K11 Owners Group

k11pfc · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 2:28 am Post subject: Motorcycle clothing

We all know BMW make the best bikes in the world but who makes the best clothing/boots/helmets etc? If I could afford it I would buy maybe Dainese T. avro one peice leathers (£1000) A matching Shoei helmet (£350) spend about £200 on boots £150 on gloves.
As it is I wear Frank Thomas 2 peice leathers, Frank Thomas boots, Shoei crash helmet, Frank Thomas gloves and only spent around £140 for the lot on ebay!! all the gear is excellent quality but I am continually looking for better.
There are so many makes out there though I sometimes can't tell whether they are good quality or crap, so what are your top 5 makes of gear? The same names should crop up regularly hopefully.
_________________
Riding a 1995 Marakesh red K1100rs
Formerly owned:-
1 k1100rs
2 k100rs's
2 K1200rs's
2 F650's
2 R1200gs's
1 K1200s's

Play up Pompey

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 7:08 am Post subject:

I'd also be interested in others's experiences with Rain Gear that actually works. Especially the pants.
I have a Fieldsheer 2 pc set now. The top jacket is wonderful, keeps me quite dry and has good pockets that seal.
The pants on the other hand, is another story.
It looks like the mfg process tried to seal the butt seems but they still leak and I end up with a wet butt. It's not as bad now as I have a decent seat that doesn't act like a sponge and stay wet for 2 days after a rain. Rolling Eyes

As far as regular riding gear goes, I have a couple of different suits.
I have a Fieldsheer 3-season open mesh pants/jacket combo, and then a Fieldsheer insulated(with removeable winter liner) and vented jacket for late fall and early spring.
I still also have my BMW Commuter 3 series Jacket/Pants combo suit.

For helmets, I have the Scorpion Exo series modular for my regular ride.
I have a HJC Symax 2 for my wife, and a Scorpion ff for the kids.
I still also have a couple of HJC 3/4's and a HJC ff as well.
_________________
Ride safe.

1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 8:11 am Post subject:

As far as rain gear, does ANYONE have something that doesn't leak and give you the soggy diaper feel after a few minutes in heavy rain.

I understand the difficulty here- water hits our upright bodies (even on an LT if it is raining hard enough) and runs down to the low spot that our rear ends create in the seat. Quickly we are sitting in a puddle and then....

Even this GEN-U-INE BMW Pro-Rain2 suit leaked in that spot when it was brand new:

On a good note, the "Triple Digit Glove Covers" available through the Aerostich catalog are EXCELLENT! Keeps my regular gloves 100% dry even riding through a frog strangler. Inexpensive too.
_________________
John & Cathy

'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F.

drikko · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 8:52 am Post subject:

I have a motoport kevlar jacket which I hate when I'm not on the bike. But when I am riding it just fits awesomely, it all falls into place, it's designed for riding, not socialising. I also have a generic cordura jacket which feels great when off the bike but not on it so that's crap. Never had a leather suit sorry but I feel the Kevlar jacket is probably better for road rash.....

Also wear these jeans:-

http://bikersgearaustralia.com/details.php?TiD=MTc3LTIzMi0wLTU3OQ==&Txid=a60d589aed1ca1ce186f91d517600e0b

Oxtar boots and shark helmet, no reason but they were on sale....
_________________
K1100RS '97
Laverda RGS 1000 '84
Jim Young Trailer Sailer 5.7M WB

DISCLAIMER:- Anything I say may have been when I was drunk so please don't take it personally.

'Bigamy is having one wife/husband too many. Monogamy is the same.'
Oscar Wilde

Ernie-NH · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 10:16 am Post subject:

G'Morning all....

A big triple ditto to Scotts request for ..." others's experiences with Rain Gear that actually works !""

I have yet, after more than 1/2 a century of riding found anything I have confidence in or would recommend to others ! It all sucks !

Best regards.........// Ernie in NH
_________________
AMA,, American Deaf Bikers
Airhead Beemers Club
'11 G650gs
'95 K1100LT
'76 R100/7

k11pfc · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 12:40 pm Post subject:

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 12:54 pm Post subject:

There are even different grades(thickness) of leather at that.
You wont find much(if any) of the man made synthetics in any of the HD stores around here. They are strickly leather.
_________________
Ride safe.

