Rainsuit experience or suggestions please?
 

Inmates!!!

I'm looking to get a one piece water proof rain suit and I have no idea which are good,bad or ugly...only needed for the odd shower I might ride in to on any ride out.


Can anyone point me in a general direction as to what one to go for along with any reputable suppliers?

Thanks

:)


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This should do the trick!
 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/helly-hansen-survival-suit-E-305-L-XL-bargain-new-without-tags-/290724849808?pt=UK_Sporting_Goods_Sports_Clothing_ LE&hash=item43b08d2890

I know you said one-piece, but I've found the Alpinestars RP5/RJ5 two piece over suit brilliant, watertight, easy to get on even with helmet and boots still in place and cheap too. (Remember; a two piece is much easier when you need a crap! ;) )

Thanks for that RickM....coffee out nose....keyboard sprayed....

I'll have a wee peep at the Alpine stuff on line just now and see what's what ....

Anything else keep it coming...

:)


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I've been looking for the stuff I bought a year or two ago, Bullson 2 piece (yes I know you said one piece), it was as cheap as you like and has never let me down for either road or trail riding.

I've used one-piece suits in the past, and they are a PITA.... not easy to put on, especially over damp riding gear (lets face it, we on;y put this stuff on after it starts to rain in most cases).

If you have reasonably waterproof (showerproof) riding gear, or even treated leather then a little water ingress isn't going to matter too much. Two piece suits are easier to put on, take off and if you burn a hole in your pants, you don't need a whole new suit!

Unfortunately, it appears that Bullson rain suits aren't available any more.... :Suspicious_DXD5FP:

I've had a Hein Gericke one for the last four years or so - the ones which were designed to go with the 'Celtic' leathers, although I presume they still do something similar for whatever their current leathers are.

Cost about �50. It's lined, which is good because it's properly windproof and toasty warm. Does mean it doesn't pack down quite as small, and you can get a bit tangled up if you're trying to put it on in a hurry.

Unfortunately I managed to shred both legs of mine in the lakes while on the trails - combination of spiky off-road footpegs and brambles, etc. With this in mind, I may just buy the cheapest suit I can find for trail use in future and treat them as disposable.


Edit: For something I'm only going to wear if it's wet and/or cold, I prefer a one-piece, because then it does the job properly. Don't find the practicality an issue for bike-related stuff. The only downside is if you are touring and doing stuff off the bike, end up packing another waterproof jacket to wear.

Thanks for the replies Inmates....

Food for thought...one piece or not...I agree with one piece as the weather here lends itself to stopping and kiting up if a shower is encountered etc...but after reading the threads....

I currently road ride with black full piece leathers and a black/gray Enduro Corduro jacket over the top half,which is not waterproof at all,but that I use when riding enduros here on my Gas Gas....Sidi Crossfire boots on after....anyway...jacket is handy to have on due to lots of pockets for ear plugs and riding documents/wallet etc .

I had a wee peep at the Alpinestars set up....

If I get the Alpinestars two piece I can replace my Enduro jacket with the top half of the Alpinestars and ride as normal and be dry if a shower is encountered,and only stop to put on the leggings after.

Maybe this is a good idea...as mentioned before no need to dander about with an extra jacket if need be......but I need to know if they're actually waterproof?

Still haven't ruled out a wee one piece as a quick stop fix?...and way cheaper....

Are the one piece suits waterproof 100%....?

Any update to the waterproof opinions of both?

Thanks Inmates for any advice.....

Strange how one can ride all day in torrential rain in an 8 hr enduro and with mud/gutters,on a Gas Gas,but want comfort on the smooth road for the same amount of time? lol....


:)

I can vouch for the fact that the Alpinestars kit is 100% waterproof. Had mine three years now and still fully watertight.

not quiet true you get mother dearest to get some blue waterproof material and stitch a patch in your waterproof 1 piece suit leg (bloody harley davidson exhaust)

Anyway, ive had a few 1 piece and 2 piece suits and as GULG says 2 piece far easier to get on and off, plus when your off the bike you can still use the rain coat if tourer and want to he out for dinner etc.

Currently i use a karimor hiking water proof jacket as i find it fits fine, drys within 30min-1hr and its what i use for all my old hiking trips and i never got wet.

Trousers ive got the newer version hein gericke trousers which although fag paper thin and you think you might rip them have never had any problems in the last 6 months of ownership and quiet alot of rides in the wet, 100% water proof, rain drops fly off them as if they where covered in pig fat!!! I think the hein gericke jacket is also made the same and they do do a 1 piece suit too.:unibrow:

1 piece suits are bought by folk in the early learning stages of travelling abroad,yes me included till the penny dropped.

As the others have said buy a two piece,and the main reason the water lies in the fold of the jacket,the trousers are your second layer.

