BMW motorcycle protective clothing

[Stocka]

Halvarssons Safety

Item called Cruise, £249 jacket, £199 for trousers.

Got a score of 51/55, only beaten by Halvarssons Safety which got 54/55 but costs exactly double.

No BMW kit in this test.

The Halvarssons suit is good value. You get an EN 13595 Level 2 protective suit (exceeds Level 3 of the SATRA test so it rivals expensive leathers from BKS etc), a waterproof winter oversuit and a summer one. The summer oversuit is ventilated. Air pours through it when you start moving - much better than my BMW Rallye with all the vent zips open.

Workmanship, design and detailing first class IMO. Halvarssons also do servicing, repairs and alterations so you don't need to throw the suit away after an off or if you put on weight.

BMW suits are poor value by comparison - zips, velcro and poppers have all gone on mine. No double stiching on stress points. I doubt if any of the BMW textile suits would meet the EN 13595 Level 1 spec never mind Level 2, but as none of them have been tested the point is moot.

The waterproof inner is a crap idea as well - in heavy rain the suit waterlogs so water runs down your arms and fills your sodding gloves up! Plus if it starts raining you have to strip off to put the liner in.

Hein Gericke - cheap and cheerful? Crash once, throw away? Not tested for protection either as far as I know.

 

[Gonzo]

Got to pick up on that earlier message re Hein Gericke; First gear I ever bought was HG because I was near a factory shop and got the stuff cheap. When I thought it had worm out I got all stylish and snooty, worked my way through three Dianese jackets; Alpine stars boots and gloves; Spyke etc. Damned if I didn't get the old HG stuff out again last winter (voyager jacket, pole position trousers) and find it was still better than the expensive stylish stuff and am still wearing it now.

Couldn't agree more. Most of my jackets/trousers have been Hein Gericke gear and the quality is excellent. It's not the most fashionable but lasts and does the job. I've had some basic leather trousers for 5 years now and they're just beginning to show wear, a Voyager 3 suit (I think thats what it called) and it's still keeping 100% rain out and now a Tricky leather jacket that I'll probably won't wear too much, but I needed something to zip to my trousers for a track day.

Definitely worth a try as the pricing is way below the BWM gear and whilst I have no doubt that the latter is more technically advanced, I don't want to fall into the same fashion victim trap as the Power Rangers!

 

[Warthog]

Gecko,

cheper options always appriciated. But are they good too from quality?

Previously i used UK made Evolution Motorcycle Clothing, they did their job well, but after the crash they are completely wrecked - look the pic above, so i guess it isn't that quality aferall? They were relatively cheap though.

I'm guessing the known companies such as Rukka and BMW make a bit more quality stuff?

Any "crash testing" on Hein-Gericke?

I'm friendly with my local HG shop and often buy my kit from them: boots, gloves, summer kit etc. I have also owned a Rukka jacket. I ended up giving this to my dad as I didn't like the finish: Overall it was good, but the attention to detail was lacking IMO and I went for another IXS jacket and trousers that I feel are just as good in terms of safety and a better finish.

I have seen the HG tuareg kit and I have boots and glove from this range and the range as a whole seems very good quality and very good value (especially if you buy in Germany). I would recommend it quite happily.

I have no experince of BMW kit, but it seems typically good and typically expensive. As for crash test: none yet touch wood, but a friend of mine had a big off in a Rukka two piece: Rukka kit trashed, bike trashed, mate OK so thats good!

I'm not saying the rest are bad, but I agree with Gecko: have a look at HG: its good and your money will go a long way too! Happy shopping.

 

[Warthog]

RIDE magazine

If you can get the current issue of Ride magazine there is a test on all weather gear.

Tsiklonaut: If you can't find a copy and want one, PM me and I'll buy it for you: I can either post it or my girlfriend is off to Tallinn in November if you can wait!

 

[Andy Hird]

Item called Cruise, £249 jacket, £199 for trousers.

Got a score of 51/55, only beaten by Halvarssons Safety which got 54/55 but costs exactly double.

No BMW kit in this test.

Margus,

Hein Gericke is good gear I had the Voyager Gore Tex suit for 4 years and it performed well, then it leaked on the Garmisch trip this year. I took it back to HG and because it was out of their two year gaurantee, they had to send it to Gore-Tex for testing. Gore-Tex tested it, found that the Gore-Tex liner had in fact leaked, so Hein Gericke replaced it with the more expesive Cruise suit. I've just gort back from a two week trip to eastern europe and the cruise suit performed well, in hot weather (it has vetilation zips) and very wet weather (730kms and 8 hours in torrential rain). I would highly recommend it, the price in England of the jacket is £250, in Germay it's 250 Euros !!!

 

[gcp]

I would highly recommend it, the price in England of the jacket is £250, in Germay it's 250 Euros !!!