1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)

Jeeves · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 3:20 pm Post subject:

drikko · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 4:07 pm Post subject:

For at least 8 months here leather is too hot, therefore we need to use something meshed ie flows air so it's pretty much synthetic or boil. Kevlar is FAR better than Cordura which melts into your skin if you slide down the road. The marketing crap suggests it's better than leather, more tear and abrasion resistant, but I don't have personal experience about that of course Very Happy

But it has to be better than cordura. Racing rules would rule out synthetics as there are a lot of them that just aren't up to the task.

As to wet weather gear, the Motoport comes with both a wet liner (which works well) and a winter liner, for trousers I have a plastic oversuit which is pretty much useless as you sweat under it. Better to just get wet Smile

I keep my leather gloves and boots dubbined (waxed) but water gets through the gloves anyway, but that's OK.
_________________
K1100RS '97
Laverda RGS 1000 '84
Jim Young Trailer Sailer 5.7M WB

DISCLAIMER:- Anything I say may have been when I was drunk so please don't take it personally.

'Bigamy is having one wife/husband too many. Monogamy is the same.'
Oscar Wilde

k11pfc · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 4:25 pm Post subject:

Just had a look at the labels inside my Frank Thomas leathers and it states this "This garment is not considered personal protective equipment as defined in or within the scope of the personal protective equipment (ec directive) regulations 1992 and has therefore not been examined or tested in accordance with those regulations"
WTF is that about, are they saying this leather suit is just for show?
_________________
Riding a 1995 Marakesh red K1100rs
Formerly owned:-
1 k1100rs
2 k100rs's
2 K1200rs's
2 F650's
2 R1200gs's
1 K1200s's

Play up Pompey

Jeeves · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 5:47 pm Post subject:

BobZ(IL) · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 6:28 pm Post subject:

I rode home from HMSP nearly all the way in rain ranging from sprinkles to downpours. My frog suit didn't leak a drop.
_________________
'93 K1100LT
'78 R100S
'05 R1200GS
BMWMOA, CRBMWOA, ABC, K11OG #997

Live well, do good work, enjoy the ride.

Ernie-NH · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 6:57 pm Post subject:

Hi Bob...et al...!

Re the "Frog Toggs"... I bought a set ( Elite I think ) maybe three years ago and the first major use I found the rain coming thru the drawstring at the rear, thus ending up with a 'soggy bottom' in no time flat. I also have tried the USGOVT issue version of the same ( pants with bib, arm/leg openings elasticised,etc..) BUT they are too heavy and they are unlined. Have also bought the HD 'one piece' with hood, and it does no better with water coming in under/around the velcro tabs and thru the plastic zipper.. Glad you stayed dry in your outfit,,,,maybe crouching behind the instrument cluster is the solution (?)..or finding a comfy bar to hide in until the rain passes !

Best regards all.............// Ernie in NH
_________________
AMA,, American Deaf Bikers
Airhead Beemers Club
'11 G650gs
'95 K1100LT
'76 R100/7

Jeeves · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 2:54 am Post subject:

robleyd · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 3:05 am Post subject:

Jeeves · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 3:11 am Post subject:

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 7:40 am Post subject:

robleyd,

That BMW comfort shell gear looks good- but just short of $1300.US for the jacket and pants is getting up there.

As an alternative- a couple times over the past few weeks I had the pleasure of riding with a local friend (he's on a R1100S- nice bike Cool

and he recently bought an Aerostich Transit Suit. Yes it is even more $$$!! than the BMW shell, but it is breathable leather.

http://www.aerostich.com/aerostich-suits/transit-suit

He and I rode through some rain- saw it in the distance and I had to stop to put on my previously mentioned BMW rainsuit. He just sat there and watched me- then we rode into a real downpour. He was drier than me when we stopped a bit later- that suit is amazing!

I'm seriously looking at that or an Aerostich Roadcrafter since my current moderate/low tech TourMaster jacket is looking kinda' sad.

Although now that ComfortShell is interesting.....
_________________
John & Cathy

'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F.

robleyd · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 8:36 am Post subject:

drikko · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 9:54 pm Post subject:

An interesting read, except for some of the braindead responses, but interesting all the same.

http://www.reddit.com/r/motorcycles/comments/i9khd/crash_report_all_the_gear_all_the_time/
_________________
K1100RS '97
Laverda RGS 1000 '84
Jim Young Trailer Sailer 5.7M WB

DISCLAIMER:- Anything I say may have been when I was drunk so please don't take it personally.

'Bigamy is having one wife/husband too many. Monogamy is the same.'
Oscar Wilde

merlin geikie · Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 7:17 am Post subject:

Ernie jokes;