Motorcycle Race Suits and Christmas Wishes

The Komodo Gear Challenger race suit is the result of the company’s commitment to the “people” who race! When Komodo Gear (www.komodogear.com) entered the motorcycle racing industry, it was not because the sport needed another company to manufacture leather motorcycle road racing suits, but because the industry did need a company that put a face on the racers that participated in the sport. From the very beginning, Komodo Gear has been “track side” getting to know the racers and their teams, listening to their ideas for suit design based on the needs they identified, soliciting feedback on the suit designs we manufactured. Because we are “trackside” so much, we have the opportunity to “be there” when a racer crashes, to get the first reactions, to see suits first hand after a crash, and to get a feel for what is working and what is not in our suits as well as others on the market.
Because Komodo Gear builds race suits for people not “markets” our products are dictated by function not form. Originally our race suits were designed and built for the amateur and privateer racer… to provide maximum protection at exceptional value. However, times have changed, and so have the needs of our sport. Unfortunately, “value” has been supplanted by “price” as the operative consideration in choosing a race suit. So, we at Komodo Gear created the Challenger Race Suit (http://komodogear.com/daily-of-the-day/motorcycle-race-suit-the-challenger-new-for-2011/), priced at $700.00 on our web site. We tried to make it cost less but we could not do it and not make it cheap. “Cheap” and “protection” do not belong in the same sentence! But we did make a Komodo quality race suit that is affordable even in today’s environment.
Remember our “Christmas Wish” that your 2012 racing season would be safe and successful! The Challenger race suit will help you fulfill both parts of our wish! Check it out!!

Leather Race Suits and My Christmas Wish

As I have “blogged” previously, the aspect of Komodo Gear (www.komodogear.com) and its production of leather road racing suits for which I am the most grateful are the people I have meet, and the friends I have made “track side”! This Christmas season, for some reason, has caused me to reflect on how Komodo Gear’s “defiantly different” approach to marketing has changed the way the company thinks about our motorcycle protective gear, such as the Challenger race suit, and the riders that use the products.
From the formation of the company, top management has been committed to a “track side” presence. Initially this was done to better understand the market, and get faster customer “feedback” as we introduced and perfected our products. But early on in the process, those of us involved in the track side activities, found that we anticipated the race weekends with a “glee” that was not present for any other “business” commitments. It became obvious that we looked forward to the weekends because of the “people” we would get to hang out with!
When you get to know, and more importantly really like, the people who use your products, it changes the way you look at “business”. This feeling of responsibility becomes especially keen when it comes to protecting their lives! Komodo Gear was formed as a company to put the racer first! Komodo Gear set out to produce the best value for the money. This “value driven” philosophy has always been fueled by the reality that our customers really are our friends! So, over the years, with the help of our “racer” friends and acquaintances, Komodo Gear perfected and improved our products with the real purpose of making them better, not just making them different so we could have the next year’s model.
So here is my Christmas wish as it relates to leather race suits. May this Christmas find you safe, well and with family and friends who are the same. I hope you are able to participate in the 2012 race season, and do so without serious injury; and may Komodo Gear continue to be a part of your racing experience!

The Christmas season is a cool time of the year. If for no other reason, than extra days off, and a temporary reduction in the amount of work, unless of course, you are in retail sale, but then “Christmas” usually brings a bigger pay check, or more sales for a company like Komodo Gear (www.komodogear.com)! Now those who know me may think it strange that I do not give the typical religious “lead in “ about the birth of Jesus, and all that stuff. But the reality is that Christmas for many folks is a dreaded and painful time of the year. And the really sad fact is, many of those people are our friends and relatives and we do not even realize it!
Over the past fifty to seventy years, America has become a yearlong “costume party”. We try to be who we think others want us to be, regardless of how miserable it makes us feel. This “image driven” life style fosters superficial relationships and short term business plans. We tend to excuse our voluntary sacrifice of happiness by waiting until we get that new car, better job, more attractive “significant other”, or a thousand other things that keep us from doing what is important to build lasting relationships with the important people in our lives. What a lot of us do, is paint a pair of pajamas to look like a leather race suit, and the wonder why we get a severe road rash when we crash.
So one of my Christmas wishes is that all of us look around at the remaining parties and family gatherings for signs of unhappiness, or ‘connect the dots” of things that have transpired over the last year that have impacted people’s lives. If you notice someone who seems distracted or sad, go over to them and say something nice, or bring them into the conversation. If a friend or relative comes to mind because of a tragedy in their lives, give them a call and make sure they have people around them who care this Christmas. Let’s look beyond ourselves this year!