When you buy the trousers go for the concertina look!!! so when your on the bike they come down to your ankles.

Now!! the important bit,don't go buying a jacket like Alpinstars they have elasticated cuffs,so at any kind of speed they ride up your arm and the water runs down into your glove,the cuffs have to be velcro.

I'd like to be able to say I worked all this out 30 odd years ago but it's been a wet and at times expensive learning curve!!!,lots of money doesn't mean good.
Oh and if funds will streach Alpinestars 365's not cheap but they are the only thin gloves that I have come across that have Goretex as well,they do work,but you'll still need a pair of thin trials gloves if your going down south,your hands will cook in anything that is acceptable in the UK.

Cost?? the unlined jacket all of 20 quid and the trousers �15.

If I was in France the first place I'd look is Daffy Moto

Had my old Spada all in one for years just �29, easy on and off even with full leathers. Rolls up teeny tiny so easy to pack. I keep it on the back in a dry bag for the woderful rain which I love... no I do really... :eusa_dance:

Bought a 'Buffalo' all in one a few years back, never had TOO much grief putting it on, and its been pretty waterproof whenever i have used it. Would recommend it and it was only �40

Thanks for the replies ref. waterrproofyness.....lol

As long as both methods do actually work then I can decide basically as to how much I want to spend. Here I get caught out by the odd thunder shower in the mountains and anything else I can plan more ahead as the weather forecast here is actually usually pretty accurate...

Maybe that one piece is not so bad after all....although the Alpinestars stuff has it's advantages too...

:)


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Waterproof?? over how long,I'd suggest there's a variation in distance with one or two of postings on here.

aha!!!....

mmmm....Hadn't thought of that.....any comments as to how long before water gets in if at all?....

I suppose another way of looking at it would be buy a one piece and if it ends up being crap....buy the other stuff?....with no big money wasted?

What say ye?

:)

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In July 2010 a rode 350 miles in one hit (9 hours on the road) from Norfolk to Pembrokeshire and apart from the first 30 miles it properly pi55ed it down all the way! I remember it well as it was high summer and probably the worst rain I've ever ridden through, particularly between Telford and Dolgellau. The RJ5/RP5 combo never let in a drip (my helmet, gloves and boots did though).

Put the elasticated cuffs over your gloves, not under - won't ride up and won't leak.

Well I'm not sure what speed you ride at,but thats exactly the reason why my Alpinestars got restricted to dog walking absolute waste of time,the cuffs came over the gloves within minutes at any kind of decent pace.

Re the distance,we have used a motorcycle for our holidays for over 30 years,I've a feeling alot of the info here is for riding round the block,when your a 1000 miles from and home and it's pissing down and your looking down the barrel of a 600 mile day in the rain(at least) boy do you pay attention to detail,Calais/Switzerland,Hook of Holland/Berlin.

What I didn't say we both have a 3/4 armoured jacket under our unlined rain 2 piece suits,normally get a bit of a wet patch in the middle of my chest around the 4/500 mile mark and I'm not talking about bimbling along at 80mph,when looking at a jacket even a cheapo one just check there is tape seal over the joins,most do anyway but some don't,and always go for a heavy duty one rather than the flimsy Alpinestars,yea we bought ours because of the fashion police as well!!

Even with velcro on the wrist if you don't do e'm tight enough they will also come over the glove,in an attempt to stop our arms in the unlined jacket blowing up we tried a small band between our elbow and shoulder keeped eveything from flapping about but leaked after 150 miles.

Yes I know it sounds anal,but keep your gear were you can get at it and quick,it's no good getting wet then putting your gear on,we can get off the bike and into our kit(keep it in a bag ontop of the topbox) in less than a couple of minutes and thats two of us.

Maybe if you tried really hard you could come across as a bit more patronising?

Oh and "I'm not talking about bimbling along at 80mph" - do you know what site you're on, and thus what most of us are riding? :D


@Ohlins - My �50 one-piece oversuit has never leaked (and it's probably done 10,000 miles in the rain), which is more than I can say for several bits of supposedly waterproof riding gear for which I have paid many times that amount.

If you can find a two-piece that you can guarantee will not let water up through the waist joint while you're riding, then maybe the convenience is worth it. But they *always* leak through the waist.

Thanks again Inmates for the replies/advice....food for thought.

A good few years ago I used to ride most days and with the wet gear that was there at that time.

I just needed to know what one can 'get away with' for the occasional shower here...and what improvements have been made in the kit. Again I don't mind all day soaked in the rain/muddy forest going off road....lol

At the same time I'm planning on scooting back to Morocco come the end of Oct/Nov and bearing in mind at that time of year,going by the last few times I've been there and in the North of the country,it can really rain heavily....heavier than I've ever seen in NIreland/UK...complete with near darkness at 1700hrs!!!....

