New race leathers?

Paul LeClair

Paul LeClair

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Location
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Hi all

as I intend to run the supercharged and further modified Kawasaki H2 SX SE flat out next year on the new race track opening up local to me, I am looking for a new race suit. My current suit is about 17 years old, I have crashed in it a couple of times, and it is past time to retire it. I retired the 10 year old SIDI race boots earlier this past year

I looked locally this past week, lots of Dainese etc, tried a couple of different suits on, don't like the fit

Checked with Vanson Leathers recently about having a suit made, probably around $2,600 USD for a custom fit in heavy cowhide, needing break in, etc.. I will probably order another set of the Vanson race gloves, the last pair lasted through a couple of track crashes.

Then looked at SCUD https://www.scudmoto.com/product/wing-shield-suit the custom fit kangaroo hide suit looks attractive but seems odd to have a kangaroo suit made in the U.K., so checked Australia. The custom fit Ricondi kangaroo leather suit is listed at $2,450 AUS www.ricondi.com.au/ricondi-custom-made-suits-raced-around-the-world I guess the other question is where these custom suits are actualy made?

has anyone had experience with the Ricondi race suits or the Scud race suits? Any other recomendations or suggestions?

I will be 68 by the time I am back on the race track summer of 2022. The thought of longer healing times, broken ribs etc. has me looking for as much protection as I can arrange, whatever I buy or have made for a race suit will have to accomodate the AlpineStars tech air airbag vest https://fortnine.ca/en/alpinestars-tech-air-5-airbag which I am probably going to start wearing even on street rides, especially on the supercharged H2

Paul LeClair
 
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Hi Paul,
Smarty who owns Ricondi used to race our Laverda race bikes
You have a choice of either cowhide or Kangaroo
Suits are made in Pakistan but do not be put off by that, I worked in Pakistan for 4 years and every time I flew home on break I used to buy leather jackets to bring back to Aussie as they have been making leather goods for years, very well made

Ricondi suits are very good quality and is no issue having one made to suit your exact measurements as Smarty will send you a detailed fitting sheet to fill in, you can also choose any numbers of different colors, patterns etc to make the suit really stand out
Should see our new riders suit, stands out in a blizzard

If interested let me know and I'll talk to Smarty about a better price
Photo of Smarty at Darwin

Red

Redax Ricondi team at Darwin Smarty on 86
 
I'll second Red's recommendation of Ricondi. I sent my measurements to Smarty and he sent me a suit of leathers that fit. Easy peasy, no hassles. Note that I don't have the lean athletic build of a motorcycle racer - more like a fat-gutted lounge lizard, but the leathers fit perfectly despite my porky dimensions.

Ricondi was very competitively priced and easy to deal with. I think I paid $600 (a few years ago) for the zip-together 2-piece cow-hide suit for road use. He also threw in a free pair of kevlar jeans with the deal, so very good value. It's not a race suit although it has passed scrutineering on a couple of occasions when I've used it on the track. Expect to pay a lot more than that for top notch racing gear with all the bells and whistles.
 
My son bought a made to measure (extremely through fitting sheet) one piece race suit from a company only contactable via the FB nordic road-racing page. Top quality, excellent price, made in Pakistan.
 
forgot to comment, Ricondi are Tech Air agents and will build your custom suit to incorporate the air bag system
 
I had a new set of Italian made Record Leathers’ Laverda Corse leathers made to measure for me a couple of years ago. Really good quality for less than 1000 euros.
I would also recommend an external airbag suit in preference to a ‘built-in’ system. I use the French made Helite, GP Air track vest. Certainly saved me from more serious damage when I tested it at Pembrey earlier this year, and it was ready to use again in minutes unlike most airbag suits.
 