What better time than Christmas to reflect on the gifts you have received over the course of your life. When you look at your life in totality, the “crap” and “fluff” tend to blow away like the chaff in a wheat field. The new bike you “lusted after”, that larger trailer that would make “life at the track” so much sweeter, the “championship” that would validate who you are, all seem less important as we think about “our life” as a whole.
Most of you know that I am not a racer. In fact, I had never owned a motorcycle until I became a part of KOMODO (www.komodogear.com)! But I love motorcycle racing, because I have grown to love the people who race! You guys are a bunch of crazy dudes, but undoubtedly the nicest group of people I have ever been around. The company Komodo Gear was established to be a “defiantly different” company not only in the construction of leather race suits and protective gear, but in the way we responded to our customers. A component of being “defiantly different” is to be trackside were we can get to know the racers that are using our racing protective gear and establish relationships that will foster honest feedback as to what we are doing right as well as where we can improve. As I have traveled throughout the United States so that Komodo Gear will be “track side”, the terrain changed, but the people did not! At each new track I visited, I found the same type of people; fierce competitors, devoted friends!
I never cease to be amazed and inspired by the common sight on any race weekend, of racers “smack talking” each other before a race, aggressively battling one another on the track during the race, and immediately after that race; those same two racers feverishly helping each other get their bikes ready for another race! I am not a physiologist, but I am suspicious that the “need for speed” addiction that fuels the sport of motorcycle racing, is itself fueled by the friendships created in the paddock!

When we were kids on a road trip with our parents, it seemed we would never “get there”!! So I am sure my readers are having the same feelings concerning “the tanning of leather”. But, that is why all leather race suits are not alike! Attention to detail is what sets Komodo Gear (www.komodogear.com) apart from other manufactories of racing leathers.
So, let’s continue on with the final chapter in the transformation of hide into Komodo Gear quality leather. Chromium (III) sulfate ([Cr (H2O) 6]2(SO4)3) has long been regarded as the most efficient and effective tanning agent. Chromium(III) sulfate dissolves to give the hexaaquachromium(III) cation, [Cr(H2O)6]3+, which at higher pH undergoes processes called olation to give polychromium(III) compounds that are active in tanning, being the cross-linking of the collagen subunits. Some ligands include the sulfate anion, the collagen’s carboxyl groups, amine groups from the side chains of the amino acids, as well as “masking agents.” Masking agents are carboxylic acids, such as acetic acid, used to suppress formation of polychromium(III) chains. Masking agents allow the tanner to further increase the pH to increase collagen’s reactivity without inhibiting the penetration of the chromium (III) complexes. Depending on the finish desired, the hide may be waxed, rolled, lubricated, injected with oil, split, shaved and, of course, dyed.
The first stage is the preparation for tanning. The second stage is the actual tanning and other chemical treatment. The third stage, known as retanning, applies retanning agents and dyes to the material to provide the physical strength and properties desired depending on the end product. The fourth and final stage, known as finishing, is used to apply finishing material to the surface or finish the surface without the application of any chemicals if so desired.
Whew! We are finally “there”. “We got leather”! By making sure each step in leather making is carried out properly, Komodo Gear assures that the foundation of our race suits is sound. The quality of our leather is reflected in the safety and durability of ever motorcycle leather race suit we produce!

