Best touring gear?

[Snails pace]

If it looks like a few hours in rain / cold winds or snow I put on good ole farm raincoat and leggings. Most companies make them but my coat is a Bullseye stormflex. Warm and very dry.Over the bike gear and extra wind chill layer. Put the hood up under the helmet and no rain tickling in under the helmet. For leggings I have a pair of goretex ski over trousers which zip right up either leg making them very easy to get on or off. Also have a pair of Colombia brand leggings that zip to just below the knee.

[Quasievil]

Could you start importing Tourmaster... Please...?

Would love to,investing in the bike industry right now isnt a brilliant idea tho

[NZsarge]

Would love to,investing in the bike industry right now isnt a brilliant idea tho

Bugger!
...........

[vifferman]

I looked into this a couple of years ago, as I can't afford multiple suits, and with D'Auckland's changeable weather, wanted summat that I could get caught out in a sudden (not entirely) unexpected rainstorm on a sunny day. basically, I needed a 4-seasons suit. I ended up buying Spidi Gran Turismo pants, and a Macna Summit jacket. The pants are cordura (and amazingly abrasion-resistant!) with a waterproof/breathable liner, removable thermal liner, and leather on the seat and inside lower legs. They have vent zips on the upper thighs.
I was tossing off up whether to get the Spidi jacket to match, but in the end bought the Macna jacket because it was more comfy and fully leather. While I love the jacket, I wouldn't recommend it, as the construction (seams etc, fiddly little zips to join in the waterproof and thermal liners) isn't the best. If/when I replace it, I'd probably go with whatever iteration of touring jacket Spidi has.
Your alternative is leather gear, with waterproof separates over the top, which is what I used to wear. Better value for money, just more pissing around if you have to stop to put it on or take it off. I have Motoline overpants, and there was a matching jacket. Excellent kit, but I dunno iffen they still sell it.

[Quasievil]

Bugger!
...........

Dont despair, I'm looking into it

[Gremlin]

so quasi, the armas jacket and pants seem to be the ones to look at? Protection and weather proof in one piece of gear. How many lungs or livers would they cost?

[Quasievil]

so quasi, the armas jacket and pants seem to be the ones to look at? Protection and weather proof in one piece of gear. How many lungs or livers would they cost?

lol

Do a bunch of research, you will notice they have very good reviews, also you tube them
price at retail is $3205.00

Alot I know, I WILL cut you a SUPER deal on this however.
to get it closer to $2k

[Metastable]

I'm just going to throw out some ideas for you.

Have you considered getting a Goretex shell (over sized) that you put over your jacket(s).... then same idea for pants? The nice thing is that it has breath-ability, so you don't start getting wet from the inside... then get cold when the temperatures drop.
Marmot minimalist is a good one:
http://marmot.com/products/minimalist_jacket
If you go this route, then get one that has a membrane, like Goretex, otherwise other water proof jackets etc... only have a coating that will start letting water through after a while. Plus membranes are breathable, as opposed to some rubbery material that is waterproof, but also not breathable.

Also, in terms of protective gear you could get something like:

OR
http://www.go-ride.com/product_images/Wave%20Vhr.jpg

So then you can wear "normal" clothes (including waterproof/breathable shell), but have protection under the warm/waterproof layers. Also like this it is easier to take off/add on layers depending on the temperature. The abrasion resistance in a crash would be crap for your outer layers.... they'd probably get destroyed.... but you'd be feeling OK.

Anyway, just a few things to think about.

BTW, dunno if you saw on your other thread, as I was a day late after your trackday, but Sportmax 211GPAs cold tire pressures are front29, rear 21.

[Moki]

Aerostich Roadcrafter

[Gremlin]

BTW, dunno if you saw on your other thread, as I was a day late after your trackday, but Sportmax 211GPAs cold tire pressures are front29, rear 21.

Not me metastable

Thanks guys for all the comments and tips. I've pretty much dropped the idea of Rev'it Infinity, as the two suits in Australia aren't big enough for me, and for $2500, doesn't have goretex etc. Its replacement later this year (Infinity GTX) will, but a, is late this year, and b, price will apparently be around the $3000 mark.

Looking worldwide at brands and models of suits, Rev'it doesn't feature alongside Rukka, Aerostich, Halvarssons or Hein Gericke, so I don't think their prices are justified yet.

Aerostich seems like a good option, but an old design and apparently prone to leaking around the zips (which is always a classic weak point for gear). If I have to choose between venting for hot weather and leakproof for cold wet weather, I'll take leakproof, as NZ seems to have less and less hot weather for days on end. Even going to Chch in March for the TT2000, there were thunderstorms and almost freezing weather... go figure

Spidi Admiral suit seems to be a bit of a copy to the Aerostich, if choosing, I'd probably try the Aerostich first.

Haven't looked at the BMW gear.

REALLY like the look of the Rukka Armas jacket and pants. Different type of zips to combat rain, and being a gear whore, all the neat stuff appeals to me. Should be able to T up a time to see Quasi this weekend to get sizing correct, won't take long to get here, not cheap, but lets see if its worth the dollars.

The 5 year warranty and my ability to have equipment fail on me, and no-one else appeals, so its probably going to get a good work out (although it will only be used for touring etc, too expensive to waste on commuting).

[Moki]

Aerostich RoadCrafter. Not bad buying at not much over a grand - landed in NZ.