Riding suits

[famousperson]

Don sez (in the "boots for the office" thread), "Actually - IMHO - some riders don't get it. A Roadcrafter would have solved the rain problem and no need for a blanket in the office.. for someone who only owns a motorcycle the correct gear is really a necessity."

When I first saw the price of the Roadcrafter I thought OMG! But then I thought about it. If one is REALLY serious about riding, it may be an excellent investment. After all, it is only a hundred some dollars more than a BMW jacket, and a dry suit set-up for scuba diving costs a whole grand more.

But before I shell out $800, I have some questions for those of you who have a riding suit. First, the description says it has hip and back pads, but does it also have CE armor in the shoulders, elbows and knees? Second, what is the temperature range it is comfortable in, assuming normal street clothes underneath? For instance, would any of our Florida riders be able to wear it? Third, is the "500 denier Cordura GoreTex" outer shell tough enough? In the excellent thread on pants, one post suggested a minimum of 620 denier.

In general, are there any suits with a zip-out liner? Also, what is the advantage/disadvantage of a suit over a jacket/pants combination?

I know that is a lot of questions, but an outlay of $800 is substantial, and there are other farkles I "need."

[r12r-don]

Unfortnately I cannot answer all of your questions. I may be able to help justify your $800 out of pocket expense and provide some justification for which configuration to buy.

I have two riding suits...outfits. Both are pant and jacket combos. I tend to like the separate pant and jacket because I mix and match during in between weather days. In most cases the jackets connect to the pants via a zipper in the back so in the event of a slide, it all stays together to keep you protected.

My first was a First Gear Kilamanjaro suit for winter riding. I forget the actual cost but it was pricey, let's say $500 for arguments sake. I bought that almost eight years ago and it is still in tip top shape and keeps me warm when venturing out on those cold off season days. Even without fairing on my new R12R, I'm toasty with this suit and a heated vest and grips. I haven't had the need for washing much, just febreeze so I forget about zip out pads.

My second suit was for my cross country trip executed on my previews R1100RT. I bought a BMW airflow suit. This is also over seven years old and cost a hefty $700 at the time. I almost didn't buy it but thought of the one time I may need it and then gladly shelled out the $$$$$. All pads come out of this suit and it goes right in the washing machine. Just washed it last week to get the encrusted bugs off of it. During my last ride I literally stank from dead bug juice. We've all been there.

A long winded response to tell you, my annual cost for protective suits has been roughly $171 for both suits. When I look back I am glad I bought top notch suits the first time around. You can't argue with the annual cost over the years. I also KNOW I have many more years in this gear.
I am revisiting the same issue as I buy a new helmet as my existing Shoei has past the 5 year mark. Once again I will gladly (but painfully) shell out $500+ to say I spent $100/year to keep my head safe while enjoying my favorite past time.

While I've never actually had a one piece suit, I have used this gear for some 40k miles and 7 years including a 9k, 3wk, cross region/weather cross country trip and found everything worked well.

Hope this was a bit helpful.
Ride safe - but have fun.

---Don

[peckhammer]

But before I shell out $800, I have some questions for those of you who have a riding suit. First, the description says it has hip and back pads, but does it also have CE armor in the shoulders, elbows and knees? Second, what is the temperature range it is comfortable in, assuming normal street clothes underneath? For instance, would any of our Florida riders be able to wear it? Third, is the "500 denier Cordura GoreTex" outer shell tough enough? In the excellent thread on pants, one post suggested a minimum of 620 denier.

First, you have to ask yourself what's cheaper, skin grafts or the riding suit? If you answered, "the riding suit," read on.

Q1: If you are talking about the Aerostitch suits, they are padded in the shoulders, elbows and knees. I do not recall my suit being padded in the back, but that was an option. I have a carbon fiber enhanced back protector and I velcro it into the suit (velcro is already in the suit, perfectly placed).

Q2: My primary residence is in Seattle, and the suit is too cool for all but July and August. I am glad I can wear other clothes underneath it. On 90 degree days, when I am not moving, most things are hot, no matter what you do. If I were riding in AZ in August, I'd still wear the suit, but with an evaporative vest underneath it.

Q3: With regard to durability/toughness, the suits are accepted as good enough for track days, and for California Superbike School, so that's good enough for me.

I used to wear full leathers all the time, but after buying my aerostitch, I wondered what the hell I had been thinking...

I bought the one piece. I can get it on or off in 15 seconds. It just manages to fit in the BMW side-case. The advantage is that I can shed it completely and walk around like a civilian. The woman has a two-piece, and given the fact that she has a thimble-sized bladder, that's a good thing. The two piece has it's advantages in being flexible for how you wear it, but I still like my one piece. It's on, it's done. No zipping it to the bottom or screwing around, and one less thing for my brain to think about.

