I see the stereotypes are spreading, especially from people who very probably never owned or worn one

Years back when Ewan and Charley weren't even heard of, I used to think about the same - they're expensive, too "stilysh" (everybody wear dominant black clothing on the street - why I shouldn't?) ...until I got to try one. Especially after a nightmare with my cheap "conventional" clothing in Iran.

Aside from Maria's, who hasn't had any extensive MC travel experiences before and her clearly winded-up story about their equipment reliability thinking about the expensive clothing should do wonders, I'd like to add my own, balancing views. Previous post was about the parts of the world they've been done, but I haven't really shared my views about their functionality.

I don't know much about Santiago, but my better half has worn the previous version of Santiago called Savannah II that has a women-cut sizes and she only is saying good words about it after extensive use.

Seen and worn most of riding equipment, from very expensive till the very cheap I'd say BMW Rallye equipment is one of the very best currently available for serious adventure-traveling use. In fact most of other makes are just copycating the original BMW Rallye concept, and ironically, none of them has really surpassed the R2 in terms of it's original concept, a fact which itself says alot about it, IMHO anyways.

- Advanced ventilation
- Robust
- Light-visible colors
- Lot of pockets

Would be the keywords here. Previously you only saw a pitch black Sun-sucking clothing, made to ride -10C weather, with limited vents that would make you sweat to death in the +45C Iran traffic and be unseen in the traffic in your black clothing. "Adventure travel" style of clothing stared with the original Rallye 1 that changed that by making clothes light and highly ventilating, instead of the common outer waterproofness (that would make it poor-ventilating cloth) they put Gore-TEX inner waterproof suit.

With R2 I've ridden +40C heat madness in Syria, with all the vents open and -10C here in Estonia all the vents closed combined with goretex insert and I find it hard to find any similar purpose clothing capable of that wide range of temperatures and conditions. That's exacly what got me hooked with the BMW stuff that I hated at that time. I've been looking into (even more expensive than BMW) Rukkas and couldn't find a model that does it better.

If you take a close look at the Rev'It the first thing you'll notice it's a clear BMW Rallye 2 copycat, and you see the quality of the materials and seams are inferior (hence the price difference). Reading reviews Cayenne leaks after some relatively short time use - my R2 is now 3 seasons old and over 50,000km ridden never leaked a drop. It's worn, burnt by the sun (red colour is fading), it's dirty as hell, but it still goes strong - seams are strong, ALL the zips work and the goretex inner holds me dry.

BMW equipment expensive? OK, UK is long been known as a rippoff country... We've got ours half of the EURO list price brand new, who buys their stuff with the list prices anyway?

So while guys bash BMW clothing coz of Ewan and Charley et al. jelousy vs media stunts (never cared about this game anyway), it hasn't made the clothing any worse for me. So while I hate the "BMW lifestyle" ideology etc, in my humble opinion, (both R1&R2 and Savanna 1&2) are among the best clothing I can find for my traveling purpose.

Maybe BMW clothing build quality has gone down with the new models of Santiago and Rallye 2 Pro...

But I wouldn't knock one until I've tried one.

I've never owned a Gucci handbag either, but I'll still stick to my Macpac rucksack thanks!

Matt

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http://adventure-writing.blogspot.com

http://scotlandnepal.blogspot.com/

*Disclaimer* - I am not saying my bike is better than your bike. I am not saying my way is better than your way. I am not mocking your religion/politics/other belief system. When reading my post imagine me sitting behind a frothing pint of ale, smiling and offering you a bag of peanuts. This is the sentiment in which my post is made. Please accept it as such!

Macpac is for fashion victims and wannabes

I use a cheap chinese made rucksack instead that does the same job, but is much cheaper

Good comeback! Actually, have used a £3 indian army shoulder bag as a lunch bag on my XT for ages. Damn thing refuses to die so I can buy a 'proper' tail pack!

Matt

__________________
http://adventure-writing.blogspot.com

http://scotlandnepal.blogspot.com/

*Disclaimer* - I am not saying my bike is better than your bike. I am not saying my way is better than your way. I am not mocking your religion/politics/other belief system. When reading my post imagine me sitting behind a frothing pint of ale, smiling and offering you a bag of peanuts. This is the sentiment in which my post is made. Please accept it as such!

