I've been using a Halvarssons jacket and the trousers that go with it for about 6 years and finally threw out the liners this spring because the tiny little zips that held them in place had given up on me and I got pissed off with the lining coming out as I took the jacket off. Both the jacket and trousers have been excellent and have never leaked even though I've only washed them once because I'm a scruffy bastard.
Hideout Adventure Pro suit. Frickin expensive, but beautifully made and the only way I can get stuff that fits me properly.
3 months ago I bought a Richa Spirit C Change Touring suit Spirit I have to say it is the best suit I have had so far and I do a lot of miles in all weather. It is made of the new Schoeller nano material and it does seem to work. In the hot weather (remember that?) I didn't get sweaty and have now ridden in 3 downpours and it is totally waterproof - including ALL the pockets and the crotch area! It is light to wear, water just runs off the outer surface so it dries quickly and doesn't weigh a ton when wet. It has a neat trick in that the jacket liner can be removed to wear as a quite presentable fleece at the end of a days riding. I have not yet worn it in cold weather but hopefully it will work in the cold as well, if not there is always the heated jacket I am told that the next generation of BMW Textile suits will be made of the same material. Apologies if this sounds like an advert but so far I am seriously impressed with the suit. All I need now are boots and gloves made of the same stuff!
I still use the original Sand jacket and pants and have found it excellent and durable. It flows a tonne of air with all the vents open for those hot days.
I got the Dainese Bruce Gore-Tex jacket and it works perfectly in all weather types. An extra positive point is that it is an 'old' model (2011 or 2012 I think) so you can find it heavily discounted from 500 to 300 or something and this is good value for money. Biggest challenge is to find your size. It is great for cold weather and rain. Tried & tested.
Psy69 is spot on, why spend up to or over a grand on jacket and trousers when a good rain suit will do the trick, ive just dug out last months Adventure Bike Rider and they have recommended 7 suits all under £100, BMW pro rain scored highestthen Held Monsoon, Alpinestars El Nino Suit, Jofama rain suit ( never heard of them ) IXS Niagra, Rev'it Rain Suit Pacific H2o, and evolution TO2, anyone tried any of the above? I have a HG goretex suit its just over 5 years and beginning to get a little damp in places but the kit still looks great so might just invest in "Onesie"
Alpine stars quick seal out suit! It's 2 piece and £80 ish, fantastic bit of kit! Not a drop of water gets through! Comes in its own little bag and looking at the space under the seat of a multi I think it would fit!
I have tried many bits of kit but my latest passion is for Dainese kit. Always thought they were just for race bikes but if you find a D-Store they have gortex, D-Dry and of course leather. For mr the best of the rest is Halrvassons but its all down to individual fit and taste.
Because a) I don't want to stop if it starts raining and then stop again if it stops raining b) I don't want to be boiled in a bag if it is a warm day c) I always struggle to get a onesie on and offand if you need a pee ........ d) I prefer to just keep riding in a suit that keeps me warm and dry
Ducati leather jacket or Dainese mesh +/- Ebay Goretex ex police hi-viz jacket when required. Trousers - armoured jeans / BMW Atlantis leather +/- Ebay Goretex RAF trousers when required
I believe Satzoomer was talking in the context of a true 4 season touring suit. Keeping warm and dry is the easy part, keeping cool and dry is the challenge.
For one piece suits the dogs danglies used to be Rukka kit and they still make superb stuff but the cost is a minimum of one kidney and quite often your first born as well. Shopping around on a few German sites will often show up bargains when it comes to Rukka clothing but you've still got to be riding in all seasons to make it worth the cost. I won't wear a one piece suit over my other clothing since I heard an urban myth regarding someone getting caught short and dropping their one piece off as far as was needed then taking a dump in some bushes only to get something very unpleasant over the back of their leathers when they pulled the rain suit back up again
I used my Hein Gerricke Master suit this year on a trip to the IOM, I usually ride in kevlar jeans and a Ducati branded Dainese jacket, but obviously no good in the wet, My HG suit is goretex and 100% waterproof, but has no vents, so I was very concerned about taking this, but as a pillion and full luggage meant I could only opt for 1 choice, I went for the Hein gerricke, Typically there was not one spot of rain but even with temperatures pushing 30, the suit was fine, seemed to regulate quite nicely
Confirmed, Dainese Gator jacket/pants and Dainese tour boots and gloves too, as long as its gortex. Expensive but it last 10yrs +.
Hi, I don't know where you live, but Grantham Honda are currently selling Dainese kit at 50% off. Dave
A couple of years ago I bought Wolf Titanium textile jacket and trousers. They looked good, but later that year I came off the bike and wore a hole through the textiles jacket, the trousers were ok because I was wearing leather jeans at the time. For the last year I've been wearing a Halvarssons Odyssey which I can't fault. A few weeks ago I got caught in a torrential shower that lasted less than 5 minutes. I'd have been as well dipping my arse in a bucket of water for all the good the Wolf trousers did. I immediately replaced them with a set of Halvarssons Prince trousers and although I haven't had the opportunity to try them properly yet I'm confident that they will perform satisfactorily.
