Rukka or best alternative

[grantmac]

So I’m going kick up a big discussion with this thread and in response to another thread on Rukka and Motolegends.
I am a Rukka fan. I have 4 suits. A really old Arma S, 2 mesh suits and another lighter but waterproof one

My issues :
Why do the “dots” and logo come off after the first wash. I wash my suits after every longer trip. Absolutely useless.

Why do the water proof troos always let water in at the crotch. And not just damp. Bloody soaking.

And finally why don’t the jackets have enough vents

So asking for a friend. What is the best alternative and why ?

Am looking now at the Madagascar R ( I think that the model) as my next purchase when I go to Germany in a few weeks

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Stadtler
Look no further

 

[Blue]

I have three Klim Jackets of different weights, Used to have Rukka but find the Klim jackets have more vents in and are a bit more versatile for different temps, also Stadler Jackets are worth looking at as they tend to have more vents in I also have one of them. Trouser wise I find Halvarssons trousers to be very comfortable.

 

[grantmac]

Maybe as part of replies you can post model names and if possible links?
Ta

 

[Arsey]

So I’m going kick up a big discussion with this thread and in response to another thread on Rukka and Motolegends.
I am a Rukka fan. I have 4 suits. A really old Arma S, 2 mesh suits and another lighter but waterproof one

My issues :
Why do the “dots” and logo come off after the first wash. I wash my suits after every longer trip. Absolutely useless.

Why do the water proof troos always let water in at the crotch. And not just damp. Bloody soaking.

And finally why don’t the jackets have enough vents

So asking for a friend. What is the best alternative and why ?

Am looking now at the Madagascar R ( I think that the model) as my next purchase when I go to Germany in a few weeks

I think you’re looking for the impossible .
Laminated suits are too hot in our summers, how ever many vents they have .
Rather than pay for leaky Rukka kit, diversify and shop in sales.
I bought my Bering Hurricane laminated suit for under £600 in Motolegends Sunday sale .100% waterproof unlike Rukka and much more comfortable .
Then got my Klim Marrakesh jacket for half price , about £170 again in Sunday sale . Just bought the pants at normal price minus a price match .
Got Scott Ergo waterproof jacket and pants also half price in the sale so under £100.
Total of that lot under a grand or £400 less than just the Rukka jacket .
I use the Bering laminated kit in winter and the Klim the rest of the time , with Klim Zephyr (also half price ) when nippy.
Also just bought Belstaff Trackmaster in yesterday’s Sunday sale .
55% off before they refund my VAT. Bargain

 

[Burridge01]

Richa gortex gear for me,have never let me down.Just replaced me jacket with a cyclone 2 due to slight weight lose,had the strides for a fair few years and still 100% waterproof (including the crutch)

 

[Oldrat]

Stadtler
Look no further

I have a Stadler supervent pro, excellent bit of kit but it’s not perfect.

I’ve had to put additional poppers on the collar and storm collar and now it’s spot on, no gaps.

Amazingly waterproof, amazing cooling ‘tube’ system, directing air around to your back. Lots of vents.

A bit stiffer than Rukka when new, but it moulds to you in time.

A 3 season suit and standard issue to German police.

Oh, and a 10 year warranty

 

[GSian]

Buy Klim Badlands pro, buy once

I've had certain Rukka goretex trousers, can't remember models but always let water in. Never had Rukka jacket but had various others, none have been as good as the Badlands.

Washing them so often doesn't do them any good. The Klim badlands have anti bacterial linings. I've washed the trousers with Nikwax and they're still good. Never washed my jacket as I wear an Adventure Spec Linesman jacket and Klim Marrakesh trousers in Summer, and don't ride a lot in winter. Badlands gets used in summer when it looks like it could rain hard, it's never let water in, even through the zips, there are lots of vents but these only have a cooling effect when moving.

And, Klim stuff is proper Wankpanzer riding kit too "Suit's you sir"

 

[Blue]

Maybe as part of replies you can post model names and if possible links?
Ta

Klim Kodiak
Stadler supervent pro
Klim Traverse
Cant remember the model of the other one (Dementia at my age)
Its come back to me Latitude.

 

[wessie]

A wet crotch can be from water pooling on your seat and then wicking up between the trousers and jacket. When it gets to the waistband it goes over the top and runs down the inside. Pooling seems to be more of a thing where the seat of a bike curves up the tank like an adventure bike.
Two solutions. First is trousers with a bib like the Master suit that the now defunct Hein Gericke made. Second solution is to use a mesh seat cover so the water does not pool.

As for brands. I've been happy with Rukka but not the laminated stuff. Before we left the UK I invested in a cheaper suit with the Z/drop liner Goretex jacket and trousers from FCMoto/Louis. Should these ever need replacing then I might try Bering/Dane/Halvarssons.

 

[Asturcon]

Stadtler
Look no further

Seconded. It's what the German Police use so can't be bad. I have the Supervent. It is heavy, though when it has all the protection in. Can't fault it otherwise and I live in Spain. On very hot days I do substitute the trousers for Rokkas.

