Waterproof Biking Clothes

[bikergraham]

Whilst i realise this subject is highly emotive and perhaps everybody has their own views,i would like to perhaps throw this out for discussion as we are fast approaching the time of year when motorcycling can become uncomfortable and can i say even less safe as clothing becomes heavy,wet,cold,steamed up, and much more difficult to stay comfortable safe and dextrous in.I dont know about you but for myself i'm fed up with being "ripped off" with substandard items that promise the world but deliver nothing.I like most of us have bought expensive jackets,trousers,gloves,that claim to be waterproof but soon prove to be as waterproof as swimming in a colander.You know whats it like,ive just spent £500 on this suit,nice and comphy and warm,bought it in the summer,used it for 3 months then find myself in the middle of France chucking it down with rain,and that familiar trickle of water ,cold feeling down inside your crouch,followed by your arms getting cold,your new suit now weighs 38 tons and you cant turn your head as it feels like your standing under the Niagra Falls,well, weve all been there and i for one am fed up,surely water proof means water proof,and not water resistant which is guaranteed to leak! Its all so bloody expensive ,we pay good money for what,empty promises from the manufacturers,guarantee,s that can be wiggled out of,retailers that once theyve got your hard earned dont want to know,my god it makes me so angry,would the car industry put up with shoddy overpriced goods,surely i cant be the only one that thinks this.Ive got a car as well but still prefer my bike even on those cold wet winter days,they say there,s no bad weather ,only bad clothing,but other than covering myself in cling film i havnt found an answer.

[Jay]

All wet weather gear finally lets the water in over time, the way to prevent this is to regularly wash and re-waterproof your gortex textiles using the nic-wax products. or failing that use an over suit which is 100% water proof over your textiles in horrible weather.

[Dailaughing]

The only thing I have ever found which was waterproof was some trousers and jacket which were basically just welded plastic sheets. Also the cheapest waterproofs I have ever bought but I can't find them for sale anywhere any more. Just bought some work clothes over trousers for £8 as I thought they were worth a try (and they fit under my seat). No rain yet thankfully so don't know if they work.

It's worth noting that the professionals all use oversuits of some sort so I suspect Jay is right.

[TLS-Moose]

The most waterproof thing I ever had was a Rukka oversuit ...... the downside though, was that it turned into a bit of a sauna if the thermometer got into double figures

I wish I could say I stay nice and dry by driving the car instead ...... but Discovery's are renowned for their leaky sunroofs and more than once I have had a nice cold shower shortly after driving off ...

[graham22]

I'm with Moose here, I have a 25year old unlined one piece Rukka suit which I can put on over leathers and it will just fit under the seat of things I do distance on (Hayabusa, GSXR1000K2, Fireblades, EXUP etc).

It has never let water in and I got wet only once in it when water ran down my neck reaching my b0ll0cks - that was coming back from Donington GP, the rain was so heavy that the bow wave of water from the front wheel of the VFR800 was coming over the screen!!!!

OK, it's not ideal for chucking on for local journeys but that's when the car scores! Also when competing on road trials (which are always wet from rain or rivers), I have a jacket with welded seams (Spada I think?) with this I wear cheap unlined trousers over leather jeans as these will always get ripped & can be treated as disposable.

I have never found lined kit which stays waterproff over a reasonable period of time.

[bikergraham]

It sounds like i must be too trusting,when a manufacturer states waterproof then i would expect no less than waterproof,am i really being that unreasonable.Its like buying a washing machine that is said to spin at 1200 rpm,and to find that it only spins at 800 rpm in my book it really shouldnt be advertised as such.Maybe im just getting old and grumpy,but at 6ft 4 and 18 stone there isnt much out there that fits me,perhaps i should go to Toolstation and buy a load of their yellow plastic bags and get them welded together!

[Petstep]

I'm with Graham on this - waterproofs should be waterproof! !

But they're not as proved by the various times I've ended a ride in even moderate rain looking like I have poor bladder control! Waterproofs seem to cope for a bit, but eventually it gets through. I now keep a pair of Oxford overtrousers under the seat - the crotch seems to be the weakest spot (and the most embarrassing! )- and I've an over jacket I chuck in the topbox if I'm going distance and rain is forecast.

If anyone can make waterproof kit that is .... er ... waterproof, they'll make a fortune!

[badgerKDD]

What you need is good old fashioned MacSalvors oilskins! Bright yellow plastic coat and overtrousers, welded seams and as fashionable as a bin liner, but they work .




The only downside is you get just as wet on the inside from the collected sweat ......

[Dailaughing]

That'll be the ones I had but I went in last week and no sign of them.

[graham22]

That'll be the ones I had but I went in last week and no sign of them.

But did you go into their boaty shop in Penryn or their mega store in Pool!

[Dailaughing]

Pool. Didn't think of the one I drive past every day even when I was in there to buy some brackets for my topbox!