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Camping Equipment and all Clothing Tents, sleeping bags, stoves etc. Riding clothing, boots, helmets, what to wear when not riding, etc.
Photo by Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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Photo by Marc Gibaud,
Clouds on Tres Cerros and
Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia




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  #1  
Old 31 Mar 2009
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As a sidecarist I have less worries about crash protection, but I also came to the conclusion that modern bike gear was over priced and under specced. My developments so far can be seen here if it helps:

https://sites.google.com/site/threew...laces/clothing

I basically got fed up of getting soaked from the inside then the outside because Goretex/nylon combo's are one trick ponies and need to be clean to work. At the same time I was reading about the RAF Everest and long range flights of the 1920's/30's and the work being done to look at what Mallory and Irvine used.

For a solo rider in a cold/dry/off road climate, I'd say MX armour and climbing gear is going to be better than £400 jackets designed for the Autobahn on a Sunday afternoon. If nothing else climbers gear has collars that work outside of a Milan fashion show.

Andy
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  #2  
Old 31 Mar 2009
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Location: Tallinn, Estonia
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Threewheelbonnie View Post
As a sidecarist I have less worries about crash protection, but I also came to the conclusion that modern bike gear was over priced and under specced.

Yes some kit is overpriced and label based, but a lot is very good in my opinion.

I must say that I have one of those nylon/goretex combos and it has only leaked once or twice in really heavy, day-long, rain. Every other day this winter and previous ones have been perfectly comfortable. I have worn IXS clothing for about 7-8 years now and that translates as only 2 jackets.

I'm not questioning that other kit formats will work, nor that some brands are just for the image-conscious, but there is good M/C kit out there, even if you just land on it by chance. Plus the jacket only cost me £250!

"Only", but you know what I mean...

BTW, I too feel a little less vulnerable on a sidecar, but I get the feeling this is a false sense of security. Sure, low-siding a bike is less likely and that is the image we have when off roading on a solo, but high-siding (or flipping) the chair or getting nailed by a blind cretin in a car are just as big a risk and also the more dangerous of possible motorcycle cock-ups, IMO...
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  #3  
Old 18 Apr 2009
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Location: On a RTW ride - currently Asia
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Even though it is expensive and fits the Ewan&Charlie cliché, I love my BMW Rallye 2 Pro suit.

I have been wearing it daily during the last 2 years, everything from snowy winter trips in the Alps (-15C with a heated jacket liner) to commuting in Madrid summer heat (45C). It holds up well to spills because the removable Gore-tex liner is inside, has great built-in NP protectors, tons of vents, pockets and other well thought out details (camelbag pocket, removable fanny pack, etc).

To me it was worth the €700 I bought it for on Ebay (new).

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  #4  
Old 20 Apr 2009
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Join Date: May 2007
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I used:
Olympia Moto Sports - GT Air All Seasons Transition Jacket
jacket

Olympia Moto Sports - Men’s Airglide 2 Mesh Tech Over Pant
pants

As my primary gear and just supplemented with local gear along the trip. Since I started off super hot in the summer in Texas/Central America, I just had the above gear with nerdy synthetic shirts. They wored perfectly and are some of the cheapest riding gear you can buy in the US!

I started off with proper rain gear too, but ditched the jacked because the liner that came with the olympia gear was good enough to not need an additional liner. I kept the pants though.

When it got cold (high altitudes of South America and Ushuaia), I augmented my riding gear with locally acquired stuff and by always wearing rain gear. By the time I made it to Ushuaia, I was wearing long sleeved shirt, alpaca pullover or hoodie, rain liner for jacket, and riding jacket. On my legs long thermal undies, riding pants, and rain pants.

Just remember, the locals have to stay warm too (or cool)... so you can find whatever you need locally. Just give it away when you're done. Buying a couple of coats along the way in a long trip is better than hauling it across a desert when you don't need it.
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