I was in ML the other day and speaking to the South African lad. My ceramic dots haven't come off, but I only clean mine once a year. He suggested that you turn the jacket inside out to stop that happening. They come off because they hit the sides of the drum.

 

[NeilDD]

Hideout made to measure
Kate will not only take all the necessary measurements, but ask you what type of riding, to ensure sufficient venting, and placement of the vents.
Not cheap (Around 2k)

 

[Wapping]

A wet crotch can be from water pooling on your seat and then wicking up between the trousers and jacket.

That’s my bet. Using the (little used) crotch strap on Rukka jackets might help.

Me? I have used Rukka for years, without a problem. I long ago stopped wondering about vents, number of or their position. If it’s hot and pretty much likely not to rain, I take a mesh suit and chuck over light weight waterproofs. If it’s likely to be cold or wet, I use my bonded Gore-Tex waterproof suit. If it’s likely to be very wet, I chuck the light weight waterproofs over the top of the suit, but that’s a rarity.

My first act is to remove the bulky linings and use electrically heated undergarments, jacket, long-John’s, socks and gloves, all four independently regulated from each other by two, two channel, remote controllers, powered by the bike and mounted on the clutch reservoir. As to bits / labels washing off? They go down the plug hole and that’s it, gone. No big deal.

Everyone has their favourites, Rukka just happens to be mine. I bought most of it either in Sweden in sales or from Germany, in the happy days prior to Brexit.

PS Who remembers the batch of dodgy Rukka / Gore-Tex fabric, which turned the trousers a sort of dirty purple’ish colour?

 

[jefformston]

My experience, my Rukka ArmaT has never leaked, great in the UK from October to April, too warm over the summer months. Wouldn’t think of using it in southern Europe in the summer.

My Klim Badlands, never leaked, great 12 months of the year in the UK with various layers or zips open. Fits baggy but is very comfortable on the bike. Great in Spain, Croatia, Italy on my annual jaunts to Europe in temps from 4c to 40c again with various layers underneath or zips open. More instantly adaptable than the Marrakesh so use it in Europe if going into the mountains as well as lower areas.

My Klim Marrakesh, very comfortable and light weight, good all year round but needs layering, in the cold heated jacket, in the wet waterproofs over the top. Pain to stop and layer up/down as the weather changes so best used when the weather is stable. In hot weather dehydration can be a problem. Tend to use it either in the UK in summer when not expecting changes in the weather and in Europe if going between June and September and staying out of the mountains.

Best all round Klim Badlands.

Riding buddy has a Stadler and he wears it all year around, commuting Edinburgh to Aberdeen. Also on our Europe trips in summer with temperatures -2 to 40c and it works for him. Armour is huge, similar to Rukka and a lot larger than Klim. Only issue seems to be the collar which really needs a press stud rather than just Velcro to keep it closed.

If I ever need to buy new gear then it will probably be Stadler as their prices seem reasonable, Klim & Rukka are getting stupid unless you can pick them up in a sale.

 

[Wapping]

Before we left the UK….

Blimey, I thought you only moved to Wales? I know it’s only a principality but it’s still united to the rest of us.

 

[Oldrat]

Riding buddy has a Stadler and he wears it all year around, commuting Edinburgh to Aberdeen. Also on our Europe trips in summer with temperatures -2 to 40c and it works for him. Armour is huge, similar to Rukka and a lot larger than Klim. Only issue seems to be the collar which really needs a press stud rather than just Velcro to keep it closed.

If I ever need to buy new gear then it will probably be Stadler as their prices seem reasonable, Klim & Rukka are getting stupid unless you can pick them up in a sale.

Ditto, hence my popping a press stud into the collar flap. Job done.

 

[Wapping]

I have never found a use for Rukka’s storm collar thing. As with the detachable linings, the collar goes into the loft.

 

[casbar]

Have a Rukka Navigator suit. It must be 9 years old. It has never leaked and I have been out in some bad weather, both touring and blood biking.

I did read Rukka had a quality issue, but it’s now fixed.

Had a wet arse once, my fault didn’t do the flies up.

 

[GTMorgan]

Oxford laminated, not rich enough or daft enough to pay many hundreds, or thousands, for bike gear. Pretty much waterproof, crotch can get moist after a few hours. I’ve had two sets in 10 years, both second hand, but hardly used, off eBay, first set cost me £200, latest set £80. Only replaced first set as I lost weight.
Klim, Rukka, blah blah blah, I couldn’t justify even if I could afford it

 

[Arsey]

Oxford laminated, not rich enough or daft enough to pay many hundreds, or thousands, for bike gear. Pretty much waterproof, crotch can get moist after a few hours. I’ve had two sets in 10 years, both second hand, but hardly used, off eBay, first set cost me £200, latest set £80. Only replaced first set as I lost weight.
Klim, Rukka, blah blah blah, I couldn’t justify even if I could afford it

I had Oxford Hinterland for a while . More waterproof than Rukka and very cheap