Goretex is lovely. My Dainese Fulcrums with Goretex are a highly functional upgrade from my previous waterproof boots in terms of breathability and comfort. My Dainese Razon jacket has been wonderful. My Rukka goretex gloves have kept my hands in good condition.

That said, membranes fail. Goretex fails too. It could be the world's best molecular technology, but there's still a stitch somewhere that will come apart and let water in. All those lifetime warranties are going to do you no good whatsoever when you are stuck in a rainstorm somewhere, thousands of miles from the nearest warranty center, and you have no idea where your receipts are, and the retailer who sold you the gear is not interested.

Get a rainsuit. They are cheap and hella effective. Yes, they are cumbersome and sweaty, but a one-piece rainsuit and a windstopper balaclava/chest protector make the difference between hating yourself/your bike/the universe, and laughing off the Norwegian mountain thunderstorm or the four hours on an autobahn in pouring rain. All that for fifty euros.

Like the other guy said, by the time you get out of Europe, your gear won't look new any more. I've felt very comfortable leaving my jacket draped over the handlebars (with no valuables in the pockets of course) and walking away in smaller locations, because nobody wants my sweat-drenched Cordura.

As for your gear being outrageously expensive by local standards - well, in most locations where that's a worry, even cheap Western gear is overkill. If you've got anything more serious than an open-face brain bucket (plastic shell only, no EPS) and a plastic poncho over a North Fake jacket, you're already a showoff twat by local standards.

You're riding a motorbike that costs more than some of them will earn in a lifetime, and you can afford not to work. You're rich by their standards already so it doesn't much matter what you're wearing. But for you, wearing your gear all day in all weathers and expecting it to protect you in a spill, it's worth getting good gear. It'll all look the same after a few weeks anyway

Toby, I think you misunderstand Des Senior's point.

No matter how you "look" you are truly "rich" to them. Sure, you may be working for an NGO (I did this world wide), but you are still a WHITE GUY ... so certain
assumptions are taken by locals, whether true or not.

I couldnt care less what other people think about me and if they judge me according to how I look. Thats their problem. But I do try to be polite, to show respect, show a little interest in other people and their lifes and I do try to make a joke now and then to make people laugh.

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

some make up may help though

No matter what you look like you look rich to them-and you are. If you can, learn to smile, be able to say please/thank you in the local language, if possible add "I like your country, you are all so friendly, the food tastes great". Try not to convey the message that you think they are stupid, backward, or that they have to put up with your sh#t because you are special and they are not. You don't like people who think that about you, and neither do they. Be nice and it usually is returned to you. It will help you and the next traveler.

It seems to me we have some rich guys telling some poor guys that expensive gear is worth buying, and some poor guys telling the rich guys we can't afford it.

Unless someone wins a lottery it's probably not going to change.

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Bruce Clarke - 2020 Yamaha XV250

I think people inherently will defend and justify their decisions to chose one thing over another and for different reasons. But that is hardly ever to say that one person is right or wrong. Sure some people may find solace in buying top of the line gear in every aspect of life and vice versa for those who don't, but it really is all a matter of personal preference.

Certainly he who makes due with less is often admired for his ability to be resourceful and enduring with what many would consider to be "not enough". But the notion of "not enough" is what keeps people stuck in cyclical lifestyles without ever really enjoying their surroundings, too caught up with worrying about having the necessary commodities to enjoy life thoroughly, as they have always wanted to.

Too often we ground ourselves to material things, taking on massive debts and burdens to support our desire for more. It is the American Dream.
Not sure how I got to this brief late-night philosophical tangent, I suppose its just a little saddening to watch all of my friends and family compromise their quality of life in the pursuit of having more only to really have less. As a college student, im sure ill get to that point sooner or later, but... I digress.

Thanks for the great replies guys!

Art

Haha here is someone who never travelled talks about something he doesn't know.

In second-world-countrys people are very aware of brands...more then we are so better not to show any or you will be treated as an ATM.

In third world countrys people dont know about brands but they are not stupid so best is to ride the same bike as they do. It makes them curios wow you can ride so far with it...come in to my house and tell me more...

..

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Right Way Round ...