First ride cross country...what to wear?
 

Hi,

I am taking my 1979 Kz400 from New Jersey to Portland, OR, north over the great lakes and through Minneapolis in July and August. This is my first trip anywhere near this distance. What should I wear? should I buy an Aerostitch one-peice suit? Will it be too hot for that? Should I just wear my usual leather pants and and denim jacket? plus a rain suit? I am afraid that if i buy a one-peice I am going to wish I could take my jacket off on hot days, but, of course, I would not need to buy a rain suit. I think my leather jacket is just going to be to hot in the summer. The price of an Aerostitch one-peice is hard to swallow, but maybe i should just suck it up and pay for it? will i be more comfortable? I am looking for simplicity and comfort. I'd love any advice...

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R.Day
www.rdaywillcome.com

I find riding suits to be too hot for summer. Besides, what are you going to do when you get off the bike? I wear motorcycle jeans made by Fast Company in NC. They're called Draggin' Jeans and have huge kevlar patches sewn inside the jeans at the knee and rear. For upper body, I wear Fast Company's Draggin' Shirt which is 100% kevlar weave when it gets hot. Very cool. It’s like not wearing a shirt at all when riding. I also strap and lock my Cordura jacket (I have a Buse, but the Rukka's look great as well and they're a sponsor of this site) to my bike for when the weather gets cooler. It has to get quite chilly for me to get cold legs, but when it gets cold, I put on a pair of long johns under my jeans. As for rain, bring real PVC raingear like the kind construction workers wear. It’s the only thing I found that really works. For boots I prefer waterproof hiking boots that are comfortable to walk in. To prevent rain from entering from the top use a pair of gaiters. You can check out the Draggin’ apparel at www.dragginjeans.com

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Improvement makes strait roads, but the crooked roads without Improvement, are roads of Genius - William Blake

[This message has been edited by CountPacMan (edited 12 June 2002).]

If you are taking the Northern route. Even in July and August, the Northern Great Lakes region is not hot, 80F max. In fact, I met a couple of Winger at Mackinaw Island a couple years ago in August and they both were dressed in full leathers.

I would reccomend the leathers you already have and a cheap rainsuit to go over that. I use the $10 Walmart PVC suit. It is very lightweight and compact. If it rips you can repair it with an innner tube repair kit or just throw it away and buy a new one. A pair of rubber booties and gloves and you are good to go.

There are some great sites in the Upper Penisula. I reccomend the freighter museum at the Soo Locks, the shipwreck museum at Whitefish point and Taquanamon (SP) falls.

Regards,

John




[This message has been edited by JohnA (edited 13 June 2002).]

I own an Aerostitch and love it. They are good protection and comfortable. They are not totally waterproof though, at least not the one piece suits. The two piece suits are supposed to be though. They are also not as hot as they look, I've worn mine through the desert without much problem. Actually they tend to get cold when it drops in to the low 70s F. I don't do any touring without it.

John,

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Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.
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One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

Rday,
Wear what you have. Spend the money you would have spent on the 'stich and finance half the trip. Before I bought a new suit, I would make sure the seat I was going to use for that far was comfortable. That may be a better place for spending.
John