A one-piece suit is a single garment that covers you from neck to ankle. A 2 piece textile motorcycle suit is a jacket and pants that join with a connection zipper. For touring, many riders like the two-piece style. You can take the jacket off at a stop and walk around in comfort.
Both types can carry armor at the shoulders, elbows, knees and back. Both can work on long rides. The real choice is about how you ride, how often you stop and what weather you face. Below, we look at each type, compare them point by point, and then set the MotoSpeeds suits side by side.
A one-piece textile motorcycle suit is one garment with one main zipper. A two-piece suit splits at the waist into a jacket and pants. The two parts zip together while you ride. Each style has a clear upside. The one-piece has no gap at the waist. The two-piece is easier to live with off the bike.
You step into a one-piece suit through a long zipper at the front. Because it is one garment, there is no join at the waist. Wind and rain cannot push in between a jacket and pants. The suit also cannot ride up your back when you lean forward.
The downside shows up at stops. To cool off or use the restroom, you have to peel off most of the suit. Walking around a town in a one-piece is not very comfortable. A one-piece also has to fit your top half and your bottom half in one size.
Race leathers face the same trade-off. For the track side of the story, read our guide to one-piece vs two-piece leather suits.
A 2-piece textile suit is a jacket and a pair of pants. A connection zipper joins them at the waist. A long connection zipper runs most of the way around the waist. A short connection zipper joins only the back. The long one holds the two parts more fully. The short one is quicker to use.
Off the bike, you unzip the jacket and wear it on its own. You can walk into a cafe in just the pants, with the jacket over your arm. When jackets and pants are sold as separate items, you can also pick a size for each half.
For most touring, a two-piece suit is easier to live with. It comes apart at stops, it is easier to layer, and each half can fit a different body shape. A one-piece seals better at the waist and stays in place. The table compares the two styles point by point, so you can match them to your rides.
| Point | One-piece suit | Two-piece suit |
|---|---|---|
| Getting on and off | Step in through one long front zipper | Put on the pants, then the jacket, then zip them together |
| Stops and walking | You must peel down the top half | Take the jacket off and walk in the pants |
| Layering | One fit for the whole body | Add layers under the jacket only |
| Rain | No waist gap for water to get in | The connection zipper closes the waist gap |
| Sizing top and bottom | One size must fit both halves | Each half can fit a different shape when sold apart |
| Replacing parts | Replace the whole suit | Replace the jacket or pants alone, where sold separately |
Neither style is right for every rider. If you ride long days and stop often, the two-piece is handy. If you ride hard and rarely stop, the sealed fit of a one-piece may suit you more.
CE armor levels come from the European standard EN 1621. There are two grades: Level 1 and Level 2. In a test, Level 2 armor lets less force pass through, so it gives more protection. A touring suit can mix both levels in different places. The CE level always belongs to the armor pad, not to the whole suit.
The standard has parts. EN 1621-1 covers limb armor for the shoulders, elbows, hips and knees. EN 1621-2 covers back protectors. EN 1621-3 covers chest protectors, including "divided" chest pads that come in two halves. SATRA gives a short summary of EN 1621.
Here is the armor inside the MotoSpeeds Hawk, Revolt and Vertex suits:
So the hips and chest use Level 1 armor. The shoulders, elbows, knees and back use Level 2. The knee armor can also be adjusted, so it sits over your knee when you are on the bike.
A touring suit has to handle cold mornings, hot afternoons and rain. The MotoSpeeds suits do this with layers. Each one has a 3D mesh lining, a detachable thermal liner and a detachable waterproof liner. You add or remove liners to match the day, and you open the vents when it gets hot.
The thermal liner adds warmth on cool days. The waterproof liner keeps rain away from your body. Both come out when you do not need them. The 3D mesh lining stays in and lets air move next to your skin.
A detachable liner is often called a drop liner. It sits inside the outer shell. That means the outer fabric can still get wet in heavy rain, even while you stay dry inside. For the full trade-off, read our guide to laminated membranes vs drop liners.
