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!