Spartan 2000
SPARTAN 2000
CW EVALUATION
Street leathers for sportbikers
A BODY-HUGGING LEATHER RIDING suit is considered a necessity by serious sportbike riders. Tucker-Rocky Distributing (1175 Hurd Dr., Irvine,
TX 75038; 214/580-0555) sells several street suits that are designed for sportbike riders. We sampled the company’s Spartan 2000 model.
This fashionable, two-piece, ziptogether suit is available in sizes 36 to 46, and comes in three tri-color sc hemes—w h i t e/red/b lack, red/w h i te/ black and royal blue/white/navy.
Made of 1.3mm-thick, top-grain, drum-dyed leather, the Spartan features flexible foam padding in the shoulders, elbows, hips and knees. Elasticized leather panels across the lower back and above the knees let the suit stretch easily, and elastic-knit material behind the knees helps eliminate bunching in that area.
A size-40 suit fit our 5-foot-10inch, 150-pound Associate Editor well, with the exception of the calf/ ankle area, where the use of both a zipper and stretch-knit material failed to produce a snug fit. That complaint aside, we like the $585 Spartan 2000. Its leather is soft; the plastic zippers are backed by wide leather flaps; it is fully lined with perforated nylon; and a padded, rolled collar adds to all-day comfort.
Durability is always a consideration when forking out several hundred dollars for a leather suit. But in the six months we’ve had the Spartan 2000, it has given us no reason for concern. Its colors are still bright, it hasn't stretched out of shape, the leather remains soft and pliable, and we haven’t had any problems with the stitching or zippers.
Like other suits of this type, the 2000’s form-fitting, track-racer styling restricts storage compartments to a single, inside breast pocket. So carrying anything more than a wallet will require wearing a fanny pack or attaching a tankbag or tailbag to the motorcycle. For dedicated sportbike riders, that will be a small toll.
Available at motorcycle dealers, the Spartan 2000 is at the low end of the price scale for leather riding suits. But considering the Spartan's quality, fit and durability, we rate it near the top of our list.
