After doing my CBT on Sunday (and passing    ) and sweating my wotsits off in a full winter  :O  Dianese jacket (provided by the school) I decided it was probably best to get my own stuff for me next lesson.

I went down to Hein Gericke in Slough in my lunch break and layed eyes on a nice jacket - an Evo Tribal I think?  Nice jacket and it fits me nicely with all the pads etc in the right places.  So I got it.

Yesterday I looked at the weather forecast for Friday and next week, and since it looks like the weather is going to trun decidedly british again I figured I best get the waterproof trousers to match.  So off I toddled again down to HG.  I figured I'd be a medium in size (as I do quite like me pies  :p  ) and proceded to attempt to get them on - no chance!  not a problem I thought, I'll try the large.  Fitted great ...... except for the fact they where about a foot too long and all the pads where on my shins!  I tried on every single type of textile trousers they did with exactly the same results - I mean I didn't think I was stupidly short, just a little under average (about 5'6"ish).  So am I just  a podgy git (36" waist) for my height  :down:  or do manufacturers just not cater for the "vertically challenged" ?

I ended up getting some normal textile trousers without pads and then adding them in afterwards.

Looks like I'll be getting my leathers custom made when I come round to getting them unless someone here has any good ideas.

Hein Gericke Evo Tribal? I have those in a 2-piece in silver, black and white. No accidents yet (touch wood) but they're comfy, airy and nice to wear. :buttrock:
I'm 5'8" with a 34" waist and they're a great fit on me so I dunno what to suggest mate.

Its the latter, they assume that everything goes in proportion and also don't take account of regional variations in body shape (Europeans being different to UK being different to US and so on).  Best service I've had was from Alvins in Edinburgh.  Went in to try on some Belstaff gear and found they didn't have trousers in my size so they said they would order them.  When they arrived they were fine waist wise but far too long.  They said no problem just give us measurements for inside leg and knee to crotch and we'll get them altered to fit.  And they did, perfectly all armour in the right places!  Belstaff also make  some of their stuff in different leg lengths so although its a bit late as you've bought the jacket I would take a look there if I were you.

I think you'll find that you're not alone...



















BD is both short and round  :laughcont:

I've got a pal, who was in the same boat. He never did get a pair or cordura trousers, even though the jacket fitted perfect. Although, its not just blokes who have these problems. Loads of women have had real hassles trying to get themselves decent leathers. So you are not alone.

BD. height - 5'10" waist - who's your daddy.

Congrats on the CBT by the way.  :buttrock:

Well done on the cbt pass mate.

You'll just have to shop around, Im sure some make will be right in the end but may be a pain to get.  5'6'' doesnt sound that short to me but me old mucker EB has had trouser problems ( so to speak) and I think he's only about 5'7'' or so.

Cheers for all the congrats  :buttrock:

I've been looking round on the net a bit today and I found (and subsequently lost! ) a place that makes leathers to order at a fair price.  I worked out that a decent 2 piece with all the protectors etc, knee sliders and custom colours / motifs  :buttrock:  would set me back about £650, which I dont think is too bad.

Now all I have to do is find the site again from my cache!  

Still, I'm not in a hurry yet as I aint even got me own bike yet.  Thought it'd be best to wait until I passed me test first - so that'll be next friday then - bugger, best be reading that highway code thingy methinks!

wasn't  BTK leathers was it?  BTK

Yep - That'd be the one

congrats on the cbt, are you taking your test on a 125 or 500?
i would find out how much insurance is going to cost on your next bike b4 you splash out on leathers jeff-is the test waiting list short in your area?
its about 3-5 weeks up here (dark satanic north) :verysad:

Well done on the cbt jeff  :bowdown:

If you think youve got probs mate, what about me n' me short legs = 26ins x 36 girth and I cant get any thing to fit me correctly, I had made to measure leathers they made a right mess of them so back to cordura etc..

They think everyone is 10 ft tall and a stick insect n' on the same note wheres zombie??

I'll be taking the test on a 500 so that I'm not limited on the bike I can get.  I've had a few insurance quotes, which while are probably silly money to most, seem reasonable to me as I already drive a group 18  :O  car which I wont have to insure any more (as its going when I get my bike).  There is one thing for certain though, it aint going to be a cbr600rr - the quote i had for that was £2k!!!!!!  And with being such a good driver an all   (ok, maybe not!)

This lot may look as though they only cater for Girlies, but I understand they make made-to-measure for blokes...

Never tried 'em though - merely checked them out on the web when looking for leathers for the missus which I  never did buy  :sniffle: