Leathers

Hi Guys looking at Michael Brown's new leathers and boots on 'Facebook' has reminded me of something I have wondered for a while.
I know helmets are a lot lighter than they were in my day but leathers look a lot heavier and boots look more like motocross boots.
We didn't need all the padding you fairy's have Are they heavier ?

Too right they are. My current leathers are at least twice the weight of the 1970s black skimpies I still have, but cannot even get my delicate little pins into!

i know the motogp boys wear kangaroo hide leathers which are light and tough, plus airbags and various other armour plated bits n bobs, so they're probably not much lighter than our old cow hide suits with minimum protection. my white leathers, kindly donated by interstate, had a built in pocket in the knees that housed a hard foam knee cap protector. trouble is it didn't stop me wearing the actual outer leathers down to said protector which neccessitated the usual duct tape outer skin. the only other "modern" protection i had were the rounded studs on my gloves to prevent digging in and the obligatory road rash. none of this stuff helped much when after a big off at the marlboro clubmans cadwell round, louth hospital kindly cut all of the said items off me while i was unconcious. i spent more time getting my leathers fixed than fixing the bike

It cost me two rolls of black plastic tape every time I raced. The leathers had rips and slits everywhere along with the boots. I thought it would be an idea to just tape myself all over but even then they were not as heavy as The Wobbleyman´s leathers.

When Bill Lawrence got me involved with that ill-fated 1981 Parade at Snetterton he gave me Colin´s leathers which not only stank of decades´ age-old sweat -- they must have weighed at least 20lbs. I felt very embarrassed lying on the stretcher in the hospital -- stinking like a polecat and having Ned´s wrecked Bantam very much in mind....

I remember a long time ago when I was too young to race,tagging along with brother Rick and
Steve Chambers visiting Pete Styles in the paddock. Steve had narrowly been beaten by Pete in a
non championship race.
After 5minutes of conversation:-

Pete said " You know whats the secret of a fast bantam rider?"

"No, what?" said Rick and Steve with bated breath

Pete's reply "Lightweight boots"

Must admit its a struggle keeping 70/80s lightweight boots seviceable

Hi Ned.

I no longer have my old leathers, so I can’t do an exact comparison but I estimate my current leathers are twice the weight of my old ones. Being a serial thrower of bikes up the road I know which I prefer. I have some (quite a few really) scars where old leathers wore through due to gravel rash. I have continued to throw bikes up the road in my new leathers. My new leathers have body armour at the shoulder; elbow’s, knees and hips. I have received nothing more than a small graze. I know which one I would chose but if you were riding now what would be your choice.

Mick.

That's a good question Mick. I was heavier than most Bantam racers so if I had the choice when I was racing I think bravado would have made me opt for the lighter ones. If I were racing today it would be a tough call. If I thought I could mix it with the leaders I would probably go for the lighter ones to reduce the deficit I have over you lighter guys, so in reality if I was riding today it would have to be air-bags, back supports, motocross boots the lot. Oh ye and a starter motor.

I think you got it sussed Ned.
Tho for most of us oldies as the T shirt my son gave me says: "The Older I get the faster I was" !
My modern hot weather ventilated padded leathers are much heavier, but as I found out on the 2005 Lydden Parade wearing my lighter black cowhide Classic leathers, zooming round some past masters (well a young fellow on a Scott did give us a "wide it open" throttle sign !) even bouncing in the kitty litter at Paddock Bend hurts more then a whopping highside onto the tarmac with all the armour etc

Looking at some of the photos on 'facebook' and seeing myself in my favourite helmet has reminded me of a couple of naughty misdemeanour's regarding riding gear.
Before the days when you had to wear your kit at scrutineering a friend of mine would take 2 left boots to be inspected because his right boots were so badly worn away. My favourite and most comfortable helmet that I ever had was imported from America by a friend who had a M/C shop. The problem was they weren't ACU aproved. So a razor was used to remove an ACU sticker from a helmet on the shelf and stuck on mine.

johnSbantam wrote:

Tho for most of us oldies as the T shirt my son gave me says: "The Older I get the faster I was" !
c

I know what you mean John my Son bought me the same one. Cheeky gits, don't they know we used to be somebody.

That´s right Ned.

There´s a date on a little trophy sitting on my on my computer tower that says on a particular day in 1973 I was the quickest in the 4 races at Llandow which I competed in.

OK! So they were ONLY Inter races -- in the rain -- but there were blokes in those races who later made it to be BRC Champs so I say there is a real meaning to such a trophy: -- it says that even under many disadvantages I DID IT! x 4! Take it that the tyres were into their third season, the engine would only rev to 8,400 -- under load -- but there sits the proof.

-- oh! and my leathers and right boot were mostly black tape.

Big Yaawwwnnn of the Trumpet Blower!!