Best all weather riding gear
 

LMAO your way too picky:

BMW RALLYE PRO meets most of what you want.

My Wet Weather Kit is Hein Gericke Voyager mk2 - Thermal, Gore-tex, Warm, I can wear my normal kit under it a great winter kit.

Blimey that is a long list! I think with that many boxes to tick you actually need a one off Versace.

Despite my glibness, I can give a little advice. Have you thought of the Aerostitch stuff? I haven't used it personally, but I know several people that love it, as well as quite a few on here.

I like good cheapish leathers (my jacket is Richa, pants Alpinestar- £100/£55) with a removable thermal lining, then augment that with quality undergarms and a splash suit, does the job for as little cash as poss, but I don't think this is what you are looking for!

Happy riding.

Joel

Based on my limited experience with Aerostich (Darien pants, jackets, overmitts), I doubt you'll be satisfied. First, they leak plenty in sustained rains—through zippers, around openings and even at some seams. Second, the jacket collar and its closure are a joke. Plus I've had all sorts of bits and pieces which rapidly began to break or never worked correctly—for example I've lost most major zipper pulls, and wrist gauntlets and velcro closures never did work correctly, etc.

OTOH, it's perfectly possible that this is the way of the world, and that even at $800 or so (jacket, pants, armor) stuff is going to break, leak and never work quite right. If so, I (and maybe you) need to learn not to let it interfere too much with my riding enjoyment.

Hope that helps.

Mark

If price is no object go with the Rukka stuff, its obscenely good, absolutely awesome, you cant fault it... if you are coming down the price bracket consider the top of the range IXS stuff, its very good... With textile motorcycle clothing the 'race brands' such as alpinestars whilst being good aren't as good as the Rukka or BMW stuff... but with BMW you are paying for the name... Oh and Rev'it - Forget it... if you seriously have no money issues...

In my opinion you want Rukka.

Frank Thomas, Dainese, Hein G, Richa, Swift, Scott Leathers etc etc
 

"Anyone seen something with similar features?"
Well, no I can't say I have - your specification is a great list of desirables and I will keep an eye on this thread to see if anyone says that a single jacket and trousers meets the spec.
Personally, I have never come across this perfect product, which is why I have a cupboard full of jackets and trousers (and boots, and don't mention gloves)! I mix and match, wearing different kit on different rides depending on what I am doing etc etc - no use at all if travelling distance. For the latter, I make a decision and go with whatever combination applies (and end up soaked on occasions!!).

I agree totally on your point about inner, detachable waterproof liners, such as BMW use: obviously not primarily aimed at the rain sodden UK market (or anywhere else in northern Europe?).

thanks to all who have responded. i know what i described "is a perfect thing", and unlikely to actually exist but obviously some things are more important then others (to me at least). A wish list is just that, and i did not think what i was asking for was outrageous in any way..:rolleyes2: Besides if you dont ask then you cant know...

the search so far:
I have been looking and asking around a fair bit too and it seems like rukka always comes out on top.. but interestingly it is the older stuff that seems to fit my bill.. . A friend suggested that Rukka A-Tech Gore-Tex Jacket, fills my requirements and I have been able to find it for about £350.. which yes is exxy .. but i paid £250 for my HG stuff that I have not been happy with at all..So if for 100£ more i can be happy, safe, warm, dry, and i ride 5 days a week every week for about 2 hours a day, and many weekends all day long we are only talking about £1 a day (and these things have 5 year guarantee so really 20p per day) not that bad when you look at it this way (well i hope my wife buys it anyway:cool4:) . Well the search will continue and i will let you know.

Cheers
Xander

Rukka or... ?
 

We all need comfortable and satisfactory riding suits which will feel us good but should not be expensive on the other hand.

When it is about extreme riding conditions, my decision is RUKKA but hey it's expensive.

If you are not going to extreme conditions, I personally think Hein Gericke is much more efficient solution. I prefer Tuareg series and satisfied with.

I have some fountain pens which costs over 500 $. I have some other pens costs around 100 and believe me makes the same job and looks as good as the other one.
Sometimes they cheat on us by using brandnames IMHO.

Have a look at these -

Akito Desert textile jacket sand
Akito Desert textile pants sand

Seems pretty good value to me and looks Okay too.

Arrrrgh! Akito and Buffalo must have the world's largest returns department, When I used to work at J&S we used to stock AKITO and BUFFALO products, and they were very very poor compared to... well cheese.

(Cue the 1000's of happy customers who swear by them)

Xander-

this is the ultimate riding gear:
Traveler

Check the trousers to suit.

BUT - if I remember correctly the jacket costs somewhere around 950 Euros and the pants something like 500.

Hans

I think thats a bit unfair to AKITO. There are literally thousands upon thousands of loyal Akito customers who will testify to the excellent quality of their products. For someone starting out they represent good value for money. I am of the opinion that you don't necessarily get better quality merely by spending more money.

Last months Ride mag tested textile jackets and the TEKNIC jacket costing only £149 beat the pants off Dainese's own effort costing £226

The HUBB seems to be full of "Designer Snobs" with more money than sense!

I guess you're right, but that riding gear "Traveler" is just plain well designed and manufactured. For hot Oz sun and cold European weather. I would buy it if I could, but it's way too expensive for me :-(

Yes, expensive, those prices are in the range of Rukka's.

Thinking about it, if I had not bought so many bits of clothing over the years I could have put all of the cash into one of these suits!!

I have not read the full specification of this kit, but I suspect the Goretex in there is the latest, newest version which has a premium on the price compared with the earlier stuff: Hein G have a similar range of higher priced clothing which contains the new Goretex.

A note: about 3 years ago I bought a HG toureg jacket - I didn't read the label properly and all I saw was "waterproof" - it turned out later, in central France, that only the pockets are waterproof on that particular model of toureg! :rolleyes2: (Always read the small print).

"The HUBB seems to be full of "Designer Snobs" with more money than sense!"

