What clothing on tour???

**Idubbs** · 16th January 2007, 21:01

S'been a few years since I did a bike tour around the S.I. This time we'll be spending 10-14 days in the saddle. QUESTION - If you had the choice of wearing leathers, Gortex, or Air-mesh jackets/ pants, what will it be? How about Draggin' Jeans? - Month will be February, will it be hot, cold, wet?? Obviously, we'll have to be prepared for all kinds of weather, but hell - there's a limit on what we can carry.....! Oh yeah, we'll be stopping in at Levels for a track day..... YOUR THOUGHTS PEOPLE... your thoughts!

**justsomeguy** · 16th January 2007, 21:10

Goretex/Airmesh only. Leathers aren't the best unless you can guarantee the weather.

For underneath you could consider some of those nike breathable sports clothing, both the tops and leggings. They are very thin, warm, comfy yet breathable and they fold up quite small.

Since you are touring - I assume you'll want to ride your bike back - so limit yourself to cordura for the trackday as well.

My 2c.

Welcome to the mad house, good luck!!

**Quasievil** · 16th January 2007, 21:15

Leathers and a one piece rain suit, unless you want to cook in cordura
thats my choice.

**Idubbs** · 16th January 2007, 21:22

Yup...that's along some of my thoughts as well...... I dread the shear weight of leathers.They're a bugger if they get wet, and also a bugger to get off after a swealtering hot ride!

**Idubbs** · 16th January 2007, 21:23

Sorry, that last comment was to follow Justsomeguy's

**justsomeguy** · 16th January 2007, 21:31

Originally Posted by Quasievil

Leathers and a one piece rain suit, unless you want to cook in cordura
thats my choice.

Most decent cordura gear comes full of vents doesn't it?? I also find leaving the top zip slightly open fills the jacket with a pocket of cool air while riding.

PS- Off topic - Can you PM me Jimmy's number, he seems to have forgotten bout our Sat appt.

**NighthawkNZ:Me** · 16th January 2007, 21:52

I have done many a tours, both in leatehr and cordura, and would have cordura anyday. It breaths better than leather, and most have vents to open and close. and usually you can take out the lining if it gets to hot.

Its more water proof than leather, (I just rode from Glenorchy to Dunedin in he rain errr not count the queenstown to cromwell leg) and was dry as a bone when I got home. I was only wearing a t-shirt under the jacket and just just undies under the trousers... I was more than morm enough... The only part that was wet was my gloves which is leather they couldn't handle the down poor... My gear was dry within and half hour. Leather takes days to dry and smells... and you have to nugget and dubben the leather... all you do with the cordura is take out the linning and wash...

I also been known to use my inner jacket inning as a dress jacket...

Most leather pants will leak in your crutch area... and if its not a one piece suit you jacket usually rides up exposing your back...

Your cordura gear will be good enough for the track day but may need a better back protector than the built in one.

**Quasievil** · 16th January 2007, 21:57

Each to their Own, My Quasi Vengeance Jacket has breather Zips, a one piece rain suit takes care of the Rain, and once on the track I can actually move on the bike, cordura aint good for knee down action.

**skelstar** · 16th January 2007, 22:00

Ill be doing a Sth Isl tour mid-feb and Im trying to make my mind up regarding this issue. I want to do the tour in quite spirited riding liike I was riding in the weekend, and buggered if Ill be in sub-standard gear. I feel much more protected in leather. Back-protector too probably.

So what if it was 35deg in Murchison last year!

**HenryDorsetCase** · 16th January 2007, 22:09

last week we had every sort of weather they make, and some they were trialling to see if it sucked to ride in ..... a great success.

I have a cheap cordura jacket, with armour (crappy) and a zip out lining, and some vents. I had cordura pants but dont wear them as sweaty balls is only good when you are watching pr0n, and not riding for hours on end. Leather pants and gloves.

this time of year, usually even if its wet, its not tooo cold.

by the way, is cordura track day legal? or are you doing the HRC one at levels on 20 Feb for street bikes only. If so, I should be there.

**Jantar** · 16th January 2007, 22:59

I have done many a tours, both in leather and cordura, and would have leather anyday. It breaths better than any synthetic and usually allows you to remove inner layers if it gets to hot.

Its water proof if treated correctly, (I just rode from Glenorchy to Alexandra in the rain, and after the Little River Rally rode 800 kms down the West Coast in the rain) and was dry as a bone when I got home. I was only wearing a shirt under the jacket and just jeans and undies under the trousers... I was more than warm enough... The only part that was wet was, err, nothing. My gear was dry. Leather does take hours to dry and smells if treated with nugget and dubben. Use beeswax and all it needs is an airing.

Most cordura pants will leak in your crutch area... and if its not a one piece suit you jacket usually rides up exposing your back, but most modern leather suits have a zip attacment between the jacket and trousers...

Your leather gear will also be good enough for the track day.

**yungatart** · 17th January 2007, 09:23

My preference would be leather, any day!
Be careful using Dubbin on your leathers - the stuff rots stitching!

**scumdog** · 17th January 2007, 09:31

Originally Posted by yungatart

My preference would be leather, any day!
Be careful using Dubbin on your leathers - the stuff rots stitching!

Only if the stitching is cotton - synthetic stitching will be o.k.

I use leather jacket/pants out of preference, wear overtrousers if it's raining.

On same trip as Night Hawk I got wet hands (fingerless gloves!) and wet down my front 'cos the water got in around my throat area.

Apart from that I was dry.

But each to their own, cordura WILL dry out quicker.

**Paul in NZ** · 17th January 2007, 09:51

My preference is a decent fabric jacket. I have worn my Spidi NT tour for 3 SI tours and 60,000km and have no complaints. I need to replace my cheapie trou soon (or wash / re proof em).

Vicki has a cheaper jacket and dreadful trou because being petite (short) it was very hard to find anything that didn't have sleeves to her finger tips. The jackets OK on a hot day but the non breathable pants were a big mistake. She has the option of draggin jeans which she likes.

On very hot days we pull out the liners and wear cheapie breathable 'dry skin' tees underneath that wick moisture away from the body and are very happy except if stopped in full sun which can be uncomfortable.

Best feature is we don't stop when it rains (I'm a dumb arse like that) and if the gear gets wet it dries out very fast.

HAVING said that - my next purchase will probably be a leather jacket for casual summer riding and bimbling around Kapiti on the Triumph lookin' fine....