Sinisalo Sport Riding Two-Piece Leathers
SINISALO SPORT RIDING TWO-PIECE LEATHERS
EVALUATION
STREET MODE FROM OFF-ROAD
OFF-ROAD PILOTS WHO KNOW THE DIFference between a power valve and a powder room doubtlessly know the name Sinisalo, too. When it comes to dirt-riding apparel, the Finnish haberdashery offers a line as complete as that of any swank Fleet Street men’s store. Yet while the Scandinavian dirt clothier might not be as familiar to American pavement-scratchers, the firm does have a stylish two-piece ensemble just for them; namely, Sinisalo’s sport riding leathers (from Lockhart Consumer Products, 15717 Texaco St., Paramount, CA 90723; [213] 630-4621).
Two-piece leathers offer certain advantages for street use, and Sinisalo’s are no different. The typically short-waisted jacket may be worn solo, and a rider can don or doff the suit without appearing to be wrestling himself to the ground—not always the case with one-piece race leathers. But Sinisalo's tailors also added some touches and tricks to the basic twopiece design that should make the leathers as appealing to street riders as shoes are to Imelda Marcos.
Pockets, for example, are at a premium in many other sporting street suits; but the Finnish skins have an abundance of them, with a roomy interior breast pocket and a smaller exterior one in the jacket, plus two slash pockets in the pants, all with zippered openings. Moreover, the suit stays cozy over a fairly broad range of temperatures, thanks to a slightly generous cut that lets a rider add a layer or two of clothing for chilly weather, while the full, ventilatednylon lining keeps him from sweltering during a heat wave.
Although the Sinisalos are off-therack suits that might not have the panache of custom-made leathers, they can boast features that allow them to rival any other leathers for convenience. Twin snaps and an elastic panel make for a comfy collar that doesn't chafe, and an expansion panel in the pants affords the rider movement without binding. Plus, the long sleeves mean that reaching to a sportbike’s low bars won’t shoot his cuffs. But it’s the stacked, dual zippers between the pants and jacket that set off the Sinisalos from other street suits. With about an inch between the top and bottom zippers, the leathers can accommodate different builds and clothing.
Likewise, Sinisalo uses a drawstring in the pants for adjusting the fit at the waist. Unfortunately, a mere drawstring can't overcome the pants’ unusually baggy cut in that area, which causes bunching when the rider sits in the saddle. Assuming a riding position also hikes the suit’s knee pads up above the rider’s knees. The padding itself, though, in the knees and elbows is good stuff: dense foam, covered with an extra layer of leather. There’s softer foam sewn into the shoulders, as well, but nothing at the hips. Sinisalo regards hip pads as unnecessary for street wear, although some riders would argue the point.
On the other hand, few would dispute the Sinisalo’s dashing good looks. They’re available in three of the color combinations currently in vogue for sportbikes (red-white-blue, red-black-white, red-gray-white, in sizes XS-XXL for $479), which should make for a fetching ensemble. They’re nicely finished, too; the 1.2mm-thick, vat-dyed Danish cowhide is colorfast, with a soft, supple texture.
Indeed, for the sport rider who wants to be a well-dressed man-outside-of-town, the Sinisalos’ racy good looks can be the moto-equivalent of an Indiana Jones fedora. True, the leathers have shortcomings that make the claim on the inside labels— “Sinisalo/allow yourself something perfect"—seem like ill-advised hubris. But overall, they skillfully combine fashion with utility and comfort. And that’s a combination that should guarantee the name Sinisalo becomes as well-known among street riders as with their dirt-going brethren.