Bet you never thought you would ever see the title of “Beamhouse Operations” on a Motorcycle blog. But remember, in our discussion of how Komodo Gear produces the “safest race suit on the planet” we were discussing the “tanning process” of leather and I told you there was a series of steps in the process, collectively called, the “beamhouse operations”.
They include, in order, soaking, liming, removal of extraneous tissues (unhairing, scudding, and fleshing), deliming, bating (including puering), drenching, and pickling. To have safest race suit, each step is critical in creating the best leather
In the process known as soaking, the hides are soaked in clean water to remove the salt left over from curing and increase the moisture so that the hide or skin can be further treated. After soaking, the hides and skins are taken for liming: treatment with milk of lime (a basic agent) that may involve the addition of “sharpening agents” (disulfide reducing agents) like sodium sulfide, cyanides, amines etc. The objectives of this operation are mainly to remove the hairs, some of the soluble proteins like mucins; and remove the natural grease and fats to some extent bringing the collagen in the hide to a proper condition for satisfactory tannage. Komodo Gear (www.komodogear.com) makes sure each step is followed closely to assure highest quality.
Unhairing agents used at this time are: Sodium sulfide, sodium hydroxide, sodium hydrosulfite, calcium hydrosulfide, dimethyl amine, and Sodium sulfhydrate. The majority of hair is then removed mechanically, initially with a machine and then by hand using a dull knife, a process known as scudding
The pH of the collagen is brought down to a lower level so that enzymes may act on it, in a process is known as deliming. Depending on the end use of the leather, hides may be treated with enzymes to soften them, a process called bating.
Once bating is complete, the hides and skins are treated with a mixture of common (table) salt and sulfuric acid, in case a mineral tanning is to be done. This is done to bring down the pH of collagen to a very low level so as to facilitate the penetration of mineral tanning agent into the substance. This process is known as pickling. The common salt (sodium chloride) penetrates the hide twice as fast as the acid and checks the ill effect of sudden drop of pH. By close attention to detail, Komodo Gear assures the hides used for a Komodo Gear motorcycle race suit give the maximum protection possible.

Komodo Gear (www.komodogear.com.) is thought by many people to manufactory “the safest motorcycle race suit on the planet”. Such feelings come from the fact that over the years Komodo Gear race leathers have proven that they not only protect in some of the most horrendous crashes you can imagine, but they “stay together”! What I mean by that, is Komodo Gear “leathers” are NOT a “one crash product”. Countless motorcycle road racers all over the United States have not only escaped serious injury after high speed crashes wearing Komodo Gear leather race suits, but have surprised their friends and fellow competitors buy being in the next race, wearing the same set of leathers, looking “no worse for wear”!
Such quality of construction is no accident for a company like Komodo Gear! There is a saying: “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts”. When it comes to motorcycle race suits “leathers”, I would propose that the final product is only as good as the sum of its parts!! And the “parts” begin with the leather used in the construction of Komodo Gear racing leathers. Our leather experts search all over the world to find the highest quality hides to use in the construction of Komodo race suits. However, to understand why “all race leathers are not created equal”, we need to look at the various processes that go into the transformation of a cow’s hide into the beautiful set of Komodo Gear road racing leathers you take out of the box that is delivered to your door!
We will start with an overview of the steps that go into the preparation of the hide before the “tanning” process can begin. Preparing hides begins by curing them with salt. Curing is employed to prevent putrefaction of the protein substance (collagen) from bacterial growth during the time lag that might occur from procuring the hide to when it is processed. Curing removes excess water from the hides and skins using a difference in osmotic pressure. The moisture content of hides and skins gets greatly reduced. In wet-salting, the hides are heavily salted, then pressed into packs for about 30 days. In brine-curing the hides are agitated in a salt water bath for about 16 hours. Generally speaking, curing substantially reduces the chance of spoilage by bacteria. Curing can also be done by preserving the hides and skins at a very low temperature.
The next phase in the “transformation’ is referred to as “beamhouse operations”. But, let’s talk about that in a later blog……..stay tuned!!

The first mention of “leather” as a garment for humans is found in the Biblical account of Adam and Eve. Early on they discovered that they were naked and hid “in the bushes” from the presence of God. The Bible goes on to say that “God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them”. We have no record of God explaining how He did it. But, it appears that human beings kept noticing that the skin of various animals offered not only a body covering but, unlike their own skin, also afforded a great amount of protection from abrasion or blunt force trauma. The challenge for early man was not in obtaining the skin, since he was eating the occupants anyway, and had discovered early on that the “skin” was too tough to chew and didn’t taste that good to boot! (Pardon the pun.) The challenge was to keep the damn things from stinking, attracting, bugs and becoming as “stiff as a board’, even though man did not have “boards” yet. However, there was a time in American motorcycle protective apparel history when the “leathers” of motorcycle riders such as the “Hell’s Angels” probably smelled, and felt like the “skins” of prehistoric man………..but I digress.
So……..sometime around 5,000 years ago someone figured out how to “treat” the skins to get rid of the stink, bugs and stiffness! The person responsible for the discovery remains anonymous, but he probably was an Egyptian. Egyptian tablets have been found indicating that they knew about leather and valued it as much as ivory and gold. Which brings up an interesting academic question; “which came first; the chicken or the egg”? We know that the Egyptians discovered mummification. I wonder if they discovered tanning as a byproduct of the sacred art of mummification, or some if greasy tanner said to himself…”hum, wonder if this would work on grandma?” Anyway, someone, probably in Egypt, found a way to permanently alter the protein structure of skin, and the use of animal hides for protection, as well as many other uses became possible.
The process used to alter the protein structure is called tanning. In lay terms tanning is the making of leather from the skins of animals which does not easily decompose. Traditionally, tanning used tannin, an acidic chemical compound from which the tanning process draws its name (tannin is in turn named for an old German word for oak or fir trees, which supplied it).

