Alternative to BMW Riding Kit?

[Llama]

This has probably been discussed before but I never was any good at searching....

I want some good enduro styled kit to go with my new 12gs. I want to wear it on and off road, I would like it to look good, be warm in the winter, cool in the summer, dry when it rains and not cost the equivilent of a 3rd world countries debt payments.

Everything keeps pointing to the BMW Rally suit which fits the bill on all but the last point.

Hein-gericke toureg stuff doesnt seem to bad but by the time you add gore-tex the price starts creeping up. The Rally Raid (I think thats what its called - the one with the orange bits on the arms) seems to meet all the rquirements and works out less than £200. But with this the thermal lining and waterproof layer are all in one which is a bummer if it rains on a hot day.

So the question is is there anything out there which is a genuine, reasonably priced alternative to the BM kit or am I just going to have to spend the dosh to get what I want?

Anyone with experience of the options?

 

[Possu]

I think it's difficult to have a well vented jacket for the summer that's also waterproof. I use the HG Toureg jacket with the Goretex liner, works fine for me as I bought it as 3-season & not a winter jacket.

Showers are fine, anything heavier or for longer periods, I use a one piece waterproof oversuit. At £209, it's a good piece of kit, especially in the summer with the vents open.

 

[Gecko]

So you want waterproof, cool in summer, warm in winter, breathable, stylish and not break the bank........let me know when you find it coz it doesn't exist as far as I know

Joking aside the hein Gericke stuff takes some beating on value. The Tuareg range is Goretex lined so you pay more for the name. They also have a number of products which use Shelltex which is an alternative to Goretex. I recently picked up a jacket and trouser combi from HG in Aachen in Germany. It is shelltex lined has vents in the front so you get some cool air through to the lining . It is seriously waterproof - I tested it in extreme wet weather shortly after buying it and in my view it looks Ok too. I don't like black gear only on a bike - I like to be seen and this stuff is green/grey and black. It's a range called 'Devon' on sale via www.hein-gericke.de and I paid a miserly Euro 175 for the whole combi suit. Oh yeah it has CE armour in the shoulders, elbow and back but you have to buy hi protectors extra if you want them.
Good ridin'
Cheers Gecko

 

[The Phantom Pieman]

I would also rate HG ... but I have had a few quality failures, but these have been replaced.

I really rate the Belstaff stuff I have seen, sadly they don't make it any more, but have a look on the Busters site .... there is still some around
I think the attention to detail is much better than HG

 

[Andy Hird]

Ralph,

I have had a HG Voyager Goretex Jacket and Trousers for three years now. Worked very well at first ansd was really pleased with it. But on the Garmisch run this year it leaked in torrential rain, so I took it back to HG who because it was out of it's two year warranty, sent it off to Gore-Tex for leak testing. Gore Tex did indeed find that it leaked and Heine Gericke has replaced the suit with the next suit up, the Cruise suit, bacause the Voyager Gore-tex has been discontinued. And also a guy at work has just bought the Tureg Gore-Tex suit from HG, and on the way home from this years Moto-GP got drenched even with the Gore tex liner in.

I was tempeted to ask for my money back, as I thought if my HG gear has leaked once, then if I get some more it will only do the same. Then spend the money on some BMW gear, but I can't afford to, so will stick with HG. If you can afford it go for the BMW Rallye Suit.

Good Luck,
Andy.

 

[Joyseeker]

 

[Fitzy]

Visit your nearest KTM dealer and try on their dual sport Adventure kit. It's similar quality or better than BMW but about 2/3rds the price.

 

[ROLLINSDAN]

I've used the Hein Gericke rallye raid trousers (now £69 I think) for the last 2 years and I can't fault them at all, with them I'm using a BMW Rallye 2 jacket (only had it for 2 weeks, but done around 1500 miles in it) as a combo it works really well, they have not leaked yet. The jacket was £310 brand new from ebay.de. So for just under £400 I have a suit that has the best of both worlds.............

 

[Llama]

Thanks for the info Fitzy I'll have a gander.
Surfing the web I have found this:
http://www.mineolamoto.com/eshopprod_cat_1584-12208_product_144466.FIELDSHEER_AUTO_TECH_JACKET.htm
I tried to post the image but I couldn't get it to work. The gunmetal colour looks better than the black.

• 300 denier full dull Taslan
  Anatomically fit for the riding position
  Ballistic nylon protective patches on shoulders
  Polyester mesh non-allergenic liner
  Removable FS RainGuard® 100% waterproof/breathable 100% waterproof/breathable jet liner
  Zip-out, removable duck down jacket with 4 pockets
  External, removable CE armor fitted in back, shoulders and elbows
  FS Ram Air® venting system front and back
  Reflective Phoslite
  Velcro adjustable micro fleece collar with padding
  Velcro adjustable waist
  Velcro sleeve volume adjustment
  Gusseted with Velcro adjustable wrist cuff
  Storm flap system
  4 front pockets and 2 zippered hand warmer pockets
  1 internal map pocket
  1 rear pouch pocket
  Heavy duty Fieldsheer zippers
  Full duck down lining

What looks cool is the fact that the waterproof liner is seperate from the thermal liner. So it seems to fit the bill. Its available in the UK here http://www.motoxdirect.co.uk/acatalog/Textile_Jackets.html for £149. So its not a bad price either.
Anyone out there with any experience of Fieldsheer kit?

 

[Llama]

Then again, maybe the attachment did work....................

 

[Mutley]

Hi Ralph,

I have the HG Toureg and it does come with the Gortex liners at no extra cost, I love mine brilliant in the wet and great in the summer even with the liners in, it is however very cool in the summer heat with the liners out

I like the BM rally stuff its just very expensive and it has a real lack of waterproof pockets, plus no inside jacket pocket for your wallet etc. unlike the H&G kit.

I hope this helps.

Mutley

 

[Llama]

Thanks Mutley
Are you the same mutley I sopke to on the Triumphrat.net forum. If so Hi.
Ralph

 

[adamski49]

Ralph

I've got Fieldsheer kit, Manx Pro jacket (£100) and the Astro trousers (£70) - they are fully armoured, comfortable and warm with a full waist zip and I really like them... however, anything more than a standard shower and water is almost guaranteed to find it's way in somewhere which is a bit disappointing.

The pockets always leak including the one just inside the storm flap where I normally keep my mobile phone. Part of the problem is the low neck that can let water in. Also the rain guard lining catches the water between it and the outer layer and it then runs down and drains out into your gloves if you have them over the cuffs.

As a result I now wear a lightweight waterproof jacket over the top if I'm riding in anything resembling torrential rain. My HG PSX-T2 sheltex suit performs better than this so next time I buy winter / all weather kit it will most likely be HG.

Still if you don't often ride in rain, FS offers good value for money.

Adam

 

[Jason P]

Somewhere one here (the bargain forum I think) peeps were talking about Belstaff stuff at half price. Gotta be woth a look. I would, but I'm already Dianese'd up.

Jason

 

[Larry]

HG Voyager Gore-Tex jacket excellent all year round. Was never a big fan of Rukka kit as I thought it overpriced and no better performing than HG kit but have had a pair of A-tech trousers for a couple of months now (Gore-tex laminate so waterproof without the liner - water just beads off). Hideously expensive but great for touring in. Wouldn't mind trying the equivalent jacket but at about £650 that'll have to wait for my 6 numbers.

 

[Mutley]

Ralph,

yeap thats me :darth good to see you mate.

Mutley

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

I want to wear it on and off road, I would like it to look good, be warm in the winter, cool in the summer, dry when it rains and not cost the equivilent of a 3rd world countries debt payments.

Nissan micra with air con and knobbly tyres

 

[Llama]

This nissan micra stuff sounds good, does it come made to measure or off the peg

The HG stuff seems to get good press but by the time you go for the goretex kit the price rises a fair bit. Seems a if its between the HG Rally Raid (less than £200 for a suit or the Fleidsheer which fits the bill better (on paper at least)

Slightly dissapointed to hear about the fieldsheer leakage issue but I might just give it a look if I can find a real supplier as opposed to the web so I can give it a prod and a pull to compare it with HG. I'll let you know the results.