DIY motorbike clothing

[mullan]

OK, firstly I know a lot of people will say this is a BAD idea and there is no substitute for approved motorbike clothing which I fully agree with.  I'm a bloke, but secretly I can admit to actually being pretty nifty with a sewing machine. 

So I did wonder, for low speed summer riding (70kph max), if I could stitch in the protective components of motorbike clothing into old normal jeans and jackets.  The idea would be to also find some non-padded protectives which can fold up easily and carry lightly should I need to then take a motorway.

What are your opinions?  Tips?  Online shops which sell only the protective paddings?

Are there any non-padded protectives which can be resistant to sliding on a motorway?

[The Buddha]

I'd put protective on the outside and inside as well as padding and what not. next to your skin you must have regular clothing. If its rough like goretex, it will tear you before you even crash.
Cool.
Buddha.

[mullan]

I'd put protective on the outside and inside as well as padding and what not. next to your skin you must have regular clothing. If its rough like goretex, it will tear you before you even crash.
Cool.
Buddha.

So like longjohns next to the skin, then the padding (eg, knee pad/thigh/elbow), followed by the outer layer, and all 3 layers stitched together?  It might sound weird, but I think I could make something much more resistant than some summer trousers I bought which fell to pieces rather easiey under their own weight.

It's just then a case that if I decide to take the motorway, it would be good to have some friction-resistant (and non-padded) lightweight items to put over the top again (also for if it rains).

[tt_four]

I think you could definitely make some good gear yourself. The majority of the gear on store shelves was made by 8 year old asian kids anyway. You can buy CE armor just by itself. You could take some jeans with a little space to spare, get some extra denim and just sew some knee/hip pads into them. You can also do the same with stuff in a jacket. You could do even better if you found some really good abrasion resistant fabric to sew on the outside of the knees, elbows, shoulders, and whatever else would hit the ground.

I've thought plenty about taking a good pair of pants, and replacing some of the non-contact spots with some mesh, like behind my knees, or the inside of my legs, just to let some air through but still have some protection. I haven't sewn anything in a while, but I think I'd still do ok on a project like that if I put in the effort.

Sometimes if you look you can find normal pairs of jeans that already have 2 layers of denim on the knees just for day-to-day durability. you could just pull them open, stick some knee pads in, and sew it back shut.

[Syzygy]

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=52437.0

Actually you're supposed to get mesh kevlar, nothing else.

Peace,
Syzygy

[Toogoofy317]

I'm not sure how much time energy etc.. But New Enough has awesome deals on jackets. I saw this for $39.99 http://www.newenough.com/street/closeouts/bargain_basement/teknic/chicane_textile_motorcycle_jacket.html

just sayin!

Mary

[tt_four]

yeah I also got a $30 Yoshimura summer jacket on there. I got one for me and one for Heather. Mine's slightly bigger than I need, but it fits, and for $30 who cares.

[The Buddha]

I'm not sure how much time energy etc.. But New Enough has awesome deals on jackets. I saw this for $39.99 http://www.newenough.com/street/closeouts/bargain_basement/teknic/chicane_textile_motorcycle_jacket.html

just sayin!

Mary

This is precisely why we love you baby. The lone voice of reason even when men are talking about sewing.
Cool.
Buddha.

[Homer]

Tried it.   Didn't work.

Bought this old thing on Craigslist for $25.  
The table/bench was an extra $20.  Had to re-wire the foot pedal, but it only took 1/2 hour or so.


Tried pants first.  No patterns, just basically tubes for legs and a slightly wider tube for my skinny @ss.  
Found some Cordura (at least, I thought it was) fairly cheap.  Sewed a basic pocket in the knee for some old foam padding I had around.
I was planning to overlay it with Gortex cut from cheap jackets from Walmart or something, if it had held up.
To say it was bad was an understatement.  

I'm not saying you can't.  I'm just saying that I couldn't.  
I tried triple stitching, but you've got to have a thick backing.  Otherwise, the first row of stitching just cuts the material, and it does no good.  (I was using thick nylon thread, which is actually pretty cheap at Micheal's).  In order to get a decently thick backing, it's MY opinion that you need a good manual machine.  Even my Ol' Trusty didn't have the torque to punch through enough layers.  
Didn't even bother trying to ride with it.  My wife was able to tear the stitching herself.

Meanwhile, I can make curtains and junk for my wife.  That saves money for elsewhere.  
But, hey, I'm the type that doesn't care if I'm called ghey.  

[mullan]

Love that old sewing machine.  I was thinking of getting a Singer, but a modern electric one for blanket stitching and maybe with an embroidery function too so I can stitch some nice little flowers into the bath towels.  Finally get to put my 25m swimming badge on my speedos too, only not sure the speedo fit these days.

I think I will give it a bash and get some photos, and come back and post them here to get an opinion.  Obviously things like this don't go through health and safety regulations, yet some of the stuff I see for sale as safety clothing is something I could improve upon.

Watch this space....

[DoD#i]

You could take some jeans with a little space to spare, get some extra denim and just sew some knee/hip pads into them.

Ever been down in jeans? Denim - not much use against asphalt. Which means your ass against asphalt in very few feet. Not sitting down for a month will make anyone with sense ^BELIEVE in AGATT, and jeans ain't gear.

