Any rukka fans?

[Deadonkey]

Looking for reviews of super high end jackets. Im a bit sick of getting wet.

Its not that i mind riding in the rain but i dont like getting wet.

What ive found from my waterproof gear is thst its only waterproof for a period of time. Then eventually water gets in.

Is it the same with super premium jackets? Or can you ride for a full day in heavy rain and still be dry.

What have you got? And how wet do you get ?

[Rogerborg]

I can't speak to the high end Rukka gear, but I bagged a low end one used from eBay. It's old enough that I can't find an equivalent current model, and it's a thin, lightweight, non-thermal affair with weird bubbly armour in the elbow and shoulders. It's so much lighter than my old RST Enduro jacket that I was sceptical that it could offer any sort of real weather protection.

However, it's still completely waterproof. No leaks anywhere through a West Coast Scotch winter (and summer, for that matter). Not a seep, not a drip.

I'm sold on Gore-Tex^tm now.
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[Arfa__]

Similar boat to Roger, got an old set off ebay, paid about £170 odd for jacket and trousers. Back armour was shagged, so grabbed a Forcefield replacement for abut £40. Likewise, it's old so no idea what model it was, or what is current equivalent. Jacket keeps me bone dry, and with thermal liner in I ride right through winter (ok, a Southern minor chill), with nowt more than base layer and thin fleece/jumper. Over years, one front popper has ripped off and zip pull broken a bit, lost ring for pull on it, but can still be used to do up zip.

Trousers are pretty waterproof, but you always feel cold'n'damp in a heavy shower. They never soak through, stuff underneath stays dry, but the outer layer does sponge up the water to give you that cold'n'damp feeling. TBF, I don't refresh them with Nikwax often enough. Also the trouser pockets aren't water proof, seem to be over top of Gore-tex layer (jacket has waterproof inside pocket though).

Biggest problem is because the Gore-tex is a mid layer, the outer layer does get sodden and can take a while to dry out. Returning from a ride in heavy rain, you get a huge puddle under where you hang them up and they'll still be damp the following day. Posher Rukka has a bonded waterproof outer layer thing so this isn't an issue.

For what's it's worth I've also crash tested them, binned the bike a few years ago in the wet, back end went smashed bike down, trashed all fairing/lights and slid into verge. I walked away with only a sore thumb, Rukka gear had one broken zip pull on leg and some loose threads on pocket zip! Still wearing same gear daily now...
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[RodYork]

I have Rukka- but only for work- its good, but terribly expensive.
All in one rainsuits, while not as sexy- certainly do the job
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[stinkwheel]

Currently rocking a Lidl special waterproof overjacket. Was £25. Is waterproof.

It's very reminiscant of the thermally bonded seams on the odd, slightly stretchy, shiny silver plastic overjackets rukka used to do
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[tadge]

Feel the need to comment on Rukka jacket I bought, it was marked up at £500 in sale for £400. Had it a few years now. The front pockets are not goretex and soak through easily despite waterproof sprays etc.. My Rukka was no warmer or waterproof them my old Frank Thomas £80, though I can say after a wash it looks like new and nothing has split or torn to date.

Tadge

[bamt]

A chap I ride with occasionally showed me his Rukka jacket the other day - the zip had separated from the jacket, causing it to leak. He said it was the second he'd had that fault on. Didn't get chance to go into more detail about it or have a proper look, unfortunately (we got called away at that point and I forgot later).

[drzsta]

Hi,

I've had my Rukka gear for about a year now and have the Armaxis jacket and Armaxion trousers. I can't compare to other brands because for years before that I made do with a pair of Tog24 salopettes and an old coat.

Yes its alot of money but I've never been wet/cold before starting a 12 hour shift with this kit. More than likely I could get something cheaper but the rukka has a 6 year guarantee.

[ScaredyCat]

You could buy 25 Richa Typhoon rain suits for the price of a Rukka set. They'd keep you dry too. If you wore all 25 you might get wet from the inside out though.
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[Shaft]

[RodYork]

[bamt]

I need to have a proper chat with him next time I see him, as I'd had my eye on some Rukka kit too (was amused to see in the latest Infinity email shot they have the Nivala jacket in for "only" £1,199.99 - a use of the word "only" that I'm not familiar with). He does ride for his day job, and I'm not sure if that is his daily riding jacket - in which case you'd expect failure eventually through fair wear and tear. It certainly didn’t look new.

