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24 Jan 2008
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Best all weather riding gear
First sorry for an other jacket thread but things do "evolve" . So now that my Hein Gereke prosport jacket has fallen to bits (18 moths old  ) I've been looking at several jackets and pants for adventure riding (and commuting daily). I'm trying to find a set that can be used from in summer and winter, in the Dry and Wet . Here are a few features I think i want.
1) They should have a wind/waterproof outer layer, I would rather have to open vents and have an outer shell that stays dry, then one that is has its water proofing inside and removable, ( I know this makes the garments breathe better when it gets seriously hot, but I have been caught in major rains that took the jacket 2 days to dry out. Yes i was dry inside.. but I dont like the jacket weighting 400kg. wet and it they lose a lot of thermal insulation wet the shell is wet.) Once i have to carry a "splash jacket" then I dont need the inner water proof layer anyway..
1A) removable Thermal lining.
2) The jacket should have elbow, shoulder and back armor, and the pants with knee and hip armor. The elbow and knee armor should have adjustable Velcro or something to keep them in place.
3) The garments should be made of a material that will be significantly resistant to abrasion and tearing.
4) The pants should have enough adjustments to adapt from fitting over normal pants and thermal underwear, to being worn with just riding shorts underneath.
5) Both garments should have plenty of zippered vent options.
6) The pants should have full-length leg or 3/4 zippers for easy on/off.
7) All zippers should be very sturdy and set up so they don't allow wind/water to pass when closed, either by storm flaps or sealed zippers.
8) Large areas of reflective material would be a HUGE plus.
9) They should be reasonably light weight and not too restrictive when you need to move around.
10) They should be available in medium to light colors, so they don't absorb heat, like black clothing.
11) The jacket should have a collar with an adjustment range that goes from being worn with collarless undergarments, to fitting over a couple of under layers with collars. And it should be comfortable on the neck (HG dont have this and is a real pain now that i need a neck muff).
Anyone seen something with similar features? I have looked at a jessen safety system jacket.. I am not convinced.. plus it weights 300kg dry, I am not sure about the BMW rally ones.. Why removable arms? this just strikes me as a weak point in the armor/wet proofing. HG are rubbish, although warm my current jacket is falling to bits and it has not had a very hard life... Rev'it looks the part but know nothing about it.. Rukka has been looked at but again i dont know anything about them.. I am not TOO concerned with price,if i find the ideal stuff then I will pay for it. I await your wisdom!
Cheers Xander
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24 Jan 2008
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LMAO your way too picky:
BMW RALLYE PRO meets most of what you want.
My Wet Weather Kit is Hein Gericke Voyager mk2 - Thermal, Gore-tex, Warm, I can wear my normal kit under it a great winter kit.
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24 Jan 2008
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Blimey that is a long list! I think with that many boxes to tick you actually need a one off Versace.
Despite my glibness, I can give a little advice. Have you thought of the Aerostitch stuff? I haven't used it personally, but I know several people that love it, as well as quite a few on here.
I like good cheapish leathers (my jacket is Richa, pants Alpinestar- £100/£55) with a removable thermal lining, then augment that with quality undergarms and a splash suit, does the job for as little cash as poss, but I don't think this is what you are looking for!
Happy riding.
Joel
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24 Jan 2008
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Based on my limited experience with Aerostich (Darien pants, jackets, overmitts), I doubt you'll be satisfied. First, they leak plenty in sustained rains—through zippers, around openings and even at some seams. Second, the jacket collar and its closure are a joke. Plus I've had all sorts of bits and pieces which rapidly began to break or never worked correctly—for example I've lost most major zipper pulls, and wrist gauntlets and velcro closures never did work correctly, etc.
OTOH, it's perfectly possible that this is the way of the world, and that even at $800 or so (jacket, pants, armor) stuff is going to break, leak and never work quite right. If so, I (and maybe you) need to learn not to let it interfere too much with my riding enjoyment.
Hope that helps.
Mark
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24 Jan 2008
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If price is no object go with the Rukka stuff, its obscenely good, absolutely awesome, you cant fault it... if you are coming down the price bracket consider the top of the range IXS stuff, its very good... With textile motorcycle clothing the 'race brands' such as alpinestars whilst being good aren't as good as the Rukka or BMW stuff... but with BMW you are paying for the name... Oh and Rev'it - Forget it... if you seriously have no money issues...
In my opinion you want Rukka.
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24 Jan 2008
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Frank Thomas, Dainese, Hein G, Richa, Swift, Scott Leathers etc etc
"Anyone seen something with similar features?"
Well, no I can't say I have - your specification is a great list of desirables and I will keep an eye on this thread to see if anyone says that a single jacket and trousers meets the spec.
Personally, I have never come across this perfect product, which is why I have a cupboard full of jackets and trousers (and boots, and don't mention gloves)! I mix and match, wearing different kit on different rides depending on what I am doing etc etc - no use at all if travelling distance. For the latter, I make a decision and go with whatever combination applies (and end up soaked on occasions!!).
