True, but jackets can be strapped somewhere at the back, temporarily at least, while the weather holds.

These riders don't have that issue with lots of room available in their panniers:

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Dave

When most of your day is spent smoking Gitanes, drinking expresso, wearing sunglasses, checking out women and writing the odd ticket wind and road rash are maybe not the first priority?

Andy

That will be the Italian police bikers - these guys are busy escorting the Tour de France, for three weeks at least, gaining a bad case of sunburn to the forearms.

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Dave

Here in Thailand the cheapest frogg toggs worked great, about $19 us, also. Ame in handy when a cold front came in for over a week giving us 40 degree weather in the morning, breathed well when the temps raised.

What a muppet. Not a chance would I do a job where appropriate PPE wasn't mandatory and provided. They'd better be giving him SPF 50 at least...

In Ireland/UK, as already mentioned, one right jacket/pants is unrealistic, though if only one outfit is viable then IMO a laminated shell fabric-type is better (or preferable) than a waterproof inner liner type.

But throw in the likelihood of a few summer tours - perhaps including something in France, Spain, etc - then the (removable) waterproof liner-type option seems worth considering too...

IMO, the separate rain over-jacket & over-pants option is just as much of a pita as the waterproof inner liner option - having to faff about at the roadside sucks. Having to pull in for shelter sucks. Still faff whether you're donning a waterproof layer under or over your main jacket.

I don't think a single holy grail jacket exists yet for someone who can't or won't spend over €600/£480/$680 on a jacket, even one using Gore-Tex Pro in its construction. And in all probability, someone who can or will pay big money for a Gore-Tex Pro outfit might also have an alternative fair-weather outfit?

But there do seem to be a few laminated shell fabric-type jackets out there with proprietary waterproof membranes for well under that €600 price-point. Whether these perform as well as Gore-Tex Pro in terms of waterproofing and breathability is probably not well known, but IMO, if one of them leaked I'd return it for refund as "not as described" and "not fit for purpose", and reconsider my options...

Macna Impact - €290/£230/$330
Macna Impact - FC-Moto English

Büse Bologna - €320/£250/$365
Buse textile jackets : Buse Bologna STX

Klim Latitude (Gore-Tex Performance Shell rather than Pro, but still laminate IIUC?) - €340/£270/$390
Klim Latitude - FC-Moto English

Spidi X-Tour (as already mentioned) - €405/£320/$460
Spidi X-Tour H2OUT - FC-Moto English

Macna Cobalt - €490/£390/$560
Macna Cobalt - FC-Moto English

I'm sure there are others. These are just some that have come up on my radar.

The Klim seems fantastic value compared to their Badlands Pro etc.

The Macna Cobalt I find quite interesting, as it has a separate stand-alone mesh inner jacket that carries the armour, as well as the laminated-membrane outer shell fabric. This seems close to the option I've seen often mentioned (and have considered myself) of an armoured shirt/jacket (over a base layer), then your own choice of insulating layer(s), then a laminated shell-type jacket.

Posting here as much to share as to gather info & opinion before I make any purchase.

Well as soon as i posted our frogg toggs suit report we got into a Thai soaker , just the right type, water size was that it went right thru the toggs And the mesh protective jacket, got a through pressure blast, used it again in a lite rain, ok

Hi Guys,

Ive read with interests the posts..... quick question. Im based in Aust and have a Dri Rider Jacket and Pants which uses the multi layer zip in, zip out process (quilted and gortex), IMO painful. Any way I was away for the weekend and put the Gortex liner in as it was expected to rain. It poured...... all good ...... except (and I think this is what happened) the rain was going through my outer jacket and then hitting the Gortex inner part and not getting through (all good at this stage)................. but having been a wild day with lots of debris on the road at time I had to stand on the pegs to get good vision. The minute I did this all the water trapped between the layers would run down my arms and fill my gloves up................. does this happen or am I a simple male and dressed my self incorrectly in the morning

I always put the cuffs of my glove in the arm pieces of my jacket (under the liner if you want). Lately I find many gloves/jackets are designed to make that hard, but that's what works best for me...

Two other advantages of over-jacket/trousers: 1. when camping - take them off and stash them back on the bike or in the porch of the tent and nothing wet and horrible has to come into the tent; and 2. the nature of the fabric generally means it dries very quickly, in fact a quick shake can see a waterproof virtually dry (unlike a textile/goretex liner jacket which can take days to dry out).

Me, in the UK, I have had a secondhand Klim Badlands suit for the past autumn, winter, & now spring with a heated jacket under. Totally waterproof so far. In the past for those few hot summer days and trips to hotter climes though I have worn a leather jacket and kevlar lined pale denim jeans and carry waterproofs. A (black) leather jacket is far from ideal but is a good compromise as it keeps as much heat out as it does heat in, and when its hot I can ride with cuffs and collar open and the zip undone a few inches and it still retains its structure. Opening the pockets can help too and if its proper roasting hot I completely soak the jacket with water - which works really well apart from the white tide marks. I am looking forward to trying out the Klim in the heat though as the venting looks like it should work and with it being the laminated type of goretex it shouldn't hold much water in the rain. Reports and reviews are promising.

Not sure if this is reliant to this thread, when out for the weekend trail riding I use gortex jacket and another layer for warmth if anything,
The bottom halve I've tried a few things but I tend to swet so I've found a set of knee armer with a pair of lycra cycling trousers do the trick, they dry very quickly but when they get wet they are still quite warm, and they look sexy

Just looking at changing my ride kit, or should I say enhancing to appreciate European weather after the slightly warmer middle eastern frying. There I used Forcefield armour shirt with either an off-road shirt or RST Adventure suit (no armour but abrasion protection on road) over.

Looking to add a windproof or heated jacket between the hard armour jacket and the RST and finally a lightweight waterproof 2 piece (Richa Rain Warrior or Alpine quick seal) on top for a waterproof layer when rain gets heavy. Alpine folds really small and easy to have handy. Mid layers can be used on/off bike. Will be picking up the mid and outer layers soon and see how I get on. for bottoms will use FF knee protectors and RST Trousers without armour. Trying to decide on FF shorts or as mentioned before some lycra and hip protectors in suit.

From a mountaineering/military background I am a firm believer in layers and also taking the effort to remain comfortable (that includes getting out for a piss in the middle of the night in the rain and not staying inside not able to sleep....).

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DR650SE, KTM 1190 Adventure, CRF450X, KTM990 Adventure

http://www.bikebandit.com/riding-gea...116_DD_Generic

Seems to have a lot of good features, cheap. Cortech stuff is good quality too.

Maybe I missed it and it was said before, but we have to remember there is also rain and rain.

When its winter rain, its good to stay warm and dry. An over suit or non-breathable liner is great.

When its summer rain, you end up feeling stuffy, evaporation is hard. Then even the slightest bit of body activity tends to heat you up like a pretzel in a microwave. Then a breathable liner/jacket is better IMO.

So also the type of riding you'll be doing plays a role. Commuting is much less straining/exerting opposed to off-road technical riding (and thus you don't have to deal with internal body temperature buildup).



As for the comments about the riding gear of the copper- for what its worth, I was told (and it could be wrong) the only safety certified riding gear available here in Australia is the helmet. So that is the only PPE specified and supplied by Perth Metro. All other gear is optional and at the rider's discretion. And this is as a result of 'limiting liability', because if PM supplies riding gear, the officer gets hurt, then there are bases for a lawsuit because of inferior quality PPE provided. So they place the responsibility back on the individual.

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Squily