I guess really what I'm saying is that these things aren't magic or perfect; it's still just material sewn together, albeit hopefully good quality material with care taken in the assembly. No matter how they are made, waterproof linings and zips are inherently less robust than say leather and traditional brass zips.

With much kit you'll get people singing praises of equipment that they've had for several years without issues - but then you find they've only actually ridden a couple of thousand miles a year in nice-ish weather so it's hardly broken in let alone tested. I'd trust Rukka (or other gore-tex) to keep me dry and comfortable far more than any other fabric, but with my usage I'd be expecting to replace it probably after about 3 years.

[jakebrownbass]

[bamt]

[BTTD]

If you're looking at Rukka textiles, you really should look into the Halverssons safety jacket. I did a bit of research a few years ago and at that time the Halverssons stuff was getting very favourable reviews.
I ended up winning a leather goretex Hein Gericke suit on ebay, which is proving to be excellent. I would love to have a set of the Rukka goretex leathers, but they seem to run at around £2k.

[barrkel]

If you do invest in an expensive bonded goretex layer jacket - and bonded rather than floating is the only one I'd consider - only wear it if there's a possibility of rain, to extend the life of it.

My goretex pro shell jacket (Held, 150 discounted from 550 or so) is starting to leak now, after 5 years of daily service, including tours of Scotland and Ireland through much rain. It's seen perhaps 45k miles, possibly more - I've ridden more but not always in that jacket. It's still serviceable as a dry weather jacket and is warm, but steady rain will get in in a few places now. The quality of the jacket is wasted on weather that doesn't need it.
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[Andy S]

My Rukka jacket is at least 12 years old. No idea what model it is, but it was fairly top of the range when it was new.

It has never ever been treated with anything. Just a wash in the wash machine as per instructions once every couple of years.

It has never, ever let me get wet. It's a stunning jacket. Cool in the summer, warm as toast in the winter and always dry with comfortable armour.

My Rukka trousers are 3 years old and equally amazing (they replaced a 13 year old pair that finally gave up the ghost).

No arguing its expensive kit, but it works VERY VERY well and lasts a long long time.

Work out the cost/year compared to replacing cheap stuff every few years, and its not too bad (and the cheap stuff i have found never to be as breathable/warm.

Also, the 6 year guarantee that comes on them is fantastic. A loan jacket while yours is sorted. And they will sort everything under warranty. On mine one of the poppers black covers came off. Purely a small cosmetic thing, but when wearing it in infinity motorcycles they saw it and said they'd send it away for me and did me a loan jacket.

[DrSnoosnoo]

My gear is :

Jacket - IXS something something GoreTex
Trousers - Hein Gericke something something GoreTex
Gloves - Richa something something GoreTex
Boots - Alpine Stars SMX something NOT GORETEX

I only ever get wet toes ... what's the common denominator?
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[Londoner2015]

[tadge]

Bought a £500 Rukka jacket truth is no warmer or more waterproof than my old Frank Thomas paying for the name methinks.

New top of range Rukka gear are a ridiculous price

Just my opinion

Tadge

[barrkel]

[Rogerborg]

[bamt]

[BTTD]

I have a pair of Frank Thomas waterproof and breathable (not Gore-Tex) gloves that have lasted me nearly twenty years.
They've lasted that long because I never wear them. They leak in the rain. When the sun comes out they seem to seal up and the insulation makes your hands overheat and sweat. When it's cold and dry the insulation seems to do nothing and your digits are freezing cold.
There must be a certain set of conditions in which they work, but every time I've given them one more chance I've either had sweaty, rain soaked, or frozen hands.
Hate them, still have them on the shelf.

[Rogerborg]

Mmm. Thus the question above. <FazerTard> I ride every day, in every weathers </FazerTard> (albeit only half an hour each way) and while my RST Enduro jacket did last for 7 years of that (worn on coldwet days, i.e. half of them), I eventually couldn't recover the full waterproofing.

Still pretty good value for money, actually, but I reckon the well used Rukka replacement is going to challenge it.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike