Anyone got rukka armatech?

[_pi_]

Ordered it from germany at a good price (600 EUR for jacket; 500 for trousers) and it arrived yesterday.

Looks very good but I have two concerns before i remove all the tags and put her in use -

1. no removable insulation lining - it has Outlast (that nifty wax stuff) insulation which is meant to be good in various temperatures.

2. no vent in jacket

At what sort of outside temps is the suit comfortable?

Im worried that I will overheat in anything above 15C.... any experience?!

 

[SilverFish]

Hi _pi_,

I've just sent you an email via the Jon proxy but to answer the questions here:

Note my suit is the SRO and is a bit different to the Armatech so treat these answers with suspicion!

1. The Outlast fabric, as you probably now know, acts as a clever temperature buffer. I dont think it could be rated as insulation material. In fact, as you would have found out, as soon as you put it on, it draws the heat away from you!

2. The SRO jacket does have vents just below the shoulders, are they not there on the Armatech?

Comfortable temps: Wore my suit throughout the summer just gone and it was completely comfortable. Opened the vents for a bit of circulation, that was all. My only concern would be because it is black it would attract the heat, but that could be said about half of the bike clothing out there.

HTH

Mike

 

[_pi_]

thx for reply. seems the armatech and SRO trousers are about the same thing but your jacket has the nifty air vest... im worried that the armatech will be too hot as the liner is not removable...

did notice the cooling when you put it on... think the armatech has some insulation as well. at any rate not comfortable to wear in the living room...

cant find any vents (even though www.rukka.com says there should be some)... grrrr.

 

[gasman]

Silverfish,
where did you get your SRO and how much was it? I've only been able to locate the jacket in Slocombes in London and its £999.00.

Pi, how did you order yours from Germany ?
Ta!

 

[SilverFish]

SRO

gasman,

I bought the complete three piece suit from Infinity in Guildford in June this year for about, wait for it... £1700

And that included a discount.

They had to order it from their distributors, who in turn had to order it direct from the Rukka factory in Norway. I was a bit nervous about there being a problem with this supply chain, but it all worked perfectly with me receiving the kit well within the four weeks estimated.

If it were ever reviewed I feel it would score top marks for safety, comfort and versatility but nil points on value for money.

 

[gasman]

Thanks Silverfish,
£1700 !!!!!!!
.
asdfaa
jk;la;gdfsigj;
Sorry, came over all faint for a minute..

 

[_pi_]

Silverfish,
where did you get your SRO and how much was it? I've only been able to locate the jacket in Slocombes in London and its £999.00.

Pi, how did you order yours from Germany ?
Ta!

mine is the Armatech <> SRO. Pretty much the same stuff but instead of the Airvantage (blow up vest) thermal liner in the jacket there is an Outlast liner. Armatech is the second highest end rukka kit (after SRO). check it out on www.rukka.com.

I paid 600 EUR for the jacket and 500 EUR for the trousers - so in all about 770 GBP for the suit. This was a discount from 869 EUR and 679 EUR respectively. In the UK they wanted 650 GBP for the jacket alone...

try the web site www.louis.de and search for rukka.

 

[_pi_]

Re: SRO

gasman,

They had to order it from their distributors, who in turn had to order it direct from the Rukka factory in Norway. I was a bit nervous about there being a problem with this supply chain, but it all worked perfectly with me receiving the kit well within the four weeks estimated.

If it were ever reviewed I feel it would score top marks for safety, comfort and versatility but nil points on value for money.

armatech same safety and pretty much same comfort but 1000 quid cheaper if you buy it in germany

they dont normally stock armatech either in the UK. only go up to the A-tech (1 down in the line).

and another thing - if they ordered it from Norway you got ripped off mate - Rukka is Finnish (as is Yoko FWIW).

 

[_pi_]

few thoughts about the Armatech - for those who are thinking of picking one up from germany (www.louis.de):

1. at 770 gbp it is great value - similar to BMW streetguard but better quality - 5yr warranty! rukka feels better made and is almost completely made of armacor (the stuff as tough as leather) unlike the BMW. Also includes all armour bits as standard.

