One Piece Suits - Advice, Opinions, Recommendations?

First off, wow, what a great tool. Before I post this topic, it brings up other topics similar, so since nothing is new in the past year or so, I won't feel bad asking this question.

I live in Seattle, Washington and will be converting to just my VFR as my only vehicle, it's been recommended to me to get a one piece suit for commuting. I wear dress pants and a dress shirt and currently use my leather jacket over my top and some baggy overpants for the bottom. But that's not really keeping me dry or warm. Sooo...

Any thoughts on a one piece? I can't find many brands out there, Aerostitch pricey, First Gear, Tour Master, Joe Rocket and Olympia is what I found so far. Not many places to try stuff on in my size but I did find it kinda bulky to get in and out of.

Seeing how it's not cheap, just wanted to see what others were using when they commute and need to put on gear over thier work clothes.

Thanks in advance!

Rob

 

I live in similar climate....except wetter. And my ride is my daily commute year round as wel....well mostly anyways. Try to take the truck when it snows but have been caught in that too. My commute is 100 miles round trip so 2 hours + every day in the saddle. And my attire at work consists of shirt and tie, dress pants and shoes.

I have three suits for the four seasons, none of them a one piece. Not to say I wouldn't mind having one, but that may be my 4th. I keep four pair of dress pants and two pair shoes in my locker at work. I take the shirt, tie and socks in a plastic bag in my back pack. Neatly folded of course. And the shirt comes out fine when I get to work. The odd time that I wore the shirt and tie home under the suit, I looked like hell.

Some advie I have seen about dress pants is to neatly "roll" them in a plastic dry cleaning bag. It is the friction that causes them to crinkle up. The plastic stops the friction. This is probably why my shirts come out well. I mean you gotta look good at work don't you?

 

A one piece suit is difficult at best to deal with and would recommend a good two piece suit that will zip together at the waist.

 

Aerostitch

 

I should clarify that my commute to work is 20 minutes, I currently layer my motorcycle jacket and riding pants over my dress pants and shirt and tie. I keep my suit jacket and dress shoes at work. Since I am always in a suit, I only need to be careful of one area, and that's the front chest triangle cause that's the only part that shows. And for some good fortune, my wrinkle free dress pants are just that so I've never had pant issues.

I'm looking for the fit of layering. I like the feedback, I may just do both. I do want to be comfortable and not ride in a sweat box, that would not be fun. I have a hard enough time just keeping my helmet fog free.

Thanks again for all the replies!

Rob

 

I sure hear you on that. The Pinlock system works quite well. Just got that last spring but not the cheapest. I had great luck with dish washing liquid on the inside which I found even to be more effective than the pin lock but you need to get used to the slightly dirty view. Not an issue for me but I know others here don't like that. Recently I was made aware of a product called Cat Crap or something like that which some here say works great. Going to give that a try. I have tried just about everything else with incredible failure for our type of weather, cold and wet.

One thing I discovered was how important it was to keep your head dry before you put the helmet on. If you work up any sweat in a warm environment ina building, then go out into the cool and damp, you will fog up. Just a little tid bit there. Also, see if you can get a better breath deflector or breath mask for you particular helmet. One that fits snug to your nose and directs the breath down and out the bottom of the helmet. That is huge. The small breath deflectors that come with the helmet serve no purpose what so ever in our climate in the winter.

Ride on Bro...Ride on. Maybe see you at the Seattle show in December.

 

nothing like a 'stitch
well designed, engineered and built
excellent customer service
ability to get it customized if you aren't an off the rack kind of guy/girl
great durability, lasts for a very long time
all in all a very well earned reputation as being "the" suit

 

Lots of variations on the Aerostitch "suits". Even the zip together two-piece suits are pretty fast on and off or Aerostitch has a suspender type zip in that converts the two piece suit into a real two piece.

Great catalog too..

Everything for a bike does not have to really be "for" a "bike" Check out snowmobile suit. CarHart makes damn good foul weather wear.


The thing to really have is one of those pop-up trailers for that work commute. They are a little hard to back up but for an on site shit, shower and shave, they can't be beat.

 

Never tried a 1 piece. I'm not a racer, so I just figured one would be overkill. I have one of the less expensibe BILT brand 2pc sets from Cycle Gear and I love it. The jacket is great with the suit or just with jeans, and it doesn't look overkill. But when you zip the two together it's a very comfortable, and very confident feeling suit. If you're like many of us who ride hard in the twisties but don't ride track than this is a good option.

 

Most racers wear one piece leathers because its mandated. The "suits" being discussed here come in several styles and configurations and most are fabric.

Seen some pretty cheesey onepiece leathers and same in the fabric full suits. OTOH lots of choices out there some junk and some really great gear.

The Aerostitch stuff is pricy to be sure. It is for a reason. Sent mine in once for a zipper replacement. No bill.. Try that with made in East Timor brand and what ya may get back is "no habla ingles."

 

Can't send mine in for stuff... The producers are too busy stopping 5 times a day praying to the east... BUT- I've had 2 zippers fail, and all I had to do was take it back into the store for a no-hassle exchange. Cycle Gear is really good about that. This line is pretty decent, and the whole set (gloves included) is pretty awesome for about $450 bucks. It's probably even less $$$ now, but I bought mine when the whole line was new...

 

Been very happy with my Olympia 1-piece over the last 4 years. Note however, it is NOT waterproof! You will get wet in a heavy downpour, especially if you don't close all the vents...LOL. It is nice to have s suit for commuting or traveling. It IS very warm when used with the full liner, also vents air very well to the upper half of your body when the vents are open, so it is good for temps from 30's to the 80's. I have a mesh jacket for temps in the upper 80's and above and heated gear for when it gets really cold. You can get in and out of a 'stitch more quickly than the Olympia....2 minutes vs 5 minutes....big deal. The Olympia was half the price of a stitch on sale. Yes, the quality of it is top shelf and the Olympia is not in that class, but it is still pretty darn good. I've had no problems with any seams, zippers, vents, or anything else over 4 years of all weather conditions and it is still going strong.

 

Great discussion items. Good tips too!

I went and tried on an Olympic one-piece Phantom suit, once I got all the fitment velcro set to the right places, I practiced getting in and out, it was super fast about a minute on and a minute off.

My biggest gripe is that most suits like these it's bulky and has too many pockets. I wish I could find a suit that simply was like a waterproof coverall, these suits end up being crazy with all the zippers and pockets. As Kytnvfr stated, I can see these not being fully waterproof as the water could get in the zippered areas used to vent the suit.

My quest continues for either a one piece or two piece waterproof suit as an overlay for my work clothes.

I'm pretty much looking for a use like Reg71, where I can get dressed for work, throw over my jacket/pants/combo and ride off to work. The distance is short, 8 miles (20 mins) commute. All other riding I can gear up appropriately.

Thanks again for all the info, appreciate it!

Rob

 

A box of those bigass plastic trash bags might work for you. No pockets unless they have added them recently..

 

I've got one of the Olympia one pieces also. I love it for the long distance stuff, the pockets come in handy. I use my 'Stich two piece for day rides and around town stuff-nice to be able to take the jacket off to eat.