Can you sew your own gear - yes. Unless you have a very heavy industrial machine, you might find it a lot of hand work, or require an upgrade to your machine. Leather would be your best choice, both because (in a proper, heavy weight) it's good protection and because it's probably the only material that you might be able to get proper material for less than the cost of a finished garment from newenough or the like - don't see much ballistics cloth at JoAnne fabrics, and by the time you do track down a source for small amounts, you literally can buy it made into a garment for less.

[Homer]

You could take some jeans with a little space to spare, get some extra denim and just sew some knee/hip pads into them.

Ever been down in jeans? Denim - not much use against asphalt. Which means your ass against asphalt in very few feet. Not sitting down for a month will make anyone with sense ^BELIEVE in AGATT, and jeans ain't gear.

Can you sew your own gear - yes. Unless you have a very heavy industrial machine, you might find it a lot of hand work, or require an upgrade to your machine. Leather would be your best choice, both because (in a proper, heavy weight) it's good protection and because it's probably the only material that you might be able to get proper material for less than the cost of a finished garment from newenough or the like - don't see much ballistics cloth at JoAnne fabrics, and by the time you do track down a source for small amounts, you literally can buy it made into a garment for less.

Ditto.
That's why I went the Motoport route. 

But, I'm not one to stop somebody from trying!
Give it a shot! 
If you want practice material, I don't suggest cotton.  It bunches under the foot and stretches. 
Canvas is pretty good. 
If I ever do it again, I'd use one of the patterns for men's jeans.  Double layered, canvas and cordura.  Maybe with integrated rip stop, if I can find it.  That, and a big old railroad spike of a needle. 
There's some stuff that helps, kind of like bees wax.  The old quilting ladies know about it.  You jam the needle in the gunk, and it helps it not stick to thick fabric.  An old candle doesn't work, I already tried it. 

As far as the embroidery stuff, the old machines actually do it better than the modern stuff.  They go a lot slower, and they're a lot simpler to use.  Mine has a manual wheel on the side, though it's not very big.  Works great with patches, as long as you're sewing it to fabric. 
Doesn't have the torque to put a patch on leather. 

Leather is easiest when it's pre-punched.  The machines that can handle it are usually huge.  Like, overstrain your floor joists huge.
Plus, they're ancient and super expensive, if you can find them. 
Damn, I want one, though. 

[The Buddha]

Motoport - in sacramento right ?
When I lived in there I used to ride past them every day, intended to go there and get a custom fitted suit ... just never did ... Then I moved to NC and bought my crappy Joecrappit ... and who the Fsck makes a suit that isn't reinforced at the crotch ... morons. Its got a seam that is opening there.
Cool.
Buddha.

[Homer]

[tt_four]

just basically tubes for legs and a slightly wider tube for my skinny @ss.  

That's awesome. Haha. I had assumed when we were talking about making riding gear we were just taking normal clothes and trying to make them better for riding. Starting from scratch is a whole new situation. If you're really good, and patient, it might be worth it. Otherwise I think your time/money would be better spent browsing the internet for good deals or used gear. It'll probably cost you less than buying all the materials anyway.

[romulux]

I don't think you can do it if you're dealing with heavier cordura materials or leather if all you have is a standard sewing machine.

You'll need something a lot beefier for protective-weight gear.

[Homer]

[mullan]

Thanks everyone.  Just to clarify: I do have protective gear which I always use when riding long distance on motorways.  I would always rely on these.  It's just short coastal/leisure rides at 70kph max on hot summer days which led me to think about a DIY option, because I don't fancy jeans alone. 

It could be I decide to return via the motorway on such trips, so I wonder: are there any lightweight, non padded, waterproof, easily foldable and friction-resistant clothing out there?  So I could fold them away in a bag and take them out before I ride on the motorway?

This way I will have good clothing for all conditions )

[tt_four]

It could be I decide to return via the motorway on such trips, so I wonder: are there any lightweight, non padded, waterproof, easily foldable and friction-resistant clothing out there?  So I could fold them away in a bag and take them out before I ride on the motorway?

This way I will have good clothing for all conditions )

I don't know if anything that durable exists. I think your ideal situation is some good vented padded gear, and keep some rain pants and a rain jacket in your bag. That way you're good when it's hot, if it gets cold you can just put on the rain jacket, and if it rains you can put it all on, and you've still got riding gear on in any situation. I know what you mean about not wanting to wear gear on hot days on short trips, but if you get a good summer jacket that you don't mind wearing, you get used to it, and after you wear it for a while you'll start to not like riding without it.

[Homer]

A good little read.
http://www.gewaenderwerk.de/motorrad/index2.html
Let me know if you want the German links translated, but check the pictures at least. 


http://www.shelby.fi/catalog/default.php?cPath=22_29_161

I like Keprotec, but that's just me. 
Same airflow and feel as denim, but stretches to about twice its width/length. 
Kevlar ripstop.  Water-resistant (not proof), but, won't hold water like other stuff, either.
http://www.shelby.fi/catalog/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=keprotec

There are other suppliers, but not many.  It's hard to get. 

Aramid IIIa is decent, from what I've heard.