Motorcycle clothing - Jasper, Canada
Jasper, Canada
Motorcycle clothing
In the USA most people on Cruisers wear nothing much more than a singlet and shorts. The helmet is replaced by a bandana and boots still have spurs. If that's in your view an acceptable way of riding a motorcycle than this section isn't for you. If you are somewhat more responsible, not only to yourself but to the people around you and the people you leave behind when you come off, then you'll agree there are better ways to ride.
Motorcycle clothing comes in various forms and styles. From the customs boys in fancy leathers to the racing boys in fancy colours and not to forget the adventure boys in fancy attack style outfits. To me the clothes I wear must be comfortable and offer me some form of protection related to what I'm doing. Just as there is no need to wear rain gear when it doesn't rain, there is also no need to wear something that will keep you warm when it's already blistering hot. This simple statement brings us to the main problem with motorcycle clothing; it has to be suitable for so many different weather conditions that it's impossible to combine in one garment. No matter what the manufacturers will tell you; wearing a full size bike jacket when it's that hot that the crows fly with there beak open is not going to be comfortable, not even in a 2000 dollar jacket.
There are so called all season jackets that have removable thermal liners, removable waterproof liners and zippered ventilation panels all over the place. It may seem a good option, but you'll end up with so many zippered off liners that you have to store somewhere that you might as well take separate rain gear.
To me they're a scam. A scam that I fell for myself as well. I bought a DriRider Alpine jacket and thought for a long time that it was a good choice. It's warm enough for Tasmanian winters, has plenty of ventilation front, rear and in the arms, is waterproof and has CE protectors. After 4 years of use I do in fact still think it's a comparatively good jacket. But it also has quite a few drawbacks; drawbacks that most other textile jackets have as well and quite often even more so than the DriRider Alpine.
One of the drawbacks with most textile jackets is that the waterproof lining is on the inside. The outside still gets wet and this makes the jacket very heavy. Having a wet jacket in your tent means the tent gets wet… using it as a pillow is no longer an option either; and if the jacket stays wet for prolonged periods then it starts to smell… badly!
Still, that's not the main problem. The ventilation seems a luxury, but isn't. It's a necessity! These jackets get so hot that you'll melt without it. Just a little bit of sun changes them into an oven. Basically the vents at the rear of my jacket are open all the time and I'll only close the front vents when it's freezing cold. If it's really warm, 30 degrees C and over, I'll even leave the main front zipper half open and then it's still a hot jacket. Another problem with all these zippers all over the place is that you are struggling to operate them when riding. The fabric gets stuck in them, you can't find the buttons to keep the zippered panel open, and the zippers on arm sections get stuck on the inner lining meaning you can't close them when it starts to rain, so you'll still have to stop as you need two hands to wriggle the bloody zippers.
After 4 years; mine is also no longer waterproof. it leaks at both arms and the front section must have cracks or splits in the waterproof lining as well. This brings us to the main problem with all these types of jackets: you can't repair them. They are nothing more than throwaways, very expensive throwaways. As the waterproof liner is inside the jacket, you can't replace it. You can't even replace a zipper without stitching holes in the waterproof liner. I really hate stuff that can't be repaired… grmbl.
Jeanette had a simpler version of the DriRider jacket which turned out to be poorly made and was made with poor quality materials as well. It's colour faded quickly and it's waterproof membrane gave up in just over a year. She reverted back to a leather jacket, as she always felt the textile jacket was a 'sweat-box' and uses a separate rain-jacket to put over it. In the beginning we thought she was mad. 'Every time it starts to rain you have to stop' we said. It turned out she made the right choice in the end. Her jacket is just as warm in winter, if not warmer, than our modern 4-season one, has better abrasion protection in a fall and doesn't get anywhere near as hot on a warm day. She doesn't have the fancy zippered ventilation but doesn't need it either. If we leave both jackets in the sun for he same amount of time, hers is just warm on the inside while mine is stinking hot! I should say sticking-hot because that's another problem with all these modern jackets, they are made from plastic which will cling to your arms like sweaty cling foil.
Jeanette's leather jacket can take a fair bit of rain before it gets wet too, more than mine in fact. Plus she uses the rain jacket over it, which is easier to fit than closing all the zippers in mine (let alone fitting the inner lining), which means at the end of a wet day her jacket is still perfectly dry and can be stored inside the tent while mine is dripping wet...
I really have had enough of these so called 4-season jackets with their smart plastic fabrics that supposed to be breathable without leaking water, but aren't. They are also called 'climate control' jackets with all the fancy zippers (that wear out in dusty conditions and can't be replaced) and yet the simple leather jacket works better without all that fancy stuff. Leather jackets can be repaired, give better protection and last forever. After all these years there is still only one thing that will keep you dry in the rain: the PVC raincoat with a high cuff. I really regret not bringing my 16 year old leather jacket on this trip, I fell for the marketing and sales blurb…!
