new suit - BMW Rallye or Aerostich??

Had the same BMW Kalahri suit for 12 years and about 250,000 and I have noticed that it is starting to shrink!! So maybe time for a new suit?

My current suit has been used in all weathers and many parts of the World with no problem. It has the removeable goretex liner - which is great to have out in hot weather but a pain the arse to be caught out in the rain because you have to take your trousers off to put the bloody thing on!! It gets washed maybe once a year and has never been 're-waterproofed'. Without the liner you get instantly wet, with the liner dry as a bone............the suit is comfy to wear with just underwear underneath in the summer and several layers in the winter.............so that is what I have bee used to.

Now then, BMW Rallye suit seems to have the same specification as my old suit but are they as well made?

I am interested in not having the liner problem and so am considering an aerostich roadcrafter two piece suit. I currently live in the US and can get a BMW suit disoucnted to the same price as an aerostich..........about $800US

I do not care too much for the look of the BMW suit - too heavy on the logos and how is the quality?? I understand that they are now made in the Far East somewhere. I do like the more discrete look of the aerostich but am not sure about hot weather performance without the re-moveable liner.

I notice that the aerostich is marketed as a suit you put over your 'normal' clothes............does that mean it would be uncomfortable to wear with just underwear underneath??

So, I think the basic question is goretex liner in the BMW or built in goretex in the aerostich. Do I have to compromise

Your thoughts / experience please

Ah!

Another person in search of that mythical Grail: a motorcycle suit for all conditions!

I shall watch this thread with interest.

(I suggest you acquaint yourself with the term 'Tw@T Suit' before reading any more replies ).

Good luck!

There are literally HUNDREDS of threads on this subject. Use the search function at the top of the page.

"Twat suit" is a keyword that is not so obvious but using just Rallye and Aerostich will already yield significant results.

My 2 Halalahs:

Buil in waterproofing is an issue when it comes to washing the suit. I like that part about the Rallye, although getting caught in a shower is a pest.

Maybe when it is warm and likely to be dry, a light 2-piece over-suit would be good enough for keeping the suit and you dry without the liners?

Rallye is more versatile than Aerostch - afaik, although I do not own a 'stich.

Bin Ridin said:

Rallye is more versatile than Aerostch - afaik, although I do not own a 'stich.

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How can you compare if you have not owned both?

What was your definition of versatile?

The strength of a Stitch is you can wear it over "ordinary" clothes and then quickly ditch it at your destination or at a stop off point even.

I've worn it in the summer with a pair of shorts and t shirt with no chaffing.

At two dollars to the pound even with tax and shipping the 'stich' is good value at the moment, there will never be a better time to get one. If you don't you will kick yourself later.

Over the last thirty years I have tried leather/wax cotton/nylon/various textile with and without goretex-simpatex in fact just about every sort of tex there is and it is my considered opinion that what you are looking for does not exist !!!!

Every single item has an advantage over another and in equal measure a disadvantage, I have just about given up. I now have a light'ish weight textile jacket and strides, which are "waterproof" (ish) if cold I put on layers underneath (long sleeve t's etc) and if it is really raining I put single skin waterproofs over the top.
But thats just my opinion I am as likely to wrong as right !!!! (god I hope my wife dont see me admiting that ;-)

I have no experiance of Aerostich so can't pass coment on them.

I do have a Ralyee II jacket and trousers though.

First off, as much as they are genuinley good kit there is no way I would pay full price for them. They are just not worth that kind of money. I was fortunate in getting the trousers in a sale and the jacket 2nd hand.

It is worth noting that I do not 'do' hot weather, I get far too hot too easily and really value gear that keeps me cool yet is still able to offer a high level of protection.

The trousers (2 years old), I think, are the best bit. They have kept me 100% dry at all times (including all day Motorway, torential rain rides). They are light weight and have reasonable armour (I have the additional hip pads - but why did I have to pay extra for them )
The zipped venting is great and in combination with the removable Gortex liner (not a thermal liner) I have found them to be confortable in all weather conditions (English winters to Mid summer southern Spain).

I would defo replace them with the same.


As for the jacket I still can't make my mind up. It IS a good jacket, no doubt. But, my previous jacket, a Hein Gericke Tuareg with Gortex thermal liner (now discontinued) was, in all respects better and more than half the price.