I notice that the UK MoD Police (MDP) have recently chosen RUKKA to supply their S.E.G outriders with plain black textile suits whereas all leather suits have always been provided "made to measure" by BKS Leathers. The textile suits are tendered at only £350 each and the Leathers are only £500. I guess they get a reduction for buying in bulk?

Personally I have always thought Frank Thomas gear represents outstanding value for money compared to the more expensive German options. I still have my old venerable "Aqua" Jacket and reckon it's got a few miles left in it yet.

It would be interesting to compare which suits the different police authorities use because it's common knowledge that they usually pick the best quality in terms of longevity and protection. Although looking at my Council Tax bill this year I reckon they don't give a toss about cost...

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Triumph Bonneville 800 (2004), Yamaha XT600E (1999), Honda XBR500 (1986).

My 'desert fuel tanks' came out of a market in Buchara and was meant for a camel - essentially it's just a throw-over type thing that goes over the hump, whack it over the bike tank, ad three empty coke bottle to each side and hey presto, another 15 litres of go-go juice! Cost about 10 bucks. Good for the thrill as well as it gives the impression of riding a massive incendiary device

It's sort-of visible in this shot (from KZ) (tanks empty)

I was born in a hole in the road.

My fuel I distill each evening from sugar cane I find by the highway, and my backpack is a big blue 50p IKEA tarpaulin bag that I have sewn an old zip to. I retread my tyres by melting stray rubber bands to them when the rubber gets low. For food I roast road kill. And I have found that you dont really need toilet paper if you stick to the "one hand principle".

But I still wear a BMW "twat suit" ... cause it fits, its very comfy, I have had no quality control problems at all (my trousers were made in Turkey?? and the jacket in Hungary??) and its done its job well in plenty of tumbles.

I have however (in concession), long ago removed all the BMW badging from it.

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He he! Reply of the thread!

Matt

__________________
http://adventure-writing.blogspot.com

http://scotlandnepal.blogspot.com/

*Disclaimer* - I am not saying my bike is better than your bike. I am not saying my way is better than your way. I am not mocking your religion/politics/other belief system. When reading my post imagine me sitting behind a frothing pint of ale, smiling and offering you a bag of peanuts. This is the sentiment in which my post is made. Please accept it as such!

ah, but Aerostich riding gear is made in the USA, in Duluth, MN. i have had
FIVE jackets and a few less pants (don't like the one piece; they leak at crotch) and have been utterly happy with them -- and their service.

z

Sorry to hear about your bad experience with BMW clothing. My only piece of BMW kit is the Santiargo Boot.
I've used these for around 1000 miles now and in all weathers. I honestly rate them. Waterproof, Comfy to walk in and give a good sense of being solid safe boots.
I hope you get some joy from BMW head office.

regards

Shaun

I am sorry to say, but I hate those guys who buy a BMW GS 1200 ADV full equipe and also buy the whole BMW gear at the same time. I can see a lot of them near the mall, but I didn´t find them on the road. Ups, yes, I remember I found 15 of them in Uzbekistan, they were on the Kudu Expedition leash and even had a 4x4 following them in case they burn a small lamp. Ok, all of them were wearing the most expensive BMW stuff while I was riding almost nude. I was crazy after riding the Aral Sea and they were still fresh living they lifetime adventure with nannie.

I tried a lot of gear and what I can say is BMW makes good expensive motorcycles and sells bad expensive gear and the italians sells bad bikes and makes good gear. Save your money and buy BMW to ride and Dainesse and Alpine Star to wear.

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www.miquelsilvestre.com

This is not a total abandonment of the more $1,000.00 USD I paid for one blue, gray with little black and white stripes BMW Motarrad Rallye 2 Pro jacket at a BMW shop in Phoenix, Arizona, but about 10,000 K into my last South American tour, I lost the neck velcro and the main zipper. As long as I don't have the waterproof jacket zipped in I now use the secondary zipper to keep out the chill. Another immediate problem is the elastic string at the bottom of the jacket, it disappeared into the jacket ????

Elisa is about to buy a proper zipper, remove the defective one, and sew in the new main zipper. Needless to say I am very disturbed the zipper became useless without any misuse.

Unless any BMW rep is reading here and advises differently. And to BMW, no one respects your warrantee here unless the product was purchased here. And, there is no way to ship my BMW jacket to you in some other country, because after you repair it I will have to pay half its' value new to the customs here, or it won't be allowed back in the country. the Rallye Pro is not a "sexy" jacket, but one can fold up and under...the hipps/butt protective aspects of it , when you want to show off your great ass.

