Commuters, what riding gear do you use?

[bigdog]

Hey all,

I am just wondering what riding gear the commuters here use when travelling to and from work/school/uni or whatever?

I have been using a dririder nordic jacket and bullit riding jeans.

The jeans kind of suck because they arn't water proof and I am sick of having to wear the same pair of jeans around campus all the time.

I have been thinking of buying some kind of overpants such as the Rev'it Hercules, or Rev'it Enterprise, which are designed (to various degrees) to go over a pair of normal jeans or work pants.

The Enterprise pants are harder to get on over normal pants, especially with shoes on, while the Hercules pants are easy as they have zips that go right up to the waste - although they offer much less in the way of protection if you come off.

What do you guys wear while commuting?

[Ulsterkiwi]

.... zips that go right up to the waste....

Its "waist", notwithstanding that not too far away, your waste disposal anatomy is located. Is this what a tertiary education does for you? :laugh::laugh::msn-wink:

Fair point on the jeans, especially at this time of year. I wear Rev'It Factor pants. I do not use the thermal liner preferring polyprop leggings or if circumstances require I can easily wear a pair of jeans/cargoes/dress pants underneath. That way I always have abrasion protection, armour and weather protection.

Rev'It also have their more casual look jackets which have less of the "just got off my motorcycle" look to them. All depends on the budget really.

[EJK]

For commuting I compensate a bit of safety for convenience.

Summer mesh jacket
Summer riding gloves
Jeans
Bike boots

But I do have a full set of Dainese top to bottom for weekend rides.

[Banditbandit]

I mix and match my leahters and fabric

For commuting I have a Macna jacket, Draggin' Jeans, gloves helmet and boots.

I have Macna wet pants which I carry in case it rains.

[Moi]

In summer:
* Either a Rev'It air jacket or a Teknic perforated leather summer jacket - sometimes with a nylon parka underneath as it can be a bit chilly at 100km/h at 7am, even in February
* Kevlar lined jeans with both knee and hip protection
* Summer gloves and boots

In winter:
* Textile jacket with full liner - as in a liner with sleeves and not just a vest-type liner
* Textile pants with knee and hip protection and liner - could be worn over jeans by taking liner out but as jeans were not acceptable for work I'd wear them with the liner and carry a pair of dress trousers to change into
* Winter gloves
* Boots

Some textile jackets have good venting for summer and a good liner for winter so you may only need 1 jacket.

[rambaldi]

I have a set of neo mugello gear (jacket and pants). In summer I take the linings out and in winter I add a jumper and merino thermal underneath. Usually use the thermal, even in the summer as it wicks away sweat very well. Usually wear jeans underneath as I really don't like how it feels once you sweat even a little bit.

The gear is decently waterproof for my commute (a bit of half an hour, in super heavy rain sometimes) although I am not sure how long it will survive long term. It has gone down the road a couple times though and one of the seems has popped open as it isn't double stitched there. Aside from that it has held up very well. It takes a bit of room though when I take it off at my desk. I wouldn't recommend it for uni students unless they had enough top box space to leave the kit.

[RDJ]

Summer - Vanson mesh jacket, Draggin' jeans, Sidi summer boots, Timax wrist gloves

Not-summer - RevIt jacket, RevIt pants, Sidi Goretex boots, Olympus gauntlets

[nerrrd]

I have been thinking of buying some kind of overpants such as the Rev'it Hercules, or Rev'it Enterprise, which are designed (to various degrees) to go over a pair of normal jeans or work pants.

The Enterprise pants are harder to get on over normal pants, especially with shoes on, while the Hercules pants are easy as they have zips that go right up to the waste - although they offer much less in the way of protection if you come off.

I've got both of these – Enterprise are a no-go for commuting for me, too hard to get them over the ankle high work-type boots I wear as a safety vs being-able-to-walk compromise.

I use the Hercules instead, however the armour pockets were a waste of time; I bought a pair of these for some added protection http://www.fc-moto.de/Icon-Stryker-Knee-Armor

In my experience these pants don't stay waterproof for long either, so you'll need over-pants for your over-pants for any persistent rain.

[Gremlin]

I commute from job to job during the day (contractor) so bike boots and draggin jeans every day. Boots don't have sliders and shiny bits and look reasonable under the black draggins.

Summer is one of two mesh jackets, winter a winter jacket, plus usual gloves. I always carry a pain of regular rain over pants, they wear out after a year or two, so I buy another pair. Sub <$100 (the yellow cheap warehouse stuff is too awkward) a shot, it's cheaper than replacing specific motorcycle pants, as everyday use would be hard on them (and I'd die in summer) plus I need to move around at clients, and draggin jeans aren't quite as restrictive.

[Luckylegs]

I've got both of these – Enterprise are a no-go for commuting for me, too hard to get them over the ankle high work-type boots I wear as a safety vs being-able-to-walk compromise.

I use the Hercules instead, however the armour pockets were a waste of time; I bought a pair of these for some added protection http://www.fc-moto.de/Icon-Stryker-Knee-Armor

In my experience these pants don't stay waterproof for long either, so you'll need over-pants for your over-pants for any persistent rain.

^this^ any sort of decent rain and it collects in the groind and pretty much goes traight through. The idea does work though and id rather have a wet groin rather than saturated jeans legs.

Given theyre easy to put on theyre still worth it for blocking out the wind to keep warm

[rambaldi]

^this^ any sort of decent rain and it collects in the groind and pretty much goes traight through. The idea does work though and id rather have a wet groin rather than saturated jeans legs.

Given theyre easy to put on theyre still worth it for blocking out the wind to keep warm

My Neo Mugello pants have a big rubber saddle/seat/gusset thing. In pretty heavy rain and it was my hands that were buggered from wearing summer gloves, not anything else. It certainly didn't look like I had wet myself that day. That said it was only about 20 minutes in rain like that. I have no idea if they would hold up to a whole day in the rain.

[Berries]

The jeans kind of suck because they arn't water proof and I am sick of having to wear the same pair of jeans around campus all the time.
Bloody hell, aren't students getting a bit posh?

I commute in my work trousers. A bit nippy at the moment but I can handle it. On Fridays I get to wear my Levis. If wet I put my Marmot overtrousers on. Job jobbed. You might be overthinking it a tad.

[Big Dog]

+1 to wear whatever floats your boat with some"wet legs" under your seat.

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[aws]

Summer: Buffalo mesh jacket, Draggin jeans, Forma ankle high casual bike boots, Revit perforated summer gloves.

Winter: Revit textile jacket and pants, Gaerne Altus boots, thinnish Revit Gloves, and now Bark Busters Blizzard hand guards to keep my fingers nice and warm and dry. I put the lining in my jacket once it gets cold, but otherwise leave it out and just wear a light jacket or vest underneath during the in between seasons. Never use the lining in my pants as I just wear my work pants underneath instead.

I pretty much always carry overtrou and an overjacket in my topbox, but they mostly only get used in summer - and once my jacket gets old and starts leaking.

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[Erelyes]

Hot days : Leather jacket, work pants. If I'm lucky, black jeans might fly under the radar at my new job.
Moderate days: Either leather jacket+textile pants, or sometimes 2pc leathers. Over the work shirt / pants.
Cold/wet days: Textiles top and bottom.
Fucking cold days: textiles, add+ merino jumper, merino neck tube, fleece neck warmer.

All days: Leather gloves and SMX plus boots.

Am prolly gonna get some 'winter' glubs soon, and some kevlar (or covec) jeans.

[local]

All seasons: Dririder Nordic jacket & pants (v1)
I wear them over business shirt and pants, with waterproof road boats and leave a pair of dress shoes at work.

Summer: race gloves (non-waterproof/uninsulated)
Winter: waterproof/insulated gloves (visor wipe would be handy though)

I get to the office warmer and drier than most people in winter. And warmer and wetter than most people in summer.

[WristTwister]

Hey all,

I have been using a dririder nordic jacket and bullit riding jeans.

What do you guys wear while commuting?

Aside from the Alpine* vika leather set, for most commutes I'd wear my Alpine* Stella GP+R jacket, which is perforated leather and has stretch-panels which make it so comfy & I can move around easily and a random pair of dainese jeans.


But you are really asking what is best for wintery weather conditions (rainy days) you could wear a rain weather layer over the top of your usual gear (https://www.amazon.com/Olympia-Horizon-Rain-Jacket-2X-Large/dp/B00AW7ONLI).

[bigdog]

Thanks for your replies guys.


For commuting I compensate a bit of safety for convenience.

Summer mesh jacket
Summer riding gloves
Jeans
Bike boots

But I do have a full set of Dainese top to bottom for weekend rides.

Yeah I used to do that, but then came off while wearing regular jeans and murdered my knees.

My commute is only about 12kms / maybe 15-20 minutes as well.


I've got both of these – Enterprise are a no-go for commuting for me, too hard to get them over the ankle high work-type boots I wear as a safety vs being-able-to-walk compromise.

I use the Hercules instead, however the armour pockets were a waste of time; I bought a pair of these for some added protection http://www.fc-moto.de/Icon-Stryker-Knee-Armor

In my experience these pants don't stay waterproof for long either, so you'll need over-pants for your over-pants for any persistent rain.

Hmmm, interesting. I have tried both of these on at a store. I definitely agree with you on the Enterprise pants, you pretty much have to take your boots off to get in and out of them, its a shame they are designed this way as they would be pretty good otherwise.

