Leather Repair

LEATHER REPAIR

CW EVALUATION

Quick fixes for crashed cowhide

THE LAST THING ON YOUR MIND WHEN you shell out big money for new leathers is that you’re going to fall off in them, which is really pretty dumb because that’s exactly the reason for buying them in the first place.

Judging from a lot of club racers we’ve seen, though, not everyone is aware that trashed leathers can almost always be repaired. Take for example Exhibit A: one red-white-and-blue Bates deluxe roadrace suit, $895 when new.

After a nasty little roadracing spill at 80 mph, this suit was decidedly second-hand: The top-stitched seam down the middle of the back, through the accordion panel at the lower back and down the butt, was either ground through or nearly there; zippers on both back vents were ground off. Apart from that heavy, structural damage to the back, there was a lot more cosmetic damage to the sides, arms and legs.

What could be done to salvage the suit? Bates Leathers (660 West 16th St., Long Beach, CA 90813; 310/4356551), like most reputable leather dealers, services what it sells. All we had to do was stuff the suit in a box and mail it to them.

Two weeks later, Bates called with the bad news. The company offers two levels of repair: structural only, or structural and cosmetic. Heavily scraped-up sections don’t necessarily need to be totally replaced. Elbow patches for instance, have thick foam and then another layer of leather beneath them, can often simply be resewn. But for the sake of science, we opted to go the complete route at a cost of $345. The structural-only alternative would have cost $270.

When the repaired suit arrived a week and a half later, we were a little disappointed. For $345, we expected the suit to look brand-new. It didn’t. Rather than replacing some of the more lightly scuffed panels on the butt and arms, Bates rubbed dye into the scuffs. It’s not easy to see in places where the leather is red, but in some white sections on the arms, it’s pretty apparent.

The destroyed sections, though, were new. The whole back was replaced, complete with new vents and lettering, and there was a completely new accordion panel. There was new padding and leather panels on the left hip and at both elbow/forearms and the left shoulder. A new stripe on the left leg and new velcro patches on both knees were also included. Everything was stitched back together with heavy nylon thread. Yes, $345 is a lot, but we got structurally good-as-new leathers for less than half the price of a new suit.

This didn’t start out as a comparison article, but it was only a matter of days before the same hapless Bates suit was involved in another losing battle with Willow Springs Raceway. Actually, the opponent this time was the loose, rocky desert outside Turn Eight, and the suit fared better than it had after its previous asphalt excursion. Still, there was a 2-inch gash on the lower back, and the left butt cheek was practically grated through. There were a few smaller lacerations and punctures on the arms and legs. Again, the rider walked away unhurt.

The damage didn’t seem to warrant total replacement of the affected sections, so this time, we took the suit to Z Custom Leathers (15902 Manufacture Lane, Huntington Beach, CA 92649; 714/890-5721). Unlike Bates, Z Custom will attempt repairs on any brand of leather suit. For $120, Z got creative and sewed yellow and blue leather patches over the tears, and added a new butt section. The suit is now as sound as ever, a bit more colorful and a little more seasoned because no attempt was made to hide its smaller scars.

But, hey, dueling scars were at one time the height of fashion in certain locales. And some among us would swear that wearing shiny new gear on a racetrack is only asking for trouble.