Gear Reccomendations For Year-Round Riding in the NW?

[nArKeD]

The bike is going to be my only form of transportation.  So I need some good gear.  What do you guys like?

[zlei]

You might want to take a look at the Aerostich Suits. I have the one piece and it has worked very well for me, and I have never experienced a leak problem during the raining seasons. If you live in a very cold climste, you might want a suit that is one size larger than what you would normally wear, so you can wear extra clothing underneath.  

[nArKeD]

Since it will be transportation I'm not really interested in full suits.  What I need is some leather gloves, jacket, and perhaps some pants.  I also need a helmet under 400 dollars to replace my old one.  (I'll give you one guess what happened to my old one 2 days ago).

[Roadstergal]

Go to Seattle Cycle on Aurora, just north of 100th.  Good guys, and they have a good selection and good prices; they'll hook you up.  I got a set of waterproof Alpinstars there that have served me well.  I don't have enough money for seperate dry and wet gear, so I treated my leathers with water repellant; not ideal, but the best I can do for now.

[zlei]

Since it will be transportation I'm not really interested in full suits.  What I need is some leather gloves, jacket, and perhaps some pants.  I also need a helmet under 400 dollars to replace my old one.  (I'll give you one guess what happened to my old one 2 days ago).

Not a crash was it?

Anyways,  For a helmet, Iyou might want to try on the Shoei Rf1000 or KBC VR-1(very cool looking).

[scratch]

You can get a leather jacket for the dry and put a rainsuit over the leather for when it rains.

The Shoei Tz-1 is a good sub $300 helmet, that is Snell certified.

Leather gloves - if you don't get a summer and a winter pair(I suggest either TourMaster Carbon Coldfront, $60, or an Olympia equivalent); just get an un-lined summer glove; un-lined is better than having a wet lining, then it's just plain cold.

Pants: Fieldsheer Carbolex overpants, $50, rainproof and crashtested at 70mph. Plus they keep you warm and keep your pants warm and dry(that way you don't have to change in cold clothes).

[nArKeD]

As those of you in the Bellevue/Renton area may know.  2 or 3 days ago we experienced a lot of rain at night.  I was coming home at close to midnight w/ my shield up as it was tinted and upon making a left turn at 5-10 mph from 148th to 140th in Bellevue was unlucky enough to hit a steel plate (which I couldn't see because it felt like fuckin hail was coming in my shield).  The rear end came right out.  No injuries except for some very minor road rash on my right elbow.  The bike was not scratched up very much... but I broke the left tailight.  Not interested in discussing the damage but you can use your imagination.  The helmet (an old Arai) has been through the works.  Dropped more times than I can remember and showing the scratches of two crashes.

[Roadstergal]

Get the one that fits your head best; there are a lot of Snell M2000 helmets up at SC that cost under $400.

[aplitz]

Shoei RF-1000.  Cost about 320-350.

[davipu]

for cheep gloves find a pair of US military black leather field gloves, they are pre curved to fit while grabbing a rifle and with the wool inserts are quite warm total cost around $30 for new stuff.  I rode through Colorado at night leaving Kerry's house and while my hands were cold they didn't go numb.  there was about a eighth of a inch of ice on everything when I got to the vail summit plus wind chill.  so it was pretty cold

[cay]

for cheep gloves find a pair of US military black leather field gloves, they are pre curved to fit while grabbing a rifle and with the wool inserts are quite warm total cost around $30 for new stuff.

Personally, my hands are my livelyhood (no, I'm not a hand model) and there's no way I'd ride without decent motorcycle gloves.

There's a review of 13 cold-weather gloves posted online here, I skimmed it and intend to go back and actually give it another look.

I'm wearing Held Krypton gloves now (no, not right this minute) and my hands are actually getting chilly in 70-80 deg F weather.

[scratch]

After looking at the link posted above. I noticed that some of the gloves don't close up the gauntlet, keeping out rain that rolls down your arm into the glove when you come to a stop.

[davipu]

the military gloves are designed to hold up to combat conditions. I know from experience stringing razor wire parimeters that they will hold up to just about anything.

[cay]

the military gloves are designed to hold up to combat conditions. I know from experience stringing razor wire parimeters that they will hold up to just about anything.

Oh, I don't dispute the fact that they'd work admirably at typical glove duty -- but I doubt any unpadded (unlined?) plain cow leather gloves, regardless of their build, could withstand a 20 metre slide on their palms.

[davipu]

I got free medical, let me borrow your bike and I'll post the details when i am through testing  

[Cal Price]

If keeping dry is a main concern, get a winscreen. if you get a real big screen (See Avatar) my Slipsreamer Turbo keeps most of the rain off, even off the gloves and upper legs. Even a small screen helps. Buy the best waterproof jacket you can afford and put plenty under it for the cold, I spray mine with a waterproofer at the end of the summer. For summer I have a single skin waterproof over-trouser and for winter double skin with a slight padding.
Good waterproofing on the legs only makes sense when combined with a waterproof boot. I have "Frank Thomas" Aquaboots, they do what is required of them.