Did you know that the first motorcycle race suit was made of horsehide? In the 1950’s, Geoff Duke, the racing legend, enlisted his tailor Frank Barker from St. Helens Lancashire Briton, to make the first of his now famous leather one-piece race suits….out of horsehide!! The choice of horsehide for the leather was not because Duke did not like horses, but rather because horsehide has a firm grain that keeps the material durable; in fact, horsehide is the most protective of the animal skins available. The density of the grain also makes it an excellent repellent for moisture. Because of this, the hide can withstand the forces of friction and hold up well in humid areas.
Now you may ask, why do motorcycle apparel companies like Komodo Gear (www.komodogear.com) use cowhide today instead of good old horsehide for their motorcycle race suits? The density and non-porous nature of the horsehide made it the most popular form of leather in the United States from the 18th century until the late 1930s, when horses, like cattle, were slaughtered for their meat. Though it has been illegal for some time to slaughter horses and ponies for human food consumption, it is still legal to buy and sell the hides. Most of the horse hides on the U.S. market are imported from Europe, India and Mexico, where human consumption of horse meat is still legal and hides are therefore more plentiful. However, with the rise in the popularity of beef as a food source, the supply of cowhides has been so plentiful that that cost of horsehide in comparison to cowhide made the continued use of horsehide cost ineffective.
There is another reason horsehide has been replaced by cowhide in motorcycle road racing leather suits. While horsehide garments tend to be more durable than cowhide they are much harder to break in. Through the tanning process, horsehide takes on a greater thickness than cowhide. While the leather’s thickness protects the body better than cowhide does, that greater thickness makes the leather take longer to mold to your body for a comfortable fit. Horsehide race suits were also fairly high-maintenance, and had to be oiled or waxed about once a month, which is another reason the majority of leather products, both fashion and protective, seen in stores across America are cowhide, including those made by Komodo Gear.

One of the reasons riding a motorcycle is so much fun is that your body is exposed to the “elements” as you are propelled through space with only an engine between your legs! Problem is, that to experience the “thrill” of motorcycle riding you have to give up the protection of your body being encased in a steel enclosure such as the interior of an automobile. “No biggie”…right? Until your shirt and jeans clad body is hurled against a guardrail, side of the car that turned in front of you or is sliding down the pavement of the road at 60 miles per hour!!
While motorcycle riders have never been accused of being mentally stable, they are not stupid! So pretty early on, our two wheeled freak ancestor’s started adding layers between their skin and the pavement. Now this is only my theory, mind you, but in the olden days most children were forced to go to Sunday school, so I think the first motorcycle racing leathers can trace their beginnings to the leather “breastplates” of the Roman soldiers of Jesus’s day! But don’t quote me on this!
We do know that originally, motorcycle leathers were adapted from tank corps gear immediately following World War I. Soldiers who operated tanks wore full length leather coats to protect them from the flying debris produced buy their “engines of destruction”. However, the Duster coats, which tended to catch in the wheels, were switched for short coats. Wide-pegged breeches were worn by some motorcycle police and by dispatch riders in World War II, but were largely abandoned in the post-war years because of their association with certain Nazi uniforms. The one-piece racing leather suit, usually referred to as ‘motorcycle racing leathers’ was first used by world champion motorcycle racer Geoff Duke. His suits, like the majority of those used in the 1950s, were made from horse hide.
Today, companies like Komodo Gear (www.komodogear.com) use cowhide instead of horsehide as the leather of choice and add hard materials such as TPU to the areas of impact to afford more protection.