"Proper Fitting" leathers

I've been constantly trying to get better as far as gearing up when I ride since I started. First bought an A-star Textile jacket when I started, then quickly bought a leather one instead after looking at the road flying at over 60mph. So far I've got the leather riding boots, gloves, and some knee/shin protection until I get my leather pants (on order at Motostrano, with BARF discount, hell yeah!). For the leather pants, I bought the A-star Twin Pants, and if you're not aware what they're like, they look like "casual" leather pants, which means they're not fitted to your legs.

I understand how proper fitting is ideal in that in the case of slide, your leather (pants or jacket) won't hike up against the pavement on your body, exposing some skin anyway. My question is this:

Has anyone experienced a slide wearing non-fitted leathers? If so, how was the protection? Did it hike up after all?

IF my gear does hike up, I think it's only more likely the pants, between my boots and knee, so my shin/calves would be the only thing susceptible to exposure. MAYBE my belly or lower back too, but maybe not since the jacket and pant size are my exact size.

Anyone know?

I'v slid in my two piece vanson that I bought off the rack, and it wasn't zipped together. The stiff leather and the back protector helped keep everything in place, the only injury I sustained was a bruise on my elbow and a mild hit to the ego.

If you're wearing proper boots, even if the leg slides up some, you'll have protection where you need it.

Low speed crash, loose fitting jacket, and well yah, fingerless gloves, but my wrist got some rash well above where the jacket should have protected. It didn't come off, and did protect my shoulder/elbow pretty well, but yah too loose would be bad. Casual style that fits you, may not be as good as 'snug' leather's, but better than nothing I reckon.

Funny how it works out, but I guess I can answer this question myself now, after doing a lowside with my gear on.

The jacket did its job, and so did my boots. I still didn't have my leather pants at the time of the crash, but I wouldn't doubt that they would have protected me from the knee rash I suffered.

I do have small, negligible scrapes on my right arm, without a doubt caused by some small rocks slipping from my jacket's sleeve opening. Those, I think, could've been prevented if I had some riding globes that covered past my wrist, maybe a quarter of the way through my forearm. I only had the Joe Rocket UFO leather gloves (still did their job!), which only covered my entire hand and secured right at my wrist. If I had gloves that protected further up my arm and tucked my jacket sleeve in them, I'm sure I would be unscratched in my arm area.

After seeing what happened to my jeans, yeah, I'm not sure if I'll be riding without my leather pants on. For the most part.

Another reason to have snug gear is to keep the wind out when its cold, and to keep the loose material from flapping at an annoying 60Hz as you ride down the road.

yes. i've slid in ill-fitting leathers. twice. the first time, nothing of major note happened. the second time the leathers bunched and twisted and the stretchy fabric on the back of the leg wore away and gave me road-rash on the backside of my knee. and my old kilimanjaro jacket, which is about three sizes too big, practically twisted all the way around my torso.

the stuff that fits does crash better.

i've never asked him directly, but i'd think that creech would know the most about baggy leathers...

yeah... Crashing in illfitting leathers does suck. Think rope burn x 100. the loose leather will grab at your skin and pull it right off. Best bet is to go with the full custom suit. You'll be glad you did.

--Creech