The Price of One Piece Motorcycle Road Racing Leather Suits

If you are in the market for a one piece race suit you know you can spend anywhere from $500-$3500. So, where does that massive price gap come from? Is it the leather, the fit, or just the specific company? The primary reason is the country of origin and the cost of labor. The most expensive leather one piece suits come from high labor cost countries like Italy, Japan and the US. The cost of labor is the single most important factor affecting the price of the suit. After labor the next factor is materials. There is a wide range of prices between different types of leather with Kangaroo leather being the most expensive. After labor and materials then features are the third factor affecting price with "custom fitting" or "made to measure" being the most expensive option. Each spandex flex panel, Kevlar stretch inside, zipper vent, neoprene collar, and removable liner adds cost to each suit.

The difference in cost is a matter of style, fit, comfort, fashion, cooling and features but not safety. An AGVSPORT suit for $500 is as safe as a custom suit for $3,500.

If you're in a suit all day you want it to be as cool as possible and have a comfortable fit. If you are not on a tight budget there is nothing that can compare to a handcrafted Italian custom race suit. The Italian leather, such as that used on the AGV Sport custom made suits, is more supple and lighter than many others with the maximum amount of perforation for cooling. This decrease in weight means that your suit will break in faster and is more comfortable, and easier to move around in for greater agility.

Another important factor in the price of a suit is the multi-layered dual density foam armor inserts at high impact areas. This armor is meant to protect the rider in high impact areas in the case of a crash. All AGVSPORT will incorporate armor which is CE approved. CE stands for Conformite Europeenne, a French term that can be literally translated into English as European Conformity. Basically, that is a certification for motorcycle apparel similar to that of DOT or SNELL for helmets.

One thing that most suits have in common is that they are made of leather. But that's as general as saying all tires are made of rubber. There are differences in where the leather comes from and how they are constructed. One of the most basic differences is the type of leather used. Cowhide leather is known to be thicker and heavier. Like everything, this has its advantages and disadvantages. On one hand, the thicker, heavier leather will offer great long term protection. Often these suits can hold up through multiple crashes with only minor repairs needed. However, heavier motorcycle race suits mean you are going to fear 90 degree plus track days, and your suit is going to take longer to break in. But, if you're on a limited budget, a cowhide suit can often provide great protection for a long period of time and through multiple crashes.

Another option is a leather suit constructed of Kangaroo leather. These suits can be three to four pounds lighter than their cowhide counterparts. This reduction in weight means much cooler temperatures and a quicker break in time. Although, the lighter suit means you have to sacrifice longevity for weight. It is important to understand these Kangaroo leather suits offer amazing protection for their lightweight, but after one significant crash their effectiveness may drop substantially if not repaired.

These suits are a significant investment, but the lightweight protection they offer cannot be matched. In the end it comes down to putting in the time and figuring out what you need from your racing leathers.