triumph is charging for their wears. You want to rock the brand, but I'm not going to break the bank to do it. I have a couple of Victory branded leather jackets (one I got thrown in with the purchase of the bike, one I bought later on sale) and I do like being wrapped in leather when I'm on the bike. I wear pants, though, not chaps. No Nefarious Pirate outfits for me!  Arrgh!!        

Having said that, I did go all out one time on a two-piece leather riding suit, and that was the Aerostich Transit 2 suit. Outrageously expensive, but made to my specifications, and the quality is top-notch. This is the suit I wear when I travel long distance and it is fantastic. It's very strong, completely waterproof (it's Gore-Tex lined) and looks very, very good.  I have had it 5 years now, and it looks like new. I'll give myself a bit of credit for still being able to fit in it as well!     So sometimes it's worth spending the extra dough when the product is that good.

Gary, I am anxious to hear how you get on with these items. Please let us know your impressions and such when it all arrives. Pics would be very helpful also!

[karl]

Pity they stopped selling them.

[Ghostrider25]

Originally Posted by karl

Pity they stopped selling them.

Agreed. I am surprised but not shocked by this. I am not sure of the reason. I wonder if the source for their leather has dried up. If memory serves this was a special leather and manufacturing process obtained from Vietnam. Or could it just be that for the outrageous prices they were charging there wasn't enough sales to keep it in the lineup. I am guessing number 2.  If that is the case, then that is a bunch of number 2!!    They would rather just drop a product line that was revered rather than adjust the price a little bit and make a little less profit. That is pure speculation of course but might hold water given what they are charging for everything else they offer. If true, they know what they can do with it...

[smash]

Gary,

You might consider looking elsewhere for a jacket.  There are a couple of red flags with those xelement jackets.  First is their use of what must be the brand name "Level 3" armor.  It would appear they are claiming CE Level 3 approval for their armor, but there are only Level 1 and Level 2 standards for motorcycle armor.  And they don't actually say which standard they meet.  Of the standards they list, the one that ends with "-1" is for all armor except back protectors, and the one that ends with "-2" is for back protectors.  It doesn't appear these jackets come with back protectors, even though they claim CE approval for them.  I think I am being pretty generous by saying they appear to be intentionally trying to mislead people about their armor. 

The second red flag is their lack of description regarding the leather.  They make no claim it is full grain or top grain, or that it is greater than a millemeter in thickness, and they would if it was.  I'll bet it is split fashion leather, which is what you are actually paying for at their prices. 

Fox Creek Leather makes similar styled jackets to what you are looking at.  Look at their website and compare the descriptions and wording of their claims against what you are looking at. 

[GaryWWhite]

Thanks Smash,

I copied your comments and sent them to leather up for a response!  It seems if it is to too good to be true it probably isn't!

[GaryWWhite]

Hey Smash,

Here is the response I got back from Leatherup.com

"Dear Gary White,

In regards to the armor they are only 2 levels impact test (EN1621-1 & EN1621-2 impact tests)  and our armor has passed those impact test. Level-3 Armor is the brand name of the armor that comes with our jackets. We are not misleading people about our armor. About our leather it is full grain leather we do not use split leather on none of our jackets. And the millimeters in thickness to our jackets are between 1.2mm-1.3mm. We manufacture the Xelement brand  and when you are buying straight from a manufacturer you will always get better prices. If you have any questions in regards to one of our items we are more than happy to assist you.

Thank you

-----------------------------------
Thank You
LeatherUp Customer Service Team
Call Us Toll Free 1-800-846-6010
Monday -Friday 8:30  a.m - 5:00 p.m. (PST)"

With this information I'm going to take a chance!  Obviously, the responder doesn't speak English very well. 

Cheers,
Gary