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The difference between a custom motorcycle racing suit and an off-the-rack one is not mainly comfort or looks. It is whether the armour stays where it is supposed to be.

Impact protectors only work while they sit over the joint they cover. In a suit cut for an average body rather than yours, there is slack — and slack lets a shoulder or knee protector slide out of position during a crash. That is the argument for made to measure. Everything else is secondary.

Quick Comparison

Who Off-the-Rack Actually Works For

It is worth being honest about this. Off-the-rack is a perfectly good choice if you sit close to a standard size, need gear this week, are buying your first suit and are not yet sure how much you will use it, or ride occasionally on the road rather than on track.

If a stock suit genuinely fits you, it will protect you. The problem is that a large proportion of riders do not sit cleanly in a stock size.

Who Should Order Custom

• Riders between two sizes — the most common case, and the one where stock sizing always compromises something
• Anyone with a chest-to-waist difference outside the average — a stock suit that fits the chest will be loose at the waist, or vice versa
• Long or short torso relative to height — determines whether the back protector sits over your spine or below it
• Women — most stock ranges are cut on a men's block and scaled, which fits badly at chest, waist and hip simultaneously
• Track and race riders — a suit cut for a tucked position has a longer back and shorter front than a stock suit cut for standing
• Anyone wanting their own colours, logos, name or race number

The Cost Question

The usual assumption is that custom costs significantly more. That depends entirely on the manufacturer. Where every suit is cut to order rather than produced in stock runs, made-to-measure sizing is offered at the same price and the same production time as a standard size — because the work involved is identical. That is how it works at Bleed Racing Gears.

The more useful comparison is long-term. A stock suit that never fits properly tends to get replaced early, or worse, gets worn loose. A suit that fits from day one gets used.

What Does Not Change Between the Two

Custom sizing does not mean better materials by default. Leather grade, stitching and armour are specified separately, and you should check all three whichever route you take:

• Leather — full-grain cowhide 1.3–1.4 mm or kangaroo 0.8–0.9 mm. Split, bonded and PU-coated leather tear rather than abrade, whatever thickness is claimed
• Stitching — main seams triple stitched with high-strength bonded nylon thread, so the thread does not part before the leather does
• Armour — CE Level 2 at every position, not only at the shoulders and elbows

Armour at Bleed Racing Gears is KeepTech, tested and certified by Ricotest, European Notified Body No. 0498, Pastrengo, Italy, under EU Regulation 2016/425 as Category II PPE. Level 2 transmits about 20 kN in the standard impact test against roughly 35 kN for Level 1. Note that the armour is independently CE certified; the leather shell is not certified as a garment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a custom motorcycle suit safer than off-the-rack?

With identical leather and armour, yes — because fit determines whether protectors stay over the joint during a crash. A well-fitting stock suit and a custom suit of the same specification protect equally. A loose stock suit does not.

Does a custom suit cost more?

Not where every suit is cut to order. At Bleed Racing Gears made-to-measure is the same price and lead time as standard sizing.

How long does a custom suit take?

It is made to order and shipped worldwide. Custom measurements do not extend production compared with a standard size.

What if the custom suit does not fit when it arrives?

Get in touch through the contact page with photographs and your measurements, and the garment will be assessed for adjustment.

Can I order a custom suit as my first suit?

Yes, and it is often the better choice if you already know you sit between sizes. If you are unsure how much you will ride, a stock size is a reasonable starting point.

Do I need to visit for a fitting?

No. Ten self-taken measurements are enough — see how to measure for a custom motorcycle suit for exactly how to take each one.

Next Steps

Browse custom made suits and jackets, one piece race suits or two piece suits. Choose your hide with kangaroo vs cowhide, and take your figures using the size guide.