When I decided to try riding on the racetrack last year I had to abandon my ballistic 2-piece and find some leathers. I scored a great deal on used 2-piece leathers from a friend in Arizona. While they didn't fit perfectly, they did their job adequately and got me through my first trackdays at Grattan, a few at the local circuit and then Miller this last September. By the second day at Miller, the 2 sides of the plastic zipper divorced and refused to cooperate with each other. I had to borrow BDAs spare suit which was way too big, though strangely constricting in the crotch region.
It was more obvious than ever that I needed a real suit.
I started a thread on fireblades asking for advice. A lot of people are very happy with their off-the-rack suits but at 5'9" and 180lbs my "figure" doesn't agree with most of those suits. The discussion shifted to custom leathers and Z-Custom came highly recommended.
I contacted Z-Custom and ordered their ordering kit, which comes with a catalogue full of real leather swatches, exactly as they'd look, as well as line diagrams for all of their suits so you can colour them in. I took my time creating my ultimate suit and sent the forms in, including my 20 measurements.
I was called shortly thereafter by Diane Rodriguez of Z-Custom who confirmed my order and took me through the process. I was contacted at regular intervals with updates and they made me feel that my business was sincerely appreciated.
A few weeks later my new suit arrived and I couldn't be happier with it. Fit is perfect, and so is the quality of construction. Absolutely top-shelf. I paid quite a bit more than I had originally budgeted for but I don't regret it at all.
The only thing I would do differently would be to not order the version with the built-in back protector. I haven't even sat on the bike and already I can see how this unit is going to shift around inside the suit and cause me problems. Other than that, I can't wait to use it.
I sold the 2-piece leathers to a younger squid on the local board who wants to get into track riding this season. Maybe he'll follow a path similar to mine.
Here are some pics of the suit taken in someone's grandmother's basement:
Last edited by phobe; 12-29-2006 at 01:15 AM.
Evil will always triumph, because good is dumb.
-Dark Helmet
Crime ain't sumfin you should do. It's sumfin you should don't.
-Ali G
Lobster tail and Beer. Tree o' my favorite tings.
-Newfie Proverb
Nice suit jerk, I finally get a nice robe and you change it up on me. Guess we won't be having breakfast anytime soon...I can't afford a new suit like that.
I thought you had to do gay Power Ranger poses when you show off your custom leathers!?!
"The Father wove the skein of your life a long time ago. Go and hide in a hole if you wish, but you won't live one instant longer. Your fate is fixed. Fear profits a man nothing." Herger the Joyous
Nice suit! I hear only good things about Z leather's quality and customer service!!
“I want to stand as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all the kinds of things you can't see from the center.”
~Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
Nice suit. What are you looking at price wise? My Spike stuff has seen better days and doesnt fit as well as it should (bought it when I was a young squid... )
That's a great looking suit, and your detailed description of the process and satisfaction matches what I've heard from so many others about Z Custom. I know where my next suit is coming from!
I was going to go with Z leathers when I got my new suit last year, but
Vanson offered me a good trade-in so I stuck with them.
“I want to stand as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all the kinds of things you can't see from the center.”
~Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
....I had to borrow BDAs spare suit which was way too big, though strangely constricting in the crotch region...
Hey, wait a second. I think there was a burn in there somewhere.
I want my toe slider back now!!!!
You do look pretty sexy in those.
But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government.
Hey, wait a second. I think there was a burn in there somewhere.
I want my toe slider back now!!!!
You do look pretty sexy in those.
You two really do have a "special" relationship, don't you?
Please no more details...
"The Father wove the skein of your life a long time ago. Go and hide in a hole if you wish, but you won't live one instant longer. Your fate is fixed. Fear profits a man nothing." Herger the Joyous
Nice suit. What are you looking at price wise? ....
Including shipping and their cleaning kit it came out to just under $1500USD. And they're pretty clever with the international shipping too; saved me a pile on duties. :evilaugh:
Evil will always triumph, because good is dumb.
-Dark Helmet
Crime ain't sumfin you should do. It's sumfin you should don't.
-Ali G
Lobster tail and Beer. Tree o' my favorite tings.
-Newfie Proverb
Including shipping and their cleaning kit it came out to just under $1500USD. And they're pretty clever with the international shipping too; saved me a pile on duties. :evilaugh:
That's about what I paid for my Z suit a few years ago. Mine has quite a bit of lettering and sponsor badges though.
Now in stereo Visionaries say "Yes, we can."
Engineers say "Not so fast."
and Seamus is awesome
Nice suit. What happen? did you run out of cash? Those other letters could not have been that expensive.
You're still "kingfish" to me.
If they had started with a bigger cow you could have gotten a nice one color suit.
Too bad they had to piece together all those scraps. Did they give you a discount?
Muskrat may taste like pumpkin pie, but I'll never know.
Please T, I respectfully ask you to do us all a favor and do not post any pics of you modelling your 'Underalls'. You can send the ladies on the forum pics by PM or email if they like, but...please, take pity on me, I'm too old to go blind?!!! Mods, isn't there a specific rule about this prohibiting phobe from...
Huh? What??? (hang on a sec, mrsmaxib is trying to tell me something) Yes love, I, uh...what??? He said Coveralls???? I thought I heard him say...
Uh, nevermind.
But if you ever post pics of you in your underwear, I'm coming up there and will release the air out of your tires.
Nice leathers! Did you have them custom made for you, or did you use one of their patterns with the colors you wanted?
"The Father wove the skein of your life a long time ago. Go and hide in a hole if you wish, but you won't live one instant longer. Your fate is fixed. Fear profits a man nothing." Herger the Joyous
LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by Leelover
)
Bookmarks