Guides

Key takeaways

• A size chart links chest, waist, height and leg length together. Real bodies do not follow it.
• Sizing up to fix one measurement makes the suit loose everywhere else.
• Loose leather lets armour rotate away from the shoulder, elbow or knee in a crash.
• Made-to-measure suits are cut for each rider, so no body type is hard to fit.
• Good measurements take about fifteen minutes and a helper.

Why fit is a safety issue

Armour only works if it is over the joint when you hit the ground. In a suit that is too big, the leather twists as you slide and the armour goes with it. In a suit that is too short, the knee armour sits above the knee in the riding position and the sleeves pull back from the gloves. Fit also affects control: a suit that binds at the shoulders or crotch tires you out and limits how you move on the bike.

Where stock suits fail

Tall riders

• Sleeves and legs end short, leaving gaps at the gloves and boots.
• The torso is too short, so the suit pulls at the crotch and shoulders in a tuck.
• Knee armour and sliders sit above the knee.
• Sizing up for length gives a baggy chest and waist.

Short riders

• Extra leather bunches behind the knees and inside the elbows.
• Knee armour sits on the shin, and elbow armour on the forearm.
• Leg bottoms stack up over the boots.

Bigger and broader riders

• Fitting the chest or stomach means going up several sizes, which makes the arms and legs far too long.
• Muscular thighs or shoulders make an otherwise correct size too tight to move in.
• Many brands simply stop at a size that is too small.

Women

Many "unisex" suits are a men's cut, which is wrong at the chest, waist and hips. See our women's race suit fit guide.

Why sizing up does not work

It is tempting to buy the next size to fix the one place that is tight. The result is a suit that fits that one place and is loose at the others. Loose leather flaps at speed, wrinkles under your arms and knees, and lets the armour move. Altering a finished leather suit is possible, but it is expensive and limited, because armour pockets and stretch panels are in fixed places.

How made-to-measure solves it

A made-to-measure suit starts from your numbers. Each panel is cut to your chest, waist, hips, arm, thigh, inseam and torso length, so the armour pockets land on your joints and the stretch panels sit where you bend. Nothing is "an unusual size", because there is no size. Read custom vs off-the-rack suits for the full comparison.

Every suit in our custom racing suits collection is made this way, in full-grain cowhide with CE Level 2 armour at the shoulders, elbows, knees and back. The same applies to our MotoGP team designs, so you do not have to choose between the design you want and a suit that fits.

The measurements that matter most

• Tall riders: torso length (neck to crotch), arm length with the arm bent, and inseam.
• Short riders: inseam, knee height from the floor and arm length.
• Bigger riders: chest, stomach at its widest point, hips, thigh and upper arm.

Measure over the base layer you ride in, keep the tape snug without pulling it tight, and ask someone to help. Our step-by-step measuring guide and sizing guide show every measurement.

How a race suit should feel

• Snug all over when standing, and comfortable in the riding position.
• Armour centred on the shoulders, elbows and knees when you are tucked.
• Sleeves reach the wrist bone with your arms forward.
• Legs reach the ankle and sit inside or over your boots without bunching.
• No pulling at the crotch or across the shoulders.

New leather is stiff and loosens with use. See how to break in a new race suit.

One-piece or two-piece for a hard-to-fit build?

If your top and bottom halves are very different sizes, a made-to-measure two-piece suit can be easier to live with. For track use, a one-piece suit made to your measurements gives the best protection.

Frequently asked questions

Can you make a race suit for a very tall rider?

Yes. The suit is cut from your measurements, so height is not a limit.

Do you make plus-size race suits?

Yes. We cut to your chest, waist, hip and thigh measurements, so there is no upper stock size.

Is made-to-measure much more expensive?

It costs more to cut than a stock size, but it can be better value than a cheaper suit you have to alter or replace. See how much a race suit costs.

What if I measure wrong?

Follow the measuring guide, take each measurement twice and send us your height and weight as a cross-check. If a number looks out of proportion, we will ask you to confirm it before cutting.

How long does it take?

Each suit is made after you order. See ordering a custom race suit for production, delivery and returns.