Thread: realistic suit sizes

That's why us short stocky dudes go custom.

If you can't try it on in person, I suggest you carefully study the return/exchange policy of an online vendor and accept you might have to return it on your dime once.

I have never ordered leathers online just for this reason. I have the luxury of buying locally, yes it costs more, but it is worth it.

Spidi had the least "waifish" fit of any I tried, Dainese, one of the most.

Custom is well worth it IMO, I'll probably never buy off the rack again.

In my experiance they vary so much you really take your chances if you order without trying on. I agree with LTL, make sure about the return policy.
I would also go to CycleGear, and try on everything they have in stock to see how they fit in general. There may be some smaller racer oriented shops in your area with suits in stock. Have you been to Cycleriders in Longwood? They may have some suits in stock to give you some sizing base lines.

Also, I saw you're heading to the AMA races.

If you can wait, that might be a good opportunity to try on and buy a suit.

You think you have problems? Try finding good, track oriented off the rack stuff for women! Not happening! As others have stated, try to try it on first, or make sure they allow you to exchange. Kneedraggers and motoliberty I think are two that allow exchanges if the suit doesn't fit the first time. Me? I've always had to go custom.

Look into a Joe Rocket GPX Type R it fits 'woolier' people JR seems to cut stuff a bit looser though I needed to get a suit a size or two larger than optimal (48 vs 44/46 which I should fit). The alternative is custom and a plainer suit from Barnacle Bill may be competitive with an off the rack more than you think.

Originally Posted by HondaGalToo

You think you have problems? Try finding good, track oriented off the rack stuff for women! Not happening! As others have stated, try to try it on first, or make sure they allow you to exchange. Kneedraggers and motoliberty I think are two that allow exchanges if the suit doesn't fit the first time. Me? I've always had to go custom.

I haven't bought leathers through them, but Kneedraggers was awesome to work with when I had to return Sunbert's helmet for a different size.

Originally Posted by colryn

So what's with the crazy sizing chart?

They're made for skinny kids like me (5'11" 160lbs)

Originally Posted by seamus

To be 6'3, 195lbs and have a 38 waist, you'd have to remove half your musculoskeletal structure.

I haven't been below 200 lbs since I was a senior in high school and I looked like a pencil and was about 4% body fat.

ummm okay. Try 6',5" tall, 33" waist and 170 pounds. As I have mentioned before, anything I have ever tried off the rack could easily accommodate another person my size along with me in the suit. I still have my AF flight line jump suit and it fits perfectly. I don't understand why the hell the suit manufacturers have such a problem with tall thin sizes when that jump suit was thrown at me from a pile after the supply Sgt looked at me for about 1/2 second.

From my suit trying on expeditions the 56 tecknic speedmaster seems to fit best so far.

5 foot 10
about 190ish
34 inch waist with a "healthy" set of lungs.

I also had good luck with a one peice spyke suit.

Abtech you should be in a circus... J/K

Originally Posted by NorthernRR

Abtech you should be in a circus... J/K

I thought that's what this was

Ab, eat a cheeseburger..or 5. I can donate some ones already processed and stored.

I'm 5'8" and 185 lbs with a 34" waist. Some muscle, some "wool" as SOB has. (Having heen around ND4SPD, I can tell you my shadow weighs more than he does.) Gonna take a look at the link evl just posted. (Thanks, man!)

[quote=DevilDawg;26591]Ab, eat a cheeseburger..or 5. I can donate some ones already processed and stored.[quote]
This gets my vote for the grossest post on this site yet!


I have been trying on a bunch of leathers lately, and find that the number sizes vary wildly from maker to maker. Even in the same make for that matter.
I have a 2 piece HRC suit, with 2 different jackets. The 48 jacket fits me tighter than my 46/56 Dainese Talos, and the 50 jacket is much bigger than the one size difference indicated.
I tried on a Teknics Speedmaster in 46/56 the other day. Fit was good, a little cramped height wise, and too loose in the stomach. That was encouraging!