OscarIndia
Registered user
The thread about this below, or here http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=267284 will remind you how long it's taken for this to arrive.
However, On Yer Bike near Aylesbury finally got the suit in from Spidi's marketing dept in Italy last week (to save folk catching up, nobody here seems to keep them as they're too expensive at £900+ so Spidi sent one over for me to try).
Went down yesterday to have a look.
I took a few pix, but they're with an iPhone, and mostly in the changing room. David Bailey they ain't. However, there's tonnes of professional images online of the thing if you're interested after reading this.
The thing looks like this, when photographed by non-numpties:
The one they sent is one level below the absolute top of the range and comes in at £919 for both pieces.
So, first impressions were that it looks great and feels great - superb quality, solid, smooth to the touch thanks to the teflon (see below). It's three-layer, only comes in black, and has more bells and whistles than I've ever seen on any item of bike clothing ever.
In fact it's so complex that there are printed images on the inside of the liner of some of things it does. Engineering degree required to operate, basically.
With all three layers in it's not light, but no heavier than any other 3-layer effort.
It fitted me beautifully. Adjustment it total, right down to the trousers having in-built adjustment between regular and long leg "settings". I got it snug, but still with loads of room in the crotch/shoulders (unlike Rukka trousers, which are made to fit the male models they use to advertise them, in my experience).
You have the standard outer layer, which is Spidi's own material rather than Gore-tex. It's teflon-coated for toughness and, they say, thanks to the "H2Out system", won't wet out anything like as much as traditional 3-layer kit. This has always been my objection to 3-layer but obviously I can't say how true that is.
Beneath that is the poly waterproof layer, which can also be worn as a light waterproof jacket off the bike. It claims to be 100% waterproof and actually looks okay on it's own. Certainly fine for the pub near a campsite etc.
Then the cold weather layer, which really is comfy too. Not too thick but nicely padded.
Whole thing also comes with rubberised, adjustable cuffs (including at the bottom of the trousers).
The list of what it will "do" is endless, but here are a few highlights.
Pockets on the pants are like jean pockets in cut, non-waterproof and don't even have a flap. Idea is that off the bike this is easier for change and fags or whatever. However, there are two big thigh pockets which are totally waterproof. You can remove these (zip/poppers) and underneath are two "air tubes" - with open/close flaps, which act as air scoops and drive air into the trousers.
As with every removable part of the suit (see later), they clip on somewhere else.
Hip and knee armour included, rubberised "cuffs", zipped legs, and adjustable for fit at waist and thigh.
The jacket is a bit nuts in terms of features. I'll pick a few but should say first it comes with elbow and shoulder armour, and a proper (L2) back plate. There's also an internal pocket for a chest-plate, which comes free with the model above this one but can be bought as an add-on too.
Layers 1 and 3 have 650,000 internal pockets and tabs, hooks and so on. You could carry your house in there.
Two waterproof chest pockets, although different in design (one's big zip, for use with gloves, one's not). Both can also be removed. Underneath them are big air vents like on a BMW Rallye suit.
Side air venting is brilliant. Zips start near the hip and come up under both arms and then down to the elbow. Creates a huge vent each side.
Front and back vents, as you'd expect.
Collar is slide adjustable, like Rev'It ones, but not too high.
There's also a silk Balaclava in there somewhere. Arms and waist adjustable too (the latter is clever, with a belt that adjusts behind the pockets - just reach in and tug, very easy).
Two big hip pockets (waterproof) and then hidden long vertical zips either side of the storm flap, which open to reveal huge pockets, like poacher pockets on a Barbour.
On the back of the jacket is what initially just looks like a Spidi advert in reflective writing but is actually more.
It's a hydration pocket, with runners for the tube over the shoulder. It's also a big map pocket which unfolds with clear plastic. You can also store extra stuff in there. It's removable and combines with various other removable pockets to make a bag, would you believe, for lugging stuff about.
If all that wasn't enough, it'll also turn into a tank bag, and the other pockets fit together to make a tail-pack. All necessary gubbins included.
The entire suit got CE Level 2 for seam strength, abrasion resistance and so on too.
There's tonnes more, but I'll leave it there coz if you're interested you'll check out stuff online I guess.
My only concern is the wet-out factor. However, one of the guys at Ride has the top-end suit from Spidi on long-term test so I'll ask him and see what he says.
It's not cheap, but then it's not designed to be cheap I guess, and is aimed at Rukka, top end HG et cetera.
