Roadcrafter 1 pc vs. Street gaurd 2pc

MickyBlueyes

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I seem to be another looking for the holy grail.

For many years I used a Weisse wexford jacket and some of their trousers, really wanting a roadcrafter but they were hellish dear. Then went onto a cheap-ish for BM cordura / gore tex 2 piece which has now come to the end of its life.

Having looked at the BM stuff again and tried it on I seem to be a 50 spot on in a SG3 but seem to be a bit off the 40" size on a roadcrafter.

Anyway my questions are (of those in the know);
1. Which is better and why. Any help appreciated
2. How do the roadcrafter suits sizes come up compared to the charts

Just to help I'm 5'10", average medium build, 12 1/2stone, 34" waist, short leg 29-30 and hate the big single boob look that the fit of my current stuff gives me, plus the back of the neck on mine keeps rollin over.

Any advice, comment, or oppinions welcomed

TIA
Mike
 
Why are you comparing a one piece suit with a two piece suit? I am sure someone here will then give the merits of one piece vs two piece or vice versa.

Fundamentally the difference are:
1. Roadcrafter is an over regular clothing suit
2. Streetguard is a suit .. I have seen people wear clothes underneath but I don't think that is how they were designed

What are the consequence.
1. Roadcrafter is as warm as the regular cothing you wear underneath
2. Streetguard comes with thermal bit

So the comments you get are:
1. I can't get warm in a roadcrafter
2. I am nice and toasty in the streetguard

Common bits:
1. Roadcrafter is a gore tex waterproof suit .. it is waterproof. There is a "crotch problem" but it can be solved in two ways. Make sure the flap is closed (I just don't believe those guys who says it leaks even though they have done the flaps up properly). OR buy a two piece which removes the flap problem
2. Streetguard is a fancy (not gore tex) waterproof suit

Better?
Personal preference really.
Do you mind having to wear regular clothes underneath all the time? Or do you prefer to just wear your undies underneath your riding suit?
Do you prefer the BMW brand and their "approach" to customer service? Or will you be worried to buy mail order from the US of A?

Roadcrafter sizing:
Ring them (I know it sounds simple but it works). The ladies who take the orders have done it for ages, so they know what they are talking about. Just make sure you have your measurements.
Try one from someone on here that has one. I would recommend starting with a 42R.

Cleaning:
Both can be cleaned in the washing machine using the nikwax stuff

Both work and you wouldn't be disappointed with both.
Coming from Weise equipment, you might find the premium over Weise is unjustified. They did score better in a Ride test than the expensive stuff.
 
You can get thermal liners for the Roadcrafter, but in my experience they're not necessary.

I've got a BMW Streetguard suit (one of the original versions ) and a Roadcrafter......the BMW kit is great, but flawed in its lack of pockets and ease of use......the first thing I reach for in nearly every circumstance is the Roadcrafter.:nenau

PS you can get the 'stitch in a two piece version called the Darien....still with the same 'easy on' design, but its two separate items.


If I was replacing either of mine to day, I'd be ordering another 'stich without hesitation (as if you couldn't guess:blast)
 
Fanum said:
You can get thermal liners for the Roadcrafter, but in my experience they're not necessary.

I've got a BMW Streetguard suit (one of the original versions ) and a Roadcrafter......the BMW kit is great, but flawed in its lack of pockets and ease of use......the first thing I reach for in nearly every circumstance is the Roadcrafter.:nenau

PS you can get the 'stitch in a two piece version called the Darien....still with the same 'easy on' design, but its two separate items.


If I was replacing either of mine to day, I'd be ordering another 'stich without hesitation (as if you couldn't guess:blast)
Click to expand...


http://www.aerostich.com/aerostich-suits
 
Right then let's see if I can clarify a few things:

2 piece versus 1 piece;

I don't think BM do owt similar to compare to RC 1 pc
I thought from Ride tests and a mate Andy Robertshaw who ran Outer limits bike gear shop years ago in Bradford that the 1 piece was better in his poll survey of punters who had them on the grounds of less zippage to leak and wear or burst in an off.

Also like the idea of just chucking it over jeans etc which I do with my current trousers.

I have a MtM AM leather 2 piece when I 'know' it isn't going to rain when out for a 'blast'

BM vs mail order from US;

I have no problems with MO stuff from the states as I have bought a lot of stuff like this but just nothing that requires trying on & could need returning other than if faulty.