I cannot find any non-UK Hein Gericke prices, seems all the websites are under construction.

Would be worth a cheap flight to pick up some stuff.

 

[Losttheplot]

Any "crash testing" on Hein-Gericke?

Yup,

i bought a voyager jacket about 5 years ago, and have worn it every winter since for trail riding.

I've lost count of the amount of hedges and muddy puddles it's been thrown in at speed, and it's still pretty much water proof.

The outer sheel is starting to look a little battered from the ravages of being attacked by thorn and gorse bushes, but on the whole it's been excellent.

The only minor problem is the stitching has gone on one of the inner pockets so your loose change floats around in the bottom of the jacket.

HTH

nathan

 

[frederik]

try the bmw atlantis. best thing ever made.

 

[Rollo]

I bought a new Savannah jacket from Northampton BMW, Woolston?, dealer yesterday. Reduced from £285 to £140 with 2 year guarantee.

There are only a few left. Great buy.

 

[Tsiklonaut]

Ehhh... Now you've got me split into two options, rather into three...

If i'll come to UK or go Germany i'll have a greate look on BMW, HG and Rukka "breathable" models on some bigger shop if there's possible to compare them. Here in Estonia we don't have any shops selling these, except WMB where you have to order them mostly, only few models and sizes to try on-the place.

So far the good options seems to be:

HG Tuareg series (good price and good (sun-resistant) colours available!)
BMW Savannah 2/Rally 2/Santiago/Street Guard (the best breathing-tech i've seen and colours, bit too expensive price!)
Rukka - must check them, don't know much about them, not good colours, but met one guy in Iran heading to China and had good ones - they were so light that let the sun come through the whole jacket(!) (expensive as well!)

Cheers, Margus

 

[nadeem]

On the Sun fading front - I bought a half-litre UV Fade Resistance Spray from Nikwax - those of you who wash yer gear will be familiar with the brand...

It's supposed to double the length of time before the fabric starts to fade...sprayed my Rallye Suit with it and will treat my Aerostich once I need to wash it...

 

[ExploringRTW]

HI, two of us are currently using new Rallye 2 suits on an RTW. Both leak a bit and are generally not that wind-proof. We only bought them earlier this year and have re-proffed the Goretex liner to see of that would help-it doesn't seem to of so far. They are however very tough and have more pockets than Batmans utility belt, only problem here is that the pockets aren't waterproof so you need something like ziplock bags. We've now bought BMW one piece oversuits which are 100% waterproof.

Over-all, I think Rukka probably make a better solution. BMW has a great concept but it hasn't been properly carried out.

I hope this helps.

 

[Commuter]

Any "crash testing" on Hein-Gericke?

Hi, I was a crash test dummy for Hein-Gericke 2 years ago with a Voyager suit on at the time. I broke several bones and was sent 400yards down the road. Without the suit I would not be here today, I recommend the quality and road resistance. The Tuareg outfit I had helped me alot in the BMW off road course where I spent more time chucking the bike and myself down the road.

Both are highly resistant to crashing, do what they say on the tin! Protect.

HTH, Nick

 

[Stocka]

Hi, I was a crash test dummy for Hein-Gericke 2 years ago with a Voyager suit on at the time. I broke several bones and was sent 400yards down the road. Without the suit I would not be here today, I recommend the quality and road resistance. The Tuareg outfit I had helped me alot in the BMW off road course where I spent more time chucking the bike and myself down the road.

Both are highly resistant to crashing, do what they say on the tin! Protect.

You were lucky with your road crash. Off road is different.

RANT

The single layer ballistic nylon used by the majority of manufacturers for textile bike suits resists road abrasion for around a second. When it abrades, it melts, frequently causing burns in addition to road rash and any other injuries. At 70mph you'll slide for around five seconds.

The only textile suit which offers decent protection for road riding is the Halvarssons Safety from Jofama (www.jofama.se) at around 1200 EUR or 850 UKP. Rukka has one in development which is expected to cost around 2500 EUR or 1700 UKP (!).

The rest of the gear on offer is not fit for purpose IMO. That includes stuff from BMW, Hein Gericke, Dainese, Akito, Aerostitch, and all the rest. Most of these manufacturers fought tooth and nail against the PPE regs which mean that clothing which is marketed as protective has to meet standards. They are mostly ignoring the regs and trying to kill them off, claiming they are impossible to achieve.

Meanwhile a small manufacturer in Sweden has proved them wrong.

If it's not labelled as EN 1395 Level II it has not been proven to provide protection for road speeds above 40mph. Let the manufacturers put their money where their marketing is.

Rant over

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

You were lucky with your road crash. Off road is different.

RANT

The single layer ballistic nylon used by the majority of manufacturers for textile bike suits resists road abrasion for around a second. When it abrades, it melts, frequently causing burns in addition to road rash and any other injuries. At 70mph you'll slide for around five seconds.