Andy J said:
I had a new set of Italian made Record Leathers’ Laverda Corse leathers made to measure for me a couple of years ago. Really good quality for less than 1000 euros.
I would also recommend an external airbag suit in preference to a ‘built-in’ system. I use the French made Helite, GP Air track vest. Certainly saved me from more serious damage when I tested it at Pembrey earlier this year, and it was ready to use again in minutes unlike most airbag suits.
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I've been using a Helite air bag vest that goes under my riding jacket for a year now. Excellent piece of kit.

Paul
 
Dellortoman said:
I've got a self-inflating life vest that could double as an air bag. Handy if you crash your bike into a lake.
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I was watching some highlights recently from the WRC championships. I reckon if I had been driving, life vests would have been a prerequisite as on some sectors the road seemed to drop, on either side, straight into the sea.
 
Beucars said:
Do you remember the type? I 've looking for a Helite which goes over my Jacket as well as leather combi
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Just checked, it's not an Helite but an Ixon. Uses the same French developed electronic unit.
The electronics can be programmed specifically for track use.

www.maxxess.fr

Gilet Ix-Airbag U03 IXON Noir - MAXXESS.FR, Airbag moto

Retrouvez sur MAXXESS.FR notre Gilet Ix-Airbag U03 Noir - Airbag moto : Gilet Airbag électronique universel et discret qui se porte sous tous les blousons et les vestes. I
www.maxxess.fr www.maxxess.fr

Paul
 
Not sure who sells them in Canada now but I bought a set of PSI leathers made in Czech Republic. Beautiful fit and very well made. They sent me a measuring form that was meant for a tailor to understand and I got measured up by a local tailor. The suit fits like a glove and I can't say enough good about them.

I can also say that my leather jacket from Pakistan is one of the best I've ever had so I will second what Red says about leather goods from there.

Good luck and I will see if I can find out who sells PSI in Canada. PSI Leathers

Jim
 
helicopterjim said:
Not sure who sells them in Canada now but I bought a set of PSI leathers made in Czech Republic. Beautiful fit and very well made. They sent me a measuring form that was meant for a tailor to understand and I got measured up by a local tailor. The suit fits like a glove and I can't say enough good about them.

I can also say that my leather jacket from Pakistan is one of the best I've ever had so I will second what Red says about leather goods from there.

Good luck and I will see if I can find out who sells PSI in Canada. PSI Leathers

Jim
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LANGLEY, BC, CANADA​

Psi Hill NA Imports4691 198C Street V3A 5Z Langley, BC, Canada
Phone: +1 604 250 93 87E-mail: psi_moto@telus.netWebsite: www.psi.eu
 
lots of info so far, thanks!

I still have kangaroo leather on my mind, my last/current set of heavy cowhide leathers took years to properly break in and I have never been completely happy with them. Maybe they just were not made to a proper fit. How much break in does a properly fitted cowhide suit require?

Dellortoman indicated he had passed scrutineering at a track with zip together two piece leathers, I don't know if that is allowed in Canada or the U.S. or if it is even an idea worth considering. For the costs involved tempting to be able to use the same custom made two piece suit on the road as well as the few times per summer it will go to the track. Using a one piece suit on the road is way too much work. Opinions about using a zip together two piece at the track, if even permitted?

Next issue is a silly one. The suit I am retiring is black with some white accents, this time around I was just going to order all black, with my blood type and maybe my first name, but seems like current fashion is wild multi colour?

Paul LeClair
 
Zip together is ok for Oz track days but one piece only for racing. My ski trip to Canada had me buying a one-piece ski suit. Big mistake, toilet stops midday or stopping for a meal was a nightmare. I could do it myself but plenty need help to get into or out of the upper section and then tie it around your waist. If your not racing a 2 piece is so much easier and practical to live with. Just make sure it had a really big zip, they're a waste of time with those 300mm around behind zips. For use in hot conditions look for fully perforated, probably not so important in Canada? What I do with my zip together non-leather suit and it took a while to learn, right arm in, attach the connecting zip for about 100mm, left arm in and then do the connecting zip completely. This makes it easier if you cannot see the zip to connect it.
 
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