So, all indications thus far portend a strong El Nino here in Southern California this winter into spring. Thank God, because we are drier than British Humor. So, this leads me to seek advice on who has had excellent results from their rain gear. Please let me know which brand and what you have put it through to test it. Thanks, LintBall :biggrin-new:
I recently bought a two piece suit, Nelson Riggs SR-6000 Stormrider, ~$50 from Motorcyclegear.com. I wore it back in April up in the Monterey area when I did a little tour up there. They had predicted lots of rain that weekend, but ultimately it didn't more than drizzle. For the most part the suit is easy to put on and off but the Velcro closures on the sleeves didn't seem to stay put when going above 80MPH, well at least the end of the sleeves didn't stay at my wrist. If I think about though, I don't think I would be going that fast if it was really coming down anyway. Unfortunately I cannot say how it will hold up in an actual rain just yet but I have a feeling it will work fine. Theoretically, if I was planning on going riding in the rain, I'd probably have my waterproof textile gear on underneath the rain suit, just as added insurance. The suit is meant to go over your riding gear so the sizing is relative to what size you normally wear, however, I went a size up because I will also be wearing the suit over my leathers. It fit well over both my leather and textile gear and I actually used the jacket part as a "wind breaker" on my home from R3 this year. It was a little cold at one point and popping this over my suit worked out great. Here's the info from MotorcycleGear website: Sizing Information Choose a size based upon what you usually wear in men’s shirts/pants. These suits are sized to be worn over motorcycle riding apparel, so if you are going to wear the suit over a t-shirt/jeans only you might need to go down one size from what you normally wear. Our Two Cents The SR-6000 Two Piece Rainsuit is lightweight and should work great for occasional use. The material used is thin and less bulky than some rain suits making it more comfortable and more convenient to pack, but the thinner material won’t be as durable as a heavier PVC suit or a nylon suit. The under-helmet hood/collar is a neat feature to keep water from going down the collar of the jacket. Not only does the hood keep water out of the collar, but the wrists and waist of the jacket can be tightened to block out any water from entering at these spots. There are two waterproof pockets on the jacket for added storage. For added visibility there is reflective piping that runs across the chest, back and down both arms. Take the “View Larger Pictures” link above to see this and more good close-up pictures.
Don't rely on those so called waterproof textile suits from the different manufacturers to keep you dry. Won't happen. What I have found that works is those cheaper two piece rain gear that is just that. Rain gear, noting else. I look for something in nylon that is rubber type material backed. Unfortunately they do not breath, so you may get warm in the hotter climates. But they do stop the water. They will also stop the wind from blowing through, so they go a long way to keep you warm by trapping body heat inside. Also look for a good collar. One that has a wider Velcro and lined with flannel for comfort. Mine had elastic cuffs on the sleeves. Wear gloves that have gauntlets. Tuck the gauntlets under the sleeve. Otherwise, the water runs down your sleeve and into your gloves and you get soaked gloves, assuming you have water resistant gloves. I think my suit is First Gear. Was about $120.00 about 5 years back. I wore this type of suit commuting year round, well in the rain, and snow occasionally, in the Vancouver BC area for over 6 years. Also four trips down to California starting out in the rainy season up here in the north, so until I got to northern California, it was raining almost constantly.
First gear has worked very well for me. Have used it on many trips, heavy winds, cross winds, elevation and weather changes while raining.
Surprisingly my waterproof Dainese textile jacket did a great job in Yosemite, not only keeping me warm in 20-30f degree temps, but it held up great for 2.5 hours of rain! The pants held up pretty good too for a while but I didn't bring the waterproof liners so eventually the pants got soaked. I figure if I'm going to be intentially riding in the rain, a rain suit would be the way to go. If I'm caught out in the rain, I like the option of just wearing the textile with the ability to use the rain suit as additional protection.
Like Randy said, your best bet is probably going to be "rubber" rain gear. But it will get hot. If that's not your thing, look into places that sell outdoor gear - Cabelas, Bass Pro Shops, Gander Mountain, etc. You can get a quality Goretex suit, but it'll cost a pretty penny. I have a Cabelas Guide Tech suit (bibs and jacket). I'll swear by that suit, at for speeds up to 65mph on my boat and in a downpoor. Don't know how it would do on bike. But at $600+, it ain't cheap. Bass Pro has their "100 mph" line of clothing. Also well known and respected. Orvis, Simms and other "fly fishing" stores sell some good stuff. Look into "wading jackets". Breathable & water proof. I happen to own a brand of jacket called StormR. They're right here in NJ. Its neoprene. I've had this for about a year, and its an awesome jacket for cold weather. Nothing gets thru that (it actually has about 5# of buoyancy, so while not exactly the same as a life jacket/vest it even floats. You never know when you'll be on your bike and need to float, so that's important lol). Neoprene doesn't breath either. But it'll block wind, snow, sleet and rain. NOT a warm weather jacket. If you do happen to order these, they run big. I'm 6'2", 240, and the XL has room in it for me.
I sure wished that I had the same success as others with these waterproof suits. Would sure cut down on space when traveling. But even gortex failed when I was wearing issue stuff years ago. And that was just standing out in prolonged drizzle. Brand new Gortex too.
My Olympia suit came with rain gear that is essentially their Horizon series jacket and pants. It's held up and performed quite well. Way better than the frogg toggs and other rain suits I've bought. Can't recall any significant leaks. Jacket has built in hood and a neck/collar guard piece that velcros across. Used it on many rain rides in pacific north west. Used it riding across country through rain storms in texas and arizona. No issues. here's a review from non-vendor site http://goldwingdocs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=23131
I'm happy with my Frog Togs, they offer great protection and the only issue I had was the pants get pulled up too high and didn't adequately cover my boots. I fixed this problem by going to a tailor and had them add straps so that the pants don't pull up anymore.
last rain ride I did with a brand new frog tog suit leaked through the jacket front zipper seam. Pants seams leaked as well. You get what you pay for.
Frogtoggs makes a motorcycle specific suit. Works perfectly. I have been in downpours and stayed bone dry. Well hands got wet but suit doesn't cover them. Very reasonable price. Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
I see a lot of people mentioning non-motorcycle gear and mentioning that it works great, but they're not sure how it holds up on a bike. I wanted to throw in my 2 cents that while a, say, goretex coat might work okay on a bike, the pants are unlikely to. Waterproof motorcycle pants have to have extra waterproofing and seam construction around the seat to prevent leakage, and even if you are wearing $300.00, tippity top of the line e-vent pants like mine, you will get wet. The problem is that most waterproof pants/coats are aiming for a balance of breathable and waterproof. Motorcycle gear, due to the fact that you are not exercising and moving at speed, strikes a balance much more on the side of waterproof. As for recommendations for waterproof suits: I recommend an Aerostich. I know they're insanely expensive, but they are so well-made and durable that the actual cost to own is comparable to a $200 suit. I know guys with 15 year old Dariens that still hold up and keep dry.
Been wearing Wetskinz Motorcycle Rain gear. I've ridden through several torrential downpours for hours (like full days of riding on the highway) and stayed warm and dry. The reflective strips are amazing and light up big time. http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/apparel/mens-apparel/outerwear/rain-wind-fleece-jackets/men-39-s-motorcycle-rainsuit-0785639p.html?utm_campaign=bazaarvoice&utm_medium=SearchVoice&utm_source=AskAndAnswer&utm_content=Default Alternatively, if you have the dough, look at Aerostich. Great stuff!
