Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

OK peoples, I'm soft. I can't ride through winter in leathers, and my Alpinestars TechRoad jacket has holes in it after my off, so I'm not real keen on riding in the rain in that.

I need recommendations on winter jackets. I haven't really looked at anything yet, but if I get recommendations I can shortlist a few to look at (or scratch off the list as the case may be).

I was happy with the TechRoad (Zip out liner, 3 outer pockets, 2 inner pockets [+ 2 in the liner], reflective piping, etc etc). The only problem I had with it was the shoulder armour moving around and not sitting on my shoulders properly (that may have been due to bouncing off the road though ).

Colour doesn't really matter (hell, I wear orange & white leathers ), warm and dry matters to me.

Oh, and to all the hi-vis suggestions :

Ta!

Macca

grow ur own like dogs do...

My first shipment arrives tomorrow if anyone is interested. Wont have details or photo's until Wednesday.

Felix wrote:My first shipment arrives tomorrow if anyone is interested. Wont have details or photo's until Wednesday.

put me down for an ounce!!

Neka79 wrote: put me down for an ounce!!

You were supposed to keep that side of it secret...



I'll do you a deal for .5kg...

Back on topic you lot I dunno, it's like herding cats sometimes (no pun intended Felix)

I use a Dririder Nordic 4 which is sensationally warm and dry. Next step is a pair of Dririder Pants. There are plenty of others out there eg RJays make some good gear. Leather is shite in the cold or wet

I use a Dririder as well

Just bought myself a Racer X from Dririder. Has a separate removable liner, quilted and quite waterproof, adequate armour and decent vents. Was thoroughly tested over Easter riding in the rain around Newcastle

The best thing, even with the liner in, it doesnt make me look or feel like the Michelin Man like my RJays one does.

I've got some Ixon textile winter jacket... very waterproof and very warm the Ixon pants, however are NOT waterproof. But love the jacket Got rained on fairly seriously on Saturday... everything from waist down was freezing cold and soaking wet, but top half was warm and dry

I've got a seriously heavy set of leathers made by Rhino, and they sure are tough. Has the usual zip out liner and is warm enough for the worst Melbourne can throw at it. Hell, I used to ride through UK winters in it. Needs waterproofs in heavy rain, and I found Frank Thomas all in one suit to be almost perfect. In fact, after 6 years, I'm still using the same waterproof suit to great effect.

Gloves are the bigger concern, as even thick winter gloves can leave you with cold fingers. I use cotton inners (sold in safety shops & BOC Gas & Gear), and find they help alot. Can bit a bit hard to get off at first - cotton glove vs cotton glove - which is amusing when a police officer is waiting for you to take then off and produce your licence

Oh, and HTFU

I have a Joe Rocket meteor suit. The waterproofing is in the jacket, not the liner, so it's waterproof summer and winter (watch that, a few of the Jackets have the waterproofing in the liners for some odd reason??).

+'s
Pants zip apart right up to almost the waist, making it really easy to get into in a hurry with boots still on!(the side Zippers on the pants Zip both from the top and from the bottom so you can access pockets in whatever you are wearing underneath without having to go in either through the waist band, or unzip from the bottom.)

Pants have braces-Yeah a bit of a grandpa look, but it makes it loads more comfy as you can have them loose around your waist and they still stay up!

Both the liners are toasty warm.

Both are really dry! (some small leakage around the gap in between the pants and jacket over a long period in the rain but doesn't compromise warmth.

Loads of Air vents for warmer riding, and can be used as a Psuedo climate control by opening and closing the zips. A neat feature in the less arctic climates.

Tough- I have crash tested these. They burst open on the impact point on the elbow, but didn't damage anything underneath. So I was able to sow the outer shell back together. the pants have a grind mark but that's it. Still in service and working as intended.

They were pretty cheap too when I bought them. About $300 for the jkt and $200 for the pants or sumfink close to that.



-'s

All those Zippered air vents work mint in summer, but the arm zips cause leakage of cold air on really really really cold days. Which means a thermal top in really cold conditions is required under the Jacket. (Just as a reference point, do keep in mind that I really really really feel the cold I am a skinny little fecker with no fat to insulate me, so when I say a thermal, most normal people would prolly have a T! )

The gap at the front, between jacket and pants will let a little water in over a long day in the rain.

The pants can get hot on a warm day. Even with the liner out! Although, of late I have taken to undoing the top part of the side Zip to control air flow which seems to work.

Umm... I will be using a IXON Leather Jacket with the thermal insert......

And if by the very off chance it does get too cold... Throw a fleecy jacket on under the Leathers....

Though I am in Brissy so I have no idea on how cold it gets in Melbourne or the like.....LOL

Lowest I've seen around the city is about 3 degrees, but gets colder up in them there hills

photomike666 wrote:Lowest I've seen around the city is about 3 degrees, but gets colder up in them there hills

At 100kph minus 10 degrees off whatever the ambient is and you should be about where it's at! So that 3 degrees is actually -7!!!

hey Macca
suffer in ya jocks
I got my heated vest now
watch out for the woman with the beetroot head











yeah, yeah, yeah.... you can beat an egg ... yeah, yeah ..............