HG Cruise Jacket & trousers Q's

[Grazoid]

Anyone got them, what are they like?

I have the Cruise trousers - and they are warm waterproof and in the summer comfortable enough to wear at 35+Cb with the vent zips ... but fastners are crap. The velcro will come undone at the bottom of the legs at most inopportune moments and flap like blazes, the zips are cheap and shoddy on the fly and the front of the bib and brace.

I have worn mine for two years tho' all year round and they still keep me warm and dry, and the zip and velcro issue was like that when I bought them and hasn't got worse. But the day I bought them I had just leaked my way from the Midlands to Budleigh Salterton in November in a downpour the night before and wanted soemthing warm and dry for the ride back... it was a very much a bugger the expense purchase as they had just received ( in my opinion) another dubious RiDe "you pay us loads to advertise, so we will get your sales up for you " Best Buy award.

So personally I feel they are good gear but overpriced. Nothing is bad enough to warrant taking them back, but it did make me think twice about buying the matching jacket.

 

[Trippy]

Just went and got the trousers and very nice they are too

Tried the jacket on which is lurvely but cant afford it this month so that will have too wait for a bit.

 

[Rugged Path]

Aerostitch

With the weak US$, anyone thought of or bought their Roadcrafter or Darien riding gear?

 

[Tim B]

I've only used my HG Cruise GTX jacket and trousers 3 times over 290 dry miles. With liner in both jacket and trousers. I can say that they are flippin warm ! Temp 13.5 to 16 degrees outside. All I had on under was pants and T shirt. I'm a chilly soul but not this time. I think I'll be riding all through the winter now ! I got jacket and trousers on strength of good reports provided under a seperate thread on this website. Quality advice. I'm realy impressed with my purchase (so far).

 

[GS TRV]

Pity they look so crap

 

[(RIP) Tunneruk]

I Have the Cruise jacket and trousers. Went out last Friday and got caught in what could be described as a Biblical downpour, It bloody lashed it down (so much so that I was getting hit with waves of water from the oncoming HGV's) Not a drip...............a single drip got past it. It's the first time I've ridden in the rain with a smile on my face!

Ace piece of kit!

 

[Droopy Dick]

Try one on before purchase.

I did, but when I sat on the bike, I found that my forearms were far too snug in the lower sleeves. Sung enough that it felt constrained and it would have been hellish in the summer.

Pity is that I don't possess Popeye forearms.

So I sold it to someone from this site at around half the shop price.

Next time I saw him (and it) he (and it) were totally covered in mud and crap, just like his bike. He had a very broad grin on his face and told me it had been 100% waterproof.

One thing I have noticed with HG kit is that the zip tags seem to be made of some sort of chocolate - they always seem to snap off. Not the biggest problem 'cos you can replace them with the split ring things used for keyfobs .. and they're big enough to grip with gloved hands.

 

[Doc]

Just bought a cruise GTX jacket to replace my 6 year old Belstaff cordura jacket. I'm hoping it's as good as that old jacket as it has kept me warm and dry for 50,000 miles. It sounds as if I've made the right choice. The cruise is guaranteed for 5 years so HG must have some faith in their kit. Either that or they're supplying me with new jackets for life ! I got a black one. They all end up that colour in the end.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

Used one in torrential rain as well as baking heat. Best piece of kit I ever owned. Jacket is worth twice the price. I recently got a pair of the trousers on ebay and did a very wet Highlands trip 10 days ago, new trousers are as good as the jacket.

I have just listed a brand new cruise jacket on ebay... one off, colour not available in UK, Black and Ecru, just as in the Hein Gericke Enduro clothing range. Would suit an Adv rider.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....m=110175933203&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=001

 

[terayon]

The cruise is guaranteed for 5 years so HG must have some faith in their kit.

No it's not

It's the goretex inside the jacket that's guaranteed (by William Gore), the jacket and the rest of the materials are only guaranteed for 1 year

 

[Doc]

I just checked the guarantee and your right. The jacket is guaranteed for 2 years, the gortex for 5. That's not too bad really. To have a jacket that's guaranteed to be waterproof for 5 years.

 

[PhaedrusMC]

That Cruise GTX jacket looks great but in fairness, for £280, it really should be great.

I know there are lots of jackets out there that cost a lot more, and that you "get what you pay for", but do you really have to spend £280 to get a warm, waterproof, protective jacket?

I've been poring over some catalogs that I've dug out from 2004 (when I last rode) and came accross a few Belstaff jackets in the Phoenix Distribution catalog - Explorer, Adventurer & Challenger.

I know nothing about these jackets - whether they're waterproof or warm or whatever, but the prices ranged from £140 - £200.

I had a H-G Tribal 2-piece leather suit and I really loved it - great snug fit, great feel of protection & safety - I honestly couldn't fault it at all. Personally, any H-G stuff I've seen or tried has always impressed, largely cos it's been great gear at great value. But IMO, £280 is not a great price. The Cruise GTX may be top of the range, but £280 is not bargain money.

I'd still love a Cruise GTX jacket, but I'll be looking to see if there's better out there for less.

Regarding RiDE's tests: unless things have changed over the years, I've always taken RiDE's tests to be valid & honest - the only valid & honest tests out of all the mag's "tests".

IIRC, RiDE have even been taken to court by some manufacturers for less than complimentary reviews of their products - have I got it wrong or have things changed?

EDIT: BTW, Is H-G's TRG Rallye jacket waterproof? It doesn't say it is in the blurb, but I'm kinda hoping . . . It does say "All-Weather".

Mark

 

[Doc]

I think my belstaff was an Explorer. It was superb and cost me £200 and £100 for the trousers in 2000/2001. Very hard wearing and totally waterproof. All the outside pockets were waterproof too. Belstaff has had lots of owners since then including a Chinese company who just made wax cotton "fashion" kit. I think they're now making propper bike kit again. Did I read that the Africa bound "actors" were wearing them on their trip ?

 

[electric_monk]

Having ridden over 250k miles in the last ten years and worked as an instructor over the last six years I can honestly say that the cruise jacket and trousers are the best I have ever worn.

 

[Trippy]

Thank you for all the replies, I have just been into HG and bought the jacket to go with the trousers I got a few weeks ago.
Grey and black and very nice too

 

[Foodle]

EDIT: BTW, Is H-G's TRG Rallye jacket waterproof? It doesn't say it is in the blurb, but I'm kinda hoping . . . It does say "All-Weather".

Mark

I believe it has a waterproof lining

I've got one, i'll have a look when I get a min.

 

[Trippy]

Had the full Jacket and Trousers now a week or two and they are fantastic.
Recommend them to anyone.

 

[Timo377]

~#*$ fasteners

Got the jacket and trousers last year and worn them riding all through the winter and 'summer' - I think they look good and feel great, but the 'popper' fasteners easily tear out of the liner material, so take care. They can be easily replaced with better ones though.

The HG shop in Cardiff (who are GS fans) also said either do up or unzip and remove the neckpiece as otherwise it flaps about and wears out the material.