Biking Oversuit

syl · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 Dec 2005 Karma :

I'm in the market for an oversuit to wear whilst communting on the bike. Some days I have to wear a suit for work. On those days I've tended to go in the car. I also go in the car if there is any hint of rain on the BBC forcast. This means that I go on the bike less and less as Winter approaches.

I've just moved to a new place of work. The commute is around 30 miles each way, 80% of which is on motorway / NSL dual carriageway. I could get changed on arrival, and could even leave my suit there, but that's a bit of a faff and I'd quite like to consider some sort of oversuit. Once or twice a week I have to go to a different place anyway, either all day or during the day (the bike would be very handy for that, traffic and parking considerations) so an oversuit I can just fling on would seem ideal.

I'd like the oversuit to have it's own armour rather than simply be a weatherproof item to go over a regular biker's jacket. Of course, I would like it to be waterproof for days when it did rain (although if it was pissing it down, I'd go in the car anyway) and also give some protection from the cold in Winter. Any recomendations?
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Current bike: Kawasaki Z750S

BigChris · Spanner Monkey Joined: 25 May 2005 Karma :

textile clothing. you cant get an oversuit with armour coz its usually just a big man-sized condom for you to wear.

personally, i'd take the car

0ni · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Dec 2004 Karma :

Never worn one or owned one or spoken to anyone first hand who has.... however there is the Aerostich RoadCrafter which has been reviewed online in various places though is expensive.

I commute all year round, every weather and like you have to be suited and booted. I leave the suit jacket and shoes in work, wear the trousers under my textile bottoms (works as thermals.. almost) with a long sleave tshirt up top and have a fresh shirt and tie in a small bag under my pillion seat (SRAD arse good for something).

It really only involves getting changed once you arrive to work as when leaving you just quickly whip on your textile troos and jacket and be offski.

Reviews: https://www.obairlann.net/~reaper/motorcycle/reviews/aerostich.html

https://www.webbikeworld.com/r3/motoport/

https://www.survivalskills.clara.net/Road_Tests/Clothing/roadcrafter/roadcrafter.htm
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map · Mr Calendar Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Karma :

For an oversuit the Aerostich Roadcraft is supposed to be the bees knees. Just put on over normal work wear and go.
However, have to import from the USA. It's difficult to get the size right (UK sizes vs US sizes), it's expensive plus you get stung for import to the UK so that makes it very, very expensive.

I had found an alternative from Giali, who do the heated clothing. I'm hoping they'll have some to try at the NEC show later this month. Web page wth info is here. You could try giving them a call.

HTH Thumbs Up

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Tarmacsurfer · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Jun 2004 Karma :

Couldn't tell you what it was called, or even if they still do them (useful, I know) but Heine Gericke used to sell an armoured oversuit, looked like an oversize romper/playgro. Can't comment on the quality, but if it's anywhere near as good as their voyager 2 gear then I can't recommend it highly enough.
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map · Mr Calendar Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Karma :

Nearest alternative I could find is the Alpinestars 360 DryStar Oversuit. Even then, looking at the description here it sounds like a padded waterproof suit with a little armour in the shoulders. Can't see a mention of any protection in the knees/legs/thighs. Reading the text I'm not convinced it is a full replacement (ie wearing no other armour/protection beneath it). I could be wrong, that's just how it reads to me.

BTW I 'phoned the local Hein Gericke and the guy who answered hadn't heard of a one piece textile suit. I might have just been unlucky with who answered, but that's the info I got.

HTH Thumbs Up

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...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
Gibbs, what did Duckie look like when he was younger? Very Happy

Tarmacsurfer · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Jun 2004 Karma :

Certainly wasn't an Alpinestar product, I thought it was an HG own brand, but no guarantees there.

It was fairly heavily armoured, also had the most hideous colour scheme I think I have ever seen. Lilac, orange and blue. I can certainly see why they didn't fly off the hangers, also quite expensive. Sadly, that's about all I can bring to mind. This is going back ~3-4 years, so there's always a chance they've stopped stocking them. I was talking to (think it was Stuart, the manager) about it, and it was specifically aimed at suits who wanted to commute on a bike.