[deilenberger]

Don sez (in the "boots for the office" thread), "Actually - IMHO - some riders don't get it. A Roadcrafter would have solved the rain problem and no need for a blanket in the office.. for someone who only owns a motorcycle the correct gear is really a necessity."

When I first saw the price of the Roadcrafter I thought OMG! But then I thought about it. If one is REALLY serious about riding, it may be an excellent investment. After all, it is only a hundred some dollars more than a BMW jacket, and a dry suit set-up for scuba diving costs a whole grand more.

But before I shell out $800, I have some questions for those of you who have a riding suit. First, the description says it has hip and back pads, but does it also have CE armor in the shoulders, elbows and knees? Second, what is the temperature range it is comfortable in, assuming normal street clothes underneath? For instance, would any of our Florida riders be able to wear it? Third, is the "500 denier Cordura GoreTex" outer shell tough enough? In the excellent thread on pants, one post suggested a minimum of 620 denier.

Since I just ordered a brandy-new Roadcrafter, and I have about 12 years on my current one, I'll try a few answers:

1 - Yes - it has armor in the shoulders, elbows and knees. It's not CE armor because it uses different materials. You have a choice of hard shelled armor - with various foams used for different conditions. The cold-weather ones really do work and make it easier to wear when the temps are below freezing: http://www.aerostich.com/catalog/US/TF- ... c-305.html

2 - Temp range? Depends a lot on the bike. I was absolutely miserable with it on when I rode to Fontana NC for an RA rally many years ago.. but I was also on a 1985 K100RT - arguably one of the hottest bikes ever made.. and the temps were in the high 80F's for a good part of the way. I did much the same trip - same Roadcrafter - same temps one or two days - last year on the way down to Asheville for the RA Rally, and I loved it. Difference was - the R1200R. If you are easily effected by high-temps, then it will be uncomfortable in hot weather. People do things like pack all the pockets with ice (the Goretex liner keeps you dry), or wear evaporative cooling neck things and vests. All will help... but the biggest variable I've found is the bike and how much air it allows at you. If the air hits you right on - like on a Roadster with the Sport shield - the vents on the Roadcrafter work very well - and it will actually balloon up a bit due to the air when you're moving down the highway. I wear mine whenever I'm on the bike.. summer, winter - whenever. It works over a wide range of temps for me.

3 - The shell seems to be adequate. The impact points (they call them "ballastics") actually use 1050 denier nylon. I do know a number of friends who have crashed in their Aerostich.. and they either bought a new one if it was too badly damaged, or had their 'stich repaired by Rider Warehouse.. they seemed to feel it did what it was supposed to. Aerostich has a museum of crashed suits that were sent back to them.. and they describe the accident and the protection the 'stich provided. This also is pretty informative.. the protection is good. Not as good as a leather racing suit - but better than most consumer grade leathers.

In general, are there any suits with a zip-out liner? Also, what is the advantage/disadvantage of a suit over a jacket/pants combination?

Most all of the BMW suits are like this. I don't find this a particularly good idea.. aside from having to remember to drag the liner around, when I've been out riding with people with the BMW suits and it starts raining, it's always a decision by them "do I hope it stops, or do I do the dance required to put the liner in?.." - meanwhile I just pull the zipper up on the Roadcrafter and keep riding

I bought the pants/jacket combo (2-piece) since it provides more options in sizing, and there are more alterations available for it to make it fit my penguin shaped body.. I've also worn only the jacket when off the bike and hanging around a campfire at a rally..

I know that is a lot of questions, but an outlay of $800 is substantial, and there are other farkles I "need."

The $800 has to be looked at as a long term investment. If it saves you from road-rash once, it's a cheap investment. If you amortize it over the life of the suit - my 12 year old one is still in good condition, but SWMBO claims it doesn't fit me right - hence the new one - mine has cost me about $65/year. That's down in the noise as far as bike expenses go. I expect I could sell my current suit for around $350-400 if someone wanted the odd size I have.. cutting the expense even more.

The big pluses to a Roadcrafter:

- One outfit does it all. I own other riding gear - which I only wore 2 winters ago for a week while I sent my 'stich back to Rider Warehouse to have some zipper pulls replaced and new velcro installed. Other than that - I haven't worn the other riding gear in 12 years.

- You are wearing everything you need.. I can't say enough about how handy it is to simply zip-up and continue on. No looking for an overpass to pull under, then fumbling with luggage looking for a liner or rain-gear. Zip it up, ride on.