The jacket (1 year old) is defo. well made. Somehow though, it does not feel as comfy and is not as light weight as the Tuareg.
It is lovely and cool in hot weather, the venting is great, but the large back protector means that my back gets sweaty in very hot weather - not an issue with the Tuareg.
It is 100% water proof (with the thermal liner in) and is what I would describe as a three season jacket. Whilst it is adequate in winter weather it is not as warm as the Tuareg which still gets worn in very cold weather, despite the fact that it is now starting to fall apart

Don't get me wrong, I do really like the jacket, but am not sure if I would replace it with the same again..............I will have to see what is around when it needs replacing.

There is quite a bit of debate here on the merits (or not) of removable Gortex liners. Personally I prefer them and one advantage not often mentioned is the ability to use them in other jackets/trousers. So, for example, I use the trouser liners in my off road trousers which works a treat

Andres

PS Thinking about it, one place the Ralyee scores is that as the Gortex liner in not as heavy a thermal liner as the Tuareg one it is consequently more comfy in hot/hummid weather (when you are forced to wear the liners 'cos it's raining).

Novice said:

How can you compare if you have not owned both?

What was your definition of versatile?

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Versatile to me means fit for purpose in diverse circumstances.
I use a rallye here in Riyadh at +45C and in Ireland at +1C - seems versatile.
Good in hot / cold., wet / dry. Kept me bone dry in various downpours. (Plymouth Holyhead '05 never to be forgotten)

I do not see the 'stich being suitalbe for the very hot weather, although it may be ok for the colder stuff. I believe the zips leak after a period in heavy rain.

New suit - BMW Rallye or Aerostich??

From my experience of both Aerostich & BMW Rallye suits you should really be considering some Rukka clothing.

The Rukka Armax jacket and trousers are second to none. I ride my bike all the year round and cannot fault the weather protection, pockets, style, comfort, versatility, tailoring, armour etc. etc and the build quality is excellent (5 year guarantee)

Before you do anything have a look at the Rukka gear, you will not be disappointed. It is a little more expensive, but you only get what you pay for

Jackets

have never owned an areostitch have only seen one once which the owner was very pleased. I have always used Rukka and it really cannot be faulted
but the only problem I find is that in very hot weather it is HOT!. Thi9s year have used a ralle 2 for a long forrage from mnorth to south America purely
because it has vents and is brilliant in very hot weather. Tghe best way to use it in the heat is to remove the Gortex liner(s) and use a light two piec3e oversuit in the event of rain, this also provides a bit of warmth when riding through high cold winds, it also provides very good protection in the event
of a prang which I unfortunatly have carried out tests. (60mph & 80mph) and
protection worked very well a few small holes in trousers and jacket but no
none in self!. I brought mine s/h from this site and this would seem the way to go. However Rally 2's need trying on as there are so many size variations.
Also beware of wearing GS the (short ones) very nice gloves but too short and yiou end up with grazed wrists when sliding down the road! I have the scars to prove it.
dave (holey rally 2) gs.happy 2008.

davegs said:

Also beware of wearing GS the (short ones) very nice gloves but too short and yiou end up with grazed wrists when sliding down the road! I have the scars to prove it.

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never really thought of that. did you come to grief in the original style, or the slightly longer mk2s?

You should consider Rukka.

Your replies are great. I still have my Rukka from years ago, but that too has shrunk with the years!!

Just to confuse matters further I tried on a Rev It "off track" jacket at the NEC and was very impressed. Seems to have good features re: versatility and works out at £60 for jkt and toosers (Dakar pants I believe). I haven't actually worn them on a bike though.

Well I have both a Rallye (1) and an Aerostitch Roadcrafter. For me, both are quite specialist suits. I use the Roadcrafter when I really need to arrive somewhere in a suit 'n' tie and know I cannot change there - or am just popping down the road for a meeting at work. I use the Rallye almost exclusively off road, or on road in very hot weather. Neither would make a good all round all season suit IMHO.

The best all round gear I have is undoubtedly my Atlantis. Gets worn (commuting, touring, blatting) almost all year round (I wear a Yoko jacket with the Atlantis trousers in the depths of winter).

Have yet to crash in any of them, but if I was going to hit tarmac hard I would rather be in the Atlantis or Roadcrafter than the Rallye.

