Wet weather touring

[TCFA]

I've just returned from 2 days and 414 very soggy miles going from London to Ypres and back via the Somme, and I can now comment on what I've used. It will probably be of little interest to experienced tourers here, but hey, gear changes and sometimes it's nice to know about other stuff (though a lot of mine is quite old, hmmm). Bike was CBR600F

AlpineStars Drystar Andes jacket n pants. Very good value for money and mostly kept the driving rain out. Other than a little bit down the zip on the front of the jacket, which got wet (and the wrists a bit) I was dry and WARM. Versatile kit, looks good, pretty cheap and I look fwd to using it more. Fitting not amazing though - medium pants just fit me, small are tiny. Small jacket fits but is tight, but medium too baggy. Trousers come with braces (fancy) and jacket base zip comes with another bit that marries to it that you can stitch to any pants you want. EXTERNAL POCKETS ARE NOT WATERPROOF!!!My wallet, phones and passport will attest.

Oxford panniers (old but barely used). Hmmm what are these very useful waterproof outers that you can fit round each pannier? Oh in fact they are things which allow water to pool inside and sit at the bottom of the pannier!! Other than the disastrous waterproof cases, the panniers held up better than expected and things were mostly dry. A few drybags and no outers next time and golden.

Richa gloves - picked up at brands hatch, quite the surprise, held up brilliantly until towards the very end. Throw water at anything at 70mph and eventually it'll give. Lots of on/off action at toll booths / chunnel didn't help. Bring spare gloves!! (The Weises fared well on the final soggy stretch to London)

Buffalo waterproof jacket - very bulky, partly due to it's hood in the collar (??) but again, picked up at a race track, expected to be rubbish, but brill. warm and dry and went over the backpack at a pinch as well.

Peter Storm waterproof pants. Pick up for tuppence at millets, roll up tiny, keep water out. Great.

Oxford Hot Grips - saved my life! Love them. And thanks so much to the guys at Southern Cross Motorcycles for fitting them and doing it at short notice.

Double bubble (Powerbronze) - get one

Sidi boots - kept my feet dry until the last 50 odd miles. 8 yrs old. love them, old friends. Need to replace now as no grip left on sole - embarrassing f**k up pulling out of petrol station, foot slips off peg and almost run into the kerb. Any recommendations?

Powerbronze hugger - worth it with all the farming and muck on the road in north east France and Belgium

Anyway, not without faults but kept me fairly warm and dry meaning I could come back less exhausted and grumpy after the wet dark M20

Final tip - do bring a spare bulb. Mine went in France. Whole trip back to London done on high beams.

Didn't really think the CBR would be a competent sports tourer, and have always planned to get a sprint, but might feel otherwise now
____________________
Then: Kawasaki ZZR250 > Suzuki Across 250 > Suzuki SV650 > Honda CB750
Now: Honda CBR600F and Triumph Tiger 800 XRT

[garth]

Pretty sure you can still buy soles for Sidi boots.

I put my phone and wallet in a sandwich bag before they go in my pocket in the rain, never known pockets to keep water out long term.
____________________
You ain't a has been if you never was

[Matt B]

[image riot]

[TCFA]

well there goes my side line in rubble collection

Thanks for the advice folks

Already planning next big trips (though maybe in better weather)
____________________
Then: Kawasaki ZZR250 > Suzuki Across 250 > Suzuki SV650 > Honda CB750
Now: Honda CBR600F and Triumph Tiger 800 XRT

[Doomsnite]

Ive got the Alpinestars andes jacket and trousers... Good to know they hold up in the weather. Will just have to get a cheap waterproof oversuit for peace of mind.
____________________
Triumph Street Triple-R
Sold: Honda Hornet CB600F-Y / Yamaha YBR125

[Northern Monkey]

Cheap drybags are only a fiver on ebay. Why would you mess around with bin bags to save so little cash
____________________
Fisty: after polishing the tank with the glistenng beads of sweat from my full hot scrotum, I filled the headrace bearings with 10cc of my manmilk

[pepperami]

Take one heavy duty rubble sack , cut out a neck hole in the bottom and two arm holes at the sides and there you go, an undercoat waterproof liner

Next time I go to Scottyland , I`m going to pack one in my kit.
It ALWAYS rains when I go to Scotland
____________________
I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[DB1965]

[Llama-Farmer]

Good to know about the Alpinestars kit... I've been looking at some new textiles and had been considering them, and thinking of the RST Adventure II kit too.
____________________
Current Bike: 1999 Honda CB600 FX Hornet
Next Bike: I want a CBR-RR. And I want an F800 GS-A. And a VFR 800. Can I have all 3?
Dream Bikes: Honda VFR750R RC30, Honda NSR500, Ducati 996 R

[pepperami]

[quote="DB1965"[/quote]
hope your not going end of may 2015 [/quote]


Well I might, just to rain on your parade



No , I`m giving Scottyland a miss this year
____________________
I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[Dave500]

[delsol]

[mentalboy]

[Peirre oBollox]

[alan29]

Big problem I have in the wet is that when I'm on the bike there is a gap between the top of my boots and the leg of my waterproofs. Result is a boot full of water.
Need longer waterproofs, despite being only a 32" inside leg.

[mentalboy]

[alan29]

[stinkwheel]

Lomo also make drysuits for canoeing.

I garauntee the only bits you'll get wet in one of those is your hands and your head.

I'm giving serious consideration to taking my surface drysuit to the Dragon rally this year after the rain we had last time.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[delsol]

[mentalboy]

[delsol]

[delsol]

[Northern Monkey]

[delsol]