[Traveler]

I was out in that downpour last week with  a Wetskin  jkt over my leather Teknics jacket - kept the top dry. The Wetskin over pants sprang a leak and I had a dinner plate wet spot around my crotch. Next time I'm gonna buy plain heavyduty yellow over pants.
Your thread is clothing, but Metzlers work on the Wet Coast.

[Rema1000]

Since it will be transportation I'm not really interested in full suits.  What I need is some leather gloves, jacket, and perhaps some pants.  I also need a helmet under 400 dollars to replace my old one.  

The Aerostich is a one-piece textile oversuit, that you step-into like coveralls.  It works very well for transportation, since it's very water resistant, and slips on and off so fast.  But if you're going with a leather jacket for daily transportation, I wouldn't want to be in one without waterproof boots and carrying a rainsuit (see a nice review at http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/accessoriesandgear/rainsuit/ ).  Otherwise, your jacket will be wet for 2 days, leaving you without anything dry to ride in.  I'd go with a cheaper SNELL-approved helmet if it meant getting crashworthy dry boots ($140) and the rainsuit ($60).

I agree with Cal's windscreen suggestion: a windscreen that covers the hands keeps them muuuch warmer (and drier too).  I use one like Cals for the cold-and-rainy season.

EDIT: A good place to check for deals is at http://www.newenough.com .  If you're looking for a black jacket with good protection, but which doesn't scream "race boy", you might check-out the TourMaster Cortechs at http://www.newenough.com/product_group_mens_tourmaster.htm .  Or check-out
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/item.aspx?style=11869&department=112&division=1
for a Fieldsheer jacket which is sporty but still subdued.

[oldsport]

The bike is going to be my only form of transportation.  So I need some good gear.  What do you guys like?

NW England or NW US?  Not that it makes a lot of difference I'll bet.  

A windscreen is geat advice. I have one.

If you're planning to ride more than 2 min. in the rain (not just "showers"), then you'll need waterproof everything. Boots, pants, jacket, gloves.  

I'm in Kirkland, WA and found out that by the time I got to Bellevue,  I was wet.

I bought waterproof closeout coat ($115), pants ($15) and boots ($55) from newenough.com.  The pants and coat are fine but the boots give up after 30 min. and start to leak.  More water resistant than waterproof. I carry my work shoes in a backpack.

Also, think about ice when it's below 38F.  Below 34F, take a cab.

I have a HJC AC-11 helmet that's comfortable and has nice little removable nose and chin "warmers".  I also tie a bandana across my mouth and chin "bandit style" and tuck it into my coat to keep cold off my neck.

Newpaper is a great insullator for cold and even wet.  Put the sports section inside your coat.  Read the paper when you get to work.  I've found that the want-ads will keep my chest dry for 50 miles wearing a windbreaker.

You may have seen this in the Tour de France.  As the riders start downhill, fans hand them newspaper to put in their jerseys.

[Kerry]

I ... ah ... hesitate to share my cold and wet weather clothing secrets.  We don't want everyone in the place to swoon, do we?   :lol:   :lol:  Considering my impeccable fashion sense, and the dazzling colors I am wont to choose, perhaps I should keep my secrets ... um ... secret ... a little longer.  For your sakes?  Hmmm?

Naw, what the heck.  Eat your heart out, oh President of Coolness!  

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At the heart of the ensemble is my unique layered approach.  I wrap my humdrum street clothes in these marvelous, thermally insulated overalls (with quilted lining!) by Berne Apparel.  This essential core is assisted and accented by an exquisite example of fleecewear, the color-matched hoodless anarak by legendary fashion designer Eddie Bauer.




Completing the comfort (and effect!) is my go-everywhere-do-anything leather jacket, with its Handyman Club of America logo proudly displayed.



("Please!  Everyone!  Keep an eye on your neighbor.  What's that you say?  Three attendees have fainted after all?  I'm truly sorry.  I will attempt -- unsuccessfully, I'm afraid -- to attenuate the excitement as much as possible.")


Oh!  Did I describe the outfit as "complete"?  I express deep regret at having passed over an especially vital component of the truly complete cold weather outfit - hand protection!

Feast your eyes on the divine pull-over, windproof (but alas, not waterproof) mittens by Outdoor Research.  Remember - blocking the wind is 2/3 of the battle!




Switching now to WET weather gear, please be patient while I doff the elegant overalls and don a windproof, waterproof, ultra-light outer layer in its stead.  The color was carefully selected with visibility in mind, as was my helmet.  These keep-you-dry outwear items are the product of frogg toggs, purveyors of the finest in inclement weather gear.



 For additional color selection, fantastic prices, and FREE SHIPPING, hurry over to US1 Outdoors and share in the latest fashion and comfort craze.

Awright, enough of this farce.  I'm outta here.



Toodle-oo!