Is motorcycling gear up to standard?

Bike kit is no different to anything else you buy. There is alot of choice out there with varying levels of quality and price. The more expensive gear is not always better than the cheaper stuff either, where alot of the cash you spend ends up going on the 'brand name'.

If your on a budget, I see nothing wrong with HG stuff, from my experience its always been decent quality for the price. Ive got 2 of their leather suits, the oldest Ive had 5/6 years & is showing no sign of giving up anytime soon. Pay £300-£400 on a HG suit and it will probably be as good as if not better that some suits costing twice as much.

Ive never gone the textile route, use leathers all year round, using a decent 1-piece rain suit when its wet. This along with thermals and windproof under garmets should keep you warm in the colder times of year. Never had a problem with getting wet in torrential rain either.

Never had FT of RST stuff, but think I'll stay clear hearing of problems others have encountered.

Good budget gear is out there, its just about finding out what to avoid and what to go for.

Good luck.

I've got some RST textiles and they're pretty good. Still waterproof after nearly 3 years although I have cared for them in that time.

My best bit of kit for quality is my my pair of Halvarssons winter gloves though. Except for being a bit annoying to get on with damp hands they're flawless, and they weren't expensive, only 40 or 50 quid iirc. I'd definitely buy more.

Had Frank Thomas boots, were crap.

[dizzyblonde]

Halvarssons. End of. Expensive for a reason, they're bleddy good. I'm a walking advert. One set of scuffed gloves in an off, not ripped, good for another day. Another set I accidently left out, after it fell in the kitchen drain(it smells)but was good until then. The Graffiti jacket was the same, all seasons, triple layered, windproof, waterproof, heat and cold proof(well it is from Sweden or thereabouts)all inside jackets removable. Good venting for summer.
Richa monsoon pants, totally tried and tested in several bouts of torrential rain.
Alpinstarts Roam and Ridge boots. Exactly what they say on the tin, comfortable, walkaboutable, can wear them all day, and watertight.

[Dave20046]

Originally Posted by sinbad

I've got some RST textiles and they're pretty good. Still waterproof after nearly 3 years although I have cared for them in that time.

My best bit of kit for quality is my my pair of Halvarssons winter gloves though. Except for being a bit annoying to get on with damp hands they're flawless, and they weren't expensive, only 40 or 50 quid iirc. I'd definitely buy more.

Had Frank Thomas boots, were crap.

Where'd you get the halvarsons gloves that's almost reasonably priced for gloves. They 100% waterproof?

[yorkie_chris]

I am well impressed with my halvarssons gloves also, £40 (discounted due to the shop closing down, unfortunately. I would happily have paid the full price, to keep a friend and a useful shop in business)

Used them since around this time 2 years ago, daily wear, long trips, trips to see MYC in Aber etc etc. Including 2 crashes.
The only sign of wear is a very minor seam in the lining around the cuff which has split, this was my clumsiness, not a fault with the glove.


I also have a halvarssons jacket, only one crash in this, but I am equally impressed. The only complaint I have with that, is it can hold a lot of water (without it getting to you, at all!). But a tech-wash handwash and re-coating with TX-direct spray stops this and brings it back like new.

I have some teknic leathers too, very impressed with these, better quality than the price tag would suggest.

In the space of 2 months my alpinestars jet road goretex gloves fell apart.
My alpinestars boots (smx 5 goretex) suffered a very low speed scrape along the ground 15mph this resulted in the soul coming off
Alpinestars gloves have burst in 2 places within one season.

wont be buying anymore alpinestars gear.

[Dave20046]

Have to retract my vouch for the A*'s gloves, despite being the comfiest warmest and most waterproof gloves I've ever owned. For £70 RRP they aren't waterproof enough and worse (but possibly related) a side from a couple of minor seems coming undone the bloody palms coming off now! And I've not even crashed in them - that's just wear and tear. I shalt be emailing them.

Not sure if I mentioned my raven waterproof trousers that weren't waterproof despite the 100% guarantee they replaced them for me for their best model after I complained and after riding 8am-6pm on sunday through pretty much relentless drizzle and a last hour of torrential I didn't get a drip in. However this was like the second time I wore them so time will tell. Not really got much to moan about though as they cost me next to nowt. Also have hip armour and 600Denier abrasion resistance which I'm all for.

The TCX boots are still holding up strongly about a year in andridden through long bowts of rain - never leaked.

Rukka Xtrafit gloves can be had for around £100 and with heated grips and hand guards are thin enough to wear all year with no chill issues or ingress of water . And remember , all of these waterproof trousers can go at any time around the `nads/happy Valley as that is the point that gets stressed when you waft a leg over your saddle every time you get on a bike .

[G]

I have some spada textiles and they seem to be bomb proof, extremely water proof and wear very hard, I have done alsorts in them and they show no signs of wear.

I have some dianese (spelling ) leathers which I bought off ebay, they are the made in italy old ones (not the new made in asia new ones) they are also pretty solid I have had them for 3 hard years of wet and dry riding and they show no real signs of wear either apart from a dodgy zip that I bent.

I also have some A* SP1 gloves that are taking a beating off me, not sure how well they are going to last they are showing some wear around the finger stiching.

I but whatever fits and is comfy. Spada textiles rule.

Originally Posted by dizzyblonde

Halvarssons. End of. Expensive for a reason, they're bleddy good. I'm a walking advert. .

I have a set of gloves - they are lovely.


Little known secret - Triumph gear is AMAZING. Textiles are hard armoured and the bottoms have knee sliders. The fit is superb, the weight of the fabric is reasuringly thick and its put together with a finish that would make my grandmother happy!


I was in torrential rain for 3 hours and was bone dry at the end - the same could not be said for my mates who were wearing frank thomas, spada and alpinestars. Man they were jealous. I was amazed the fact it had no water penetration given the rain could be felt through the gear!