BM CServ can be good but my local dealer can sometimes be a bit hard to break the ice with, and he doesn't have a 50 only a 52 and seems reluctant to just get one in for me to try:toungincheek. My preferred dealer is a good 1hr 1/2 away on South Yorks

Like the short jacket front of the SG3 though

Other than this;

My chest is a 38-40" absolute max and don't wan't another big boob of fabric, hence like the cut of the SG3, and wondered about the cut of the Stitch.

Anyone near Scarb, Whitby, or York with a Stitch roughly my size ??
 
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Here's some reading for you......Aerostich Roadcrafters have a very loyal following here.
I don't think I can remember anyone complaining about them at all, aprt from the issue (which is easily solved or at least minimised ) of the lower part of the front flap letting in water in extreme conditions.

1 By Ronno
2 By Indecisive
3 By JB
4 By Popeye
5 by Seamaster
6 The olympia alternative from Phantom


There are dozens of other good threads about Aerostich suits......use the search button and have a good read through :thumb2
 
I don't know about the BMW suit but I really do rate the Aerostich. You will look like a tellytubby in it but at least a warm, dry tellytubby. It isn't totally waterproof and the thermal qualities are not brilliant (which can be a sweet relief in the summer) but put a fleece or heated waistcoat (Exo2 is brilliant) on and no worries in sub zero. You won't regret the 'stich unless you want to appear attractive.
 
MickyBlueyes said:
How does the size of the suits relate to your 'actual' body measurements Andrew.

i.e. What size are you and what size did you order
Click to expand...

Well I'm a 44-inch chest lounge suit jacket size with a 29-inch inside leg, and I got a 44 regular Roadcrafter which is a good fit. I can get a Gerbing electric jacket inside in winter, and simply pull in the velcro waistband straps to make it fit well in summer.
 
HeatedGrips said:
Well I'm a 44-inch chest lounge suit jacket size with a 29-inch inside leg, and I got a 44 regular Roadcrafter which is a good fit. I can get a Gerbing electric jacket inside in winter, and simply pull in the velcro waistband straps to make it fit well in summer.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that, it helps quite a bit

Having read around a bit more I'm in even more of a quandry as I didn't know anything about the Olympia Phantom, or the Rev'it infinity.

Have to say it looks to me like the Phantom for VFM or the Infinity as the Holy Grail??

Anybody got an Infinity or seen one close up that can comment on whether its worth double the cost almost of the Phantom?

Also anybody been into Bradford motorcycles recently as they are supposed to be Rev'it agents, just wondered if they had seen any of their stuff, tried e-mail but will ring them tom.
 
You are close to my size and I have a roadcrafter 44R - fits fine. As aerostich say, if it feels comfortable and does the job, but you don't like the look, avoid mirrors and shop windows!

I wear roadcrafter when touring - for ease and it's relatively cool. No need to stop and put on rain suit. I wear aerostich Darien jacket and leather trousers in winter. The aerostich electric fleece works a treat - toasty warm right down to 1'c (below which I don't ride!)

Aerostich are a dream to work with over the phone but you will need to add mail AND customs - which adds a lot.

I've had suits delivered to hotels in US and then picked up when on holiday or work.:augie
 
MickyBlueyes said:
Thanks for that, it helps quite a bit

Having read around a bit more I'm in even more of a quandry as I didn't know anything about the Olympia Phantom, or the Rev'it infinity.

Have to say it looks to me like the Phantom for VFM or the Infinity as the Holy Grail??

Anybody got an Infinity or seen one close up that can comment on whether its worth double the cost almost of the Phantom?

Also anybody been into Bradford motorcycles recently as they are supposed to be Rev'it agents, just wondered if they had seen any of their stuff, tried e-mail but will ring them tom.
Click to expand...


:blast
1) just read what's already been posted and don't waste your time with the others, unless you really want to repeat their mistakes or for some reason think that it'll turn out different for you:nenau.

2) Phone them (aerostitch) about sizing, as has been said on this thread already and in many others...they may have stupid accents and fat ankles but they are very good at what they do :blast

3) Carry on like this and we'll be calling you Tomtwo :D


JFDI!!!!:blast
 
MickyBlueyes said:
How does the size of the suits relate to your 'actual' body measurements Andrew.

i.e. What size are you and what size did you order
Click to expand...
Mine is 44" Athletic - basically to take into account that I have a broad back, and my actual chest is 46" and my waist is 35" so the suit takes these odd measurements into account. There are inserts sewn into the back to make the back bigger without increasing the already substantial room in the backside and waist. To see it/me in our full glory have a look at my blog on www.whitedalton.co.uk on the RBLR 1000. That extra size means I can ride an hour with a suit on underneath without the suit being horribly crumpled. If I feel the urge to attempt to look cool, I have my Alpinestar leathers. My Aerostich is my most used piece of riding kit.

