What kit do u wear on tour?

[Fowlersrs]

Ok so planning a few more trips next year and I've got a decision to make - leathers, textiles or neither?

What do u take? I'm undecided as leathers are cooler in heat but obviously not waterproof, textiles are better with rain but hot in the heat. I am currently swinging towards leathers with army goretex or similar. And possibly a pair of Kevlar jeans for the super warm?

[Matt B]

For the Eurojolly I did Kevlar jeans and a leather jacket with a one piece rain suit in case it was wet. Quite a few of us did the same. It's the way to go when it's warm and you want to walk around sightseeing. However, when it hit 42 degrees down in Italy it was shorts under the jeans for when we stopped. Good to carry a pair of flip-flops too just to get the sweaty boots off.

For cooler weather I would probably go with 2 piece leathers and a rain suit. Gives the option to take the jacket off if you want to, walking round in a 1 piece is a pain in the crotch.

If there is a severe chance of it being wet then it has to be Textiles top and bottom. This saves the issue of having to stop to get a rain suit on.

You will get people telling you how they tour in 40 degree heat in textiles and it's fine but Josh was literally pouring sweat out of his when it was hot. Not too bad when moving but get caught in traffic in a town centre and it quickly becomes uncomfortable.
____________________
stinkwheel: He had an animated .gif of a cat performing fellatio. It's not socially acceptable. It can have real life adverse effects on other people.

[Ambitions0far...]

Normally I'd go kevlar jeans and leather jacket, though the last 2 tours have been textiles bottoms, waaaaay to hot, was lovely in the odd down pour but 42c was killing me, pouring 2ltr bottles of water all over myself just to get back to a manageable temperature. Back to kevlar for me!
Always keep flip flops in tank bag for evening and sight seeing wear, as Matt said, shorts under trousers is ideal for a quick strip off.
____________________
Current: ZX10r (2006)
EX's: NSR 125 (1999) AJS 125 (2011) ER 6f (2010) R6 (2003)

[Llama-Farmer]

First of all, where are you planning to go touring?
Secondly, how long at a time (i.e. how many hours riding per day, and how many days away from home?)
Thirdly, what type of riding? Leisurely cruising along, or fast blatting?


I've been too hot riding in both leathers and textiles in the UK, on days that have been unremarkably warm, in the low-mid 20s. I've also been more than comfortable in both in the high 20s and 30s. It depends on other factors such as the humidity, wind, cloud, how fast you're going, how much concentration the riding requires (and therefore how much concentration is left to focus on other things such as "fuck me it's warm today").



Whatever you go for, I would swear by wearing MERINO WOOL base layers.

I always wear these under my stuff. They keep you warm if its cold, and cool if its hot. They are breathable and absorb the sweat, but don't cling to you like wet cotton, and it contains lanolin which is antibacterial, so it kills the bacteria in your sweat and stops it smelling. I've worn the same merino wool top for 6 days in a row when hiking/camping without washing it and it still smelt clean on the last day.
I also have friends in the Forces who've worn merino wool base layers in the desert because they're better than the standard issue stuff.

Only downside is it isn't cheap... I've paid over £100 for a 100% merino top in the past, more like £50 if you go for a merino/wool or merino/man-made blend. Worth the money though definitely.
____________________
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

[Fladdem]

What about drying gear? Mines quite good but obviously if it pisses it down for a couple of days it might start to leak.

I say this because I was thinking of doing Cornwall from the 7th to 14th of October. I was going to wear my textiles and camp apart from the 9th/10th where I will be stopping in a student house with mates when I ride round the bottom at Falmouth, so I could dry there but if I weren't stopping, what would you do?
____________________
Current:1991 Honda MT50 (Soon to be a H100/MTX/MT5 hybrid), 1976 Honda Cub C70, 2005 Honda Varadero 125, 1993 Yamaha TTR250 Open Enduro , 2010 Road Legal Stomp YX140, 1994 Honda CRM 250 MK III, 1999 Cagiva Mito 125, 1992 Honda CB400 Super Four, Stomp T4 230, 1984 Honda H100s, 2009 Sym XS125K
Past:2003 Aprilia RS125, 1982 Kawasaki GPZ550(FREE BIKE!)
I'm having more fun than a well-oiled midget.

[Papa Lazarou]

it all depends on where the tour is, the time of year and the weather.

In this country, my trusty Rukka textile suit.
____________________
Current bike: Honda Blackbird 1100 and a little 250.