Views on "All year" gear

[Gilson]

Hi All, Very good site and a joy to browse.

I am a newbie, soon to be doing my DAS for the ultimate machine for my 70 mile roundtrip communte from harlow to wembley area...looking forward to it immensly but I want to narrow my search for some all weather gear. As I can't ride, I read and have all sorts of knowlege but no real life experience..hmmm...

I would like to know what people use on their GS as weather and crash protection and who goes for what jacket, trousers, helmet gloves and booties...I big ask but I would really like to know.

My thoughts are: without trying anything yet but I'd lioke to have my own kit before my DAS...Arai helmet, then a two peice all year jacket and trousers with armour. Gloves and boots I have no idea as yet...

What do you think of the BMW kit? Slightly expensive but looks like quality to me...

Thanks a lot
Martyn

 

[Twotter]

I'm a 'man from Hein Gericke' rider myself. I've got a day-lite jacket for winter, a Nexxus for summer, cordura trousers for really bad weather and a pair of leather jeans for the rest of the time. All have armour in them and a previous Nexxus and jeans worked as advertised in a 'premature motorcycle departure' incident. I also wear Sidi Black Rain Evo boots & a cheap pair of HG gloves (mmm heated grips ). The kit is very good and lasts me about two years of all year riding. The cordura trousers and the jeans are coming up for needing replacing and I'll be having a look at BMW clobber but chances are I'll be buying HG kit again.

Helmet wise I've gone for BMW with a white System 4 flip up and a blue Sport Integral (though not at the same time ).

I was out on a breakfast run yesterday with the crowd from Balderstons in Peterborough and if you don't wear BMW then HG is a close second.

 

[oblertone]

All weather gear

I suppose your choice really depends on what you do at the other end. Do you want to get off the bike, peel off a layer to reveal the Oswald B and go straight into a power meet, or are you willing to change completely on arrival, or even slouch about in leathers and a T shirt all day ?
I suspect there are very few on here who wear the same gear all year round and the only solution is to try on lots, buy what suits and then go and buy some more later !
Try HG at Gants Hill, then Sondel Sport at Highbury Corner, go in and make a nuisance of yourself, try on all their stock but don't forget to look on eBay as there are bargains to be had.

Personally, armoured leather trousers zipped to a short Revit (armoured) jacket for summer use (lightweight rainproof trousers in pocket). Heavyweight leathers and long waterproof jacket for winter. Volvo estate for when it's really bad. BWM system 4 or Roof Roadster + Bulson touring boots (HG).

 

[Gilson]

Thanks a lot, it really is a minefield for the first time buyer and it isn't really cheap either....I'll try on everything!]
Martyn

 

[Gilson]

PS, love the "ripping off the leathers to reveal the oswald b"...very funny...hopefully I'll be able to change at the site...

 

[skybluebird]

I bought a Voyage 2 Cordura jacket with the Gore-Tex liner from the Savanna 2, Streetguard Gore-Tex/Kevlar pants and Contur boots at the R1200 launch in March (I only called in to see the new bike... ). Soon after I was caught out in a torrential downpour (bad enough to close several roads and cause subsidence). I would have accepted some water getting through under such conditions, but my clothing was bone dry when I got home. I had an HG Voyager jacket prior to the BMW kit, and while it was far better designed in terms of pockets and removable neck warmer, it's let in water under far less severe conditions.
BTW, the BMW gear is a bit pricey, but there's a little room for negotiation . It always scores well in Ride tests, too.

Hope this helps.
David

 

[Deleted account W]

BMW Voyage 2 Jacket

Hein Gericke Rallye Raid pants.

Three days of torential rain, 600 miles and not a sign of dampness.

Good kit.

 

[Fanum]

My BWM streetguard jacket does let in a little drip down the front zip from time to time......but then again, Kevin only rides in decent weather or the very slightest threat of drizzle so he wouldn't know about that!


Gilson...I dunno if there actually is an 'all year round' set of riding kit....as others haver said, mix and match, see what you're comfy in and then once you're settled in see what else you need.

