I had a Rukka Armadillo suit a few years back which is very similar to the current Armas/Armaxis suit. Hand on heart, I think Rukka is a) vastly overpriced and b) too hot for summer use. I was obsessed with getting GorePro outer shell for years - see my post in 2012/13 lauding the merits of the HG Master V suit! No doubt - it works very well during winter and in cold weather. But the downsides during the important summer season outweigh the upsides. The majority of times we ride, it tends to be dry - I bet that is true of the vast majority of people riding Ducatis If the weather is pouring heavy rain, it is unlikely that you will be wanting to ride at all unless you absolutely have to. The Gore Z-liner works well at keeping you dry, and the D-Explorer main jacket dries quickly because the main material is also proofed with a coating. The notion of a wet outer layer is vastly exaggerated on the internet. A disadvantage of GorePro suits is that they all feel rough and cardboard stiff on the outside. The Dainese Stradon D1 (2016 model, not the earlier 2015 Stradon model) is the first GorePro jacket that has a softer elasticised material on the outside. As usual, Dainese offer the nicest materials imho. And the upside is that is you can buy a full D-Explorer suit for about half price of a Rukka. I'd rather buy 2 brand new functional suits over time rather than try to extend 1 compromised suit over a long period of time.
Rukka without a doubt, fantastic quality and well thought out. I have the armaxis jacket and armaxion pants, completely waterproof and don't get waterlogged as the goretex is impregnated into the outer shell. Just got some Rukka winter gloves and couldn't be happier! Used these guys, great service and very knowledgable. Btw 6 year warranty on Rukka Bargain Biker Brands | Affordable Motorcycle Clothing
Held Quatro-tempi is good. Had it about 6 years and it's never let in. I think waterproofness may depend on your riding position and bike though. I never found waterproofs that worked on sports bikes. Since I got the Held gear I've had a Benelli Tre-K and a Mutley - both upright riding position with screen. I'm replacing the Mutley with a Monster so will find out soon enough.
If U go Rukka, it's 6 year warranty when bought in the uk, 5 year elsewhere (I know this as my mate works for the importer). Armaxis Jacket is what I was looking at as its stretch fit, but it's not Laminate gore tex, the laminate Goretex is really amazing as it doesn't hold the water, which if u ride every day means the kit is dried out by the next morning, also the laminate Goretex is stronger, however it's a big jump in price to circa £700 a jacket. I'm not 100% on wearing Rukka all year, you could go with the Armaxis jacket and jeans and then with the £400 u saved maybe get some leathers for summer. Tbh though with the liners out the Rukka stuff isn't too bad. I'm trying out a £1400 Rukka jacket and jeans at the mo, it's pretty trick but would never spend that much myself!!
My current favourite gear is Rev-It (stupid name), I'm using Defender jacket & leather pants (I prefer leathers). I'm OK in the jacket in Spain in the summer, provided the thermal & Goretex layers are out and I'm moving. Leathers aren't ventilated, so too hot. For winter, I went from Portsmouth to Scunthorpe and back in February a couple of years ago, when temperature was below freezing (but dry) for a good couple of hours first thing in the morning. This was with silk legs, undergloves and thermal base layer under a shirt & fleece. 9 hours on the bike with no ill-effects. My wife has a Rev-It suit for summer (same as mine, essentially) plus a Rukka suit. The Rukka is better quality and lasts more, but not so versatile. And more expensive. I can't justify a winter suit and a summer suit, so I stick with the one. Waterproofing is fine, if you start off done up properly. I get a bit of seepage because I use cheapo coverall pants over leathers, so it blows up but wife tends to be fine in either suit, zipped up. Rev-it comes in different leg lengths, which is good. Not cheap and seems to wear out almost as fast as Alpinestars. Good for comfort. Alaska gloves are very good for warmth. I need a new one for next year. I've had this one for three/four years.
I'm using the armaxis and its superb in the wet, the internal wind stopper jacket takes a bit to get used too, most of the time I forget to zip it up, it's defo not for warm weather riding! Doesn't hold water, got mine from: bargain biker brands Here's a review of the jacket, I got the armaxion pants which are superb too. Rukka Armaxis Jacket Review - webBikeWorld
I've been trying to find an unperforated one piece suit for spring and autumn, as my RST pro series is heavily perforated, so a tad chilly until summer. In the meantime I'm using a very old ISX two piece.
