A custom leather race suit is one of the biggest purchases most track riders make, and one of the easiest to get wrong. This guide explains what "custom" should actually mean, how to choose between a one-piece and a two-piece suit, what to check before you order, and how ordering and lead times work at Racevoro.
What "custom" should actually mean
"Custom" gets used loosely. Some brands mean custom colours on a standard size. Others mean a standard size with a few adjustments. A genuinely custom race suit is cut from a pattern built around your own body measurements, so the sleeves, torso, legs and seat follow your proportions rather than a size chart.
That matters most on the bike. A suit that feels fine standing in a shop can pull across the back, ride up at the wrists or bunch behind the knees once you're tucked in. Off-the-rack sizing works for many riders, but if you're tall, short, broad-shouldered, long in the body or somewhere "between sizes", a made-to-measure suit removes most of the compromise.
When you compare custom suits, ask each maker three questions:
- Is the pattern made from my measurements, or adjusted from a stock size?
- Do I approve the design and measurements in writing before anything is cut?
- What happens if it doesn't fit? Get the remake policy in writing before you pay.
One-piece vs two-piece race suits
Both styles can be made to measure. The right choice depends on how and where you ride.
One-piece suit
- The traditional choice for track days and club racing.
- No waist join, so the suit stays in one continuous shape when you're tucked or hanging off the bike.
- Many track-day organisations and racing clubs set their own gear rules, so check your organiser's requirements before you choose a style.
Two-piece suit
- Jacket and trousers are separate, which makes them easier to get on and off and easier to wear for a stop or a walk around the paddock.
- More versatile if you also ride on the road.
- If you plan to use a two-piece on track, ask how the jacket and trousers connect at the waist, and check your track-day organiser's rules.
The Racevoro Apex custom leather racing suit is available in both styles: the 1-Piece is $1,349 and the 2-Piece is $1,378.99 (a $29.99 difference). Both are made to measure.
What to look for in a custom leather race suit
1. A clear measurement process
A good maker gives you a written guide and a form that covers more than chest, waist and inside leg. Look for sleeve length taken with a bent elbow, torso (trunk) length, thigh, knee and calf. These points decide whether a suit works in a riding position. Our Size & Measurement Guide lists every measurement we use.
2. Written design approval
Your colours, name, number and logos should be shown in a mockup you approve before production. At Racevoro, nothing goes into production until you approve your design and measurements in writing.
3. Honest information about protection and materials
Protective details and certification vary by maker and by model. Don't rely on vague wording. Ask the maker to confirm in writing what applies to the exact suit you're ordering. We only list certification or protection details once they are confirmed in writing, and we'll answer these questions before you order. Just contact us.
4. Details that suit how you ride
Look at the hump, perforation, lining and sliders. On the Apex suit, these are included:
- Made to measure from your measurements (in centimetres)
- Your rider name, race number and logos
- Standard hump
- Front or full perforation, your choice
- Removable lining
- Free tracked shipping
Optional upgrades are a vented hump (+$24.99), a hydro hump with a water bladder (+$39.99) and extra knee sliders (+$14.99 per pair).
5. A fit policy you can live with
Because a custom suit is built for one person, it can't be resold, and change-of-mind returns are not normally accepted once production has started. That's standard for made-to-order gear. What matters is how fit problems are handled. Under our Returns & Remakes policy, if the finished suit doesn't match your approved measurements or design (our production error), we correct or remake it at no cost to you and pay the shipping both ways. If the measurements you supplied were incorrect, we assess the suit and quote a correction or remake before any work starts.
6. Transparency about where it's made
Ask where the suit is actually made. Racevoro suits are handmade in Sialkot, Pakistan, a city with a long-established leather-goods and sporting-goods industry. We'd rather tell you plainly than leave you guessing.
How ordering works
- Choose your style and options. Pick 1-Piece or 2-Piece, choose your perforation and lining, add any upgrades and place your order.
- Send your measurements. After checkout you receive a link to the measurement form for your product, with our measurement guide. If anything is missing or unclear, we send you our questions in one message.
- Approve your design and measurements. We send a design mockup showing colours, name, number and artwork placement. You can ask for changes before you approve. Changes are free before approval.
- Production. After your written approval, your suit is accepted into production and we confirm your ready date in writing.
- Quality check and shipping. Your suit is checked against your approved design and measurements, then shipped by international express courier (DHL, UPS or FedEx) with tracking.
Lead times: how long does a custom race suit take?
Plan ahead, especially before the riding season. Typical timings are:
- Production: about 10 to 15 working days after you approve your design and measurements (estimate).
- Shipping: about 5 to 7 days courier transit after dispatch (estimate). Customs clearance can add time.
Shipping to the United States is free and tracked. Your order ships internationally, and before it ships we tell you in writing whether any import duties or taxes are payable on delivery. Full details are on our Shipping page.
Common questions
Can I add my own logos?
Yes. You need the right to use any artwork you send, and we can't reproduce third-party logos or trademarks without written permission from their owner.
Can I change my design after approving it?
Changes are free before approval. After approval they may be possible only before production starts, and may cost extra. We always confirm any extra cost in writing first.
Do I need gloves and boots to match?
Not required, but many riders like a matching kit. Our Apex custom leather gloves ($299) and Apex custom leather boots ($549) are also made to measure.
Ready to start?
If off-the-rack suits never quite fit you, a made-to-measure suit is worth considering. Read the How Custom Orders Work page, check the measurement guide, then build your Racevoro Apex suit. Have a question first? Contact us and we'll reply in writing.
Note: product images on our site are design renders, not photos of finished gear.