- Wide temp ranges. Mine is comfortable from about 25F (with a Gerbing heated jacket liner) to about 95F (with a wet t-shirt..) dunno of any other gear offering that.

BTW - I also can't speak too highly of Andy Goldfine's/Rider-Warehouse customer service policies. He and I have discussed how he can modify a new Roadcrafter to fit my pear shaped body and his help and generousity in getting me what will fit has been outstanding. We were swapping emails - last night at 10PM.. That's someone who is dedicated to customer service.

[ScooterCop]

[url]feed://www.aerostich.com/salelist.php?saletype=feed[/url]

Subscribe to this link to get constant updates of sale items as they become available. I did and was able to save about $200 on a 2 piece suit.

[eisen]

I ordered a Roadcrafter 1 piece a few weeks ago (Black with grey inserts)
I KNOW that yellow is probably the "safest" color, but it is just too bright for me...

We don't have too many days of rain over here - but when it does, i think the Aerostich will do the job!

[bmwk100]

I bought the Darian pants and jacket. I live in South Florida and I basically can use the jacket year around. Very comfortable and "lighter" than the Roadcrafter. I am very happy with it and especially like the fact that I don't have to pull over whenever I encounter one of numerous afternoon rain showers. It is a quality product and as mentioned earlier a great long-term investment.

[jbim]

I won't try to answer all your questions but I'll give you my opinion on it.

I am in my third season with the one-piece Stich RC. I find it better and more convenient the more I wear it. I like the one-piece because it is all there as someone else said and it is easy to put on and off in seconds. I don't know what else I would buy if I didn't have the RC. The BMW or Motoport's?

I wear MY RC with my GS and naked R. It's OK down to about 10C/50F without heat. Lower temps and wind chill you will need heat or a windbreaker. I find it is not 100% windproof like leather. Which is good on a warm day. I wouldn't want to spend a day in Florida stop n go traffic. You would lose 10 pounds of sweat. It is good for riding all day at speed or in the city below 23C/75F.

I realize I was wearing too much clothes underneath and creating moisture. Then the moisture would chill me. Now I find that a Kokatat paddling shirt with a windproof outer shell and polartec inner shell works great at lower temps. Just that and the stich. At higher temps. a wisking fabric shirt works well, like for running.

The design could be modernized a bit. I suggested them to add airflow zippers in front, possibly with mesh. Also, I suggested they had a velcroed hydration pack attachment for the back. They seemed reluctant to change the design and make it more expensive and what not. I suppose when you have something that works "why fix if not broke".

It is a great suit. I suspect I should get 5-10 riding seasons with it. Maybe more. In that context, it is not expensive. Unless money is no object, you should buy quality that lasts. It is more expensive to buy 2-3 cheap suits that you don't wear. I would buy it all over again. Of course, make sure your weight is stable, or at least that you don't cause the suit to shrink prematuraly

[Bill Stevenson]

Another great question and super answers all around. This forum rocks. I own a One piece Aerostitch, a Darien Jacket and pants, Vanson full leathers, Bates full leathers, and a Barbour suit. These days I reside in South Florida, but am originally a New Englander and lived on the West Coast (Seattle and San Diego) for a total of 15 years. Where you live plays a part in what might work best for you. If you live where the weather does not get over about 85 degrees F very often, the One piece Aerostitch is hands down the best option. But it is too hot for all but the coolest months here in Florida. The Darien Jacket and pants combo is more versatile and comfortable in hot weather and it is more waterproof too. Leathers are better for falling down and sliding along the pavement, with the one piece not bad (I have seen them afterwards, but this is not from personal experience) and the Darien combo not quite as good as the one piece (according to Andy Goldfine - the creative genius behind Aerostitch). Best not to fall down though. When it rains, btw, the leathers absorb water and get very heavy and uncomfortable. Lots of rainy days shorten the life of the leather unless it is treated. The leather treatments that make the leather water resistant make them unbreathable. I would not recommend leather unless you intend to race. For serious road riding synthethics are more versatile than leather. Ugly though they be, if you ride in a rainy, cool climate like Seattle, British waxed cotton is still superior such as Barbour or Belstaff.

If you decide to buy a synthetic riding suit, the final question is what brand? Last fall I sent my one piece suit and my Darien combo back to the manufacturer for refurbishment. They both have over 100,000 miles of road riding. The one piece was tailor made for me in 1990. A couple of new zippers, new reflective panels, new pads, cleaned and waterproofed and the bill for the whole deal was about $120. Just for fun call BMW NA and ask them if they can refurbish your old BMW suit circa 1990. Then you'll know what to buy with your hard earned money.

Regards,

Bill