Thread: Are white leathers bad?

They look great and do keep you relatively cooler (they're still leather). They do get their share of bugs, and if you happen to have a get-off the white part turns kind of gray and scuffy.

Hmm I could live with grey and scuffy though I am still on the zero get off plan and hope to continue

My white boots are a mess from 20 feet... look brand new on camera though...

I have an Alpinestars riding jacket with quite a bit of white in it and it has held up well. Granted it didn't see a whole lot of mileage but a little Honda polish after every couple of rides has kept it in pretty good shape.

Hrmmm...white leathers eh?

This thread is screaming out for something...







.....and I think it's more cowbell...

Originally Posted by 08silvercbr

DUDE...I have the Honda racing replica coat (leather of course) Its looks great all clean, but is a huge huge pain to keep clean. The bugs eat into it so bad. I spend more time cleaning it then wearing it. Even if you clean it right away you still have to scrub it. It gets black marks on it I have no idea where they even come from. None the less I'm in the market for a 1 piece race suit and I'll buy a dark color for sure.

Thanks but understand in AL heat dark colors are a no-no. I laugh at those with black helmets as it will cook your brain in a long ride (and even in a short one) The bug thing MIGHT not be huge as this is a track suit.... As to the black marks not sure but I used to get them from tires in dirt track... hopefully you were not rubbing tires at your track day

I have a lot of white on my A-stars leathers and I haven't had any problems keeping them clean. I definitely don't log as many miles as you do though Sheep. I just use a damp washcloth every couple months and it seems to clean them right up.

My white boots are basically exactly how NorthernRR described his. Good from a distance but rough up close.

Originally Posted by SheepOfBlue

Thanks but understand in AL heat dark colors are a no-no. I laugh at those with black helmets as it will cook your brain in a long ride (and even in a short one) The bug thing MIGHT not be huge as this is a track suit.... As to the black marks not sure but I used to get them from tires in dirt track... hopefully you were not rubbing tires at your track day

I rub my tires all the time. maybe someday a genie will come out

I had a mostly white 2-piece Vanson once upon a time. The seat of the pants got filthy...from the motorcycle seat...couldn't clean it up and restore it to white. (Although, I did send it back to Vanson for their $200 clean and redye and it came back looking new, so you'd probably want to do that every couple of years, if whom you purchase it from offers such a service). What I did for the subsequent suit was have the top primarily white, but I had the seat and back of the legs made in black...you've seen my suit...

Thanks HG2 I was thinking white and blue combo so I could use blue instead of black for that idea... I was thinking of a white belly and blue shoulders but that might be good to swap also.

Yeah, that would be better, make the seat and back of the legs blue...the white will turn black from the seat and dirt within a year...trust me!

Like J2 and P2 but with the white being blue... or P1 since it will be in my boots the bottom doesn't matter may even fit better

I think around $1K+ There is a couple of members that have his stuff (CBRVFR for one) it is a bit heavier but a real good suit on protection and crashability. I have never met anyone that did not make great comments on his work (he does repairs also)

You could get an off the shelf suit but it will not fit as well probably and might not crash as well (that will vary) Also could you get the Astars to your spec? He will add logos, name, numbers, etc. Which if that matters (racers) is a nice add on. For me it is fit and hide protection though I might add my number and name.

Originally Posted by 08silvercbr

You could get a nice alpinestars for that so basically it might fit better if you are kinda odd shaped. Thats what you are going with? How about padding/armor in back, elbows, etc?

If a person is "odd shaped" or even if they're not, an off-the-rack suit will rarely fit better than a properly made custom suit. They take dozens of measurements, down to arm and leg length, length from wrist to elbow, etc. Most custom suits are well over a grand, probably closer to 2, but Barnacle Bill's are around a grand. For the excellent quality and service he provides, it's the best bang for your buck.

Originally Posted by SheepOfBlue

Thanks HG2 I was thinking white and blue combo so I could use blue instead of black for that idea... I was thinking of a white belly and blue shoulders but that might be good to swap also.

I have white on my "belly"...it gets messed up from bugs and the tank quick.

Originally Posted by ccwilli3

...Haven't been down in it but haven't regretted the white even once since I got it. Cooler than a darker color would be and who cares if it gets dirty? No matter what you wear, it's going to get bug guts all over it when riding in the south, the drop in leather temperature is well worth it I think.

+1 to all of that.

Just cuz it doesn't look dirty doesn't mean it isn't dirty and this isn't exactly a modeling contest.