Have to say I do like the look of the D-Explorer. Think I may ride up to the Dainese store and have a try on when the weather allows. One thing I liked about the Amaxis is that the jacket isn't too long. Doesn't matter on the head-down Ducati but on my KTM with the upright riding position and the shape of the seat a longer jacket touches the pillion seat and rucks up at the back which gets annoying. Definitely one to have a look at.
Went and had a try of the Dainese D-Explorer at the Dainese shop at Bristol today. Nice jacket but a bit heavy and bulky. Realistically, I'm after a May to October touring suit that lets you keep riding when it rains, won't boil you when its dry and is comfortable enough to walk around in off the bike. I'm not going to be winter touring so I think the full four season D-Explorer would be more than I need in summer in Europe. So I tried the Sandstorm Dainese Sandstorm P65 Gore-Tex Jacket - Gore-Tex Clothing - Textile Clothing - Motorcycle I liked that a lot. Very similar to the D-Explorer but much less bulky and virtually as flexible and comfortable as a Rukka. I'm minded to go for that paired with some D-Dry trousers. I can get them both cheaper than a single Rukka jacket and all the other Dainese gear I've ever had has been top notch. I tried the Rev-It equivalent as well in Fowlers but it didn't feel as good as any of the Dainese jackets. The armour pads were really rigid and intrusive and the fabric wasn't as flexible and mobile. You can hardly tell the Dainese had any armour in it.
I needed to replace my very old kit and bought Revit, the leather and textile stuff. Realised on my first ride with it that it fits really well, is exceptionally comfortable and...cold. So summer wear only for me (Reynauds). I had about two weeks to find something I could tour in to Germany in September. Saw the Halvarssons kit, ordered it on the spot cost about £800. Has hi viz that zips onto the jacket and is brilliant, totally tucked up and toasty when wearing it. It rained constantly for the first five days of our tour, no problems though did also put over suit on at times when the rain was biblical. Need to sort gloves out though, held goretex turned into chamoix leather.
I run an alpinestars Andes dry star jacket and trousers on my adventure bike It's kept me dry in the hardest rain, and has a removable fleece liner and various zip sealed air vents for the summer, and the trousers connect into the jacket with a zip that goes nearly all the way round The only issue I had with it was that the knee inserts were pretty weedy, so I bought some better ones that slipped straight Comes in a few colours and costs about £380 for the set
I was very gratefully bought these gloves. The palm pad, is a bit annoying but apparently helps prevent bone breakage in the arm and shoulder area. Great fit and seems to be very well made. I expect them to be waterproof being gortex but let's see. They also have the touch pads for phoning a takeaway on the way home.
What's the palm thickness like on them ? I've been on a mission for ages to find a decent set of winter waterproof gloves that don't take away the throttle feel and I can still feel my heated grips through
They are a thin glove, great feel and fit. 3 layer system. But as I say the pad could be an issue for you. Better than the previous rst winter glove I have which has no feel at all.
I was told that I will feel the heat from the grips but have yet to try. Will be out later so will let you know.
You can feel the heated grips. Not a lot of heat though, I would feel more heat from the rst gloves. This morning it was about 6degs, so not cold. It was raining, hands dry and didn't feel cold with the grips switched off.
got these for christmas and have been road testing them on the way to work this week (alright its not been that cold), have to say though, very warm and very very comfortable and the protection for a winter glove's second to none Dainese Scout Evo Gtx | Dainese Scout Evo Gtx - Waterproof motorcycle gloves - Gloves | MCA Leicester
I settled on a pair of Richa Hurricane Gortex gloves. They're the ones I've found with the thinnest palm so you can feel a bit of warmth from the grips, but still not toasty on the palms like my summer gloves (Alpinestars GP Pro) They are totally waterproof and have a reasonable level on back of hand thickness for wind chill I got them from the Mega Motorbike store in Swindon for about £60 iirc Richa Hurricane Goretex Gloves - Motorcycle Gloves - For Motorbikes
