Are two piece suits necessary?

[Interference Fit]

Newbie here about to buy my first set of clothing.  Highest safety rating is my primary goal and I'd like to stay within the classic / vintage style, hence a leather jacket and denim jeans.

 

Determined to get AAA and level 2 armour ratings for both items, I've 'added to basket' a Goldie 619 jacket with the upgraded level 2 armour and a par of Hood jeans which has AAA / L2 armour as standard.

 

I'm lead to believe it's important to get a two piece suit that zips together, however I can't find a two piece with AAA / L2 both top and bottom.

 

I can't get a two piece with level 1 or with AA rating but not the full shebang.

 

I guess my question is which is best to compromise on, two piece with lower ratings or separates with higher ratings?

 

Thanks!

 

[fullscreenaging]

You could always buy the higher rated gear and take them somewhere to sew a full 360 zip in. Make sure it’s a sturdy zip with a big puller. 
Maybe go speak to a company near you and make sure they have the machines that can do the job before you buy the gear. 

Edited July 2, 2023 by fullscreenaging

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

If safety is your number 1 priority consider getting an air vest. I wear a variety of jackets and trousers according to weather conditions.  The air vest goes over whatever jacket I'm wearing and attaches to the bike with a cord. They aren't cheap, the Helite version was £500 a couple of years ago. But I prefer the simpler cord operated system over the battery powered types. Easier and cheaper to refill if it has gone off. 

[Interference Fit]

How essential is it, i.e is it a waste of time seeking out level 2 armour and AAA ratings if the jacket and trousers aren't zipped together, or is it more of a 'nice to have'?

[Steve_M]

My answer to that would be to visit somewhere like Hideout and buy one of their products. 

 

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

7 hours ago, Interference Fit said:

How essential is it, i.e is it a waste of time seeking out level 2 armour and AAA ratings if the jacket and trousers aren't zipped together, or is it more of a 'nice to have'?

Personally I don't zip my trousers to my jacket even when I'm wearing those that can be. Over the years I've gathered so many bits of kit for different weather conditions that I don't think many of them would anyway.

 

If I was worried about that I'd wear one piece kit anyway.

[Gerontious]

Head first. Not legs first. Head first with hands outstretched (if you have time to react) hands and arms, shoulders. Buttocks knees and calf muscles. Feet. Zipping clothes together is more about preventing water ingress. Maybe cold air to a lesser extent. Not really a safety feature unless the idea is “reassuring” that’s probably all it is. As far as it goes.  Probably better looking at the level of overlap and how far the jacket can ride up in those few seconds of a tumble. It’s not something I think about. Have never really thought about. Head. Hands. Shoulders knees. Etc.

[Interference Fit]

Thanks all, makes sense. I was probably over thinking it.  

[Stu]

2 hours ago, Gerontious said:

Zipping clothes together is more about preventing water ingress. Maybe cold air to a lesser extent. Not really a safety feature

 

Actually its to stop jackets riding up in a slide 

[Gerontious]

6 minutes ago, Stu said:

 

Actually its to stop jackets riding up in a slide 

 

so they say. but its hardly likely when all the momentum is forward... you don't often come off feet first.

 

if it really was that great a safety feature it would be mandatory within the various regulations.

Edited July 2, 2023 by Gerontious

[Stu]

1 minute ago, Gerontious said:

 

so they say. but its hardly likely when all the momentum is forward... you don't often come off feet first.

 

There is no law in how you crash and how you slide! 

 

Just one small example where a rider is sliding on his arse feet first which could easily be on his back 

 

 

[Stu]

6 minutes ago, Gerontious said:

 

if it really was that great a safety feature it would be mandatory within the various regulations.

 

Boots gloves leathers jackets trousers back protectors  are all great safety features but not mandatory  

[Gerontious]

we all have different opinions, I'm not about to change mine. if it was important a safety feature it would be mandatory within the various regulations governing safety equipment and clothing. obviously it is not.

 

are you advocating that everyone wears gear that zips together?

 

 

[keith1200rs]

I seem to remember that if you wanted to do a track day in the past you had to wear one piece leather. No textiles, no two piece zipped together. It might be interesting to know the rules for motorcycle racing at present. 

[Stu]

6 minutes ago, Gerontious said:

we all have different opinions, I'm not about to change mine. if it was important a safety feature it would be mandatory within the various regulations governing safety equipment and clothing. obviously it is not.

 

are you advocating that everyone wears gear that zips together?

