GoreTex lock out zip

[Berin]

It seems lots of the higher end kit (Klim, Rukka, I'm sure others too) use the new GoreTex lock out zips. Apart form the fact I can't really see what problem they are trying to solve, they seem to be both fragile and a massive maintenance headache. Mrs Berin commutes about 60 miles a day, and last winter bought a top end Rukka suit (from Biker-land.de, highly recommended). The suit had lock out zips, and for the first few days they were very difficult to use, ie to zip up, and kept opening during riding. Having read the instructions, it seems you need to lubricate the zips with some special stuff (supplied) pretty much every day. This stopped them coming open, and made them easier to use, but a few months later the zip got a nick in the plastic runner which jammed it completely. It looks like the runner cracked where the jacket gets creased as you lean over the tank to the bars. The only cure is a replacement zip. Biker land provided a shipping label, and offered a replacement jacket, but it's still going to be gone for weeks.

I have 10 year old Rukka suit, and I don't think it has ever let in water anywhere, let alone through the zip.

At the moment, this would put me off any jacket that has the lock out system. Does anyone have anything good to report about it?


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[bod]

I wouldn't touch it personally!

What's wrong with a zip with a storm flap?

There is a thread on ABR started by the site owner basically saying it's shite!

 

[islandbob]

The Rukka lock out zip takes some getting used to but its good.The trick is to ensure the zip starts off properly with the little locking lever properly locked and as you say the silicone pen used occasionaly to keep the zip running smoothly. I ride almost every day in all weather with a Rukka Aramas suit and have no problems with the zip.

 

[Wapping]

I have used a Rukka with a GoreTex lock-out zip for thousands of miles in all weathers.

It has been fine. Do you need to lubricate it every day with the silicon pen? No. Is it hugely (or even slightly) difficult to do with the silicon pen? No. If you are stuck in the wilds of Chiantishire or Tesco's car park with no silicon pen, will the world stop? No, use a bit of olive oil or washing-up liquid and call yourself a rufty tufty adventure motorcyclist. Will it burst open on impact? No faster than your legs will break as you slide to oblivion.

 

[wozalldisden]

The lockout zip is made of Marmite, as pointed out by Wapping and Bod. Those who don't like Marmite can buy one of the Rukka Matti, Armaxis or Amaxion etc jackets with ye olde traditional zip (my choice by the way)

 

[Berin]

Well, I've done thousands and thousands of miles with jackets with normal zips, which have neither broken nor let water in. And in view of the fact we do get further away than chiantishire and , a zip failure would be a problem. So the best we can say is that if you're careful and use some kind of lube on the zip, then its no worse than a normal zip. But at least it seems there's some normal zip options left, it seems, I thought all the decent kit had moved to lock out


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[RedRick Esq.]

Klim don't have them ! they have traditional zips albeit on the vents with a lock out type thing over the top but the main zip is just a zip with a storm flap

As far as i know only Rukka have stayed with them and i think it is the worlds biggest criticism of Rukka

 

[paul08]

Yep, my Klim Latitude has 'normal' zips

 

[Wapping]

...... and i think it is the worlds biggest criticism of Rukka

Well, knock me down wiv a fevver, guv'nor.

I always had it down as the price, that drew the world's biggest criticism.

 

[RedRick Esq.]

Well, knock me down wiv a fevver, guv'nor.

I always had it down as the price, that drew the world's biggest criticism.

That goes without saying !
This could turn into "what have the romans done for us"
It was not the price that swayed my decision from Rukka to Klim but the negative reports on the lockout closure and the lack of venting

 

[Berin]

Klim don't have them ! they have traditional zips albeit on the vents with a lock out type thing over the top but the main zip is just a zip with a storm flap

As far as i know only Rukka have stayed with them and i think it is the worlds biggest criticism of Rukka

Yes, you're right - I have a Badlands jacket with a normal YKK zip, but the old Adventure suit used to have lock out zips which caused a lot of problems when they got dirt and grit in them. I see that the latest Adventure suit has gone back to YKK zips - so it probably is only Rukka that persist, then. I wonder if the Rukka lock out zips can be replaced with YKK?

 

[RedRick Esq.]