YES, YES thats me! finally someone has seen the light, after 21 motorcycles, dozens of designer shades, "hot" leathers, tailored suits, the latest tents, microbrewery exclusive beers.....and now unexpectedly in the HUBB I feel right at home.
Cheers :thumbup1:

I agree that cost and name does not make it something good.. all i am really saying is that if i have to pay for one expencive thing to meet my needs that ends up being cheeper then buying 4 "things that are 1/3 of the price".

The stuff I most like the look of for all weather kit these days is by Dainese.
I've recently got a pair of their Gore-Tex trousers, and I've been very impressed. They fit well, have decent armour inserts and fit over my winter boots properly. The best thing about them is that the GoreTex breathes far better than cheaper fabrics. They're very comfortable to walk around in - I've got a set of cheap Frank Thomas trousers which feel like you're wearing bin liners, even though they claim to be breathable. The same goes for the Spyke jacket I use for greenlaning. I've got an Alpinestars Gore-Tex jacket which is a lot nicer to wear, but unfortunately the fit isn't that geat.
Next on my list is a Dainese jacket to match the trousers - their Gator jacket looks very well thought out for wet weather use.
The seperate removable waterproof liner concept works well in some situations, but isn't without it's problems (I've got a KTM suit which uses this system). If your touring in mostly warm conditions, with occasional rain then they work well, but if you're riding in the rain day after day then the outer jacket becomes waterlogged and takes a full day to dry out.
These days I wouldn't bother with the budget brands - Akito, Buffalo, Frank Thomas, etc, and I wouldn't bother with anything which doesn't use Gore-Tex. If you're riding all day long in less than ideal conditions then you want the best kit you can afford.

It never fails to amaze me why people do not use full touring fairings more often. I have had summer thunderstorms when out riding, and my bmw r80rt fairing kept me completely dry. Also you never get wind chill, or the buffeting or sliding back when you hit a bump at speed. If you could see the dents from impact with flying stones and the mass of squashed insects I am sure you would re-think. In the early sixties up until late 80's I used Avon Touring fairings on older Triumphs. They no longer trade, BUT. Sprint manufacturing has all their moulds still.

What I've finished up with is my Weise jacket (conventional black touring type - cordura type fabric with waterproof liner), and when the weather gets too bad I put on top of it a cheap thin Regatta jacket (about £12 - for sale in lots of outdoor shops, and comes rolled up in a little bag). This cuts a lot of cold wind out (I have worn it for warmth on a cold dry day), it folds to no size, it can be taken back off if things warm up and (this is the main advantage when camping in Scottish rain) it keeps the fabric of the Weise dry (ish). The waterproof lining of the Weise works fine, but it's not nice sharing a small tent with the sodden outer fabric after a rough day.
Given that the Regatta is olive green it also doubles as a fishing/light walking jacket.

You can't beat layers!

It's going to sound a bit odd at first, but a few years ago my dad used to ride his bike in his former Helly Hannsen sailing gear. They still seem to make the same model, just updated, but even then it was Goretex, with very good taped seams, a zip in fleece layer and sundry pockets. He had the bib trousers to complete the outfit.

He used to swear by it, reckonning that if it coupld cope with salt water spray day in day out dragging round a rolling deck in mid-ocean, it could cope with biking. No reinforcing protection if you come off though.

The only thing is on the latest the collars seem a bit high on the jackets and might interfere with a lid

Look at these -

AKITO DESERT MOTORCYCLE TEXTILE WATERPROOF JACKET on eBay, also Men's Jackets, Jackets, Motorcycle Clothing Helmets, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 07-Jan-08 12:22:08 GMT)

A mate of mine has got a set of these and tells me they represent fantastic value for money. Good quality too.

Unfortunately like so many others they do not meet my number one criteria
water proof shell.. :thumbdown:it has a
3 in 1 modular skin system - separate detachable waterproof inner membrane and thermo-lining.

This mornings commute was the perfect example..of why i dont want this.. I left the house and it was dull and grey.. (hey it is winter in the UK what do i expect).. About 10 minutes later i was on the motorway, and the heavens opened.. my jacket saturated with by the time i got to the office.. Yes i was dry (cus the H2O membrane was in) .. but there is a 1.5 m and growing puddle in my office.. which did not impress my boss much when he came to see. me...In Travel terms.... on my one of my last tours (orkney islands) we got hit on the way up.. but it was raining so hard that by the time we found a safe place to pull over and put on over suits, it was too late.. took 3 days of living in a b&B instead of camping (blowing the budget) just to dry them out.. and we had to have the heat on so high that it was very uncomfortable.. :thumbdown:

I just dont get the point of having water proof textile gear if I have to carry a over suit anyway.. i might as well use leathers..

the sad search continues... any one in the textile biz want to start a motor bike gear company that thinks function before fashion????

Would i be wrong in saying the 3-1 jackets would be well suited to warmer climates? How well do the vents on a Jacket work(on a jacket with the w/proof membrane laminated to the outer shell of the jacket?)

And in realty the Jackets with a laminated w/proof liner - the shell will become heavily saturated just the same yes? After all a gore-tex type fabric is only a micron thin fabric lamanted to the back/inside of the outer fabric - the same fabric you'll find on a 3-1 jacket. The only diference being the lining on 3-1 jacket ( if it got wet with out the lining in) would be wet as well.

With a Gore-tex jacket, the face fabric is coated with DWR - "Durable water repelancy" a chemical coating to the fabric to slow down the face fabrics becoming saturated, which would then restrict the gore-tex's ability to breath.

So any wet-sodden textile jacket is going to be a heavy dripping mess anyway.????

Disclaimer; What I've said above comes from years of trudging through NZ bush in biblical rains for weeks at a time, and selling top end outdoor gear for 8 years. Rather than with MC clothing, though my thoughts are the theory must be the same as the fabric IS the same, only bit heavier.

I ask these questions as I've not had road gear before, but am buying the kit in the next month...... I'm leaning heavily towards a Rev'it Cayanne Jacket- which is a 3-1 set up, because I'm concerned that without the ability to remove the W/Proof lining you'll cook in the summer??

would I be wrong to say that marketing aside, a true 4 season jacket is mythical - as the performance in one of the "seasons" is going to be a comprimise for better proformance in another season????
Some thoughts from the old(read; experienced:cool4:) hands please.....

