No wonder they’re heavy at 30 years old ! Today’s BKS (and Hideout, for that matter) leathers are way lighter. Also, their ’roo leathers are astonishingly light.
Yes, things have definitely moved on, but they have saved me few times and are bearable in the cold. Don't use them as much now and decided to get a lighter set for summer. Plus the jacket's getting snug!
I run a 25 year old set of hideouts and they are Heavy... fine when on and moving, but I'm less flexible these days, so do struggle with moving about in them. Right hands especially I find my knees locking up and cramping in my hips. I've ordered a set of "roo's" to replace them and am curious to see how things have changed since the 90's lol.
Typically the biggest thing that degrades leathers is when water gets into the stitching and 'rots' it out. If they have been dry stored then this is unlikely to be an issue. A good leather care product and they will most likely be okay.
I imagine you will notice a difference! IME, there’s no going back to cowhide after you’ve made the jump to kangaroo. I recommend fully-ventilated, too – noticeably nicer in summer – and you can always add a thin windproof if it’s nippy.
The thing to watch for with Roo, is that A) it's thinner, hence lighter, but good suit manufacturers will ensure the likely hard abrasion points are well covered, and B) that the panel size in Roo is much smaller (as getting big pieces of roo the correct quality is hard) so often again the cheaper manufacturers have more joins in the suit, which in themselves can be weak points. Basically, it's a great material, often with a thickness of nearer 1mm than 1.3-1.6mm but you do have to just stick to one of the reputable manufacturers.
I have 5 jackets and my go-to is a 30 year old Dainese. I have conditioned it once a year and the leather is thicker and softer than new jackets. It also has a better quality lining than most. My worst jacket - I'm sorry I bought it, about a year ago - is my "Ducati" jacket also made by Dainese. Worthy of a thread on it's own to warn people not to buy.
yup, my ducati/dainese old times/mechanica jacket is defo more of a fashion off the bike thing and not something i would want to be wearing sliding down the road. on the other hand i too have 25 year old Hideout suit that weighs two tons. never wear it now (seems to have shrunk a tad and good modern Knox etc stuff is awesome) but what does one do with old leathers??
I’ve found over the years that you get excellent results with a tub of moisturiser for reviving leathers that have dried out, or that just feel a bit stiff. As several others have said, get them gently warmed (preferably in the sun) and apply lashings of the cream, working it in to the hide with a cloth, sponge, or with your hands. Give it time to absorb and apply more if you think it needs it, or just because you want to.. I spotted a half kilo tub of moisturiser at Aldi for about a fiver and it has given brilliant results on a pair of Goldtop boots and my Alpinestars leathers. Beauty treatments needn’t break the bank!