Belstaff
Has been around for years but no longer the same company as far as I can tell. They used to be made in England, then I see them made by Driza-Bone which is Australian! Driza-Bone is a company that want you to believe a textile oilskin will keep you dry at a 100km waterblast... Then I see a tag that says made in Italy... I don't think anything waterproof has ever come out of Italy has it? Which is understandable as their wiring fails after 10 minutes of rain.
Anyway, apart from the name they have one thing in common: they are not waterproof. The older wax-coats are the worst jacket I've ever had. Despite waxing the water gets in everywhere, and once they get wet you stink like a rotting corps in one of them. They're useless in the dry too as they are too warm in summer and too cold in winter. I seriously couldn't find anything good about it. They now seem to tailor for the very top end of the market with jackets of $1500,-...
Pants
DriRider has matching pants. Again zippered ventilation panels, removable thermal liner and this time also a removable waterproof liner. It's sold as a 4-season pant. It's not. Even with all the liners removed it's too hot for summer use. It is waterproof and comfortable. It has knee-protectors and they are reasonably easy to get into. But that's where the good bit ends. Even in mildly warm days you can't wear it with the waterproof liner as sweat will be running into your boots. Wearing the pants without he waterproof liner is an option but when it starts to rain you will have to take of your boots, take off the pants, wiggle the waterproof liner in it. You'll be soaking wet by then and still have to get dressed again and put your boots on... pretty soon you'll be praying it won't rain ever again. Second problem is; where do you leave all those zippered off layers? You have to store them somewhere, and they are bulky. In the end we send them home.
Sliders
Sold in the USA by a company named Competition Accessories. I send them two e-mails, one directly and one via their website, with a few questions. They couldn't be bothered to reply, so we couldn't be bothered to buy.
Draggin' Jeans
Heavy denim jeans with Kevlar and knee-protectors. Unlike Competition Accessories they answered my e-mail and we bought them. The jeans are indeed heavy denim, are comfortable and can be worn all day. No zippers, no removable liners and none needed. The Kevlar panels at the knees keep them warmer too and so far they haven't been a problem in 30 degree C plus days either. They can be easily made waterproof by fitting one of those old fashioned rain over pants. The 'modern' bikers will laugh at us but we're the last one laughing when they struggle to get the waterproof liner in while getting soaked... Rain over pants slide over the jeans and you don't even have to remove your boots. We also use the rain over pants when it's really cold as it keeps the wind off the Draggin' Jeans, making them surprisingly warm.
There is one downside. The knee protectors are useless. The velcro system doesn't work and keeps coming off and the pads themselves are rock-hard when it's cold making the jeans impossible to wear.
Gloves
Waterproof gloves seem to exist. Despite promises and over 30 years of riding I have not yet had a pair that actually is. Up to a point, which is usually a mild rain for about 30 minutes, some are ok. I have a pair of Dane gloves which belong to the better ones. They are comfortable too and well made as I have had them for a few years now. But serious rain will flood them. As far as I'm aware it will be pretty impossible to make gloves that will stay dry as water will always be entering via your jackets' sleeves.
Furygan gloves are good too. I have had a pair of good wintergloves from them for years, wanted to buy a new set when they finally worn out but couldn't find them anywhere and bought the Dane's. Furygan is French, but frogs are pretty waterproof, and can now be bought online. Dane is also still around, both are good.
On the other end of the spectrum I have a pair of leather gloves with mesh on top for seriously warm days. The combination of both is what I've taken on this trip and seems to work well. For seriously wet days, you know; the weather they usually have along the coasts of British Columbia in Canada and the west coast of the south island of New Zealand, I use over gloves. Horrible things, seriously limiting your movement but so far he only thing that actually keeps your hands dry.
The Dane gloves have one big advantage, they dry very quickly when wet.
Boots
We have Rossi motorcycle boots. Rossi have a good reputation in Australia for making high quality hiking boots. That reputation shows as they are one of the best 'walking' motorbike boots I have ever had. As you all know Australia is known to be hot and dry, so it won't surprise you that Australian boots aren't waterproof… To be honest they leak badly… very badly! You can grow rice in them, that's how wet they get. Mike's are the worst, they already leaking before it rains, mine last about 7 minutes while Jeanette's aren't too bad, they need at least 15 minutes of rain before they get wet. Very wet. Apart from the wet feet… they are comfortable, well made (apart from the interior lining not being up to much use) and offer good protection.
Overboots
We thought about getting new boots that are waterproof but heard so many supposedly waterproof boots aren't, that we decided to buy overboots instead. Overboots are like rain jackets for boots. The good ones are easy to fit and fit well. The rubber ones are extremely hard to fit and even harder to get out of. Fabric ones are ok but steer clear of the ones with moulded half shoe soles in them. They seem a good idea but split at the seams. For about 20 dollars in the US you can get a good pair.
Walking boots
At the moment we have motorcycle boots and walking boots. The Rossi motorcycle boots 'walk' fine but still we'd like something better for longer distances. The obvious choice would be good walking boots that also offer ankle protection, to replace both bike and walking boots we have now. We are looking into that at the moment but haven't found good ones yet.