Leathers, jackets & suits (Jan - Dec 2009)

Spyke Speed Evo one-piece suit, £1200 Miles covered/time: 6000/one year What’s good? This kangaroo and cowhide mix leather suit fits like the proverbial glove – that might be because it’s cut for...

Dainese Mission one-piece, £1659.99 Miles covered/time: 60,000-plus/three years What’s good? In over ten years of professionally testing bikes these are the best leathers I’ve ever owned or...

From the votes of 12,000 readers, here are your top 10 textile trousers. Save cash on motorcycle trousers 1. Alpinestars ST-5 Drystar, RRP: £179.99 MCN Shop best price: £179.99 from Midlands...

Merino Buff, £21 Tester: Marc Abbott Miles covered/time: 1000/one month What's good? It’s soft, it’s long (so easily doubles up for twice the thickness on especially cold days) it doesn’t require...

Frank Thomas X Terrain Trousers, £129.99 Tester: Samuel Pinney Miles covered/time: 4000/five months What’s good? The armour is very well positioned so that when you are riding the bike it perfectly...

Frank Thomas X Terrain Jacket, £169.99 Tester: Samuel Pinney Miles covered/time: 4000/five months What’s good? It’s really warm, even with the inner lining removed. With the lining in and zipped up...

Alpinestars Stunt 2 jacket, £279.95 (replaced by new Stunt in 2009, now £349.95) Miles covered/time: 15,000/two and a half years What's good? A little over snug to begin with, but after a month of...

Product: Berik 7932 1-piece £699 Miles covered/time: 2000/four races/three trackdays What’s good? When I first got these, I suspected they could be just fashion leathers – not up to the repeated rough...

Alpinestars Stunt 2 jacket, £279.95 (replaced by new Stunt in 2009, now £349.95) Miles covered/time: 15,000/two and a half years What's good? A little over snug to begin with, but after a month of...

Rev It GT Ladies Trousers £249.99 Miles covered/time: 3500 miles/four months What’s good? The first time I pulled these trousers on I thought I was sure to expire from oxygen deprivation, they were so...

RST Triple Jacket £69.99 Miles covered/time: 3000/eight months What’s good? It’s a close-fitting waterproof over jacket that does three things very well. Firstly, it’s totally waterproof, no doubt...

Crowtree two-piece leathers £800 Miles covered/time: 20,000/7 years What's good? I crashed three times in my fully-armoured Crowtrees then left them in a barn for five years. Save cash on motorcycle...

Marmot Original DriClime Windshirt £55 Tester: Guy Procter Miles covered/time: 2000/three months Browse thermals for sale in the MCN Shop What's good? Call me a wuss but I believe in wearing...

Hein Gericke Tricky III Gore-Tex jacket and pant (£309.99 and £229.99) Tester: Liam Marsden Miles covered/time: Two months/1000 miles Browse textile suits for sale in the MCN Shop What's good? It’s...

Each week we bring you the latest results of our massive reader survey. Save £££s on motorcycle jackets From the votes of 12,000 readers, here are your top all-season riding jackets. 1. Dainese...

Spidi JK Tex jacket, £169.99 Miles covered/time: 1000 miles/three months What's good? This jacket is brilliant. It’s a very lightweight textile jacket meaning it’s perfect for riding in seriously hot...

Davida black leather jacket, £190 Miles covered/time: 7000+/10 months What’s good? The comfort afforded by this jacket surpasses anything leathery I’ve ever worn before – either on or off the...

Shift Ranger Shell (now superseded by Ranger jacket 70106, £40) Miles covered/time: 3000/four years. What’s good? It’s simplicity itself. You can either ram it into your rucksack, tie it round you...

MCN’s online shop currently has a staggering 42,000+ motorcycling products for sale, many at prices vastly below the recommended retail price. Bringing together loads of respected names in bike kit...

Product: BMW AirFlow 3 textile suit (now superseded by AirFlow 4, jacket: £290, trousers £205) Miles covered/time: 1000/two years What's good? This suit is so lightweight it's ideal for riding on...

Product: Wurth Brake Cleaner/Air Intake Cleaner £4.99/can Miles covered/time: Three races/three months What’s good? They work – when it comes to the carburettors and brake calipers on my TZR250 race...

Product: Hein Gericke Craig II trousers, £89.99 Miles covered/time: 4000/8 months What’s good? They’re the sort of trousers you could commute in all year – waterproof but not too hot for the drier...

Product: Bering Iridium jacket, £379  (now superseded by Bering Mask, £279.99) Miles covered/time: 7000/13 months What’s good? You can’t go wrong with an understated black leather jacket – it...

Product: Lidl Undersuit, £11 Miles covered/time: 2000/four months What’s good? For the cost of a tank of petrol you can have an undersuit. It is surprisingly good at regulating your body temperature.

Product: Impact Safe-T Armor chest protector £76 (plus delivery from USA) Miles covered/time: Four race meets/four months What’s good? Because you don’t tend to hit your chest as hard as other parts...

Product: Hein Gericke Basic II rainsuit (£44.99) Miles covered/time: 1000 What’s good? It packs down quite small. It is possible to put it on without taking your boots off. If you dream of walking...

Alpinestars RP-5 Pants £34.95 Miles covered/time: 20,000/12 months What’s good? I’ve worn these waterproof bottoms over leathers far too many times in the last year, so I’m wondering where this...

Alpinestars RJ-5 Jacket £39.95 Miles covered/time: 20,000/12 months What’s good? I use this most of the time, even when it’s not raining, popping it on over my leathers or jacket to keep the...

Belstaff Trialmaster jacket £379.99 Miles covered/time: 3000 miles/four months What’s good? Modern motorcycle clothing and clothing for the ‘normal’ world don’t often mix well, especially when it...

Hein Gericke Hi-Viz jacket, £180 Tester: Rupert Paul Miles covered/time: 15,000/six years What’s good? It’s my only winter suit, and after two washes (yeah, I know it needs another one) it remains...

Product: Classic Draggin jeans (£99.99) Tester: Samuel Pinney Miles covered/time: 3000/four months What’s good? The first time I wore these jeans I was rear-ended at some traffic lights and thrown off...

More than 12,000 of you have given us your opinions on the kit you use and the bikes you ride in the MCN Biking Britain survey. Take the survey here This week, we’re focusing on how stylish your...

Crowtree made-to-measure jacket, £340 Tester: Rupert Paul Miles covered/time: 150,000/16 years What’s good? How about these are the toughest leathers in the world? Because they are. I once saw a...

What’s good? I thought I would have to wait for winter to review this jacket but thanks to the English summer I’m able to bring it to you early. I've only worn this jacket without the detachable...

What’s good? Beautifully made and a mega comfortable suit. The fit is perfect for my short-arse frame. Being an Italian manufacturer it’s obviously tailored to fit an Italian frame – short in the...

Best thing: Great for Britain’s unpredictable summers. Waterproof lightweight outer and cooling vents with waterproof zips make heatwaves bearable and let you stay dry when the heavens inevitably...