I know Aerostich Roadcrafters have been around years, but they always leaked at the crotch. Now there is a new R3 which claims to totally waterproof. But is it? Has anyone on here got one?

I've not tried latest 'Stich but reports I've read elsewhere are positive. You are correct, early Aero's leaked at the crotch ... and elsewhere. I had 1st generation suit. I treated the crotch area with Scotch Guard and this helped a bit.

But keep in mind all the good things about the suit. They are very popular with everyday riders, commuters and sport touring guys ... and even my hooligan ADV maniac friends. Most of the guys below all have 25 plus years experience and most can afford any gear they want.




Photos courtesy of City Bike, San Francisco.

Thanks, mollydog. I've wanted one for years but more recently I've been attracted to the Motoport stuff. Now the R3 has arrived and appears waterproof I may go for one. I have currently got a useless Spidi Admiral. Has always leaked (been back twice with it to the shop. Once replaced due to defective zip. Once the zip was replaced). Problems again within weeks. Utter rubbish. It isn't just the zip that's useless (in fact, not fit for purpose as it's a wet/dry suit zip), the H2Out membrane is rubbish. I will only deal with Gore Tex in future.

I have well over 200,000 miles on an old design two piece Roadcrafter, which leaks as you say. Some comes through the neck and some through the zippers, puddling in the crotch. When I wear nylon heated pants and jacket under the Stich, that solves leakage problems and keeps my "there" dry. I've been in some horrible weather - 1500 miles of constant rain over 2 days for one, and the Roadcrafter worked to keep me from being totally soaked.


I now own a Darien jacket and pants, which are much more waterproof than the old style Roadcrafter in heavy rains. The zipper flap is much different and more effective on the Darien that I now have. Recent all day soaking rain with no wind screen, I'm not totally dry, but I'm not soaked.

Hi Nick:

I don't have any experience with the Roadcrafters, but I do own an Aerostitch 'Transit' suit, which is leather.

Aerostitch advertised it as being waterproof, and I was kind of skeptical about that... I figured "How can a perforated leather jacket & pants be waterproof"? But, I got caught in a really brutal thunderstorm once - the heavens just opened up and it POURED, I expected to see Noah going by with the ark any moment - but much to my great surprise, I stayed dry, even though I was sitting in a puddle of water on the motorcycle seat.

I've got a lot of respect for Aerostitch. I think they are an honest company that makes good stuff. So, if they say it is waterproof, I would take that at face value until proved otherwise.

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As an aside, be aware that the seams on any 'waterproof' garment will begin to leak a bit with time, as a result of constant flexing of the thread where the seams are sewed together. This problem can be fixed by treating the seams once every 2 years or so with a sealant made for that purpose. Check with Aerostitch, they probably sell such a sealant.

Michael

Old thread but I wanted to share my great experience with the R3 Light. I purchased it in CA 5 years ago before moving to the UK, knowing that as a daily motorcycle commuter I would need something absolutely waterproof. The R3 Light doesn't have a lining, which means you can modulate with the seasons. I always wear my work clothes plus the appropriate motorcycle layer. Nothing in summer, light layer in autumn and heated vest in winter. I took I size up on the suit so it all fits nearly. In the summer you can ventilate with stops at the front and at the back. Now, for the waterproof part. This suit has many UK winters (and Summers) under its belt, when rain is always available in large quantities! It performs perfectly as advertised. You can indeed ride for hours under pouring rain and get to the other side absolutely dry. However, as PanEuropean was pointing out, wearing a suit daily means that seams will stretch and seamtape will come loose. On the 3rd year I had to re-apply some tape (Aerostich sent some free of charge!) and on the 5th year I had the suit checked and fixed (taping, some minor fixes) by Aerostich. All in all, with 1000s of all weather, daily, short and long distance rides in that suit I would by exactly the same with no hesitation, there is nothing like it on the market.