I may be about to change jobs within work and will have to do a 100 mile round trip each day. Can anyone suggest some decent commuting gortex 2 piece suits? Half the trip will be fastish A roads and the rest motorway so idealy something to cope with both
Ive only ever really used the bike for fun so any tips for commuting will be taken on board too :police:
I bought a set of RST Ventilator textiles from the Bike show in November. The intention was to use it on hot days when my 2 piece was too hot, and it is with the linings out effectively a mesh (tea bag) suit, I've been using it all the time since in the winter with the waterproof and thermal linings in, and it is very warm. It is a very versatile arrangement, so I'm very sold on it as I can ride in to work with the linings in on cool mornings and remove them in the afternoon if it gets really hot. Jacket is about £170, & the trousers are about £130. Not the cheapest, but well made, and I'm pleased with it.
http://m.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/app/prod/190222 (http://m.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/app/prod/190222)
I bought a H&G goretex 2 piece adew years back in the sale, think it was £300 all in. I don't commute as much as I used to but it's still doing well and has never let me down. You might not be able to get something at that price but I can reccomend H&G and Goretex is a must.
It has vents and thermal linking so it's quite a flexible suit. When it's proper cold though you still need to layer up, thermal leggings and I grabbed a wind proof base layer, it's really dense but thin and really holds the warmth in. Oh and heated grips are excellent.
Get one of those all encompassing things....... they're fully insulated but also have heating controls and you have an access panel you kind of climb in.
you can also get them with stereo systems.
aaahhhhhgggg, what are they called?..... my mind's a blank.
.
.
.
.
.
oh yeah, I remember
a car
I have a Halvarssons two piece and I have to say its absolutely superb. Well worth a look.
That said, with the demise of the KTM Adventure last summer my winter commuting is purely car now so I might consider selling. Its their mid-high range kit but its superbly well made and cost about £800 new.
http://www.motolegends.com/brands/halvarssons/
What size are you?
I had a Rukka jacket which was good, waterproof, warm etc but not too bulky, and enough pockets. Trousers were just cheapos so not worth mentioning.
Quote from: Maddog on January 22, 2015, 01:42:14 AM
Ive only ever really used the bike for fun so any tips for commuting will be taken on board too :police:
Remember that everyone is still asleep while commuting. They're not using their mirrors and don't check before they change direction. They're idiots who probably haven't passed their driving test. They are uninsured. They haven't had their eyes tested for 20 years. They're thinking about their work day. They're expecting everyone else to drive around them.
Remember all of this while you're riding and you'll make safe manoeuvres and position yourself as best you can.
Also, get one of those rubber thumb squeegee things for wiping the rain and fog off your visor - best bit of kit I ever had!
Rukka is also superb stuff.
If its winter kit you want, Rukka, Halvarssons or Klim is the only places to look.
If I'm riding my bike, it's full leathers incl back protector.
If its too cold for that - its too cold to be riding a 1000cc sports bike - therefore, I use the car.
I went for the Wolf Titanium Outlast kit :
(http://www.wolf-moto.com/wolf-moto/images/uploads/product/full-size/Wolf-Outlast-2080jkt-2180jn-side.jpg)
Feels extremely comfy and so far has proved to be warm despite being very thin and survived a few torrential downpours as well without any noticeable leakage. Cuffs are a little tricky but personally I can't fault it.
Not cheap but it should definitely last me and it's loaded with pockets and stuff.
My HG leathers are effectively a summer suit. They have lycra panels in the arms and legs and I can only wear them in warm weather (above 20c) without windstop thermals. I also can't bear to ride in them in anything more than 24c
They aren't waterproof either, and the armour in them isn't any better than the armour in the textile suit. I've always been very 'leathers or nothing, but this has changed my opinion of them
Quote from: whoopee on January 22, 2015, 10:28:16 AM
If its too cold for that - its too cold to be riding a 1000cc sports bike - therefore, I use the car.
GIRL!!!!!!! :rofl:
Thanks for the replies folks
Re the all encompassing things with heating controls..... part of the journey will be going through London, where on a daily basis, in one of the all encompassing things, it takes an hour to do 5 miles!!! :angryfire:
MOz
Im 6'1, 48 chest, 36 waist
It's really cheapo but I used to ride all winter in any weather other than snow and I used to wear leathers with a sailing style Helly Hansen coat from school and a pair of padded weatherproof walking trousers over the top. two pairs of socks and plastic bag inside the boot. The only nice bit of kit I had was alpine stars 'dry-stars' that I borrowed off a mate. Used to arrive everywhere warm and dry and never cost me a thing - and I was always wearing my leathers.
how about this:
(http://www.slashfilm.com/wp/wp-content/images/ironmancostume2.jpg)
or maybe this:
(http://images.avengerscostumes.com/products/14712/1-2/womens-iron-man-mark-42-lycra-bodysuit-costume.jpg)
Don't start that again...... he'll forget what he originally wanted and just have a cardboard cut out made
Quote from: Lord Danoir the first on January 23, 2015, 03:30:43 PM
Don't start that again...... he'll forget what he originally wanted and just have a cardboard cut out made
I'd like to think that was the main purpose of most of these threads?