I agree totally on your point about inner, detachable waterproof liners, such as BMW use: obviously not primarily aimed at the rain sodden UK market (or anywhere else in northern Europe?).
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Dave
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25 Jan 2008
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"The HUBB seems to be full of "Designer Snobs" with more money than sense!"
YES, YES thats me! finally someone has seen the light, after 21 motorcycles, dozens of designer shades, "hot" leathers, tailored suits, the latest tents, microbrewery exclusive  s.....and now unexpectedly in the HUBB I feel right at home.
Cheers 
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31 Jan 2008
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Hi
Purchased a Halvarssons Safety Jacket and trousers,not cheap,but possibly the most versatile 2 peice suit you can buy.Quality on a par with Rukka and fits all your requirements and then some,the whole suit not just the armour is CE approved.For your cash you get the armoured safety suit and trousers,a meshed warm weather jacket and trousers and a waterproof/windproof jacket and trousers both with thermal and coolwall linings,fantastic bit of kit.Check it out.
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5 Mar 2008
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Hi
Bought a Halvarssons safety jacket and trousers from GrandPrixledgends.com.Without a doubt the best gear Ive ever had (and Ive had loads) Its the only suit to be fully CE approved and its worn by the Police in several EU countries.Feels heavy at first but once on fits like a glove.Comes with a wind and waterproof outerjacket and trousers and a mesh outerjacket and trousers all of which are adjustable.The safety jacket is made of a material resistant to abrasion and although initially it feels heavy ,when you hold it up to the light you can see through it and it allows air to flow quite freely which is ideal in hot weather.Its not cheap,£800,but what price gravel rash!!
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20 Mar 2008
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check out "MOTOPORT" made in California...I was REALLY impressed with the Kevlar claims, and the mention that some physicians indicate the melted plastic caused more damage than the slide on riders who had to get off.
Again, they are multi-layered. But the 40 to100+ degree capability, the molding of the armour, and the durability of Kevlar (think bulletproof) are what impresses me. As one guy said, one get-off with an improper suit is worth a lot of armour.
Costs seem reasonable-$300 for fitted pants ,$400 for jackets, and-oh yes, they have accessories. My interest is travel to Central America, so the ultralight is my aim.
Don't mean to be picky, but my body is worth protecting at any cost-jackets will dry, as you said. And yes, those Rev' It's are heavy!
good luck!
greg
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21 Mar 2008
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In my experience NONE of the textile jackets made out of fabrics like Gore-Tex or cordura are truly waterproof and will leak after a couple of hours.
For the last 25 years I have owned a yellow rubberised oversuit which cost me around $25, looks absolute crap, however, it is absolutely waterproof. The only problem is over the years I have bulked out, I've melted the legs against exhaust pipes and the zip is gone in the jacket, but if I could buy another I would. That still left me with leaky boots though.
Unfortunately they don't make those yellow suits any more so I have to find something else. For my legs I've bought a pair of fishing waders - guaranteed dryness, not just for the legs but also the feet.
Now I have no doubt many of you will say the boots in the waders are not going to protect me in case of a fall but I can live with that (my argument being that if I have nice dry feet then I have already significantly reduced my risks of having a fall in the first place). I still haven't worked out what to do up top though and right now my thoughts are a Helly Hansen sailing jacket, but they are bloody expensive too.
Garry from Oz.
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21 Mar 2008
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Gary, Helly Hansen also do sailing bib trousers which I can say do seem very waterproof, having once spent a week in them almost constantly while facing the equivalent of constantly having buckets of cold salty water thrown at me.
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7 Apr 2008
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AEROstich performs very well
In January my wife and I completed a nearly 80,000 km, 31 country RTW tour that started in China in July 2006 and ended in LA, Calif. We were both outfitted in AEROstich riding gear. Without question, we were very happy with our purchase. Did never a single drop of water get past the goretex? NO, but then to assume that any gear will be 100% waterproof is a bit naive. Did the gear keep us dry - YES. We have ridden through the Gobi in Mongolia in the summer and hit our fair share of cold, wind, rain and snow and other nasty stuff along the way and without question the AEROstich performed flawlessly.
Perfect no but when I look at price and performance, this stuff is really good.
Jack
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23 Jun 2008
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replacing a jacket
Recently having returned to biking, and due to my size i have ended up with a jacket which seems to weigh a ton!......its obviously a good one and wearing it id quite comfortable.
However does anyone know of a similar one to my old beltaff trialmaster....now defunct...I used to find this garment good to wear and always reliable, if not a bit stiff when it got wet......but at least it didn't seems as bulky as modern cloth jackets.
Alas due to gaining a lot of weight.the one i kept hanging up for years on a a peg no longer fits me lol
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24 Jun 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by oldsomeman
However does anyone know of a similar one to my old beltaff trialmaster....now defunct...I used to find this garment good to wear and always reliable, if not a bit stiff when it got wet......but at least it didn't seems as bulky as modern cloth jackets.
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Old beltaffs had no impact absorption layer - this is what makes the modern jackest bulky. If you don't want that protection simply remove it, all the ones I've seen have the foam in internal pockets that you can open to remove it.
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