Windstopper stuff is good for adding layers, which is the key for cold riding....though even with my BWM kit, windstopper, fleeces, multiple layers etc etc i still got cold enough for it to sap my strength completely up in the alps in may........for proper all yr round riding you may well need a heated vest.....I'm certainly going to get one this year so I don't dismount and drop the bike 'cos i don't have the strength to keep it upright anymore.

Don't rush out and buy stuff though...add it bit by bit.....you'll have more of an idea that way what you actually need to suit you......

HTH

B

 

[DavidHolmes]

In my experience 'all year gear' isnt available if you are going to be riding 'all year' in this country.

Even if you buy a jacket, with a removable liner, and then a heated waistcoat. If the jacket is comfortable with the liner in, and a heated waistcoat (or extra jumper), then when you remove the extra layers (in warmer weather) it will be two big, flap around, and wont hold armour in place in a spill.

I have ridden to the Nordkapp in an Atlantis Suit (with a rubberised one piece oversuit over the top), and to Fes (Morocco) in the same Atlantis Suit without the one piece. So it is possible, but for the same money you could buy a decent winter outfit, and something a bit more suitable for the summer.

Personally, for what its worth, I wear either a Rallye Suit (with the All Weather Suit in the pannier - thin nylon jacket and trousers) or an YOKO jacket with an old pair of Atlantis trousers (plus heated jacket, fluro nylon trousers, fluro nylon jacket as required) during the winter.

But this info is probably of limited use to you. A lot of people recommended Hein Gerike to me, but their kit just does not fit me. No matter how much I want something, nor how many times I try it on, it just does not fit comfortably.

For boots, try Altberg. I wish I had found them 20 years ago, and wouldnt buy anything else now (although that again is largely due to fit - I have very wide feet, and Altberg were able to make a pair to measure).

And out of curiosity, have you tried an Arai on? Undoubtedly great helmets, but may not necessarily 'fit' your head shape. Although they do offer a customising service. When I started out I went out to buy a Centurion Pilot. The only lid to own in my day. Only the bloody thing was completely the wrong shape, so I ended up with an AGV instead.

 

[L]

wot everyone seems to think...

All year gear only exists in this country when the summers aren't really hot and the winters are usually just wet.

I've got the BMW stuff (tourguard jacket and trousers) cos I like wearing proper clothes underneath (jeans, jumper, shirt etc.) I find in summer, I can take the lining out and just wear a t-shirt and shorts underneath, but most of the time its fine as is. It also takes up less room in the house!!

Last year before my trip to Istanbul, I bought a Joe Rocket mesh jacket, which works a treat in proper hot weather. Definitely worth the investment, but it hardly gets any useage in the UK - this year especially seems a bit too shower prone to take chances!! I also bought some waterproof jeans from Triumph this year as an alternative to the BMW tourguard, but have found them just as warm as the tourguards with light trousers/shorts, so have hardly worn them.

You've got to decide what sort of riding you're gonna do. Daily commute to the office - definitely get an "all year" piece of kit like BMW which can be worn over clothes. If its more social riding where you can pick and choose the weather (more or less) and times, then you've got more choice and you can get something more "biker like" - I personally like the look of Alpinstars stuff - perhaps non-waterproof with an waterproof oversuit to carry just in case?

I've always found the BMW stuff to be top notch quality - always looking pretty new, even after 2 years and 75,000 miles.

If you have money to burn and plenty of spare wardrobe space at home, just get several sets of kit so you pick and choose depending on the weather and the ride!!

 

[chasr]

The BMW boots are excellent. There's a good choice, prices from £100 for waterproof, light smart & strong leather boots which you can wear all day (off bike). I've always had good boots, but now would not buy anything else.

 

[grandtrousers]

I`ll keep it short, Hein Gericke Master IV suit. Comfortable,well armoured, waterproof, breathable and good in extremes of temperature. Just performed faultlessly on a 3000+ mile trip around europe where it was mid 20 degrees (Garmisch) and then cold and really wet (most of Austria). Then you just bung it in the washing machine and it comes out like new and smelling of lemons!!