How to stay dry

[Dark]

I've been commuting to work for about 3 weeks now covering 350 miles a week and all has gone well so far apart from last Friday when it was hammering it down and my Buffalo two piece textile suit couldn't quite keep me totally dry. Oh and my Sidi's leaked too.

So do any of you have any recomendations on what to get i can wear over my work clothes that will keep me bone dry?

Oh and i'm picking up a 97 Blackbird on Saturday
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My Bikes in order:- Yamaha RXS100 / Suzuki X7 250 / Yamaha RD350LC / Kawasaki
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[The Artist]

There is no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes. Buy a cagoulle and live a little.

[Flip]

To stay 100% dry, buy a car.

[nowhere.elysium]

Regatta sailing gear is good. I've got a pair of overtrousers (which I don't wear particularly often, I must admit) which keep my legs bone dry. You should eb able to find a jacket that does the same.
They come in fairly sedate colours, so don't worry about it being some potentially lurid combination...
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[Skudd]

Wear plastic bags over your feet inside your boots, tuck the cuffs of your cloves in the sleeves of your jacket, Use fabsil to waterproof your gear, wear a neck tube to stop drips down your back, keep out of puddles, wear Always Ultra.
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[chrisjacks]

when it was hammering down i put my kayaking dry cag on looked like a tit but i was dry.

[nowhere.elysium]

[ms51ves3]

Builders waterproofs. Not breathable as it's pretty much just bits of plastic stitched together, but you'll be bone dry.

[chrisjacks]

how about something similar to this?

https://www.groovymap.com/blog/wp-content/themes/default/images/2008/06/umbrella-on-bike.jpg

you could by a large golf umbrella and strap it to your bike?

[c_dug]

My buffalo jacket is a bit leaky these days, as are my sidi's.

To be honest i just live with the wet feet, i have a cheap pack-a-mack type thing which comes out in the bad weather and some similar over trousers, to be honest my HG textile trousers seem to be pretty water tight so far, although theyre not gore-tex so we'll see how well they hold up with time.

c_dug
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[Stelmer]

Army goretex overtrousers worn under the bike kit. I think it was Stinkwheel's idea originally.

Works a treat for both stopping the rain that has penetrated the bike kit getting to your work clothes. Also helps somewhat in keeping the biting cold out in winter, and on cooler sunny days, under leathers.

You can get Army goretex boot liners which are fantasticly warm and waterproof if worn with socks.

[Wozza]

[kawakid]

Having tried various motorcyle jackets and 1 piece suits.

I went to a local camping store and bought a breathable over coat & breathable trousers, I bought them one or 2 sizes up, so they went over my leathers. ( I went in the shop wearing my leathers).

Best thing I ever did.


Regatta ones. Came to about £40 all in. Had them for 2 years and I ride 365.
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[chrisjacks]

[Rob]

Keeping textiles clean makes a big difference, even a little dirt affects the waterproofness of them!

But I would say one word, Rukka. You get what you pay for, if you really wanna stay dry in textiles then that is the make to go for. It's not cheap but it very rarely lets the rain in!

You could always get a waterproof oversuit (they type you wear over leathers), and wear that over your textiles in really bad weather. Just make sure you go for a size large enough to get over them!!
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[Charlie]

Anything Goretex, if it leaks (and actually does and not just seeped up cuffs etc) then they will do a full refund, even stuff that is pretty old, (think gloves and boots are up to 1 year, jackets and trousers upto 5 years).

Would also recommend Rev'it over-trousers even though they aren't gore tex.

Once you get good gear, its a case of deciding which goes over what.
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[doggone]

If it really rains heavy for long it will get in to some extent around neck, gloves and maybe boots.

[Paulington]

I tend to wear Regatta trousers over my leathers and boots, keeps my legs totally dry, as for the top, my leather jacket keeps it all out somehow.

Gets in around the neck eventually though, need a waterproof neck-thing.
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[Genital Giant]

Pampers
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[stinkwheel]

I wear:

Dutch army gore-tex trousers over my leather trousers.

Well waxed British army assault boots.

A neoprene smock called a "parlour top" that farmers wear for milking their cows under my leather jacket.

A pair of double cuffed gore-tex gloves with the parlour top cuffs trapped between the two cuffs.

It is years since I last got wet on my bike wearing this gear. I covered around 400 miles this weekend, passing through some rain that could onlky be called torrential (standing water on the M1 at 100mph) and stayed bone dry.
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[chris-red]

I have a Triumph 2 Peice, The Jacket is massive and dark blue, it has a very thick lining. It's RRP was about £350 I think, I got it for £55 at a show, it has never let water in (Other than when I didn't do it up properly) I bought the trousers that zip to it for £30 on ebay as my Lidl ones where starting to leak at the crotch. These to have kept me bone dry (Not as well tested as the jacket mind)


I have alpine stars SMX4's and HG Panthyon(sp) gloves. The boots are awesome and never let water in (get abit hot in the summer mind) The Gloves are pretty good but not all that, considering they were only £40 they where ok. I also use a Polar buff to keep my neck warm which is good, when it is really cold I chuck a couple more regular bufs (or nock off buffs) over it.

Downsides,

The strap that tightens the jacket up round the neck is stupidly short, With a polar buff on it can feel uncomfortably tight.

The sole on the boots wears quick, granted I do alot of walking in them though.

The gloves aren't that warm but with hand guards and heated grips I was toasty all through winter.

I haven't worn the trousers enough to pass judgement.


Remember waterproof jackets generally have waterproof pockets which means if you put your phone in one and don't do it up properly you ill get home to find a broken phone and puddle in your pocket.
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[iooi]

[LeeR]

I also rode in that torrential rain last week (and this week for that matter) and although it was very wet and my gear was saturated, I was bone dry.

I wear HG Xtrafit gloves (the previous model not the cack new ones), Tricky II trousers (replaced by Tricky III now), and Cruise II jacket (all Goretex), and a pair of Sidi Mega Gore boots (Goretex lined).

None of the gear was what I'd called cheap, though it's not top-end either, but it is doing the job well.

The textiles will go over your work gear, but I prefer to leave my work trousers in the office and just ride in the textile trousers, the jacket comfortably fits over my shirt and fleece top.
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[Genital Giant]

... although Huggies would bit more comfortable on the bike than Pampers and they're completely pull-up-and-downable
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[Dark]

Thanks for the replies. Theres plenty of tips and tricks there!

That Rukka kit looks awesome but wow how pricey?

Its interesting to hear that the hein gericke suits hold up well to the conditions and i'm willing to pay 5 or 6 hundred quid for something that will do the job.

I might see if i can hold out until the NEC Bike Show and see if there are any bargains to be had

Oh and its always good to hear your tips Stinkwheel but god knows how i'd go about sourcing what you wear
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My Bikes in order:- Yamaha RXS100 / Suzuki X7 250 / Yamaha RD350LC / Kawasaki
KR1S 250 / Kawasaki ZXR750 H2 / Honda C50 / Kawasaki ZX7R P5 / Kawasaki ZX10R / Suzuki GSXR 400 / Honda CBR1100 Blackbird & Yamaha FZR 600