Hi All, Me and my brother are going away on the bikes (mines a 2011 Multi) - up to Scotland this August. Next Year the NC500 and year after that a 10 day Euro haul. Question is, I'm after some comfortable bike gear to wear, what do you guys wear for riding to stay comfortable and dry if it rains? - I always wear full bike gear but wouldn't be adverse to Reinforced jeans etc. At the moment I wear a fabric Alpinestars 2 piece that zips in the middle, A'stars boots, A'stars gloves and HJC RPHA 70 helmet. This was on more sporty bikes ('14 Fireblade). Just want to be as comfy as I can. Thanks, Al.
Depending how you get on with the seat, padded shorts help. Leather over jeans or textile as it doesn’t ride up as much in the crotch.
It's a difficult choice for touring when you're away for quite a few days at a time. Have toured a fair proportion of Europe but like you am off to Scotland this year, it's going to be busy up there... Have a look at the long range forecast the week before you go and decide then. Obviously this does rely on you having the various types of kit already or the ability to get somewhere with decent stock and buy last minute (not always a great idea). I've built up something of a collection over the years so have a range to choose from. Previously I've toured in leathers, textiles and more recently I've gone with vented/airy under-layer of either a perf. Dainese Santa Monica leather jacket (discontinued) or a Klim Marrakesh fabric jacket combined with Rokker Rokkertech jeans and TCX shortie boots. This I combine with a breathable two piece unlined waterproof (I have Held Wet Tour jacket and trousers) and then some overboots. I have shortie decent Klim leather gloves along with some Held Goretex gloves without thermal lining that are no longer available. All this means I can swap out kit and adapt to suit quite a wide range of conditions. I also pack merino wool underclothes (long sleeve top and long johns) as well as a wind-breaker MC top I got from Aldi years ago. The shortie boots do leave my shins somewhat exposed but the trade off in the ability to comfortably walk around or be cooler at lunch stops is worth it IMHO. The TCXs are pretty tough otherwise. If it looks like it's going to be particularly wet and not that warm then I'll probably go with the Textlie/Goretex kit and full length Goretex boots. I'll also pack some waterproof gloves with a thermal lining though I prefer thinner gloves for feel and using the heated grips where necessary. That's me, your needs may vary. EDIT: And yes to the Touratech seat, bought both rider and pillion for my 1260s, OEM ones were awful. Now all day comfy with no hesitation getting back on day after day. the originals took the joy out of touring they were so bad. Your model may vary in this regard but put in a couple of higher mileage consecutive days to test before departing on a big trip.
I do short term high mileage foreign jaunts. I wear Wolf laminate jkt & trs Trousers have built in braces. For me, this is far more comfy compared to zip together. Additionally, I take a fully vented Ducati textile jkt and a pair of Wolf aramid armoured jeans. I simply swop the armour in the jackets if the weather dictates. One pair of Richa Hurricane GoreTex gloves for all but the warmest of days & one pair Richa summer vented. Additionally, I carry Ixon lightweight w/proofs in my tail pack just in case I get caught out. I wear one pair of boots, Falco Volt. Hope that helps.
For hooning leathers with a throw on waterproof, for longer distances textiles and for casual just nipping out leather jacket and jeans. My next textile purchase will be laminate though.
I'm off up there again tomorrow for 8 days, weather is looking ok but, as most will tell you, it can change so quickly from one hour to the next. I just wear laminated textiles and remove the thermal layers when it looks like a warm, dry day. A guy I know wears leathers and packs a very good waterproof oversuit. Take summer and winter gloves too.
Scotland & summertime (usually moist-ish) = Midgies.!! Nasty horrible flesh eating spawn of the devil..!! Being a Scot, I have the scars to prove.. You have been warned..
I used to tour in drop liner textiles, sidi black rain boots with summer and gortex winter gloves and a Oxford baby grow wet suit. My posh mates all have rukka laminated so I decided to spend a bit last year and can’t justify £2500 so managed to get a richa laminated 2 piece arc from motolegends for £860 so I’d suggest waiting for Black Friday or any other sales and get a deal. One thing I would add is alway test it here on a long ride as my mate bought a new lid the day before a trip to Europe and he ended up buying a cheap on over there . don’t forget a midge hat and skin so soft spray
For me Goretex laminate with vents is good up to 25-28 Deg c. Then it has to be mesh suit with waterproof back up. Like other my EU tour is off so I am going to Scotland. We should have hired a site B&B!
If your budget will stretch and you want textiles, there's still nothing better than the Touratech (Stadler) suit.
If it's good enough for the SAS then it's good enough for me. Or is that just a marketing gimmick by Avon? Seems to work though.
The Avon skin so soft is recommended by a lot of cyclists who visit Sc0tchland it isn’t marketing by Avon.
Very aware that it works, used it up there myself and will need to buy some before the end of the month when I'm heading north of the border again. I was just the "good enough for the SAS..." thing that I'd heard bandied around, wondering if that's true or not.
september and october can be scortchio but not as busy. but it always rains in august. central/north and east are always drier.
