Tom Sykes Kawasaki Ninja Motorbike Leather Racing Gloves

The Tom Sykes Kawasaki Ninja Motorbike Leather Racing Gloves are finished in the Kawasaki colours associated with Tom Sykes, reproduced in leather patchwork rather than print.

Built from full-grain cowhide with CE certified knuckle protection, reinforced palm padding and pre-curved fingers. Made to order in standard sizes or to your own hand measurements.

Construction

• Full-grain cowhide leather throughout — never bonded or PU-coated material, which tears rather than abrades
• CE certified knuckle protection: a hard external shell that takes the first impact and lets the glove slide rather than grip the tarmac
• Reinforced palm padding at the heel of the hand, the part that contacts the ground first in almost every fall
• Pre-curved fingers stitched into riding shape, so the glove does not fight your grip on the bars over a long session
• Secure wrist closure strap that stops the glove being pulled off during a slide — the way most unsecured gloves fail
• Additional reinforcing layer at the palm and thumb, the highest-wear areas
• Ventilation panels set into the fingers and back of hand, positioned away from the knuckle shell
• Touchscreen compatible fingertips for phone and GPS use without removing a glove
• Stitched with high-strength bonded nylon thread
• Team designs produced as leather patchwork rather than print, so they cannot crack, peel or fade

Short or Gauntlet Cut?

If you ride on track or wear a one piece leather suit, choose a gauntlet cut. The overlapping cuff removes the gap at the wrist where a suit sleeve and a short glove separate under slide forces.

Riders and Bikes

Most often ordered by riders on the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R, ZX-6R, ZX-4R and Z900, and by anyone matching gloves to Kawasaki leathers. Any pair can be produced in a colourway matched to your bike or the rest of your gear.

Sizing

Gloves are the hardest piece of riding kit to buy off the shelf, because hand width and finger length vary independently — most riders sit between two standard sizes. Every pair here can be made to your own measurements.

Measure the circumference of your palm around the knuckles, excluding the thumb, and the length from the base of your palm to the tip of your middle finger. Send both figures with your order and the gloves are cut to those dimensions. Full instructions are on the size guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these motorcycle gloves CE certified?
Yes. The knuckle protection fitted to these gloves is CE certified. Full protection documentation across the range is on the protection and safety page.

Can you match my Kawasaki’s colours?
Yes. Send a photograph or the paint reference and the leather is dyed to match as closely as hide allows, so the gloves sit correctly alongside the bike and the rest of your gear.

Do leather motorcycle gloves stretch?
Cowhide relaxes and moulds to your hand over the first few rides. A new racing glove should feel firm and close with no loose material at the fingertips — that initial tightness is correct. A glove that feels roomy when new will be too large once broken in.

What is the difference between racing gloves and winter riding gloves?
Racing gloves prioritise abrasion resistance, knuckle protection and bar feel, with minimal insulation. Winter gloves add thermal lining and waterproofing at the cost of bulk and feel. For track and sport riding, choose a racing glove.

Will the touchscreen fingertips wear out?
The conductive fingertip material is stitched into the leather rather than coated on top, so it lasts as long as the glove. Heavy abrasion on that panel will eventually reduce sensitivity.

Are the seams inside or outside?
Main seams are stitched with high-strength bonded nylon thread and positioned away from the primary contact areas, so they do not sit under the palm where they would abrade first.

How long do leather racing gloves last?
With regular conditioning a full-grain glove lasts several seasons of use. What usually ends one is a crash: after a slide the knuckle shell and palm layer should be inspected and the glove replaced if either is compromised.

Care Instructions

• Wipe the exterior with a soft, slightly damp cloth
• Use a leather conditioner when the hide feels dry
• Do not machine wash, tumble dry or bleach
• Dry naturally, away from direct sunlight and artificial heat
• Store flat or lightly stuffed so the fingers keep their shape