rukka trousers

[camb10]

Hi all
after a bit of advice
got a set of rukka waterproof goretex trousers last week
I ended up kindof between size L and XL but decided the XL were a bit baggy at the waist.
I havent been out on them on the bike yet but worn them round the house and sat on the bike, mainly cos the shop wont take them back if theyre worn and ive got a couple of questions maybe some others can answer?

1. the waist tightening seems rubbish, zip up fly and couple of tabs either side of that with velcro to adjust and elastic at the sides. The L is better than the XL as less baggy at the waist but i keep comparing to my old ones (which now leak in heavy rain) which have a nice adjustable belt so you can snug them up.
They just dont feel secure and they gap a bit at the back which my old ones did if you bend down but they had a slightly higher central back and the belt so i never got a draught. These just rely on the elastic. my jacket wont zip to them unfortunately.
Do the braces make a big difference?

2. Theyre really stiff material. I like that because it felt quality compared to some of the others i tried so i thought theyre worth the extra cost but i hope they have some break in? do they soften with use? they have hip armour which my old ones didnt which maybe makes it feel a bit more cardboardy.

kind of in 2 minds to take them back and start looking again which probably answers my question but any rukka owners who can answer be great to hear.

[Exasperated]

If I were in your position, I'd get a matching zipper tailored onto my jacket to zip the two together.

[Caddyshack]

Speak to Motolegends. They sell a lot of Rukka but also have a pretty pragmatic view on what garments should do for certain jobs. They let you change stuff with ease, even if used on the bike.

[JulianHJ]

I have some Rukka Armaxion(?) laminated Goretex trousers - I'd agree with some of what you say about he waist adjustment, but the braces are excellent. I also have a Nivala jacket so always zip them together.

I'd agree with the suggestion to contact (or better still, visit if you can) Motolegends; they're excellent.

[Salted_Peanut]

How well (i.e. how snugly) does the knee armour fit? Could it budge in a crash?

Considering the original post, it reads like Rukka trousers may be the wrong size and shape. Another brand might fit better. Personally, I won’t buy Rukka again, considering Hideout Hi-Pro textiles are infinitely better yet similar money.

You can always get the zip changed (e.g., posting it to Hideout or Hill4Leather). A zip change is a straightforward alteration that I’ve had done several times.

[castex]

I have a smartish pair that i sometimes wear to work. They're excellent, well made, comfy and confidence-inspiring on the bike.

[bgunn]

camb10 said:

2. Theyre really stiff material. I like that because it felt quality compared to some of the others i tried so i thought theyre worth the extra cost but i hope they have some break in? do they soften with use? they have hip armour which my old ones didnt which maybe makes it feel a bit more cardboardy.

kind of in 2 minds to take them back and start looking again which probably answers my question but any rukka owners who can answer be great to hear.

I’m guessing you got laminated trousers. Do you need laminated, or will drop liner be suitable? As the others say, Motolegends will give you a pretty clear idea what’s best, for your use case. Laminated, they say, is excessive for most people, and you get more comfort and can get stretch fabric drop liner garments.

[camb10]

thanks all
motolegends a bit of a trek but i'll keep an eye on them
good idea about the zip, maybe i can find a matching zip size and get an adapter made.
Do they break in a bit? im assuming so as my old cordura trousers are quite flexy now but they said in the shop they dont

[Caddyshack]

You can buy belts that use belt loops on trousers and then zip to jackets.

[Caddyshack]

https://www.motolegends.com/richa-belt-connector-b...

[camb10]

bgunn said:

I’m guessing you got laminated trousers. Do you need laminated, or will drop liner be suitable? As the others say, Motolegends will give you a pretty clear idea what’s best, for your use case. Laminated, they say, is excessive for most people, and you get more comfort and can get stretch fabric drop liner garments.

yes laminated, but i ride most of the year round 40+minutes each way and half of that is motorway so staying dry is really important to stay warm an dlaminated seems better for that. My last ones are drop liner and are great due to the belt but have started to leak and are outdated in terms of armour. They take ages to dry and if you get wet in the morning often they can be damp and hence cold at night even when they didnt leak.
The rukka knee armour feels fine if a bit stiff but its the hip armour im not so used to.
I tried on a few others, alpinestars, richa etc and they all felt kind of similar in the shop, i actually preferred the thicker rukka material, just didnt really think about the waist at the time, theyre what id call snug to walk around in but the next size up was a bit loose and i had to pull the front adjusters quite alot so ended up with 2 pleats in the front. I think i'll try to get hold of a set of braces (£40!) which will probably do they job on the back.

[GSA_fattie]

id go larger, more room when on the bike for extra layers - won't feel as tight/constricting and you need some air/comfort, braces do work. you need to keep the slider as high as possible i found, the velcro end are better than normal braces fastenings

i dont know where your are in gb but if you are spending rukka cash what about tailor made or off the peg but altered - hideout