Yes, you're right - I have a Badlands jacket with a normal YKK zip, but the old Adventure suit used to have lock out zips which caused a lot of problems when they got dirt and grit in them. I see that the latest Adventure suit has gone back to YKK zips - so it probably is only Rukka that persist, then. I wonder if the Rukka lock out zips can be replaced with YKK?

when i bought my Badlands, after much research into Rukka etc, I asked why Klim had moved away from the gore lockout closures and the lads at adventure spec said it was because of all the warranty problems and complaints about them on the Adventure suit !

 

[cookie]

I wonder if the Rukka lock out zips can be replaced with YKK?

if so, it would probably leak. normal zipped jackets have a flap to cover the zip which lockout zips don't.

 

[Packer]

HG Master suit with Lockout zips, I used it in dusty conditions on a long trip. The zips are just not suitable for that usage even with almost daily applications of silicone.

My next suit will hopefully have laminated Gore Tex fabric but conventional zips and storm flaps. I've always thought that an inner and outer zip would be far better than an inner zip + velcro or studs on the storm flap.

 

[Bounce]

My lock out zip works just fine. Ensure that the right hand piece of the zip is correctly inserted/aligned first, then the 'lock' at the back of the zip is then flicked up to.....lock it in.

Use the silicone pen to lube the rubber strips; if they're dirty/dusty etc, wipe clean with a damp cloth.

It really is very simple.....

 

[JerseyNeil]

+1
I have been using a lock out zip for 2 years every day and had no issues at all. I lube mine about every 5 weeks. Not only is it 100% dry but, in my opinion, warmer as no draft gets past it.

 

[Berin]

Well, I suppose that must mean that that you both are superior in every way to Mrs Berin, who's zip failed after a few months despite being well looked after, and all the others who returned their Klim Adventure suits because the zip failed, and me who thinks that all the faff and lubricating and cleaning and wiping is unnecessary when a YKK zip with a baffle does the same job and all you have to do is...... zip it up

+1
I have been using a lock out zip for 2 years every day and had no issues at all. I lube mine about every 5 weeks. Not only is it 100% dry but, in my opinion, warmer as no draft gets past it.

My lock out zip works just fine. Ensure that the right hand piece of the zip is correctly inserted/aligned first, then the 'lock' at the back of the zip is then flicked up to.....lock it in.

Use the silicone pen to lube the rubber strips; if they're dirty/dusty etc, wipe clean with a damp cloth.

It really is very simple.....

 

[Bounce]

Well, I suppose that must mean that that you both are superior in every way to Mrs Berin, who's zip failed after a few months despite being well looked after, and all the others who returned their Klim Adventure suits because the zip failed, and me who thinks that all the faff and lubricating and cleaning and wiping is unnecessary when a YKK zip with a baffle does the same job and all you have to do is...... zip it up

The YKK zips failed on my previous Revit suit, which is why I opted for the lock out system.

I'm sure that extensive testing goes into such functions as closure systems......but there'll always be one or two that have a moment of weakness....

I'm not sure superiority comes into it; perhaps your missus just had a duff un.....was the item in question dealt with by the retailer/manufacturer?

 

[JerseyNeil]

I'm sure I'm not superior. Maybe more nimble fingered or perhaps it's the mild Jersey climate which is much gentle on such materials. Maybe it has something to do with the fact I used to be a commercial diver and am very used to maintaining dry suit zips

Any how I'm not superior to Mrs Berin. She must have been a very clever girl to have married you

Neil

 

[Berin]

Funnily enough we're both divers too - technical mixed gas on rebreathers, I had pt IV but only for teaching. But we never burst any dry suit zips. Maybe it was this was just a duff one, bikerland were very good and sent a shipping label to send it back to them, and provided a replacement. But we both do trips with reasonable elements of unsurfaced roads and I'm unconvinced that the lock out zips would stand up well to to sand and grit.

I'm sure I'm not superior. Maybe more nimble fingered or perhaps it's the mild Jersey climate which is much gentle on such materials. Maybe it has something to do with the fact I used to be a commercial diver and am very used to maintaining dry suit zips

Any how I'm not superior to Mrs Berin. She must have been a very clever girl to have married you

Neil