A day ride or two gets you over the Atlas to where the weather is better...if I get caught in rain so be it and if not then it's no problem...game of chance....

I think I'll go for a one piece and see if it's good locally with the summer showers....and take it from there. Interesting comments ref. the Alpinstars kit too..I'll bear that in mind too.....Maybe if the one suit works out not so good then I'll have to just pay for the better stuff....

:)

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Thats the way your reading it,I come from a era of only owning one bike,multiple ownership is nowere days the norm,having to buy another set of gear because you go faster on another bike is a waste of money,even the admin rides a big banger as well.

Wet weather gear can make or break a motorcycle trip and I've done both(sadly),spending big bucks doesn't mean you'll have dry knackers.

My pet hate is riding in overtrousers hence unless it's really bad I'll just wear the jacket,which is another option you don't get with a one piece.

That's because your waist isn't sufficient to make a good seal......:pjrlaugh_61OD3G:

Everyone has their own experiences. Riding style comes into it, number of stops comes into it, material comes into it... so many variables its best to work it out for yourself.

The best waterproof gear I ever had (still do) is a Hein Gericke Master jacket and GTX pants that zip together. Came down from Skye last year in bl00dy awful weather, mostly on the dreaded motorway with lots of spray - never let in a single drop, Keithblade carried on for another 100 miles and his HG stuff never let in a drop either.....

I believe it comes down to prep, make sure it's all together right and it usually works.

Journeys that have lots of stop/start, gloves on/off are the worst for water ingress.

By eck, there's some really articulated opinions at the moment for this thread.
I have also been riding for the last 40 years and have had good and bad riding gear. I also go offshore racing in a yacht and have sailed to Norway a few times, which is non-stop from the UK.
So my opinion relates to both activities

Buy the best gear you can afford, but it all still leaks or you get condensation on the inside or sweat and feel wet. There's no real solution.
I have Klim gear and the material is totally waterproof, but wind blast wll get water in eventually, but it's the best gear I've ever had, it wasn't cheap.
The alternative is to pull over and put some outlandish psudo oversuit on that never fits, is not convenient and you will still sweat inside.
I've never seen a good fitting or good looking oversuit. I've seen many a biker looking like a Michelin man battling down the motorway.
I suppose the alternative is to stop and wait out the rain but then in this country you'd be waiting a long time.
Similarly bshing through torrential rain at silly speeds is neither clever, safe or enjoyable.

So there, to sum it up we in the UK have to live with rain, like it or not. I'm not prepared to let the elements stop me from enjoying my leisure time.
So I buy accordingly, now I don't get wet or cold or uncomfortable.
:pjrmoony_1JJHDG:

:D

Quote:

Originally Posted by waynovetten (Post 174582) when your a 1000 miles from and home and it's pissing down and your looking down the barrel of a 600 mile day in the rain(at least) boy do you pay attention to detail,Calais/Switzerland,Hook of Holland/Berlin. <…snip…> and I'm not talking about bimbling along at 80mph <…snip…> and always go for a heavy duty one rather than the flimsy Alpinestars,yea we bought ours because of the fashion police as well!!

Anyone who is fashion conscious, does 600 miles a day (at least) in torrential rain at speeds in excess of 80mph on an XT660 deserves the greatest admiration and respect, and whose opinions should be held in high esteem.

my 2 coins on rain gear
 

After I came to Singapore I discovered the need for a different approach to clothing. The showers here are short and intensive most of the year. We seldom have a full day with rain or 4-5 days in a row like some places on the eastcoast of britain, west coast of Denmark and in Norway. On the other hand, the rain here is "hot" !! ...meaning you wont catch a lung infection if even if you get soaked for an hour or two.
I have a 2 piece rain set I bought from our local ARAI pusher. The suit is for some reason fabricated Korea, perhaps an indication that it's not only available with ARAI logos written all over it. This suit is very fast to put on when you start to feel the first drizzle. It's got elastic and velcro adjustments so you can get it 99% water proof. The Arai set is not hotter to wear than any other clothes here. When I'm riding my TDM, I sit in a position where it's possible for the rain to go in at the back of my neck while riding in heavy traffic and traffic lights. I usually bring along a couple of plastic shopping bags and a few cableties, which I use over the shoes. It works here, as I only need to get to the next place or home to get a new set of "shoe covers".
I have tried a variety of jackets. Some with a lot of breath, which will get you soaked in the rain but seem to withstand a light drizzle. Leather is absolutely out of the question while driving in Singapore. A test of a bit oldfashion oilskin found it was ok weather wise, but too stiff to be comfortable.
I colleague of mine has a totally different take on it. He dresses down instead. If a shower comes up, he'll continue his ride wearing boxers and a sleeveless t.