Hubby and I are planning to get to NZ overland next May, via the usual India etc etc. What are people wearing on their bikes to keep cool ??

I am not keen on jeans and t-shirt but on a recent trip to the South of France it is obvious that the normal cordura wear we have will be hellish.

Any suggestions ?? Also any ideas on where you can get a good selection of womens sizes ( currently stick with XS male size - fits in all the wrong places ! ;-))

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Jenny B

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Jenny B

Iris and I travel with a Dainese protector vest, a kind of a kevlar net with GOOD protectors on all the right places including a very good backprotector. Under this you can wear nothing or a T-shirt; over it you can wear anything baggy and airy e.g. a long Iranian shador ;-) or a shirt, or nothing (like we sometimes do here in Europe) - though it does make you look like Ninja Turtle. This is the "vest" many Dakar racers wear underneath their light-coloured vests.
Sizes are Italian and S is indeed women's small.

Check it out on http://www.dainese.it The English doesn't work, but under Italian, "I nostri prodotti", "Linea moto", "protezzione", the vest is registered as "Safety Jacket 20".
Does not come cheap, but we've had it for over five years, and it still looks new. However frail it might seem: it's solid stuff.
We've worn it in the hottest conditions --for instance over 50°C on the Indus plains-- and were very happy with it.

Also: get the new version (the one on the photo on the Internet). Maybe some dealers might want to sell you the 'old' type: larger backprotector, closed foam instead of foam with large holes. The new one certainly is cooler (Iris has a new one, I'm doing with the old for the moment). They come with or without a breast"plate" (in the dealer's catalogue - not on the Internet).

Have a safe (!) journey to NZ !

Trui

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Iris and Trui
2 belgian women, usually travelling on bikes (now on DR650SE's)

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Iris and Trui
2 belgian women, often travelling on motorbikes (now on DR650SE\'s)
2nd overland from home to Northern India and back, April-October 2002

I use several types of casual cloths, Kevlar renforced jeans (but they can get hot) and Giali jeanks (and jacket) that you can remove the armor for more comfort... but in HOT adventure travel I use a Joe Rocket "mesh" jacket? It's mostly just the armor and ise it with ANY other clothering (over or under) and it is very flexable this way. However my experinace in NZ was wet, so I'd recommend something like the Bellstaff typhoon or the Aerostich Darrian / roadrider. These are armored coedura, but are quite comfortable. The "Kewies"n are BIG adventure travlers, so you will actually be in "fassion" in moto gear! Here is the URL foe the Phoenix jacket if your interisted: http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com...ct.asp?ID=2339

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John Saguto
-Sonoma, CA. U.S.A.
John@MyHomeWebSite.com

1997 BMW R1100GSA - \"Red Bull\"

I like the Rukka Air Power and BMW desert type suits - esp. the Rukka.

Both have a very well-ventilated, breathable knitted outer cloth, with Gore-tex removeable liners. They are positively drafty on a cool day. Just use the liners when temperature drops.

Big advantage of the liners is that they are kept much cleaner than one piece suits, as you're not always wearing them, so they are more waterproof and breathable, as they are clean, and not laminated to multiple heavy layers.

Also easier to wash whatever needs washing. The outer can be washed easily and frequently without having to worry about the Goretex and making sure it's been washed with the right soap and properly rinsed etc.

They also both use a special material designed to improve comfort and moderate temperature in all weather. Not sure how much of that is hype, but I have heard reports it is better than ordinary nylons. Can't say myself, not enough testing in hot weather yet.

I now have a Rukka Air Power 2 suit, Susan's is on order, and we will be using them on our next tour.

The Rukka is available in true Ladies cuts - wait a bit for the new one coming in the next couple of months, the current one is an old design, the new one will be the same design as the mens in a ladies cut.

Both Rukka and BMW suits are available in Europe easily. Both are expensive, but I think well worth it. See Rukka at http://www.rukka.com, and BMW of course at BMW dealers.

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Grant Johnson

Share the Dream!
at: www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

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Grant Johnson
Seek, and ye shall find.
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Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997!
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

Both my wife and I have had the BMW Savanna suits for almost a year now. On our Alaska trip in June we wore the suits with the Gortex liners in with a fleece sometimes for extra warmth. They also kept us dry during day long rains. In the summer across Nevada and Utah without the liners in it was Hot, but it always is, maybe the BMW Airfolw suit would be better mid-summer suit.
As a all weather suit we think they are the best.