Which suit/jacket/jeans for rally/enduro/trail riding?

[Losttheplot]

It's got to the point i really need some new riding kit for off road use.

My ex-army goretex over trousers have shredded, and my 12 year old HG voyager jacket has zips failing, doesn't keep out the wet, and is has also shrunk since christmas .

So what have you all had and rate?

one thing that puts me off most of the textile jeans is that they aren't big enough to accommodate going over the outside of an mx boot with knee pads in, and they seem to lack vents for when things start to get warmer.

I see sinisalo do an enduro suit, and possibly alpinestars, and the Klim jackets and jeans (i'[m currently leaning towards these) look a good option as well. (though not the £1200 suit-it's a little over budget)

Anyone tried Core and MSR?

I'd also like to know what the lining is like (if any) and if they come with any armour (how effective is it?), pockets and general fit/ freedom of movement.

thanks,

Nathan

 

[earthmover]

Hi Nathan,
I have an old Sinisalo jacket which I still use. No armour, only showerproof, but very hardwearing. I coat it in nicwax occasionally, but most of the time I wear a waterproof over the top if it's wet. I wore it to Morocco, so even though it isn't vented it isn't too warm.
I bought an Acerbis jacket last year which has zip-off sleeves and a vent across the shoulders. This again is only showerproof, but is cool for those "sweaty" events!
My Sinisalo jeans have been destroyed by repeated contact with header pipes (though how I got a scorch mark at mid-thigh height is a worry!) so have been patched for use as spares. I have had some Acerbis ATV pants for over a year now, which have a goretex lining and have been very good, except for the stitching coming undone on the seat.
Both of these are he over-boot style, and both have been worn over knee braces without problems.
HTH
Mark

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Klim is rated very,very highly

Search the Adventure Spec website

I will try this gear next

Currently using a cheap s/hand BMW Rallye 1 trews and Rallye 2 jacket which works well, with Goretex liners

 

[earthmover]

Klim is rated very,very highly

Search the Adventure Spec website

I will try this gear next

Wot he said.
Mark

 

[Loz]

my ex-army stuff has shredded for the umpteenth time in the last 15yrs and it's time to spend,i use the leatt brace every time i ride offroad and want something waterproof ect to wear with it
i wish the ADV suit was £500 but it aint so unless i want another 15yrs of dressing like a Japanese general every time it rains it's time to bite the bullet

loz

 

[KMD]

I'm using 2009 Sinisalo waterproof enduro jacket and trousers and have to say I rate them very highly. About £260 all in if I recall correctly. I usually take my bike to the local Shell garage for a jet wash after a ride, and always leave the last minute for myself. Haven't let a drop in yet.

 

[Losttheplot]

Update...

I've ordered the Klim dakar pants. Just need to get down to DHL and pick them up.....

 

[pj8332]

older kit

just go to the items for sale and get some good second hand items

i recently bought a hg jacket and a rukka suit, they both a bit old but thats what i want to offroad. (havent tried them yet mind)

pj

 

[F650Dakar_Norway]

I was disappointed with the 2008 Sinisalo Enduro Jacket. The zippers started to fail after merely a season. Not only dide the zip glider "handles" break, but the darn zips themselves started to gnaw and eventually stick.

I ride all-year and in all weather conditions, and the Sinisalo zippers simply could not handle that usage without constant cleaning/careful lubing before eventually failing. Not good enough in my book.

I just ordered the Troy Lee Blais Jacket and hope it will tackle several seasons of hard all-weather usage.
http://www.troyleedesigns.com/blais/

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=448016&highlight=blais

I've also ordered a Leatt Adventure brace.

 

[Losttheplot]

just go to the items for sale and get some good second hand items

i recently bought a hg jacket and a rukka suit, they both a bit old but thats what i want to offroad. (havent tried them yet mind)

pj

PJ,
I've already got a few bits of HG kit, and there's 2 problems i have with them:

Firstly i can't get the jeans to open out enough to go over the outside of my mx boots, which means you have the wear them inside the boot, allowing water to run down the outside of your leg and into your boot.

Secondly, i find that it also got very hot very quickly, and while the later HG has zips in for venting, it isn't anywhere near as extensive as the zippable vents on the Klim pants that i picked up yesterday .

While Hg and rukka do make some fantasic kit, i think it's much better suited for road work. My old voyager jacket has been fantastic, but i find it's way to hot in the winter with a lining in and also quite restrictive now .

Not sure which jacket to go for yet, i'd really like to get along and have a look before potentially parting with £300-£400.

Nathan

 

[Possu]

I like the look of the Troy Lee Designs Blais jacket - anyone know who seels them in the UK?

 

[Andy Hird]

I've just bought the RST Enduro Jacket and Pants and I'm very impressed with them. They really look the part too, very International Six Days looking, just don't buy the Orange or Yellow....I went for the all black

The pants are a great fit and are very roomy at the bottom so they fit over MX boots really easily. The knee pads in them are no good, so I took them out and use velcrod pads attached to my legs.

Jacket is great too, really nice fit with plenty of pockets (two nice rear enduro pockets) very comy at the neck and cuffs. It has vents on the chest and the arms, and it uses those new waterproof type zips for the vents.

I used them last week and went through loads of bogs, then used the jetwash on them after cleaning the bike, and they didn't let a drop in

Just couldn't believe the price of the suit either.....£130 for trousers and jacket. Very highly recomended by me

Jacket:-

http://www.rst-moto.com/index.php/products-details/moto_enduro1/

Jeans:-

http://www.rst-moto.com/index.php/products-details/moto_enduro_jean/

Cheers

Andy