2 piece waterproof gear

[junglie]

I choose today to ride for A couple of hours in and out of work. What a great decision in the worst rain I have seen for sometime!

Whilst the bike was fine, my Alpinestars Andes were not. They have always been fine in the past or Beere. They must be six years old now but in excellent condition, but today they seem to let water in particularly down the arms around the crotch and legs.

I’m not sure if the waterproof membrane has broken down (there is nothing obvious to suggest this) but that shouldn’t be the case. I am going to speak to customer service and get their view.

Can anyone recommend something new, in the sub £500 bracket, that is actually waterproof?

[Exasperated]

Waterproof overjacket and trousers. Pretty much the only guaranteed way to do it without spending vast sums.

Pros: Very cheap, 99.999% waterproof
Cons: You'll be a sweaty mess

[JulianHJ]

The Scott Ergo Pro jacket and trousers (£170) may suit you if you're happy with an extra layer when required. I've not tried them, by Motolegends frequently rave about them as being an ideal solution.

[vonhosen]

Scott Ergo Pro DP, over your suit is the way to go.

[John D.]

Exasperated said:

Waterproof overjacket and trousers. Pretty much the only guaranteed way to do it without spending vast sums.

Pros: Very cheap, 99.999% waterproof
Cons: You'll be a sweaty mess

Yep.

[Triaguar]

I'd go down the waterproof over jacket and trousers route. BUT... a pair of really good quality ones with high waisted trousers, don't bother with the cheaper stuff. I've had Dainese and currently have Scott, the Scott ones are particularly good, just done 7 days in Ireland and it rained for 6 of them, they never let a single drop of water in. If I recall they were about £200+ for a jacket and pants

[Triaguar]

Also I don't recall being a 'sweaty mess' suppose it depends whst you have underneath. On this occasion I had Rukka jacket on with leather sports trousers.

[John D.]

Triaguar said:

Also I don't recall being a 'sweaty mess' suppose it depends whst you have underneath. On this occasion I had Rukka jacket on with leather sports trousers.

Yeah I've never found them too bad wearing over leathers in the past. They obviously aren't breathable like many textile suits though.

I've just got a cheapo Hein Gericke 2 piece.

[boyse7en]

Exasperated said:

Waterproof overjacket and trousers. Pretty much the only guaranteed way to do it without spending vast sums.

Pros: Very cheap, 99.999% waterproof
Cons: You'll be a sweaty mess

I've got packable overtrousers from Alpinestars, Richa and Tucano Urbano, and every one of them leaks in the seat area. Whether it is a peculiarity of my bike's design or they just aren't good, but water always seems to soak through with 10-15 minutes of heavy rain.

On the plus side, my Dane jacket keeps everything out.

[Exasperated]

Triaguar said:

Also I don't recall being a 'sweaty mess' suppose it depends whst you have underneath. On this occasion I had Rukka jacket on with leather sports trousers.

It's possible I'm just naturally... moist.

[Triaguar]

Exasperated said:

Triaguar said:

Also I don't recall being a 'sweaty mess' suppose it depends whst you have underneath. On this occasion I had Rukka jacket on with leather sports trousers.

It's possible I'm just naturally... moist.

That made me chuckle ....

[Exasperated]

Triaguar said:

That made me chuckle ....

To be honest, the only time I've used my waterproof overjacket/trousers was riding back from the south coast. It absolutely shat it down, but was still a reasonably warm day so my sweat had nowhere in which to escape. It was pretty grim.

[Cabbage Patch]

Over jacket and trousers are waterproof but I found it a ball ache getting the trousers on at the side of the road over size 12 adventure boots. The flap of material gets caught in the zip trying to do them up, so I tried doing it by taking the boots off and leaving the zip done up. Get into a sweat putting them on, hopping around on one foot at the side of the road, and then it stops raining so have to stop and take them off again as getting even hotter. During a week on the west coast of Ireland this was a predictably regular occurrence.

I came home and bought a pair of laminated Rev It Globe trousers.

Slipping an over jacket on was much easier, so haven’t bothered upgrading my textile jacket.

[PurpleTurtle]

OP, is yours the Alpinestars Andes V3 with the Drystar membrane? This is Alpinestars own take on GoreTex and is supposed to be waterproof.

https://www.bikestop.co.uk/alpinestars-andes-v3-dr...

I am having a similar issue with my 14yo Dainese Goretex jacket. In a very heavy downpour this week it leaked on the forearms. I take the view that this is the area that gets most wear/use through arm movement, so is probably the first place to leak.

Before I throw a load of money at it I have given it a good spray with Nikwax TX.Direct which I have used before on tents and my outdoor walking gear, but never on Textile bike kit. Just waiting for the next big storm to see how successful it is.

https://amzn.eu/d/62EqhBa

GoreTex is supposed to have a lifetime guarantee but they also have a 'reasonable useful life' get out clause. Has a 13yo motorcycle jacket outseen its reasonable useful life? How long is a piece of string!?

[KobayashiMaru86]

Gear doesn't stay waterproof forever. Bought all new RST touring stuff at the beginning of last year and riding almost every day. By mid year they started leaking around the crotch. I used Nikwax to reapply which works for a bit. The only true way is good over clothes but then I feel like a black Michelin Man as it's so bulky but it works. But they are cheap.

[KTMsm]

OP are you washing / reproofing them correctly ?

[carinatauk]

I used to reproof my leaky goretex suits using Fabsil Gold, same stuff I used on my Chimera soft top. Gave the seams and crotch areas plenty. Always seemed to work.

[Hugo Stiglitz]

A decent laminated jacket

NOT over waterproofs.


I HATE having to stop and struggle to get on a over waterproofs. Hideous things plus mid motorway in that sudden squal what are you supposed to do?

Hard shoulder?
Junction?

Get piss wet through in 20 seconds whilst looking and then it stops raining again?

Just buy a decent jacket. Heavy downpour? Wait.

Heavy downpour every day on a commute all week long?

Do you hate motorbikes that much to endure that?

[junglie]

PurpleTurtle said:

OP, is yours the Alpinestars Andes V3 with the Drystar membrane? This is Alpinestars own take on GoreTex and is supposed to be waterproof.

https://www.bikestop.co.uk/alpinestars-andes-v3-dr...

I am having a similar issue with my 14yo Dainese Goretex jacket. In a very heavy downpour this week it leaked on the forearms. I take the view that this is the area that gets most wear/use through arm movement, so is probably the first place to leak.

Before I throw a load of money at it I have given it a good spray with Nikwax TX.Direct which I have used before on tents and my outdoor walking gear, but never on Textile bike kit. Just waiting for the next big storm to see how successful it is.

https://amzn.eu/d/62EqhBa

GoreTex is supposed to have a lifetime guarantee but they also have a 'reasonable useful life' get out clause. Has a 13yo motorcycle jacket outseen its reasonable useful life? How long is a piece of string!?

Hi,

Mine are the original version (I think!) and used sparingly.

Going to throw them in the washing machine with the Nikwax and see where I go.

Alpinestars have said to send some photos etc and they will see if there is anything they can do - not hopeful.

[junglie]

KTMsm said:

OP are you washing / reproofing them correctly ?

Have not ever done a re-proof but will to see if that helps.