Leather Motorcycle Suits

Leather motorcycle suits are still the go-to choice for riders who want close-fitting protection for sports bikes, fast road riding and track days.

At RaceLeathers, our range of one-piece leather motorcycle suits includes race and track-focused leathers from Alpinestars, Dainese and Richa, with choices for men and women riders and options ranging from first track-day suits through to premium airbag-equipped racing leathers.

Modern motorcycle leathers have moved a long way beyond simply using thick hide. Today's suits combine abrasion-resistant leather with impact armour, flexible stretch zones, pre-curved construction, ventilation, sliders and, on selected models, compatibility with electronic motorcycle airbag systems.

The result should be a suit that fits securely when you're riding without making getting on the bike an endurance event of its own.

Why Choose a Leather Motorcycle Suit?

Leather has been used for motorcycle clothing for decades because good-quality hide combines high abrasion resistance with the ability to conform to the rider as it is worn.

For sports and track riding, that makes it particularly useful.

A well-designed leather suit can provide:

• Strong abrasion-resistant outer construction
• A close fit that helps keep armour correctly positioned
• Reinforcement around high-risk impact and slide areas
• Built-in shoulder, elbow, knee and hip protection
• Stretch panels allowing movement on the motorcycle
• Pre-curved arms and legs for a sports riding position
• Knee sliders on track-focused models
• Perforation and ventilation on selected suits
• Provision for additional chest and back protection
• Compatibility with selected motorcycle airbag systems

The exact specification varies considerably between suits, so don't judge one entirely by how much leather you can see in the photographs.

One-Piece Motorcycle Leathers

The suits in this collection are predominantly one-piece motorcycle leathers, with the jacket and trousers forming one continuous protective garment.

One-piece suits are particularly popular for track days and sports-bike riding because there is no separate waist connection between the upper and lower sections.

They are also shaped around the position you'll actually adopt on a sports motorcycle.

That is why a racing suit can feel slightly odd when you're standing bolt upright in the shop.

The arms may feel pre-curved, the legs want to bend and the body of the suit may pull you slightly forwards.

Sit on a motorcycle, reach for the bars and bend your knees and suddenly the person who designed it starts to look rather less confused.

One-Piece Leathers or a Leather Jacket and Trousers?

A one-piece suit isn't automatically the best answer for every rider.

If you're mainly riding on the road, a separate motorcycle jacket and pair of motorcycle trousers can be considerably more convenient.

You can take the jacket off when you stop, choose different layers and often use the individual garments for a wider variety of riding.

Sports leather jackets and trousers can also use a substantial connection zip to join the two garments together.

A one-piece leather suit starts to make more sense when your priorities are:

• Track days
• Sports-bike riding
• A close performance fit
• Continuous leather coverage
• Maximum freedom of movement in a tucked riding position

If you're buying specifically for circuit use, check the current requirements of your track-day organiser before choosing your equipment.

What Leather Is Used in Motorcycle Suits?

Many motorcycle racing suits use cowhide because it offers a useful balance of abrasion resistance, durability and cost.

Premium models may use different grades or types of leather, and some high-end racing equipment uses kangaroo leather to reduce weight while retaining high strength.

The material name alone doesn't tell you how protective a suit is.

You also need to consider:

• Leather thickness and quality
• Construction around impact areas
• Reinforcement layers
• Stitching
• Seam placement
• Garment certification
• Included armour
• How securely the suit fits the rider

A beautiful piece of leather with poor construction would make an excellent expensive sofa. Motorcycle clothing needs to do rather more.

Leather Suit Armour

Modern leather motorcycle suits normally combine the abrasion-resistant outer garment with separate impact protection around vulnerable joints.

Depending on the suit, this may include protection at the:

• Shoulders
• Elbows
• Knees
• Hips

Some models also provide pockets or mounting arrangements for additional chest and back protection.

Always check the specification of the individual suit.

“Prepared for a back protector” does not necessarily mean there's already one inside it.

If you need additional or upgraded protection, browse our motorcycle body armour for back, chest and other compatible protectors.

Airbag-Compatible Leather Motorcycle Suits

Electronic motorcycle airbags have become increasingly common in high-performance road and track equipment.

Selected leather suits are designed specifically to accommodate compatible systems such as Alpinestars Tech-Air®, while premium Dainese suits may incorporate D-air® technology directly into the garment.

Compatibility matters.

An airbag needs room to inflate correctly, so don't simply put an arbitrary airbag underneath any tight-fitting leather suit and assume everything will sort itself out when required.

Check:

• Which airbag system the suit is designed for
• Whether the airbag is integrated or purchased separately
• The manufacturer's sizing requirements
• Whether additional expansion space is required

Our body armour range also includes selected motorcycle airbag systems and protection.

Perforated Leather Motorcycle Suits

A one-piece leather suit provides plenty of coverage.

On a hot day, you will become very aware of that.

Many sports and racing suits therefore use perforated leather across areas such as the chest, legs and arms to allow moving air through the garment.

That can make a substantial difference once you're riding at speed.

Stretch fabrics and ventilated panels can provide additional airflow while also helping with movement.

The trade-off is obvious: perforated leather also lets cold air through considerably more efficiently.

If most of your riding is on cooler UK roads rather than warm track days, take that into account when choosing between perforated and non-perforated models.

Are Leather Motorcycle Suits Waterproof?

Most racing leathers should not be treated as waterproof motorcycle clothing.

A brief shower and a full afternoon of British rain are two very different tests.

Perforated leathers in particular are not going to put up much resistance to water finding its way inside.

If you ride on the road in your leathers, carrying a compact motorcycle waterproof oversuit can make considerably more sense than watching the weather forecast every ten minutes and trying to outrun the clouds.

How Should a Leather Motorcycle Suit Fit?

A leather suit needs to fit closely enough to keep the protective areas and armour where they're supposed to be.

It should not hang loosely around you like normal casual clothing.

But close fitting and painfully small are not the same thing.

When trying a leather suit, check:

• Shoulder armour sits over your shoulders
• Elbow armour stays over the elbows
• Knee armour remains centred when your knees are bent
• Hip protection sits correctly
• You can reach the handlebars comfortably
• You can bend your knees into your normal riding position
• The crotch isn't excessively low or painfully tight
• The collar doesn't dig into your neck
• The sleeves and legs work correctly with your gloves and boots

Most importantly, judge the fit in a riding position.

A one-piece race suit isn't designed around standing in the queue at Tesco.

Will Motorcycle Leathers Stretch?

Natural leather can soften and give slightly as it is worn.

Modern suits also use accordion leather panels and textile stretch zones around areas that need greater movement.

That means a new suit may become more comfortable as it beds in.

It does not mean you should buy something clearly too small and rely on it eventually transforming itself around you.

Likewise, don't buy an oversized suit simply because it's more comfortable while standing upright.

If the suit is too loose, the armour and protective sections may not remain where they're intended to be.

Men's and Women's Leather Motorcycle Suits

Our leather suit range includes both men's and women's racing leathers.

Women's suits aren't simply men's suits with smaller numbers printed on the label.

Dedicated women's models can use different shaping through areas such as the chest, waist, hips, arms and legs to provide a more appropriate overall fit.

That matters because the protective components still need to line up correctly with the rider.

Regardless of which range you're looking at, don't become obsessed with the number on the label.

Different manufacturers use different cuts and sizing.

The correct suit is the one that fits your body and riding position properly.

Alpinestars Leather Motorcycle Suits

Alpinestars is one of the biggest names in performance motorcycle clothing, and our range includes models spanning several levels of sports and track riding.

Depending on the suit, features can include:

• Bovine leather construction
• Extensive stretch panels
• Perforated zones
• Replaceable knee sliders
• External impact protection
• Aerodynamic back humps
• Tech-Air® compatibility

The correct model depends on how seriously you're using it, the protection system you want and, obviously, which one actually fits you.

Dainese Leather Motorcycle Suits

Dainese has decades of involvement in motorcycle racing, and that experience carries into its leather suit range.

Our current Dainese selection includes Laguna Seca racing leathers alongside premium D-air® equipped Misano and Mugello models.

Higher-end suits can add sophisticated airbag protection, advanced stretch construction and highly developed race ergonomics, but don't assume the most expensive suit automatically fits every rider best.

Fit still comes first.

Richa Leather Motorcycle Suits

Richa gives riders another route into proper one-piece racing leathers, particularly at the more affordable end of the range.

The Stradale GP suits are aimed at riders who want the fit and features of a dedicated leather race suit without immediately jumping into four-figure pricing.

That can make them particularly interesting for somebody buying their first one-piece suit or putting together their first proper track-day kit.

What Do You Wear Under Motorcycle Leathers?

A thin technical base layer or motorcycle undersuit normally works far better beneath racing leathers than ordinary cotton clothing.

It can help:

• Move moisture away from your skin
• Reduce the suit sticking to you when you're hot
• Make getting the leathers on easier
• Make getting the leathers off considerably easier
• Improve comfort during longer sessions

That last point becomes fairly important after a hot track session when your leathers have decided they'd quite like to become a permanent part of your body.

Leather Suit, Gloves and Boots: Getting the Overlap Right

Your suit doesn't work in isolation.

Sports and racing motorcycle gloves normally use a substantial gauntlet designed to overlap the suit sleeve and provide secure wrist coverage.

Likewise, full-height motorcycle boots need to work correctly with the lower leg of the suit.

Try the combination together where possible.

Problems such as a glove cuff that won't fit over the sleeve or a suit leg that bunches badly inside the boot are much easier to discover in the shop than ten minutes before your first track session.

What Helmet Goes With a Leather Racing Suit?

For sports and track riding, a full-face motorcycle helmet is the natural partner for racing leathers.

If you're buying specifically for a motorcycle track day or competition, don't assume normal road approval is the only requirement. Check the current helmet and clothing rules issued by the track or organiser before attending.

For ordinary road riding, choose a properly approved helmet that fits your head correctly rather than buying one because its graphics happen to match the suit perfectly.

Matching colours are nice.

Matching your actual head shape is considerably more useful.

How to Look After a Leather Motorcycle Suit

A good leather suit isn't cheap, so a little care makes sense.

Follow the manufacturer's instructions for the particular leather and finish, but basic good practice includes:

• Remove insects and road dirt before they become permanently attached
• Use cleaning products intended for motorcycle leather
• Allow wet leather to dry naturally
• Keep it away from direct heaters and radiators
• Use an appropriate leather conditioner where recommended
• Clean removable liners according to their instructions
• Inspect stitching, zips, sliders and armour periodically

Don't put soaking-wet leather directly on a radiator unless you're trying to discover how quickly an expensive race suit can become an expensive piece of cardboard.

Complete Your Sports & Track Riding Kit

If you're building a complete sports or track setup, browse our:

• Full-face motorcycle helmets
• Sports and motorcycle gloves
• Motorcycle boots
• Motorcycle body armour and airbags
• Motorcycle waterproofs for keeping road leathers dry when British weather inevitably gets involved.

If a one-piece suit isn't practical for your everyday riding, you can also browse our motorcycle jackets and motorcycle trousers for separate leather options.

Try Leather Motorcycle Suits On at RaceLeathers

Race suits are one of the products we'd particularly recommend trying on if you can.

At RaceLeathers in Darwen, Lancashire, you can compare different manufacturers and sizes and we'll help you check the fit properly.

That means looking at:

• Overall body length
• Shoulder fit
• Arm and leg length
• Elbow and knee armour position
• Movement in a riding stance
• Glove and boot compatibility
• Space and compatibility for any airbag or additional protection you intend to use

Bring your gloves, boots or other equipment with you if you're trying to make everything work together.

We'll help you find the suit that fits your riding and your body rather than simply assuming that the most expensive one on the rail must be the answer.

Leather Motorcycle Suit FAQs

Are leather motorcycle suits safer than textile suits?

Leather is widely used for racing and track riding because of its abrasion resistance and close protective fit. However, protection depends on the complete garment, including construction, seams, armour, certification and fit. Material alone doesn't tell you everything about a suit's performance.

Are one-piece leathers only for track days?

No. They can also be worn for road riding, particularly on sports bikes. However, their close fit and one-piece construction make them less convenient when stopping than a separate jacket and trousers, which is why many riders reserve them for spirited road riding and track use.

Should motorcycle leathers be tight?

They should fit closely and securely so the armour remains correctly positioned, but they shouldn't create painful pressure or prevent you moving properly on the motorcycle. Always assess a race suit in a riding position.

Do motorcycle leather suits stretch?

Leather normally softens and gives slightly with use, while built-in stretch panels provide additional movement. A suit that is obviously too small when new shouldn't be bought on the assumption that it will eventually become the correct size.

Are perforated leathers better?

Perforated leather provides more airflow, making it particularly useful for warm-weather and track riding. Non-perforated leather blocks more cold air, so it may be preferable for cooler road use. The right choice depends on when and where you ride.

Are leather motorcycle suits waterproof?

Most racing leather suits aren't designed to be waterproof. If you're using leathers on the road and rain is possible, carrying a waterproof oversuit is a practical solution.

Can I wear an airbag with a leather suit?

Yes, where the suit is specifically compatible with the airbag system concerned or where the airbag manufacturer approves that type of use. Check the exact suit and airbag specifications because adequate expansion room is essential.

What should I wear underneath motorcycle leathers?

A thin moisture-managing base layer or motorcycle undersuit is normally ideal. It can improve comfort, manage sweat and make a close-fitting suit easier to put on and remove.

Can I use separate leather motorcycle trousers and a jacket instead?

Yes. For road use, separate garments can be more practical. Sports leather jackets and trousers may have full connection zips, but check compatibility because zips aren't universally interchangeable between manufacturers or ranges.

Which leather motorcycle suit brand is best?

There isn't one best brand for everybody. Alpinestars, Dainese and Richa all make different suits at different prices and with different cuts and features. Approval, protection, intended use and, above all, correct fit are more useful deciding factors than the logo.