What’s the difference between top grain leather and full grain leather? Lots, actually! Full grain leather is best characterized as 1.4mm leather; it is the “best” in quality and called, “Full Grain leather”. The best Full Grain leather displays the natural markings and grain characteristics from the animal of which it was taken from. Full Grain leathers come from a better quality hide or skin and reveal all the natural markings as no sanding processes are applied to its surface. Full Grain leathers offer a natural look and feel durable and plush at the same time. The leather will naturally fold on itself, but no collapse. It will feel thick without feeling bulky. Animal care also reflects the quality; better diets and living conditions great attribute the quality of leather. When it comes to leather, ggenerally speaking, street riders look for style, fit and cost. We don’t want to generalize, but their options are usually limited to lower grades of leather (but this is overlooked by style vs. performance) because the corrected leather grains have been treated extensively and are usually highly cosmetic to overcome any integrity issues and are priced lower. The majority of leather that is beneath top grain leather is known as “ccorrected leather”, which is usually known as the, “Top Grain”, leather category. Let us pause here for a moment, not all top grain leathers are insufficient as there are some grades of top grain that will perform well, but the majority of the top grain leathers offered to the public are lesser grades and truly do not perform well under abrasion and heat. These top grain leathers go through considerable processing of sanding, buffing, stamping and then dyeing. So, the integrity of the leather is already compromised – unknown to the rider. The purpose of this processing is to create a uniform look that removes insect bites, barbed-wire scratches and other environmental markings that might appear on the hide. This is why most Motorcycle race leather jackets or suits can be so attractive is due to top grain leather, because it has been treated so extensively.

Aero hump or no aero hump? Do you ride on the street, do any track days or are you the hardcore weekend warrior and race? If you ride on the street, the aero hump may be an issue if you ride with a passenger as it can prevent them from holding onto you effectively; otherwise it is a great safety feature. Aero humps are not necessary for track days, as most riders use track days for pure recreation and a back protector will suffice just fine. For the weekend warrior who races, aero humps are absolutely necessary!
Back protector? Never leave home without one; worth their weight in gold! Back protectors are highly overlooked by street riders, but will save your life. Make it a habit to wear one as they do protect your spine to a very high degree.
Zippers matter so look for genuine YKK zippers; stainless steel and nylon based are usually the gold standard.

What about fit – how do you know? The easiest way to determine if the leather suit you are purchasing is a proper fit is to get into the “downhill skier” position. Once you are in a tight tuck, it will reveal any areas that are too tight or too loose. You want the impact zones (shoulders/elbows/knees/butt) to be snug and not too tight. Make sure the area around your throat is not tight and also make sure you can move your knee out by about 45*. If so, then you have a good fit.

Who’s the best resource for motorcycle leathers? Komodo Gear is a well regarded for their quality. Even the leather repair specialists will tell you that one of the key ingredients to Komodo’s success is their leather quality. Better leather means better performance; which ultimately means higher quality and a greater chance to survive an accident. Remember, your riding apparel is just as important as your tires and your level of personal insurance! Don’t take chances, ride with confidence; ride with purpose driven motorcycle apparel only from Komodo Gear.

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Tags: aero hump, back protectors, ce armor, Factory Direct, Full Grain Leather, knee sliders, komodo gear, komodogear, Leather Suits, motorcycle race gear, Motorcycle Race Leathers, motorcycle store, motorsports, protection, Quality race gear, racing gear, street riding, track day gear, track day leathers, track days, Ykk zippers

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