I tried the Hercules pants on as well, definitely the most convenient to put on and take off, even with shoes. However, the only armour is a single layer (if I remember correctly?) of 600d Polyester, even on the knees. I'm not sure how it will hold up in an off. And I agree the armour pockets would be a waste of time, as the pants are quite baggy they wouldn't stay on your knees anyway. They seem like more of something to stop the weather and rain rather than provide any protection.


But you are really asking what is best for wintery weather conditions (rainy days) you could wear a rain weather layer over the top of your usual gear (https://www.amazon.com/Olympia-Horizon-Rain-Jacket-2X-Large/dp/B00AW7ONLI).

I'm more concerned with convenience and safety, rather than cold/wet weather protection. Although it does suck wearing motorcycle jeans in heavy rain, getting your legs saturated, and worse still having wet balls! I should say that I do have light rain paints that I wear over my motorcycle jeans to avoid this situation when I can predict heavy rain.

I want something that I can put on and take off easy over regular pants, and is going to provide protection enough to stop my knees getting murdered on the road, like a potato vs. a potato grater. Unfortunately it seems you have to choose one or the other!

[noclutch]

At the moment (Winter) my layers are a suit with the jacket rolled into my waterproof backpack, neck warmer, under-gloves, waterproof alpinestars boots, some sort of waterproof hipora gloves from dririder, waterproof dririder nordic 2 jacket and pants.

Have been through heavy rain and I'm both warm and dry after getting to work, commute roughly 20km.

[Swoop]

My preference:

Leathers.
Summer = pants + jacket.
Winter = Leather trou with Revit overpants* (when wet or raining).
Revit textile jacket.**


* Lesson #1. Textile trousers will let water in. Overtrou for the dry crotch.
** Textile jacket for going over polarfleece or other jackets.

[rastuscat]

For commuting I compensate a bit of safety for convenience.

Summer mesh jacket
Summer riding gloves
Jeans
Bike boots

But I do have a full set of Dainese top to bottom for weekend rides.

Kind of ironic EJ

You have a greater chance of needing the gear on the commute than on the GP.

I sure understand the reasons why though.

[Big Dog]

Kind of ironic EJ

You have a greater chance of needing the gear on the commute than on the GP.

I sure understand the reasons why though.
Are those odds the same in the damage done in the event of an incident though?

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[rastuscat]

Are those odds the same in the damage done in the event of an incident though?

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I'm not into playing the stats game. But given that most 1Vs are crossing and turning crashes, I feel safer away from other traffic.

On the GP less crashes happen, but they tend to be spectacular.

For said reasons, ATGATT

[Drew]

Runners, Jeans, Bike jacket, gloves, Helmet. Safe.

[Big Dog]

I'm not into playing the stats game. But given that most 1Vs are crossing and turning crashes, I feel safer away from other traffic.

On the GP less crashes happen, but they tend to be spectacular.

For said reasons, ATGATT
My version of ATGATT: Appropriate Type Gear All The Time.
I wear lighter weight gear in hot weather and speeds will be mostly < 60.
Even in summer longer or faster rides get leather.

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[GladLazyArse]

DriRider Nordic 2 Jacket
Resurgence Riding Jeans
Klim Element Short Goretex Gloves
Gaerne Boots
Shoei NXR w/ photochromic visor + Sena for beats

When it rains I wear a very large Warehouse PVC jacket and pants over my gear

25 minute commute, 100% dry for work no matter the weather. The gloves get a bit cold though, heated grips are soon to be fitted.

[mrchips]

Choosing a commuter machine 'fit for purpose' is a good step to type of gear you need to wear for protection from the elements.



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[twisted]

Only been back on a bike for a few weeks, but using the following:

Icebreaker Marino top with hood over my shirt
Strada textile jacket zipped to same brand pants. Both have a removable liner so in theory should be ok for summer.
Balaclava with hood from merino top over that.
Darbi nibo gloves

I commute 50ks and have ridden on some quite wet days, but have yet to get wet under my gear. I stay warm on all except those chilly -2.5c mornings!

Except my hands. My hands always freeze so will be getting heated grips next winter

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[avimistry]

Only been back on a bike for a few weeks, but using the following:

Icebreaker Marino top with hood over my shirt
Strada textile jacket zipped to same brand pants. Both have a removable liner so in theory should be ok for summer.
Balaclava with hood from merino top over that.
Darbi nibo gloves

I commute 50ks and have ridden on some quite wet days, but have yet to get wet under my gear. I stay warm on all except those chilly -2.5c mornings!

Except my hands. My hands always freeze so will be getting heated grips next winter

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Latex-free surgical gloves (those white ones) under your regular gloves does the trick. Enjoy getting it all on:clap: