What to look for…

In a set of two-piece leathers

ARMOUR

Where is the armour located and what standard is it? Most two-piece suits have armour in the shoulders, elbows and knees as standard with some having it in the hips and back as well or as an option. Sometimes it can be a combination of Level-1 and 2. For ultimate protection, can you add chest armour?

BACK PROTECTOR

Some jackets have no back protector or a non-ce-approved one, so check that the pocket is large enough to fit a Ce-approved protector (Level-1 or 2), which can often be bought separately from the manufacturer

ATTACHMENT

The jacket should be able to be zipped to a set of leather jeans. How far does the zip extend around the jeans and is there a stretch panel to assist with comfort? If you plan on doing trackdays, ideally you want a long metal zip to ensure the jacket and trousers stay together in the event of an accident. Is it easy to access the zip with the jacket on?

KNEE-SLIDERS

If you are considering taking to the track, buy a set of jeans with sliders already attached. If you don’t end up using them or don’t like the look, it is far easier to remove a slider from the jeans than attempt to attach a new Velcro backing so they can accept sliders

CE APPROVAL

Like all motorcycle clothing, two-piece leathers must be CE approved and rated. Jackets and trousers will be awarded a rating that is either A, AA or AAA; the latter is the highest protective rating. The armour will also be Ce-certified to Level-1 or 2; Level-2 indicates a greater protective capacity for absorbing and dissipating impact forces

FIT OPTIONS

Although jackets come in standard sizes, often jeans can be bought in a variety of leg lengths, from short to long. Getting the right size will stop the jeans bunching up uncomfortably behind your knee or being too tight on the ankle as they try to rise up

ZIPS

YKK is the benchmark zip manufacturer and a chunkier zip is easier to do up. Look to see if there is a tag to assist with locating the zip with a gloved hand and also inspect the quality of the zip. Again, for trackdays, you want as solid and secure a zip as possible

POCKETS

How many pockets are there and where are they located? Internal pockets are handy to keep your phone close at hand and safe but external pockets should be easy to access

LINING

Although leather trousers are unlikely to have a removable lining, check how comfortable the inbuilt lining feels. If the jacket has a removable lining, check how securely it attaches to the inside of the jacket; one that pulls out easily is very annoying

STRETCH PANELS

Leather can be quite firm and unforgiving, so stretch panels in areas that require flexibility, such as the shoulders and groin, will make the suit far more comfortable to wear both on and off the bike