Hi
Purchased a Halvarssons Safety Jacket and trousers,not cheap,but possibly the most versatile 2 peice suit you can buy.Quality on a par with Rukka and fits all your requirements and then some,the whole suit not just the armour is CE approved.For your cash you get the armoured safety suit and trousers,a meshed warm weather jacket and trousers and a waterproof/windproof jacket and trousers both with thermal and coolwall linings,fantastic bit of kit.Check it out.

I believe those 3-1 designs are for exactly what you mention; a warm climate, whereby you don't want to use the liner in day to day wear.
Consequently, and solely as a personal opinion, they are not too useful in the wet and cold UK. (Plenty of other threads have said similar things about getting the outer soaked through before the liner comes into play; a no-brainer really).
This is all a bit similar to, and relates to, the argument about why the UK climate is pretty "aggressive" to the human body. Just cold and wet enough to cause hypothermia etc but not constantly very cold/wet (i.e. snow) so that you can deal with it once and for all; hence people die in the mountains of the UK every year.

The vents on my jacket(s) work just fine - lots of air flow or lesser air flow, depending on the variables. I can't see how the type of membrane or its' location in the jacket would make a difference - it is a load of great big holes on the front that let the air in, and another set on the back that let it out again.
An extreme case is the zip-off arms that some designs incorporate.
On the other hand, riding behind the screen of a Goldwing, on a test ride a few years ago, I overheated because of the total lack of airflow: the windflow characteristics of the bike make a big difference as well.

I've worn plenty of gore-tex clothing in outdoor activities other than riding a bike and, once you get a "real" heat production rate on, you will sweat (perspire for the gals!) no matter what. Sure, gore-tex will help, but it is not perfect - but better than oilskins!
I 've talked with plenty of riders wearing gore-tex clothing and the general theme has been that it is fine when just sitting on/riding the bike and it works OK when walking about at a "moderate pace"; this, to me, has confirmed my own experience with it, as outlined above.

My conclusion: If I am travelling any distance, I take the fully waterproof overtop, no matter which jacket I am wearing.

Nice one Dave, some good food for thought.
And it makes sense what you say about a W/Proof over suit/jacket. better to take that off at the journey's end and stuff it away rather than a sopping wet great bulky M/C jacket. And these seem to be available for reasonable sheckels.
It's a bit hard for me as I've just moved to Holland, so I'm not 100% on the weather. I've been here since August and doen't seem so bad ( though I know the Bahama's it's not....:Beach:) Maybe my living in the Scottish Highlands for 2 years softened the blow... :stormy:
So with the above in mind... Maybe a good mid-range 3/4 jacket(170-200EUR) with a W/P laminate of some kind with good vents, and keep a W/P over jacket handy, or if rains a sure thing set off with it on... hmmmm back to the internet.....

Cheers

( and sorry to Xander for highjacking your thread for a bit!)

Rev'It! Rev'It! Rev'It!
 

Try Rev'It, if you haven't already.

They are simply the best. (imho) :thumbup1: SERIOUSLY ALL weather!

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...879#post172951

I'd have to disagree, I bought one last year and felt that the waterproof lining was bulky (could carry another jacket for the bulk of liner and w/proof liner) and cheap (very oilskin like) there was too much play in the sleeves for the armour to be of any use in a crash and I was quite relieved to find that some of the lining hadnt been stitched together properly so I was able to take it back and get my money returned.

I'm sorry if that sounds really negative, I am just counterpointing your zeal really, there are worse jackets out there and I did like the venting for hot weather use.

Im going to try the Halvarssons safety system next as you just swap between shell types, waterproof/half vented/vented as appropriate and the jacket outers wont be much bulkier than the cheapo linings in these 3 way jacket things. furthermore they do repairs and you can just replace the outer cheaply when it finally expires/you go down in a spill.

In ref to the OP theres a flourescent outer option both w/proof and vented.

When it comes to kit that is expected to perform well in all conditions, then a single-design item is unlikely to satisfy. Compromise with regards to comfort can be a real annoyance esp with a long ride ahead! Outdoorsy/Military-types generally regard a combination of thin layers as a realistic solution. Try a Hi-vis vest / coated Nylon waterproof / thin fleece, in conjunction with a windproof + armoured main jacket, just make these layers thin and packable.
:thumbup1:

Found this beauty while researching Jackets. The Tourmaster Intake Jacket which is supposed to be an all weather jacket. Quite impressive. Anyone ever seen or used one?

http://www.tourmaster.com/images/pro...ark_silver.jpg

Tour Master :: Textile Jackets :: Intake Jacket

Anyone had any experience with the Fieldsheer jackets? I know they are not high dollar stuff but they are in my price range! :mchappy:


FIELDSHEER The Official Site


http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com...Black_Blue.jpg


http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com...HGHLANDTAN.jpg

riding gear for all weather
 

Living in the Seattle-Tacoma area of Washington State... I am riding year round with leathers from Fox Creek Leather, but ignore that, you want something different.

Try looking at Olympia riding jackets and pants. Bought a jacket for my girlfriend. It has a waterproof outer layer, zip in insulation that can be worn as a jacket without the waterproof outer layer, elbow and shoulder armour (back too, I think). There are vents on the sleeves, chest and back that all velcro in the open position. The chest vents double as pockets, mesh lined, so no small stuff in them. I have not looked hard at the pants but they have similar features.

They come in grey/black with some reflective material sewn into seams and other locations. You can also buy the same outfit in a bright yellow color that would be high visibility.

Try this link.

Technical Motorcycle Apparel

Good luck,

david

some of this looks good any one have experience with it.

cheap and effective...
 

I use a Frank Thomas Sabre mesh jacket and trousers for overlanding, cordura where you need it and then mesh for airflow on the inner arms, parts of the chest and thighs. If it rains or gets cold an old gore-tex over the top and the liner for the trou kept me nice and dry, when it's roasting hot just wear the jacket, trousers and a t-shirt and you keep good and cool.