It is running about even in terms of getting laid between the old leather and the tucked in BMW Rallye Pro . I have a lot more money now then when I bought the leather jacket, this may or may not be an important consideration, only tempered by the upgrade in quality of woman I am now attracted too. Another factor might be that I am 30 years older, this is a plus or a minus consideration depending on the woman.

The protective pads worked well (stayed in place) and the outer material prevented what should have been really bad road burn. It does get very heavy when wet, I just wear the included insertable jacket or, my old Northface underneath.

I always wore my black leather, like Marlon Brando wore in the "Wild Ones," with a NorthFace waterproof parka over in case of rain. If any one wants to see my old (now about 30 year old )leather jacket I am wearing it on our web site on Home page and see our services page. The zipper is still like new and the removable fleese still zips in and is warm. Not one thread has come loose, even the included black leather belt.

Back to BMW gear , at the same time as I purchased the Rallye 2 Pro jacket, I bought BMW (MADE IN ITALY) (ECHT LEDER)??? touring boots, they were expensive, but other than the leather behind the zipper always getting caught in the zipper are waterproof and fairly comfortable, lower heel was weird at first, but I got used to it.

My previous boots were TIMBERLINE "Down Shifters," I think it is a little known fact that Timberline has several motorcycle boots available. These boots saved me a broken ankle so I really can't say anything bad about them.

The BMW thermal long underwear is GREAT.....

I hope BMW is covering this thread. Or, the creative marketing department of some other motorcycle gear manufacturer who understands how valuable the information here is to marketing AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT . If I was a decision maker at BMW I would immediately followup on all defective product reports here.

Eat, Drink and Be Careful xfiltrate

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Motorcycle Parking Buenos Aires, Argentina
www.xfiltrate.com

I am sorry to say, but I am exceedingly tired of people who criticize other people for their choice of riding gear, or the trips they go on, or who make sweeping, unjustified generalizations such as "I can see a lot of them near the mall, but I didn´t find them on the road" or "BMW...sells bad expensive gear".

Good on ya if you want to ride around "almost nude" or "crazy" from exhaustion or whatever you were crazy from. I'll buy the gear I want and thus far, it has generally been BMW gear, and I have very few complaints--my Santiago jacket has about 50k miles on it and is still going strong. I could probably find cheaper gear that would be about as good, but given that I keep jackets/pants/boots for several years, the incremental price difference just isn't that significant. I hope that's all OK with you?

Blimy, I never thought I'd end up pitching in on a BMW bashing thread as I've never owned one and am probably never likely too. But I do wander round my local dealer in Oxford from time to time and about five years ago bought a Savanna 2 jacket on impulse in their post Xmas sale (actually, the impulse was that my wife offered to buy it for me and you don't turn down stuff like that).

My first bit of anything to do with BMW and after five years of pretty heavy use my conclusions are: best jacket I've ever owned. Not really warm enough for the depths of winter - especially now that I've managed to lose the liner (anyone got a S2 liner they don't need / want to sell?) and the weave on the material does tend to collect dead flies, but that's it. Nothing has broken, worn out and it's still comfortable. Which is more than I can say for the Frank Thomas jacket I bought about the same time. It sits awkwardly on my shoulders, cuts into my neck and the main zip is badly under specced. It was ok in the showroom but just doesn't work on the road. Both jackets cost exactly the same (ok, the S2 was in a sale).

Will the experience make me rush out and buy a GS? No, but credit where credit's due, it's a very good bit of kit that's lasted and done exactly what I wanted. I'm aware that one good experience swallow doesn't make a BMW heaven summer but when I do come to replace it I'll certainly be having a look at what's in the BMW range - come sale time anyway.

I have owned a BMW but I don't now it was a great bike but just not what I was wanting .

But I did get some city pants earlier in the spring and I have to say best quality bit of biking kit I've owned.

They aint waterproof so I can't comment on that but for a pair of pants that look ok off the bike they are well protected and I wore them on a short euro tour and they were ace.

If i found one of their jackets cheap I may even be tempted.

My kit is a mish mash of whatever I find cheap still love my Lidl boots 5 years old can't fault them comfy and totally waterproof £12.

Luckily these city pants arnt covered in crap branding so they blend in.