newbie leather question

Generally i dont wear leathers on the bike unless i'm going for a decent ride. With winter now upon us though the leathers i have accrued over the years have come back out of the cupboard.

So now to my question. One of the main reasons i dont wear the leathers is because i find them exceedingly uncomfortable. So much so that at times they impede my ability to handle the bike (i feel, look and move like robocop...). I've always figured this was because the leathers were stiff and would loosen up over time. However, although the pants have given a bit, the jacket seems as tight / stiff as the day i got it.

I have worn the jacket significantly more than the pants as i purchased it a few years prior. It has probably been on 50 odd rides totally about 50 - 60 hours use (i know not all that much). One of the things that kills me about it is that it constantly wants to ride up my back and try to choke me. When it is sitting in position it feels quite ok, but it doesnt take long for it to start moving up my back. I have noticed that there seems to be rather a fair bit of room at the back of the jacket but not so much at the front (this is likely due to my... err... girth..). I do believe it is fitted properly (or so the guy at the store told me) and it does seem about right as it is the same size as my suits. Is this likely just a stiffness / not worn in issue? If so is there anything i can do to help soften the jacket up? I have tried for the first time using some dainese leather cream on it today in the hope that it helps.

The pants are generally not to bad apart from being too long for me. Unfortunately i dont fit the "normal" 68kg rider my Kawasaki manual tells me i should be. The only issue i have with the pants is i cant work out what to do with my boots. If i try and wear them inside the shin guards i cant do the pants up properly. If i try to do them outside the shin guards (which i think is the correct way??), i cant do the boots up properly. Is this a common propblem? Is there some trick i'm meant to know? Cant figure any boots i buy will give more room in the calf.

Final question. I have a back protector (Dainese wave 12 - http://www.kneedraggers.com/details/Dai ... 14095.html) which i try to wear when i wear my leathers (usually because im doing long rides at high speeds). I just want to know how exactly am i meant to wear it? If i sit it outside my pants it covers the zipper i use to attach my jacket to my pants. If i try and slip it inside my pants it often too wants to creep up my back and help my jacket choke me.

Sorry for all the possibly stupid questions. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Lot's of Dubbin and Lot's of Rubbin.
If it soaks in that is!

I have worn the jacket significantly more than the pants as i purchased it a few years prior. It has probably been on 50 odd rides totally about 50 - 60 hours use (i know not all that much). One of the things that kills me about it is that it constantly wants to ride up my back and try to choke me. When it is sitting in position it feels quite ok, but it doesnt take long for it to start moving up my back. I have noticed that there seems to be rather a fair bit of room at the back of the jacket but not so much at the front (this is likely due to my... err... girth..). I do believe it is fitted properly (or so the guy at the store told me) and it does seem about right as it is the same size as my suits. Is this likely just a stiffness / not worn in issue? If so is there anything i can do to help soften the jacket up? I have tried for the first time using some dainese leather cream on it today in the hope that it helps.

Use should loosen your leathers up - my Collins leathers were quite stiff when new, but now fit like a glove and are very comfortable. To be fair though, they probably did 50-60 hours of riding in the first two weeks I owned them, so it might take a bit more time. Some people will mention Dubbin and love it, others will hate it - Dougy from DBt told me I rubbed Dubbin into Cath's custom made (big dollar) leathers he'd kill me. The riding up your back shouldn't be an issue as long as the jacket is zipped to your pants. Every now and then I'll wear my jacket with Draggin's and it does tend to ride up a bit too, but zipped to my pants it's always perfect.

The pants are generally not to bad apart from being too long for me. Unfortunately i dont fit the "normal" 68kg rider my Kawasaki manual tells me i should be. The only issue i have with the pants is i cant work out what to do with my boots. If i try and wear them inside the shin guards i cant do the pants up properly. If i try to do them outside the shin guards (which i think is the correct way??), i cant do the boots up properly. Is this a common propblem? Is there some trick i'm meant to know? Cant figure any boots i buy will give more room in the calf.

I found the only boots where I could put my leathers comfortably inside my boots (where I believe they belong) were Sidi's with the adjustable calf closing system - they're fantastic boots and well worth every cent! I love mine and will certainly buy another pair when I wear out the ones I've got!.

Final question. I have a back protector (Dainese wave 12 - http://www.kneedraggers.com/details/Dai ... 14095.html) which i try to wear when i wear my leathers (usually because im doing long rides at high speeds). I just want to know how exactly am i meant to wear it? If i sit it outside my pants it covers the zipper i use to attach my jacket to my pants. If i try and slip it inside my pants it often too wants to creep up my back and help my jacket choke me.

I wear my Wave 12 inside my pants (again, with the leathers zipped together).

are the pants OK under the boots if you take the shin guards out? if so try and get just knee pads? my pads finish above the boots.