I love it, and if I'm told it keeps the rain out, I think I'll have one now that the old financial position's sorted out.
However, On Yer Bike near Aylesbury finally got the suit in from Spidi's marketing dept in Italy last week (to save folk catching up, nobody here seems to keep them as they're too expensive at £900+ so Spidi sent one over for me to try).
Went down yesterday to have a look.
I took a few pix, but they're with an iPhone, and mostly in the changing room. David Bailey they ain't. However, there's tonnes of professional images online of the thing if you're interested after reading this.
The thing looks like this, when photographed by non-numpties:
The one they sent is one level below the absolute top of the range and comes in at £919 for both pieces.
So, first impressions were that it looks great and feels great - superb quality, solid, smooth to the touch thanks to the teflon (see below). It's three-layer, only comes in black, and has more bells and whistles than I've ever seen on any item of bike clothing ever.
In fact it's so complex that there are printed images on the inside of the liner of some of things it does. Engineering degree required to operate, basically.
With all three layers in it's not light, but no heavier than any other 3-layer effort.
It fitted me beautifully. Adjustment it total, right down to the trousers having in-built adjustment between regular and long leg "settings". I got it snug, but still with loads of room in the crotch/shoulders (unlike Rukka trousers, which are made to fit the male models they use to advertise them, in my experience).
You have the standard outer layer, which is Spidi's own material rather than Gore-tex. It's teflon-coated for toughness and, they say, thanks to the "H2Out system", won't wet out anything like as much as traditional 3-layer kit. This has always been my objection to 3-layer but obviously I can't say how true that is.
Beneath that is the poly waterproof layer, which can also be worn as a light waterproof jacket off the bike. It claims to be 100% waterproof and actually looks okay on it's own. Certainly fine for the pub near a campsite etc.
Then the cold weather layer, which really is comfy too. Not too thick but nicely padded.
Whole thing also comes with rubberised, adjustable cuffs (including at the bottom of the trousers).
The list of what it will "do" is endless, but here are a few highlights.
Pockets on the pants are like jean pockets in cut, non-waterproof and don't even have a flap. Idea is that off the bike this is easier for change and fags or whatever. However, there are two big thigh pockets which are totally waterproof. You can remove these (zip/poppers) and underneath are two "air tubes" - with open/close flaps, which act as air scoops and drive air into the trousers.
As with every removable part of the suit (see later), they clip on somewhere else.
Hip and knee armour included, rubberised "cuffs", zipped legs, and adjustable for fit at waist and thigh.
The jacket is a bit nuts in terms of features. I'll pick a few but should say first it comes with elbow and shoulder armour, and a proper (L2) back plate. There's also an internal pocket for a chest-plate, which comes free with the model above this one but can be bought as an add-on too.
Layers 1 and 3 have 650,000 internal pockets and tabs, hooks and so on. You could carry your house in there.
Two waterproof chest pockets, although different in design (one's big zip, for use with gloves, one's not). Both can also be removed. Underneath them are big air vents like on a BMW Rallye suit.
Side air venting is brilliant. Zips start near the hip and come up under both arms and then down to the elbow. Creates a huge vent each side.
Front and back vents, as you'd expect.
Collar is slide adjustable, like Rev'It ones, but not too high.
There's also a silk Balaclava in there somewhere. Arms and waist adjustable too (the latter is clever, with a belt that adjusts behind the pockets - just reach in and tug, very easy).
Two big hip pockets (waterproof) and then hidden long vertical zips either side of the storm flap, which open to reveal huge pockets, like poacher pockets on a Barbour.
On the back of the jacket is what initially just looks like a Spidi advert in reflective writing but is actually more.
It's a hydration pocket, with runners for the tube over the shoulder. It's also a big map pocket which unfolds with clear plastic. You can also store extra stuff in there. It's removable and combines with various other removable pockets to make a bag, would you believe, for lugging stuff about.
If all that wasn't enough, it'll also turn into a tank bag, and the other pockets fit together to make a tail-pack. All necessary gubbins included.
The entire suit got CE Level 2 for seam strength, abrasion resistance and so on too.
There's tonnes more, but I'll leave it there coz if you're interested you'll check out stuff online I guess.
My only concern is the wet-out factor. However, one of the guys at Ride has the top-end suit from Spidi on long-term test so I'll ask him and see what he says.
It's not cheap, but then it's not designed to be cheap I guess, and is aimed at Rukka, top end HG et cetera.
I love it, and if I'm told it keeps the rain out, I think I'll have one now that the old financial position's sorted out.