Quote "The best all round gear I have is undoubtedly my Atlantis. Gets worn (commuting, touring, blatting) almost all year round (I wear a Yoko jacket with the Atlantis trousers in the depths of winter)." end quote

I assume we are talking Atlantis, bmw's nubuck leather here?

de crowe said:

Quote "The best all round gear I have is undoubtedly my Atlantis. Gets worn (commuting, touring, blatting) almost all year round (I wear a Yoko jacket with the Atlantis trousers in the depths of winter)." end quote

I assume we are talking Atlantis, bmw's nubuck leather here?

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Indeed we are - used from the Nordkapp to Fes - no gortex liners, I use an oversuit when necessary - and this is one of the major advantages over the Roadcrafter. Both the Roadcrafter and Atlantis can easily cope with the normal English weather for 9 months of the year, but, if you need to ride for 10 hours in pouring rain, you can wear an oversuit over the Atlantis. The Roadcrafter is just to thick and stiff for me to get an oversuit over the top.

In real heat, the Roadcrafter has lots of zip vents, and you can stay comfortable, so long as you are moving. Stop, get off the bike, and you really need to take it off pretty quickly (which is a pain if your panniers are full of other stuff). I have walked for miles (and climbed the odd mountain) in sunshine in the Atlantis - cant say it was ideal, but it was doable.

It is far from perfect - I had a 2 which was pretty good, I now have a 3 (warranty replacement) and the 'cut' is not so good for me - too much material in the sleeves means it can 'flap' at speed, and I have had 2 zip failures on jackets. I should say that I am tempted by the Streetguard - Tim Luckhurst (amongst others) seems to really rate it. But if I could only have the one suit from those I already own (Atlantis, Rallye, Roadcrafter), the Atlantis is the the one I would choose.

Backmarker said:

Indeed we are - used from the Nordkapp to Fes - no gortex liners, I use an oversuit when necessary - and this is one of the major advantages over the Roadcrafter. Both the Roadcrafter and Atlantis can easily cope with the normal English weather for 9 months of the year, but, if you need to ride for 10 hours in pouring rain, you can wear an oversuit over the Atlantis. The Roadcrafter is just to thick and stiff for me to get an oversuit over the top.

In real heat, the Roadcrafter has lots of zip vents, and you can stay comfortable, so long as you are moving. Stop, get off the bike, and you really need to take it off pretty quickly (which is a pain if your panniers are full of other stuff). I have walked for miles (and climbed the odd mountain) in sunshine in the Atlantis - cant say it was ideal, but it was doable.

It is far from perfect - I had a 2 which was pretty good, I now have a 3 (warranty replacement) and the 'cut' is not so good for me - too much material in the sleeves means it can 'flap' at speed, and I have had 2 zip failures on jackets. I should say that I am tempted by the Streetguard - Tim Luckhurst (amongst others) seems to really rate it. But if I could only have the one suit from those I already own (Atlantis, Rallye, Roadcrafter), the Atlantis is the the one I would choose.

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Bingo!

BMW Atlantis is the nearest to the "Holy Grail" best all round suit.

I've had a III for a couple of years (without the Gore-Tex). It is water-proof on its own but really, really heavy, prolonged rain will see you getting damp.

The amazing thing about the Atlantis is that it's machine washable (mine has been done several times) leather. It also dries on you in the time it takes to eat a decent "fat-boys" breakfast.

The cut is generous enough to allow layering beneath but like Backmarker says; it's snug enough to add an oversuit if you want extra weather protection.

It doesn't look like the usual biker's leathers.

It isn't perfect, the pockets are not much cop and it's heavy.

My most versatile jacket is my BM savannah. I've got a rallye II which is a great jacket, fantastic off-road and in the summer but not great for extended wet / cold riding as in the UK at the moment. The savannah is a bit longer, the outer seems a bit more water reppellant and it's toasty when layered up with a buffalo underneath (i don't do heated stuff, don't like the thought of being caught out in the boonies with nothing to power it).
If I had to replace it today I would be trying on a Rukka AllRoad. That looks the closest thing to it in terms of versatility.
I've had HG tuareg jackets but didn't like the fact that the waterproof liner is also thermal. To me that meant if you wanted to stay dry in the summer you end up roasting. I still use my tuareg pants though.