I don't know how much the jacket and trousers rrp for as I didn't pay for them but I think its about 120 quid for the pair, about a third of the price of a BMW jacket...

BMW: poor quality, steeches badly done on the cheap in Bosnia or China, falling in pieces within weeks of buying (2 full suits). Zips tend to get stuck or desintegrate as well. You basically pay for the name. From other overlanders, I heard good reviews on Rukka (bullet proof) and Aerostitch. Also some Hein Gereink are coming good in a long trip.

Hi
Bought a Halvarssons safety jacket and trousers from GrandPrixledgends.com.Without a doubt the best gear Ive ever had (and Ive had loads) Its the only suit to be fully CE approved and its worn by the Police in several EU countries.Feels heavy at first but once on fits like a glove.Comes with a wind and waterproof outerjacket and trousers and a mesh outerjacket and trousers all of which are adjustable.The safety jacket is made of a material resistant to abrasion and although initially it feels heavy ,when you hold it up to the light you can see through it and it allows air to flow quite freely which is ideal in hot weather.Its not cheap,£800,but what price gravel rash!!

check out "MOTOPORT" made in California...I was REALLY impressed with the Kevlar claims, and the mention that some physicians indicate the melted plastic caused more damage than the slide on riders who had to get off.
Again, they are multi-layered. But the 40 to100+ degree capability, the molding of the armour, and the durability of Kevlar (think bulletproof) are what impresses me. As one guy said, one get-off with an improper suit is worth a lot of armour.
Costs seem reasonable-$300 for fitted pants ,$400 for jackets, and-oh yes, they have accessories. My interest is travel to Central America, so the ultralight is my aim.
Don't mean to be picky, but my body is worth protecting at any cost-jackets will dry, as you said. And yes, those Rev' It's are heavy!
good luck!
greg

In my experience NONE of the textile jackets made out of fabrics like Gore-Tex or cordura are truly waterproof and will leak after a couple of hours.

For the last 25 years I have owned a yellow rubberised oversuit which cost me around $25, looks absolute crap, however, it is absolutely waterproof. The only problem is over the years I have bulked out, I've melted the legs against exhaust pipes and the zip is gone in the jacket, but if I could buy another I would. That still left me with leaky boots though.

Unfortunately they don't make those yellow suits any more so I have to find something else. For my legs I've bought a pair of fishing waders - guaranteed dryness, not just for the legs but also the feet.

Now I have no doubt many of you will say the boots in the waders are not going to protect me in case of a fall but I can live with that (my argument being that if I have nice dry feet then I have already significantly reduced my risks of having a fall in the first place). I still haven't worked out what to do up top though and right now my thoughts are a Helly Hansen sailing jacket, but they are bloody expensive too.

Garry from Oz.

Gary, Helly Hansen also do sailing bib trousers which I can say do seem very waterproof, having once spent a week in them almost constantly while facing the equivalent of constantly having buckets of cold salty water thrown at me.

Helly Hansen
 

While I can see that for off-roading, you may work up a sweat and therefore Gore tex clothing might be useful, for just riding on the road through the showers, I can't see why you'd need breathable fabrics. You just want something to keep the rain off, not work the sweat out.

I still have a set of Rukkas from the '80s, the sort of shiny plastic kind which are genuinely 100% waterproof and they're still fine, although the jacket's a bit tight now and they're not particularly stylish anymore.

Like farquhar, I used to have a set of construction workers yellow jacket and trousers that did the same as the Rukkas. Didn't look as pretty, but I got them for nothing and when you're courier riding throughout a long sodden (sodding?) day in London, who cares what you look like, you're never going to sweep Elle Macpherson off her feet on the back of a CX500.

As for Helly Hansen stuff, these look pretty good and only $30 (and you don't have to have dayglo yellow).

Tvedestrand Bib - 70511

Found similar stuff on ebay too, just search 'helly hansen'.

Thanks Alex and Indoors. I reckon the Mandal jacket and Tvedestrand bib would be a perfect combination. You know that anything made for sailing is going to be the bee's knees when it comes to waterproofing, and they're cheap and nice and bright for cars to see you.

The only problem with buying clothing is that you have to try it on - I find mail order a waste of time as maunfacturer's sizes vary so much. I'll see if I can find a local stockist.

Garry from Oz.

For those whose clothes must breathe Helly Hansen do breathable stuff as well. Sure it's much more expensive, but it doesn't soak up water like a lot of bike stuff does, and being made for salty and sandy conditions it doesn't let them in to grind away at the breathable coating either.

AEROstich performs very well
 

In January my wife and I completed a nearly 80,000 km, 31 country RTW tour that started in China in July 2006 and ended in LA, Calif. We were both outfitted in AEROstich riding gear. Without question, we were very happy with our purchase. Did never a single drop of water get past the goretex? NO, but then to assume that any gear will be 100% waterproof is a bit naive. Did the gear keep us dry - YES. We have ridden through the Gobi in Mongolia in the summer and hit our fair share of cold, wind, rain and snow and other nasty stuff along the way and without question the AEROstich performed flawlessly.

Perfect no but when I look at price and performance, this stuff is really good.

Jack

I've put 1200 faultless commuting miles on mine since Jan (in all the bad weather we have had). http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...4-2#post183772

Okay ... Well i decided on the Halverssons Safety Jacket.. it was on sale and I got the jacket and over jacket for 260£ (still exxy but less the the HG or Rukka stuff).. I have only used it for 3 days now.. I will get a review written when it has been put though its paces... So far it is warm, and comfy (but that says very little dont it)...

lower end of the scale...
 

For those of you that are financially challenged you will be hard pressed to beat those suits that the guys working on the motorway at night wear.
Bright yellow fluorescent, with reflectors and they really are waterproof.
Me and my mrs wore two last year for wandering along the south coast, shes Spanish and as timing is everything I chose the worst U.K. weather in the last century for the trip ( remember the floods )....no she was not impressed...
At 45 quid the outfit from the market , the only drawback is people think you work for the council when you wander round towns, and at the ferry they ask you when the ship sails etc..

Oilskins are good
 

It's not such a drawback: you could have some fun with that!

