Riding gear for traveling/touring; what's yours?

grey.hound

New member
I'm evaluating mine and my wife's riding gear. I haven't taken a true trip per se, but will be soon. Here is the basic set up for both of us:

Top:
Mesh or Textile vented jacket, haven't decided which would be best if I had to pick just one.
I don't usually use the liner, I prefer some sort of non-riding layer for warmth, such as a hoodie.

Bottom:
Jeans and some mesh overpants with pads in the knees and hips.

So my question is this, what type of MC gear have you found to be convenient and efficient for travel?

Thanks.

Here is an interesting link http://www.webbikeworld.com/r5/motorcycle-touring-outfit/
 
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JaimeC

New member
Aerostich. Roadcrafter suit for all weather commuting. Darien Suit for long distance riding no matter the season (along with an electric jacket liner). In fact, the whole catalog is "Long Distance Riding Gear Porn" in my mind.
 

TwoPort

Member
FirstGear. I've got the Kathmandu jacket and HT Overpants for cool weather. Recently I got their heated liners and gloves. For summer, I've got their Mesh Tex jacket and pants. FWIW I tried a Sedici mesh jack and found the fit/quality not as good as FirstGear - but overall the jacket is decent.
 

Edumakated

New member
When I did my ride from Chicago to Nashville, I basically used my Dainese mesh jacket. Jeans. Alpinestars S-Mx-1 boots. It was like 100 degrees. Absolutely brutal. I'd highly recommend carrying some rain gear. I had motorcycle specific over pants and jacket that block the wind and rain. I got rain on my last day of ride and it definitely was worth its weight in gold.

I also had one of those undershirts and neck wrap that you soak in water. You put it on wet and the water evaporates creating a cooling effect. They worked pretty well.
 

exavid

Member
Summer time mesh jacket and a water vest as needed. This area can get to 100-110F in summer but mesh and the water vest work pretty well. The mesh jacket over the vest gives pretty decent cooling for about an hour.

Jeans but Kevlar lined. I like Draggin Jeans http://www.dragginjeans.com/

Rain gear is Frogg Toggs. I've had mine about ten years and they're still holding up and keeping rain out. No sweating either since they breath. They work well over my regular gear if I hit an unexpected bit of cold weather.

Danner Striker side zipped lace boots are great for traveling, they offer water resistance and are comfortable for both riding and walking which is rare for boots. Normally around town and short trips I wear Merrill low cut hiking shoes.

Gloves are critical for me because of past frostbite damage to the nerves in my hands. It's very painful to let my hands get very cold at all. Perforated leather for summer, Deerhide gauntlet for cooler days and Gerbings G3 electrically heated with and without heat for 50F and lower.
 

Skutorr

Active member
Everyone has a real good take on how to gear-up; flexibility is the key. As you are carrying everything with you, using a hoodie in lieu of the jacket's zip-in liner is a GREAT idea. It's more comfortable, gives you varying degrees of warmth based upon the thickness (I use two different ones), the hood keeps the air blast off the back of your neck, and you can wear it by itself, so it serves double-duty with limited touring storage.

Also, i prefer a pair of large side bags/panniers to a top box, as it keeps your center of gravity lower, which is a challenge two-up as it is...
 

Snowdog

New member
Yes, in the cold East we call that layering, and is a good practice.
An electric jacket is versatile as you can dress light and then turn the warmth up or down depending on the weather or altitude.
On a tour in summer, I usually bring an un-insulated leather jacket , an electric jacket, and a pair of textile motorcycle pants (of course gloves) and a fleece pull over. Spring and fall, I would wear my Carhartt Arctic Extreme jacket or coveralls ( poor mans aerostich( 1000 denier cordura!!)) And if it is really really cold
I can outfit head to toe with electric gear. For rain, Frogg Toggs.
Note, I always carry enough clothes for 10 to 20 degrees colder then ambient, in case the weather changes or the electric gear craps out.
 

grey.hound

New member
Thanks for the replies. One thing I am trying to accomplish, like many people is convenience. My wife's biggest complaint is "the hassle" of gearing up. Especially since she has a small bladder and we stop about every hour, car or bike. On the bike it's a pain to basically unlayer and relayer every time we stop. Maybe our trip will give us better insight.

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk
 

SteveADV

Active member
On one Iron Butt I went from cold to really cold to hot and humid to really hot and humid. All within 17 hours. On that trip I used overpants with a liner, cargo pants, long johns, a mesh jacket with a liner, layer underneath, balaclava, helmet liner, and brought 3 pair of gloves along with a light set of rain gear. Easy to layer up/down at gas stops and with the scorpian overpants also easy to hit the head.

But don't you Californians just throw on some moto sandals, a little head gear, strap on your surf board and go?
 

justscootin

Member
Should have bought the GT

One thing I am trying to accomplish, like many people is convenience. My wife's biggest complaint is "the hassle" of gearing up. Especially since she has a small bladder and we stop about every hour, car or bike. On the bike it's a pain to basically unlayer and relayer every time we stop. Maybe our trip will give us better insight.

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk
 

Snowdog

New member
Thanks for the replies. One thing I am trying to accomplish, like many people is convenience. My wife's biggest complaint is "the hassle" of gearing up. Especially since she has a small bladder and we stop about every hour, car or bike. On the bike it's a pain to basically unlayer and relayer every time we stop. Maybe our trip will give us better insight.

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

You ride a motorcycle, it comes with the territory.
 

grey.hound

New member
Don't think I haven't considered the GT, especially the new models; though that wouldn't solve the riding gear issue, just the packing. As for coming with the territory, I won't stop looking for a better, more efficient type of riding gear. As we know, guys generally have it easier.
 

Snowdog

New member
I know other people who really dislike the gear up thing, Me?I like it to be cool enough to wear the gear. Just do the trips and what works will be apparent.

I find enjoyment in thinking things through, then seeing if I made the right decision. When I have learned everything ( this almost never happens) I get bored.
 
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grey.hound

New member
I find enjoyment in thinking things through, then seeing if I made the right decision. When I have learned everything ( this almost never happens) I get bored.

so true. over the Holidays when I was working on the pvc saddlebag supports I spent hours and hours trying to find the best set up. If it had been my wife asking me to help hang pictures or install curtains I would have gone nuts!

The time it required to put the puzzle together for the supports went by very quickly. It helps I had time off; I'm a teacher.
 

SteveADV

Active member
The MC hobby can be tough for some folks to understand (in my case, folks = wives). Remember the amount of research you did before you bought your Beemer? The research into bikes and accessories is part of the fun. I sometimes wish I were more mechanically inclined as that would open up another huge area in which to play.....especially during the cold Ohio winters. Designing your saddlebag support system was probably very gratifying.
 
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