Quote from: Lord Danoir the first on January 23, 2015, 03:30:43 PM
Don't start that again...... he'll forget what he originally wanted and just have a cardboard cut out made
Not a bad idea!!! Kelly is a bit worn out :shocked:
I have an alpinestars 2 piece suit (andes, i think) and i love it. warm & toasty,and has fended off any rain i've found myself in.
I've just bought all new kit as I haven't for the last 10years.
I went to bike stop Stevenage and described my commute;
17miles 20-30mins depending on locals, town and sections of fast a roads. Sometime head to site on motorways for an hour ish.
Looked at lots of kits and styles;
Value for money I bought the RST pro-series textile kit, new RST race text boots (waterproof) and RST gloves. Looks like RST chucked up on me but great kit, comfortable and very warm.
Rose in Friday -4 and hand started feeling cold last 5ish mins. I wear a long sleeved t-shirt and thin fleece under and nothing under trousers....except pants.
Really impressed with my kit and service. All in around £600 but well worth it.
Quote from: The Wizard of MOz on January 22, 2015, 08:40:35 AM
I have a Halvarssons two piece and I have to say its absolutely superb. Well worth a look.
Halvarssons is the best kit around, a lot of instructors and motorcycle police swear by them now, Rukka are good but not as good as they used to be.
My HG stuff is now 8 years old and covered about 50k miles and it all still works and is waterproof, cant recommend it enough. Just make sure you get the proper winter stuff with removable lining, I use it from September to June, only when its above about 25 does it become to hot but fine once you are moving. Otherwise heated grips the difference that made 2 years ago was incredible.
Well, the job has been agreed so in November I start commuting into London. Any links to good kit would be appreciated
I'm about to start commuting by bike(all year round) so ill be looking at new kit as well mine no longer fits....
also need to choose new commuter bike to go with it!
Same here mate. Commuter bike may have to be as a result of me selling one on the ninjas 😕
Quote from: Maddog on October 08, 2015, 06:49:26 PM
Same here mate. Commuter bike may have to be as a result of me selling one on the ninjas 😕
nooooo don't doo that just get a ultra reliable shitter!
I'm thinking about a Honda cbf125
It's all about tank range as I can't be arsed to fill up every day........ If there's a £1k ish reliable 100 mile round trip bike then I'd consider keeping them all :moto:
can get a cbf 125 for that and ive been told can get over 400 miles from a tank
I've got motorway miles as part of the commute........plus I'm 6'1 and 16 stone lol
Were the same weight! And i test rode one and it was fine , I used to have a cbf250 that would happily do 80mph two up and there cheap enough and bullet proof
Moz - depending on size, I may be interested in your Halvarsson kit..
buy the best you can afford.
I bought Frank Thomas goretex last time (about 2 years ago) and its still warm and waterproof.
As for commuting bikes, banish me if you will but I commute on a maxi scooter these days (I've done my years using a sports bike), just so much easier, warmer and better comfort for 2 up.
I've been through a few diff options Peugeot speedfight, Gilera Runner, 2x x-max 250's an x-max 400 but the latest t-max 530 is in a different class... will keep up with most sports bikes from the lights, and around town so much more manoeuvrable due to the turning circle / lock stops. lots of storage and a top box, may not get me the kudos of a sports bike but it just does commuting better in every way.
ive thought about a scooter, if I'm honest my interest has been peaked by Hondas claimed 160mpg of the current cbf125
Quote from: Carbon_ZX6R on October 08, 2015, 07:29:01 PM
can get a cbf 125 for that and ive been told can get over 400 miles from a tank
That sounds utter bollox to me.
What I thought but ive heard it from multiple sources
Sorry. Only just seen this.
Maddog, my Halvarssens would be too small for you.
Chojin- not sure Id sell it to be honest.
Oh, ok then. Thanks anyway.
Sorry mate. I appreciate time has passed since the last time I posted here.
I'd want handy money for them due to their condition and worth and I suspect your offer would be lower. One of those don't need to sell situations.
Essential commuting kit for me would start with bar muffs and heated grips. Get these and wearing summer gloves in the middle of winter is the norm. Added bonus of being able to feel the controls better too.
Quote from: Druid on October 13, 2015, 05:40:30 PM
Essential commuting kit for me would start with bar muffs and heated grips. Get these and wearing summer gloves in the middle of winter is the norm. Added bonus of being able to feel the controls better too.
same here!
HG Goretex here and its covered 60k miles over 10 years.
Its starting to look a little rough around the edges but is still waterproof and all the poppers, zips and velcro still work.
Get rukka and you only buy once , wish I never sold mine