This is the modern day version of wearing the oilskins that used to be available for deepsea fishermen (probably still are) - 100% waterproof, if you don't consider the sweat as water!

replacing a jacket
 

Recently having returned to biking, and due to my size i have ended up with a jacket which seems to weigh a ton!......its obviously a good one and wearing it id quite comfortable.
However does anyone know of a similar one to my old beltaff trialmaster....now defunct...I used to find this garment good to wear and always reliable, if not a bit stiff when it got wet......but at least it didn't seems as bulky as modern cloth jackets.
Alas due to gaining a lot of weight.the one i kept hanging up for years on a a peg no longer fits me lol

Old beltaffs had no impact absorption layer - this is what makes the modern jackest bulky. If you don't want that protection simply remove it, all the ones I've seen have the foam in internal pockets that you can open to remove it.

Barbour still make the International jacket and you can pick up Belstaff jackets on eBay.
BMW have a waxed cotton jacket as well .

Has something happened to Belstaff I don't know about? Their website's still online and listing the Trailmaster


At least for the UK.

I think those are the poncey fashion ones that Belstaff sell now , Belstaff will be bringing out proper bikes jackets like Ewan and Charley wore on Long Way Down , but I've heard they'll be very expensive .

belstaff jackets
 

I have now found a place selling Belstaff jackets but they are in cordra?..the same as the one i purchased for a lot cheaper!
The poin tis the jacket i have feels huge when not actually riding the bike,,,,,and to walk around when you stop is like wearing an overcoat......so i had hoped for a lighter and tighter jacket like the waxed cotton Belstaff trailmaster i have, but can no longer fit due to increased girth all around lol
and the cost of new ones is way beyond my pocket at £359!
Is there any alternative other than leather, or slim nylon pvc style jackets.

anyone with experience with these?
 

different thread lead to the boot section. There are a couple of options available from different manufacturers/price.

Vannucci and Held gear looks to have all the right stuff.

HELD 6821 Hakuna Textile Motorcycle Jacket

Belstaff alternative
 

I have heard very good reports of the similar jackets made by 'Sunstuff', who are I think, an Australian company.

Matt

For Sunstuff bike jacket in the Trailmaster style go here:

Hitchcocks Motorcycles -- Royal Enfield and Amal Parts and Kits

Click on 'accesory catalogue', then 'clothing' and its the second item down. Careful though, Hitchcocks prices don't include VAT. I've bought a bunch of stuff for my Enfield from them though, and they are a good company to deal with.

Matt :)

just back from a 3 month ride
 

I used the Kilamanjaro jacket and pants. Both gave terrific service on my trip. I had 31 days of rain to ride in and with the exception of 1 very hard rain, I stayed warm and dry. My only problem was wet gloves which I solved by wearing a pair of surgical plastic gloves under my regular gloves.

As for abrasion resistance, I was tossed 3 times on the trip and received no markings on either my body or my riding suit.

One of the many advantages of the chair is that I can dump the overpriced bike clothing. Full winter kit is:

Leather trousers - ancient
East German police jackboots - ancient
Gortex boot liners - from camping places
Bright orange motorway workers type waterproof trousers
Heated jacket- Home made
Thermals and Norgie top - camping/army surplus
Drizabone long wax horse riding type coat - 2nd hand
Face mask and helmet.

With heated grips, muffs and a fleece lined knee apron I ride in unlined leather gloves all year round.

In summer the boots get swapped for DM's, the leathers for jeans or combat type trousers and the waterproofs/thermals get stowed. Total cost wouldn't buy you anything decent in the Gericke shop/BMW agent, it's totally waterproof and you can switch from looking like the Red Barron to looking like a normal person in about 30 seconds. This odd collection of antiques, horse gear and military surplus is the best all weather kit I ever used despite the thousands spent in bike shops over the years.

Why some horse gear company can't add the £50 plastic pads to a £100 (short) riding coat and kick the bike gear manufacturers **** is beyond me, but even I stick to armourered gear on the solo, so until they do I guess the loud leather people have it SEWN UP :innocent:

Andy

68jules, if you don't mind could you tell me what was the coldest it got on your ride? I am looking at this jacket for a trip to Alaska next summer and for winter riding here at home. I'm needing something warm so I don't have to pack a lot of clothes to layer with if possible. Thanks

My only advice is, bite the bullet, pay the silly price BMW ask for their Rally Pro 2 and you will have the best. I have done over 52,000 kms this trip, 45 degrees in Australia, bloody cold and below freezing in Norway, and everthing between. I have come off in Cambodia, Pakistan and Mongolia, a couple of times hard. The memory foam protection always worked. Throw them in the washing machine when they are putrid and they come up like new.

riding kit
 

Look at the SPIDI range of stuff I`ve got a set and its the best bit of wet weather kit Ive had plus its got thermal extractable linings , Its been used on & off road , crash tested in the Ozzie bush. Its not cheap ( not robbing a bank expensive either). My jacket has covered arund 60,000 miles in all weather and not leaked once.
:palm:

FirstGear "Ranier" jacket and "Escape" pants
 

I bought a set of the above recently in the States.

Jacket is waterproof outer, with zipout windproof "dress" jacket liner. Well vented front and rear, heaps of pockets some "hidden", full armour, rear pouch.

Pants ARE waterproof!! zips up to knees for easy on/off, heat resistant lower legs, vented, a number of pockets.

Have ridden in teeming rain for hours - no leaks!

Good value:- jacket US$400, pants $289 (I think).

I bought the sand/grey jacket, and the black/grey pants, as there wasn't an option for Sand in the pants, unfortunately.

Check them out at Newenough.com (Firstgear TPG system)

I'd previously bought a pair of Olympia "waterproof" overpants for $189 - and was totally soaked within an hour of purchase. Not nice!!!!!

Ranier etc are very good value as a RTW setup.

Cheers

These Jofama - Motorcycle wear guys are good. Rukka quality but cheaper.

My kit of choice now is a mesh jacket with matching trouser and take a one piece oversuit for when it rains or it's too cold for the mesh alone.