 

 

 

So on that analagy because its not governed by regulations its not important!  What a load of tosh! 

 

Im not saying everyone wears zip together its everyones own opinion but stating its not important is a massive statement that is just totally wrong! 

 

Having whitnessed first hand a crash and a long slide on my back where the leather jacket rode up and wore the inside of the jacket and the zip holding the jacket and torusers together to the point where I had to cut the connecting zip as it was so badly worn that it wouldn't come undone I will always zip togather and I will always recommend to wear zip together clothing 

 

But as clothing is not governed by regs its not important is it  

 

To the OP buy what you want and be carefull of what advice you take as some of it is just peoples opinions! they aren't always right despite thinking they always are! 

 

There is nothing wrong with having as much protection as you want. Its best to be well protected and not need it then not protected and need it 

 

The type of crash will always dictaate the protection you need but every single crash is different 

[Gerontious]

20 minutes ago, Stu said:

 

Boots gloves leathers jackets trousers back protectors  are all great safety features but not mandatory  

 

You are talking about the Law. I didn't mention the Law. By regulations I meant those that govern the ratings given to items of gear. none of which talk about clothing being zipped together. obviously if they do, then you can delete all my input to this discussion.

 

to me its entirely about stopping cold air getting in and possibly the rain. that's it.

 

but then I do not wear or ever recommend super short jackets. ive seen them. but they are not for me.

 

that's me done.. no more.

Edited July 2, 2023 by Gerontious

[Stu]

Back peddling again I see 

 

I never mentioned law 

[Bender]

1 hour ago, keith1200rs said:

I seem to remember that if you wanted to do a track day in the past you had to wear one piece leather. No textiles, no two piece zipped together. It might be interesting to know the rules for motorcycle racing at present. 

Some will allow a 2piece as long as it's fully zipped together type, that's to stop it separating in a slide when you decide not to slide like the laws of physics dictate

[S-Westerly]

I've got gear that zips together and stuff that doesn't.

 The stuff that does,  I do zip together as I find it stops drafts up my back and keeps the rain out. The stuff that doesn't- mostly my summer kit - I obviously don't zip together and I don't worry about it from the safety point of view. I'm not dogmatic about it!

[Pie man]

 I too zip my two piece clothing together that can zip together, I remember my old man shouting 'tuck thi shirt in or thall get cowd'. Likewise my mesh jackets and jeans don't have the zips. I know the risk. 

 

[Bender]

Most of my jackets have hoops or fasteners to go through belts etc

[RideWithStyles]

law is just helmet that is the standard the reg says is the minimum. It advises to wear other protective equipment for your safety but thats up to you if you want to heed that.

 

Yes protection clothing is PPE! so govern by regs to say what level of protection that piece will offer to the buyer. You just have to know what the codes mean and if you are happy to wear what it will offer.

 

on the zip - for comfort etc but its not just the forwards motion it helps for placement during the dragging motion while two parts have different forces applied to it.. its for the hyperextending and twisted motion of when your hips and upper body are at opposite sides like if you roll your upper body will dragg and slow you down more than your legs will so the pulling forces will try to twist the jacket far more than you body and to a lesser extent the legs of the pants which in turn has a high chance of exposing skin to contact with the road...

thing is every crash is different and how people rag doll so there is always loads of permutations (sliding head or feet first, tumbling, half dragging) but that is just one example.

 

low sides -

front wheel first generally are hands/elbows/shoulders first but with more of a shock impact while feet and hip area follows, more likely to laid down pulling jacket down and pants but the pants will stuggle more to keep in place. Rear wheel first generally the feet then the hip to follows but can be more back biased oriented depending on speed and angle of dismount, which will pull the clothes up thats where the jacket is more likely to struggle to stay in place.

high sides are just punishing.

 

racing is one piece leather and pushing towards the airbags.

track days is two piece leather with back protection and zips 3/4 minimum.

road do what you like, expect the consequences of you choosing if you do have an off or crash.

less you wear the more likely a copper may want to chat and give advice about protective clothing.

for two piece leather a zipped option of 1/2-3/4s is a good compromise. It won't cost you anything more from the outlay. You dont have to do it if you want but it will always be there if you want to rather than never have the choice.

 

fit is paramount, then safety. If you find a set that fits really well while on the bike  but the armour is only level 1 in most cases you can upgrade with the same make or aftermarket versions if the pockets allow for "in some cases" thicker armour level 2.

Edited August 31, 2023 by RideWithStyles
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