The rest of the gear on offer is not fit for purpose IMO. That includes stuff from BMW, Hein Gericke, Dainese, Akito, Aerostitch, and all the rest.

Safety gear is always going to be a very personal 'thang' but I have to say you really have written a load of bollox when it comes to writing off some of the well respected makes above!

Very few textile jackets are made purely from balistic nylon, if at all, these days.
Any decent jacket will have body armour (hard or soft) and will reinforce critical abrasion areas with materials such as Cordura.
My Hein Gericke Turag jacket has both Cordura and Leather reinforcement on the elbows and shoulders.

I have yet to test it at speed but have every confidence in it.

I have, however, been down the road at just short of 90mph, sliding, not rolling/tumbling, whilst wearing a Dainese textile jacket with hard armour. There was lots of scuffing to the jacket and a 1" 'hole' on one elbow. The jacket was written off.However the jacket and body armour did their job and I thankfully walked away from it.

Ironically the only injury I had was a badly grazed knee where a hole wore through my leather trousers!

Just my 2p's worth

Andres

 

[Gecko]

Margus
There is a guy in Holland selling a Savannah 2 suit (Manadarin colour) with trousers but without goretex liner - I've seen some pictures and it looks like new. He's asking Euro 275 for it. He's 1meter 95 tall and 95 kilos . Any good for you ? I could probably arrange to get hold of it and send it to you .

 

[Tsiklonaut]

Margus
There is a guy in Holland selling a Savannah 2 suit (Manadarin colour) with trousers but without goretex liner - I've seen some pictures and it looks like new. He's asking Euro 275 for it. He's 1meter 95 tall and 95 kilos . Any good for you ? I could probably arrange to get hold of it and send it to you .

Gecko, noupe, i'm 1,82m.

 

[Gecko]

Gecko, noupe, i'm 1,82m.

You obviously didn't each all your vegetables when you were a little Gser

 

[Stocka]

Safety gear is always going to be a very personal 'thang' but I have to say you really have written a load of bollox when it comes to writing off some of the well respected makes above!

Very few textile jackets are made purely from balistic nylon, if at all, these days.
Any decent jacket will have body armour (hard or soft) and will reinforce critical abrasion areas with materials such as Cordura.
My Hein Gericke Turag jacket has both Cordura and Leather reinforcement on the elbows and shoulders.

Actually Cordura <strong>is</strong> ballistic nylon.

Quote from Dupont's website:

"In 1966 DuPont transferred the Cordura® brand name to the N-56 nylon product line."

Body armour doesn't protect against abrasion, it's to protect against impact only and must be underneath an anti-abrasion layer or it is useless for road riding.

People find it hard to believe that they are being offered expensive, shoddy gear by big name manufacturers, but that's the way it is.

There's certainly a place for non-protective gear for those who want it. I don't want to see any kind of compulsion. What bugs me is that the average Joe expects motorcycle gear to offer a reasonable amount of protection and is encouraged in that belief by marketing.

In fact, apart from a few specialist manufacturers it is very difficult to find bike gear which is likely to hold together if you hit the deck at speeds above 40mph. I cannot find any CE marked bike gloves on the market at all, for instance. RS Performance used to do some but they've changed the design and didn't bother re-certifying.

If the big boys are so confident, let them submit their products for testing. Small manufacturers (like Jofama, BKS, Altberg etc) can afford it so the fact that they don't speaks volumes for their commitment to biking safety IMO.

Obviously no amount of protective gear can help in some cases. I realize that. But there are too many avoidable injuries and unnecessary complications.

Example: hitting something hard enough to break a leg. Even good gear probably won't stop the leg breaking. But if it stops road rash it significantly reduces the chances of infection and increases the chance of a successful recovery. Not to mention need for painful debridgement and/or skin grafts, or amputations caused by infections which prevent the bones from healing.

Google for Paul Varnsverry if you want the full story.

Bloody battery went flat and stranded me today. I think I'm going for a lie down.

 

[cdw]

BMW Protective Motorcycle Clothing

I've had a Rallye 2 jacket & trousers for 2 1/2 years - pre Long Way Round I think!

It's good summer gear, but far too lightweight for winter use, due to the air blast getting through all the zips especially around the sleeves - as I found in the snow in Andorra and in Belgian rain in May 2004. This year we went to the Dolomites and got rained on a lot, I got wet after about 1 hour's rain.

The problem with all these Cordura-type suits is that the outer layer absorbs water making it very heavy, and the water then just leaks through the Gore Tex. Then you get really cold, the suit also takes ages to dry out.

I'm thinking of getting a one-piece oversuit but they are very hard to find in safe bright colours - anybody have any recomendations?

Regards

Chris (R1200GS)