I'd like an opinion about Frank Thomas 1 and 2 piece leather suits from Cycle Gear. They are on sale and am thinking of buying one each. One for track and one for riding. Are they ok or should I just fork over the bucks for the Dianese stuff?

I bought one a few years ago. Returned it the next week due to a failed seam. I had worn it around 8 hours total. Bought the Dainese.

I have a FT two piece. I've worn both on the track once, and I've used them outside of the track countless times on group rides. The jacket is one of my daily commuters. There is the failed seam issue, but I've not had a problem yet with mine.

I suggest trying on the Dianese and FT to compare fit, etc.

I'm a Dainese fan, but that's because it fits me very well.  I haven't tried the FT gear. 

I will say Dainese does a great job of keep you protected in a crash.

I'll hold off for the moment then and see if I can find a Rock Bottom Racing price on Dianese's suits.

Thanks, this helps.

Dainese 2 piece stormtrooper- are you a Euro 54 ??

http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=15974.0

Quote from: RED on December 17, 2008, 02:04:11 PM
I'd like an opinion about Frank Thomas 1 and 2 piece leather suits from Cycle Gear. They are on sale and am thinking of buying one each. One for track and one for riding. Are they ok or should I just fork over the bucks for the Dianese stuff?

buy the two piece and use it for track and rides.  I looked at the same thing and after only a few hundred more I got a Dianese.

I bought a FT summer jacket when I started riding because it was cheap and it lived up to its price tag.  There was also a recall in that year for a bunch of FT 1 and 2 piece leathers as there were many seam failures - which, of course, was discovered after a few riders slid across the track and ground off some flesh.  I'd wait for Dainese.

I did not realize that the seam problem was that common  I thought that I just had bad luck 

Fit is most important.  Personally, I didn't like the fit and ended up with the Dainese Laguna Seca.  Also, make sure to fit it with underarmour or some similar type of undergarment.  You want it as tight as possible without constricting you (so armour doesn't shift to the wrong places when you crash test it).