I bought a pair of BMW Atlantis 4 leather trousers and am very impressed. They are very comfortable and completely waterproof but not hot and sweaty. They look pretty good too. I have ridden in pouring rain for up to 6 hours at a stretch hours and they kept me nice and dry. Good armour in the knees and hips too.

Clothing& camping
 

My advise is to buy allso a PVC rain-overall. Esppecially when camping. Codura jackets get soaky after a full day of rain. The clothing won"t dry in a tent and get smelly after a week. A rain-overall will fix that problem. Sort rain showers is no problem for all weather clothing

What Jacket for RTW trip?
 

Hi everyone,

I'm leaving with my wife for a RTW trip next year in May. Route: Europe - Asia - Australia - South America - Central America - North America. The bike is Suzuki DL 650 V-Strom and the trip is planned for 3 years. I'm looking into getting some good gear for the both of us. We're plannig to stay as much on the tarmac as possible but will definitely end up somewhere off the beaten track anyway.

I've done some reading and I think I've narrowed the choices down to:

1. Aerostich - Darien or Roadcrafter - I woudl be interested if anyone used these in similar climates and how did they perform? Price is reasonable approx. £600 for a set (trousers and jacket). Which one would you recommend?

2. Rev'it - Off Track Jacket + Dakar trousers - I've read the review made by XT Girl http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...879#post172951. Very good review btw. I understand you came back from the trip by now? Did the jackets perform well? Has anybody else used these? Quite a good price: £450 for a set.

3. Stadler-Bekleidung - Stadler-Bekleidung: Material. Looked at the traveller but it seems to be a little pricy - £1300 for a set (trousers and jacket).

4. Rukka - looked briefly at their products- quite a lot of jackets to choose from - anyone would recommend one that would suit our needs for RTW trip? Maybe Rukka AllRoad jacket beige this one? Again quite pricy: £1100 for a set.

5. BMW Rallye Pro 2 Jacket - BMW Rallye Pro 2 Jacket Blue/Grey - - A&S BMW Motorcycle Parts and Accessories. Approx £900 for a set (trousers and jacket).

All in all I know that we should get something really good and don't look at the money as a issues because this is what we're gonna be wearing for 3 years straight but then I don't want to go over the top if that's not required. We would like something that would keep us comfy and dry (warmth can be dealt with otherwise so not a big issue - you can always wear something more under the jacket), but also something that would have enough venting to keep us cool through the warmer parts of the trip. We want to be travelling mostly in the dry conditions that's how we're trying to plan the trip anyway so venting would be more important. I know that there are no perfect jackets out there and it's always a compromise between the two weather conditions. If you want a great waterproof jacket be able to sacrifice some of it's venting capabilities and the same the other way around.

Anyway after reading a lot of threads on the subject I kinda narrowed it down to these 5 above. I was initially looking at Aerostich but some people seem to be unhappy with it.

All comments would be appreciated as we will be buying our gear shortly.

Thakns a lot in advance!
Andy and Gosia?c?

I have Darien Light jacket and pants. Both leak, and have from the start--the pants around the front fly but also elsewhere, the jacket all along the front closure. Not too bad in showers or warm weather, but bad enough in heavy rain and/or all day riding to affect comfort and safety. In real rain I end up thoroughly soaked unless I add another waterproof layer over or under. Jacket pockets also leak copiously, which I find more irritating than others seem to (lots of water leaking in but no drains mean they actually fill up several inches deep).

Some of the detailing on the Darien Light are very scanty--tiny, lightweight velcro which doesn't grab very well, neck closure which won't close around a neck gaiter, zipper pulls which break almost immediately in use.

I haven't been pleased at what I got for the $900 I paid for jacket, pants and back protector. It would be one thing if the stuff merely leaked a bit, but I find the combination of bad design (Pockets which fill with water whenever it rains? A neck closure which I can't use in cold weather?) with lack of weatherproofing (I don't know what to make of ride descriptions by others which claim total comfort in drenching rains, but I'm sure jealous!) annoying. Note that I can't say how my experience might relate to the heavier weight Darien jacket and pants. Nor can I say how this compares to other brands.

On the other hand, this is what I own and therefore it's what I use. On the positive side, it still looks reasonably good after 55k miles in all seasons and a variety of conditions. Maybe that's what I paid for.

Hope that helps.

Mark

Thanks a lot for the reply Mark. It's a great help as I really wanted to buy aerostich = it was my first choice realy. Fair enough that I was a little less waterproofing wit hthe light varsion of Darien but it should still be ok anyway. After reading your comment I'm not at all sure anymore about the aerostich capabilities. The pocket that fills up with water is the last thing you want really. Must be really anoying.

Did you hear anything about the other brands? Know anyone who uses it? I've read that review by XT Girl and really fancy the Rev'it but then if I end up replacing it with something different just before the trip start then what's the point. The next would be BMW gear I think - I hate the looks but I heard it's good too. Rukka I've heard a lot of good aboutbut it's 1100 pounds for a set.

Still confused... the only way I guess is to buy it and check it out. That's a risk you always have to take i guess.

Thanks a lot again,

I think Aerostich is "almost" off the table.

Stay safe and dry :)
Andy

I've heard good things about ....
 

The Pharoa gear from Polo Motorrad and I can't help but feel that THIS looks familiar, but at €249 it seems a bit cheaper.

http://www.polo-motorrad.de/mb3_medi...b/20028003.jpghttp://www.polo-motorrad.de/mb3_medi...0028003_71.jpg

Yes it actually looks very similar - almost a copy of the BMW jacket. But I'm only concerned with the reliability. Bear in mind that we want something that will last 3 years and do the job. It's hard to decide really until you actually put it on and that's not always easy or at all possible. I'm gonna try that BMW jacket - there is a BMW motorrad shop hopefuly they got some in stock.

Cheers!
Andy

Also have a look at the Moto-port Kevlar offerings.

Kevlar Motorcycle Apparel - the Best in the World

I think a Kevlar mesh jacket & pants would be best for all-year, all-conditions riding, and here's why. If it is too cold or rainy, you can always add layers under or over mesh gear. You will likely have water- and wind-proof gear along anyway for use off-bike, so why not integrate it into your riding setup, instead of relying on a single riding outfit that is supposedly do-everything.