However last Thursday night in solid heavy rain, a 2 hour ride left me damp and fairly cold - in late July. The suit isn't perfect - just very good.
 
I had the Rev'It Infinity one piece. In fact I had two of them. They both leaked and Rev'It replaced the first one then did a full, £750:00 refund on the other.

There is a basic design fault in them and as far as I know they are being withdrawn from sale pending a revised mark II version. But that could be some way off. Customer service from Rev'It was first class.

Prior to the Infinity suit I had the Olympia Phantom. Ok, to a point but not facility to pass a power cable from the inside to the outside for heated jacket or in ear monitors.

Now have an Aerostich one piece and will use light weight waterproofs underneath it for the heavy downpours. Quality seems excellent.
 
One piece suits

Guys ,
This makes for very interesting reading , some very constructive and practical comments and views .

I bought a Fieldsheer Highlander one piece in 04 [ http://www.kneedraggers.com/image_storage/c/14/c14dcc04a79cb9573105d5ebf08521f5_rough.jpg ]from a bike shop in Birmingham , and I have to say it's been superb value for money [ £ 200.00 ] and ideal for me .
Now , five years on , it's fine except for not being waterproof anymore - it had a baptism of fire so to speak not long after I got it when coming back from a weeks trip to bonnie Scotland , I got caught in the worst weather I've ridden in - a horrendous storm as I was riding along the M6 near Shap - sods law it had to be on the highest road in England - I kept completely dry - very impressed .
So , I'm looking at replacing it , but , like others , am baulking at coughing up the dosh when I think what the current suit cost me - I love the practcality of it , pockets and vents everwhere , armour in all the right places , not too restrictive to walk in etc - it's a bugger to store though as the back protector means it doesn't fold well unless you remove it .
I'll admit it does get warm in the summer , but I forgive it that when I consider all the plus points - if I could buy another now , I would not hesitate , but they don't make them now, and there are no Fieldsheer suppliers in the UK anymore .

I'm going to keep looking to see what comes up on the market , but if push comes to shove , I'd stump up for a Roadcrafter having spoken to a rider who has had one for a year and [ he's a tight wad so won't part with money easily ] even he says it's well worth it .

Steve
 
I know a few people with the AS product, and a couple with the new BMW effort too, and they seem to rave about them. I can see the benefits, particularly if you commute to work on your bike.
Reason I've avoided them is two-fold:
a) British weather means you still end up pishing about with various under-clothing as one day's sweltering and the next is freezing.
b) Safety. There's a reason "normal" gear is made to fit well, and closely - and I always worry that the looseness of those all-in-one oversuits means that if you had a proper spill, at any speed, you'd find the armour not where you need it. Might be wrong, but if it fits close enough to stay where you put it, how do you get a suit under it as people do?
 
OscarIndia said:
I know a few people with the AS product, and a couple with the new BMW effort too, and they seem to rave about them. I can see the benefits, particularly if you commute to work on your bike.
Reason I've avoided them is two-fold:
a) British weather means you still end up pishing about with various under-clothing as one day's sweltering and the next is freezing.
b) Safety. There's a reason "normal" gear is made to fit well, and closely - and I always worry that the looseness of those all-in-one oversuits means that if you had a proper spill, at any speed, you'd find the armour not where you need it. Might be wrong, but if it fits close enough to stay where you put it, how do you get a suit under it as people do?
Click to expand...
I have been thinking about getting an Aerostich, and I think the above post does have a valid point, all well and good to have armouring but not so much if it isn't in the right place, you may as well not have it.

Any thoughts on the matter?
 
One other factor to bear in mind when ordering a 'Stich is that you will probably get done for customs duty, VAT and (to me most annoying of all) a "handling" fee from Fedex or Parcelforce who've been awarded the contract from HMG.

My Darien arrived within 3 or 4 days (can't quite remember) of ordering.
 
JPB said:
One other factor to bear in mind when ordering a 'Stich is that you will probably get done for customs duty, VAT and (to me most annoying of all) a "handling" fee from Fedex or Parcelforce who've been awarded the contract from HMG.
Click to expand...
How much would all those add up to?
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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