The choice of raingear seems to be as personal as the subject of seats, oil, and gasoline octane. A lot depends on your needs, and how heavy of a rain you ride in. A monsoon challenger will need more that the person that gets caught in an occasional sprinkle. Here's what I look for in raingear. It has been challenge to find it all in one suit. You do the best you can. I look for:
1. A good, long overlap on the front rain gusset. The back fold should come almost to the velcro. Short folds are hard to get folded correctly (and dry), and leak in a minor rain.
2. A tight-fitting neck and a velcro neck fastener with good adjustment. Rain coming in the neck is a common cause of leakage. I also prefer velcro wrist closures.
3. A hood. This is a mixed blessing, because it slows you down when you have to take off your helmet to put it on, but it keeps the rain out of the back of your neck (especially important if you ride an RT). An alternative is an extra long neck that can tuck inside your helmet. Having a hood makes a velco neck closre less important.
4. Leg stirrups. I have long legs, and if the pants ride up, I get wet ankles.
5. Full length front velcro. Snaps or individual velcro patches leave gaps, that allow the rain flap to gap open, and allow more water to enter to challenge the rain flap.
6. Ease of entry. Be sure you can get the suit on over your road gear. You will look like an idiot, wearing your riding suit and boots as you try the rainsuit on in the store, but do it! If you can't get it on without help, or have to sit down and struggle, it will do no good on the road. It is a balancing act between ease of entry and snug fit.
7. Snug fit. The more folds and overlaps in your rainsuit, the more likely water is to enter. Some folds are inevitable. If possible, be sure to arrange them below the crotch gusset and fold them so they don't collect water. You have to do this each time you mount the vehicle. The more snug the fit, the less you have to worry about folds. Waist elastic can be a help.
8. Adequate length, especially in the arms. When you try the suit on, be sure to test how it fits in riding position (with your heaviest riding gear on). The arms need to be long enough, especially when you turn your Spyder.
9. Visibility. Reflective piping or patches are a must for me...the more the better. I like reflective patches on the calves and arms, as well as the front and back. I also prefer the bright colored suits. Visibility in the rain is worse, and nobody expects to see a bike. I want to live long enough to tell people about the horrible rainstorm I rode through.
10. Bib overall pants would be good. I have not found a motorcycle suit with this feature, although sailing suits often have them. Call this a wish list.
11. Sealed seams. This is taken for granted, but cheap suits often don't have sealed and taped seams. You will need them in heavy rain, or if your seat is dished.
I also recommend overboots to keep the rain off your footwear and your ankles. These neatly fill the gap down there, and make leg length and stirrups less critical. Tall, waterproof riding boots are a good alternative. I also recommend overgloves or waterproof gauntlet gloves. In a pinch, a large pair of dishwashing gloves can serve as overgloves. If the weather is warm, and you have no overgloves, remember that deerskin will not harden excessively when it dries, and deerskin gloves don't shrink as badly when they dry. I use cheap, deerskin work gloves and they last through rainstorm after rainstorm. This doesn't work in cold weather...your hands will get soaked!
The best suits on the market right now, for me at least, are the BMW one-piece suit, and the best Harley-Davidson suit. The Tourmaster Elite isn't bad, but it is too loose for me. The Frogg Toggs have a huge, unadjustable neck, so I have always skipped them, but they do have a hood. They are also too loose for me, and have elastic sleeves. As I said...personal preferences. This should give you some idea about features to evaluate for your needs, and to compare. I believe the money spent on a good suit pays. Don't let your pocketbook be your only guide, but also remember that the most expensive suit may not be the best one for you, either.
hyea::yes:
I wear a 2 pc suite from Harley..... Velcro closure around wrist and ankles along