The outer shell is 750D Cordura. The "D" stands for denier. It is a measure of how heavy each yarn is. A higher number means a thicker, heavier yarn.
For hot days, the suits have vent panels on the chest and on the upper legs. The chest panels can be removed for more airflow. Vent zippers on the upper legs open to let air in. A zipper at each cuff adds air too, and it lets you tuck a glove cuff under the sleeve.
Long trips mean you carry more. Each suit has 8 outer pockets and 4 inner pockets:
Laminated reflective strips sit on the front, the back and the calves. Reflective logos sit on the back, the chest and the upper arms. These help drivers see you at night and in low light.
The Hawk, Revolt and Vertex suits share the same feature list. All three use the same 750D Cordura shell, the same CE armor, the same three linings and the same pockets. They also come in the same sizes. The table puts the shared specs in one place, so you can check each feature against your needs.
| Feature | Hawk | Revolt | Vertex |
|---|---|---|---|
| 750D Cordura shell | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CE Level 2 shoulder, elbow, knee and back armor | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CE Level 1 hip armor and divided chest protector | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 3D mesh lining | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Detachable thermal liner | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Detachable waterproof liner | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Long and short connection zippers | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pockets | 8 outer, 4 inner | 8 outer, 4 inner | 8 outer, 4 inner |
| Vents on chest and upper legs | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Reflective strips and logos | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Men's sizes | EU 42-60 / US 32-50 | EU 42-60 / US 32-50 | EU 42-60 / US 32-50 |
| Women's sizes | EU 38-50 / US 6-18 | EU 38-50 / US 6-18 | EU 38-50 / US 6-18 |
| Custom Size option | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Each suit has its own page with photos and size options. See the , the Revolt and the . All three sit together in the range.
Are you looking for Hawk motorcycle touring suit reviews? The most useful check is the spec list. Compare the armor levels, liners, pockets and sizes with what your rides need.
MotoSpeeds also sells the and the as separate items. Both have long and short connection zippers. For help with the bottom half, see our motorcycle touring pants guide.
A touring suit should feel snug but still let you move. The armor must stay over your joints when you sit on the bike. The MotoSpeeds suits come in men's sizes EU 42-60 (US 32-50) and women's sizes EU 38-50 (US 6-18). A Custom Size option is also offered, made to your measurements.
Measure your chest, waist, hips and inseam. Then compare your numbers with the size chart. If your shape falls between sizes, pick Custom Size and the suit is made to your measurements. Our How to Measure guide shows how to take each one.
Small adjusters help the suit fit well on long rides:
Good care helps a textile suit last more seasons. Wipe off dirt and bugs after each ride with a damp cloth. Take the armor out before any deeper cleaning. Hang the suit to air dry on a wide hanger. Keep it away from strong sun and direct heat. After each long trip, check the seams, zippers and armor.
Yes, for most touring riders. A 2-piece suit splits into a jacket and pants at stops. The liners come out when the day warms up. While you ride, the connection zippers join the two parts, so the waist stays closed.
It depends on how you ride. A one-piece has no waist gap and stays in place when you lean forward. But it is harder to take off at stops and harder to layer. Riders who stop often on long trips may find a two-piece easier.
Start with your weather. Then check the liners, the armor levels and the fit. Look for Level 2 armor where you want the most protection. Look for liners for cold and rain, and vents for heat. Last, make sure the suit fits with the armor over your joints.
Look at the specs. The Hawk suit has CE Level 2 armor at the shoulders, elbows, knees and back. It has CE Level 1 hip armor and a divided chest protector. It also has three linings, 12 pockets and a 750D Cordura shell.
The waterproof layer is the detachable liner, not the outer shell. The liner sits under the shell and keeps rain away from your body. The shell fabric can still get wet in heavy rain. The suits also have waterproof stash pockets and a waterproof inner pocket.
Each suit has CE Level 2 shoulder, elbow and knee protectors and a CE Level 2 insert back protector. It also has CE Level 1 hip protectors and a CE Level 1 divided insert chest protector. A protective print covers the outside of the elbows and knees.