2. the outlast liner (wax stuff that helps regulate temp) does work well. i wear it over clothes for my commute in london and have found so far temps from 5-17C are comfortable. no sweating or chills. in both rain and clear conditions.

3. i dont think it will be comfortable above 25C in the city commute - but then again what is? should be as good as anything but does lack vents in the shoulders. time will tell next year.

4. armacor is the way forward - gortex laminated to cordura/kevlar weave. makes a very light suit and does not absorb water. rukka rated in tests more waterproof than BMW.

5. rukka nice looking kit

 

[Keyframe]

Ah... Slocombs. I assume you're refering to the Neasden Vesey Branch? Walk in and declare that you're not from round here... and then ask them what else they learnt on the customer service course. Don't try and have the last word though.

 

[SilverFish]

Rukka is Finnish (as is Yoko FWIW).

Yes, you're quite right. Scandinavian countries have always confused me.

I'm sure they keep changing their countries names around on the map.

Yoko? As in Yoko Ono? I always thought she was Japanese...

Back to the suit: I wholeheartedly agree that it is not worth that amount of money, but it is IMHO, probably the best motorcycle suit money can currently buy.

The SRO suit does have quite a few features which put it apart from most other suits. Like elastic Goretex used in the side panels, cuffs and collar. As the name suggests it is as waterproof and breathable as Goretex but also stretches very well to for when you are moving around or to suit the 'ahem' fuller figure. The trousers and cuffs have a system where some material (Outlast on the trousers, elastic Goretex on the cuffs) go inside your boots/gloves and the Armacor goes over and then zips down. This keeps the wind and driving rain completely outside.

Anyway, Im not a salesman and I dont think you would buy it unless you had already convinced yourself. I got it because I had a 35 mile ride to work, which when the weather went bad, could be very unpleasant indeed. I wanted an absolutely waterproof suit which was comfortable through a wide range of conditions, was very safe and looked great. I believe I got it.

Two months later I moved to within 3 miles of my office. C'est la vie.

Mike

 

[DavidHolmes]

On the way to the Nordkapp...

..I met a Finnish Biker coming t'other way on a K1200RS. He told me that in Finland they didn't rate Rukka nor Yoko, 'cause Frank Thomas stuff was more expensive and more highly rated.

I was never quite sure whether he was taking the piss, but bearing in mind import taxes in Finland, and a general human trait of 'if it costs more it must be better', I am not entirely sure he wasn't.

(And yes I have owned both a FT jacket and a Yoko one, but they cost £100 and £150 respectively .........not quite the same sort of kit we are talking about here)

 

[_pi_]

Yes, you're quite right. Scandinavian countries have always confused me.

I'm sure they keep changing their countries names around on the map.

Yoko? As in Yoko Ono? I always thought she was Japanese...

Back to the suit: I wholeheartedly agree that it is not worth that amount of money, but it is IMHO, probably the best motorcycle suit money can currently buy.

Mike

i think it can be worth the money if you spend a lot of time on the bike. i personally dont want to save cash vs safety - thats why i like rukka with armacor.

i would have considered buying the SRO if i hadnt found the Armatech on sale for only 770 quid (but normal price in the UK would have been 1200 i think).

 

[_pi_]

Re: On the way to the Nordkapp...

..I met a Finnish Biker coming t'other way on a K1200RS. He told me that in Finland they didn't rate Rukka nor Yoko, 'cause Frank Thomas stuff was more expensive and more highly rated.

I was never quite sure whether he was taking the piss, but bearing in mind import taxes in Finland, and a general human trait of 'if it costs more it must be better', I am not entirely sure he wasn't.

(And yes I have owned both a FT jacket and a Yoko one, but they cost £100 and £150 respectively .........not quite the same sort of kit we are talking about here)

he was taking the piss... rukka is a household name in finland (because they make ski stuff too) and has a reputation for quality. besides - finland part of EU so no import duties for FT kit if its made in europe.

no - i dont work for rukka.

 

[gasman]

QUOTE]he was taking the piss... rukka is a household name in finland (because they make ski stuff too) and has a reputation for quality. besides - finland part of EU so no import duties for FT kit if its made in europe.[/QUOTE]

I agree: spoke to a non-biking Finnish bird at work, who says Rukka is a byword for quality over there. And a lot cheaper than here !!