Any gear that claims to be waterproof without liners will have a tough job also flowing enough air to be cool. Then, when it is too hot, one is tempted to ride with the gear unzipped or without gear at all.

All that being said, my current riding gear is a Darien. I'm just trying to wear it out so I can justify replacing it with the Motoport. :mchappy:

Cheers
Sean

I have a Belstaff Discovery jacket from BMG [British Motorcycle Gear] ,it's very good and warm,they also ship to other countries .
You say you have a different solution for hot weather so maybe this jacket would fit the bill .
It's reasonably priced compared to the BMW and Rukka type gear .

I'm looking for a new jacket for a long trip.
My old Richa leather jacket has come to the end of its very long life (it's been an excellent choice), and my Frank Thomas textile jacket to the end of an even longer life (but was never waterproof). So it's a long long time since I ever bought any biking gear, and I just read this thread. Now I'm even more unsure about what to buy than before!
I can't get out of my head the fact that Ted Simon on his first RTW trip wore only a simply sheepskin coat. So WHAT is all this modern stuff about?
But I'm grateful to those that 'thought outside the box' a bit. (What a horrible phrase).
I'm going to get those Helly Hansen waterproofs (yellow or orange), wear them, and then I hope the answer to what jacket to wear underneath will present itself!
In comparison, the boots were easy. (My old conventional motorcycle boots have also long expired). I have nice new Lowa Combat GTX boots, which so far are wonderful.
And I'll stick to my ex-Swedish Army surplus unlined leather gloves, approaching 10 years old now and still waterproof. I don't know how they're still waterproof, but I have always worn them when applying the Renapur wax to my old jacket and boots.

I've been thinking of that. In preparation for my trip later this year, I must consciously keep myself from going on a shopping spree and buying super-expensive gear. You know what? I have had the same Cordura non-waterproof jacket for 12 years and with a plastic one-piece overall it is completely waterproof. Yes, with 25+ degrees Celsius and torrential rain it is extremely warm to wear, but I also don't have to worry about riding around wearing £5K worth of kit on me.

I like hassle-free solutions and in my limited experience exotic, expensive kit is usually sensitive and far from hassle-free. It can get destroyed by washing, rubbing, getting too dirty, ripping etc and you always worry about it being stolen/destroyed.

So I'd tend to go for simple, more traditional solutions, rather than looking for the ultimate kit that will just make the weather irrelevant. On a journey the weather is only irrelevant if you're on a plane or a car.

I've been struggling with the massive array of choices our consumer society presents, so I'll ask for your input on another thread rather than hijacking this one :-)

Alex

Bmw???
 

Hi all,

I think I've narrowed it down to two choices and both of them are from BMW family. Trailguard and Rallye Pro 2

1) Trailguard suit:

http://www.ascycles.com/images/produ...655-jacket.jpg

http://www.ascycles.com/images/produ...718705-743.jpg

Comparing this one to Rallye Pro 2 this one is a lot lighter (almost uncomfortable because of that :) - doesn't feel as bulky as Rallye Pro); It's "fully waterproof" on the outside whereas Rallye only has a goretex liner inside and that is the waterproofing; This comes with no liner at all but you can buy additional goretex liner (the same one as in the Rallye) and zip it in. Once I've tried it with the liner - quite comfy :). The great thing is the ventilation on these BMW jackets: Full length of the sleeve, half way up your belly you've got two big vertical vents and you've got vents on the back. Next good thing (after comparing to Rallye Pro) these come in women sizes as well (my wife is size 34 so it's quite hard to find something). And while I'm mentioning this - do you think that it matters if you both have the same gear? I personally don't know but think that it does - at least you feel the same cold or hot weather conditions the same way. Traiguard also has a couple of waterproof pockets, adjustable waist and elbows and comes in lighter colors for hotter climates. I think that for colder climates it's easier to put more stuff underneath then for hotter ones strip down when you've got nothing to strip down from - unless you take the jacket off thus NO PROTECTION. I don't know what you think but it seems like quite close to perfect jacket to me. Once you've put your gore tex liner inside you've got two waterproof layers so even if it leaks through the zippers or anything you're still dry :)

Pricewise it's quite competitive when compared to Rukka's £1100 or Stadler Belkeidung £1300 (approx. prices for a set jacket + trousers). Jacket : approx. £350; goretex liner approx £120; trousers: approx £200 = approx £670. This seems quite reasonable to me but let me know what you think guys.

Stay safe!
Gosia and Andy

I went to the BMW site and what I saw was that the suit is not waterproof.
It is a update if the Savanna and Santiago.
Both of us have had a Sanvanna 1 and a Santiago's and we like them but water will just run through them. You must have the liner to stay dry.
It is the removeable liner that makes them bearable in the heat.
Below is a copy of my rant on using a liner.

I have had the Kalahari suit, Savanna I suit, Rally II and the Santiago suit.
Two times I have ridden through the rain and got wet and cold because I did not want to stop and put the liners in.
The rest of the time I have put the liner pants on in the morning.
If it rains I put the jacket and gloves on.
I can ride with the pant on into the mid 80's with out being hot.
It is not rain gear that you put on and take off, its a riding suit with a Gore-Tex liner that you can take out when it gets hot.
Ask a astro-stitch owner in the summer if he wishes he could take his liner out.
This is in 9 cross country trips and two to Alaska
Watch or listen to the weather reports, watch for clouds, put the liners in ahead of time.

Have you checked the catalogue with the suit? It's got that icon showing that it is waterproof (the same icon is not shown on Rallye Pro 2 suit - because its the liner that provides waterproofing not the suit itself). I don't know and I guess that until I've actualy riden it in rain I won't be able to determine if it's actually waterproof or not. The only thing saying that it is waterprrof on the outside is the BMW catalogue and the guy selling the jackets :) So all in all not a reliable source :)

I think we're going to get this suit anyhow because to be honest I don't see anything else outthere with so many vents, the same build quality and at similar price (and also looking nice) and last but not least with 34 women size which is critical for my wife :)

Thanks for comment and I will definitely think about it. I think that as far as rain is concerned we will have the liners to wear underneath or something to put on top which should be more than enough.

