How to Measure for a Custom Motorcycle Suit: Full Size Guide
A custom motorcycle suit is only as good as the measurements it is built from. Ten figures decide the fit. This guide lists each one, explains exactly how to take it, and covers the errors that most often produce a suit that does not fit.
Fit is not a comfort preference on a race suit. Impact armour only protects the joint it sits over, and in a suit that is too large the armour migrates during a slide and can end up beside the shoulder or knee rather than on it. A well-measured suit holds every protector in position under load.
The Ten Measurements
| Measurement | How to take it |
|---|---|
| Chest | Around the fullest part of the chest, tape level, arms down, breathing normally |
| Waist | Around the natural waist — the narrowest point, not where jeans sit |
| Hips / seat | Around the widest part of the hips and buttocks |
| Neck | Around the base of the neck where a collar sits, one finger of slack |
| Shoulder width | Across the back, from the bone point of one shoulder to the other |
| Sleeve length | From the shoulder bone, down the outside of a slightly bent arm, to the wrist bone |
| Torso length | From the shoulder top, down the front, to the natural waist |
| Inseam | From the crotch down the inside of the leg to the ankle bone |
| Thigh | Around the widest part of the upper thigh |
| Height and weight | Both, exactly — used to sanity-check every other figure |
Send all ten. A tailor can catch an error in one measurement by cross-checking it against the others, but only if the full set is present.
Before You Start
- Wear thin clothing, or just underwear — never measure over a jacket or hoodie
- Use a soft fabric tape, not a builder's tape
- Have someone else measure you. Self-measuring the back, shoulders and torso is unreliable
- Stand naturally with your weight on both feet. Do not brace, suck in, or hold your breath
- Keep the tape snug against the body but not compressing it — you should be able to slip one finger under
- Measure twice and write both figures down. If they differ by more than a centimetre, measure a third time
- Record in centimetres or inches, and say which
The Five Mistakes That Ruin a Fit
- Holding your breath on the chest measurement. This inflates the chest by several centimetres and produces a suit that is loose everywhere once you breathe normally
- Measuring the waist at the trouser line. Most people's jeans sit well below the natural waist. Measuring there can add 5–8 cm and throws off the whole torso
- Pulling the tape tight. A tape pulled taut compresses soft tissue and gives a suit that is genuinely too small — the most common cause of a suit that cannot be worn
- Measuring the sleeve with a straight arm. You ride with bent elbows. A sleeve measured straight will pull short and drag at the cuff in a riding position
- Sending old measurements. Body measurements change. Take them the week you order, not from a note made last season
Tell Us How You Ride
Two riders with identical measurements can need different suits. Along with the figures, say:
- Riding position — full sportbike tuck, upright naked bike, or somewhere between. A suit for a tucked position is cut with a longer back and shorter front
- Preferred fit — race snug, regular, or relaxed
- What you wear underneath — a base layer only, or a back protector and thermal
- Past fit problems — if every suit you have owned was tight across the shoulders or long in the arm, say so
- Body proportions — long arms, short inseam, broad chest with narrow waist, athletic or heavier build
Women's Measurements
Most off-the-shelf motorcycle suits are cut on a men's block and simply scaled down, which is why they typically fit women badly through the chest, waist and hip at the same time. A custom suit is cut on female proportions from the start. Take the same ten measurements, and add the bust measurement at the fullest point alongside the underbust.
Why a Suit Should Feel Tight When New
A correctly sized leather race suit feels firm and slightly restrictive when you stand upright, and correct as soon as you sit on the bike in a riding position. That is by design — the suit is cut for the riding position, not for standing.
Full-grain leather also relaxes and moulds to you over the first few rides. A suit that feels comfortable and roomy standing up on day one will be too large once it has broken in, and loose leather is exactly what lets armour move out of position in a crash.
What Happens After You Send Your Measurements
- Your figures are checked against each other for consistency, and you are contacted if anything looks wrong
- The design and specification are confirmed with you
- The pattern is cut to your measurements
- The suit is assembled, armour fitted, and quality checked
- It ships worldwide
Frequently Asked Questions
What measurements do I need for a custom motorcycle suit?
Chest, waist, hips, neck, shoulder width, sleeve length, torso length, inseam, thigh, plus height and weight. Women should add bust and underbust.
Should I measure over clothes?
No. Measure over thin clothing or underwear only. Measuring over a jacket or hoodie can add several centimetres and will produce a suit that is too large.
Does made-to-measure cost more than a standard size?
No. Every suit is cut to order, so a made-to-measure fit is the same price and the same production time as a standard size.
What if I am between two standard sizes?
That is the single best reason to order custom. Standard sizing forces a compromise at the chest, waist or inseam. Custom sizing works to your actual proportions instead.
How tight should a motorcycle race suit be?
Firm and close-fitting with no loose or bunched material, particularly over the shoulders, elbows and knees where the armour sits. It should feel slightly restrictive standing up and correct in the riding position.
Can I send measurements from an old suit instead?
Garment measurements are useful as a cross-check but not as a substitute. Send body measurements, and mention any old suit that fitted well or badly and in what way.
Ready to Order
Full measuring diagrams are on the size guide. Browse one piece race suits, two piece suits and custom made suits and jackets, or read kangaroo vs cowhide to choose your leather. Questions about measuring can go through the contact page.