Thanks again,
Gosia and Andy

This is what I found on the BMW site, the only thing I see about being waterproof is the Gore-Tex.
As for the suits I like them. We use them year round.


BMW Trailguard Jacket

Product DescriptionThis suit is ideal for touring and combines freedom of movement, versatility and functionality in a way that only a true all-rounder can. It features the finest materials and is fully adjustable, making it the perfect motorcycling companion all year round.
Ideal for touring
Sporty, dynamic design
schoeller® Dynatec™ outer material
Dynatec™ and Cordura® Stretch offer maximum freedom of movement when riding
Built-in mesh lining regulates body temperature
Large 3M reflective panels
Removable NP protectors for the back, shoulders, elbows, hips and knees (three height positions)
Sealed windproof zips
Optional removable wind and waterproof GORE-TEX® insert
Adjustable belt and Velcro strips on the jacket waist, trouser waist, collar Black /Silver Jacket is available in all sizes; Mocha/Chalk is available in Women's EU 34/US 4 thru EU 46/US 16 and Men's EU 46/US 36 thru EU 60/US 50 only. Jacket and pants sold separately. BMW Trailguard Jacket 2009
BMW Original Parts

We bought the Trailguards :)
 

I'm happy to announce that we bought the Trailbuard Suits for both me and the missus and are VERY hapy with them. We also bought the Goretex liners for the wetter, colder times.

We'll definitely let you all know how they perform on our trips under different circumstances.

Out for now...
Stay safe!

Thanks for all the feedback and hopefully see you in Ripley :)

Gosia and Andy

I've worn my Rev'it Off track almost everyday since September 2007 :rolleyes2:. I'm not kidding here! Brighton to Capetown. Rain in Europe, Heat (lots and very) along with Humid (soaked and boiling), Cold back in the UK (snow and all!)
I still commute with it and wear it out and about at the weekend.

All the zips still work. All the velcro is still attached. It works in an astonishing range of temperatures. It's quite figure-hugging so I can use a rain-top to save soaking-in too much water.

Downside - Some of the seams look very thin now so it may need replacing. The colour that works so well in the desert is a magnet for dirt. I had it dry cleaned three times in Africa and it survived (although the reds are pretty faded). I may look like I've been living in a ditch but at least I'm warm, dry and protected.

Hi John,

You were right! The only waterproofing is the liner inside. Got soaked last night so wanted to apologise for not believing you :):)

The interesting thing is that I had all the layers for the top but nothing for the trousers. I had just the suit with no liners or even underwear for the trouers and I just got totaly soaked there. On the other hand I had the liner and the top underwear with me and I've put it on just before it started raining and to eb honest the top felt great! Warm and dry and no problems whatsoever.

I'm very happy with what we bought. Seems to eb pretty all weather riding gear - when hot strip all the layers and open all the vents and there is quite a few there! When cold put the liners in, put some good synthetic warm underarmor and off you go! Just perfect!

All the best and stay safe!
Gosia and Andy

Having gear for winter and summer, and blending between the two for fall and spring, just makes more sense to me than forcing mesh to keep you warm or forcing a parka to breath in sweltering July and August heat. Also if I'm going to have a removable liner for rain anyways, I'd rather carry rain shells. I really don't think there is any *one* jacket+pants that can do it all (rain, snow shine, heat, cold) without being seriously deficient in one area at the minimum anyways. In my brief experience, its usually the "waterproofing" that sucks more than anything, followed by venting and proper fit. I've started buying layers individually now instead of trying to stuff them all into one $$$$ piece that won't do any of it to level I want or need it to.

I have a Rev'It Air jacket and keep a Klim Stowaway jacket in my tankbag or backpack in case the skies open up. The Klim is made of Gore-tex Paclite material so it packs tiny and is *absolutely* waterproof. Rode 6 hours through a thunderstorm where it was raining so hard that I could barely see and my torso stayed bone dry. With the klim on top, and a warm windproof fleece and/or electric vest, I think I'd be happy down into much colder weather.

I find pants to be harder to get right, not as many options and more involved to stop and throw pants over top. I used to wear Fieldsheer Mercury overpants, but they were hot as hell even in mild weather and barely water-resistent. My Rev'It Rotor pants breath fantastically, but won't fit over street clothes, nor do my Klim Baja's. Something like the Olympia AirGlide2 pants with a rain shell overpants similar to my Klim jacket would be an option. Or biting the bullet and adding a third or fourth pair of pants to the rotation.

Has anyone tried the proofing treatment from the likes of Nikwax for their 3 in 1 suits?

I've just bought the Joe Rocket version:

Joe Rocket Alter Ego Jacket - Pants - webBikeWorld

As it was £35 in the end of line sale:

NLA NLS Alter Ego Jacket Black/Red Sml

Like most other 3 in 1 suits, the waterproof liner is on the inside, which seems madness to me. I will probably throw that bit in the bin, and use a seperate, proper waterproof over the top of it when I need to.

However, I was thinking that the Nikwax stuff would help make the 'normal' part of the jacket showerproof at the very least, meaning I could get away with being caught in a brief shower without soaking to the skin.

For winter warmth I have an electric vest which simply cannot be beaten for keeping me toasty. I really don't know why more people don't go down the electric vest route!

Nikwax
 

I can thoroughly recommend it, but you do need to follow the instructions. It doesn't so much waterproof fabric as make it water-repellant so that it beads up on the surface, but it can be very effective. Their products are also very good at reviving a tired breathable jacket.

Visor and clothing care products for motorcyclists

And they have a special motorbiking section, for fabrics, leathers and boots. I did once bung a pair of jeans in the machine with a jacket to see how their wash in treatment would work on denim, and it wasn't bad at all. I can't say what they would have been like on a bike, but when someone spilt beer in my lap it didn't soak through.

Thanks for that, think I'll give it a go.:thumbup1: