Revisiting rain gear purchases

[Banned_imp]

I always wondered if those " waterproof leathers" were really waterproof. Do they absorb water thoug, weigh a ton and take a week to dry out like regular leathers?

I have the same HD FXRG suit as Cookiemench and I have ridden in some torrential downpours and it has always kept me perfectly dry.

The only problem I have with it, is it that it is way too hot for me in dead of summer.

And yes, it does get heavy when wet but dries fairly quickly at 75mph

[emptysea]

The HD FXRG gear uses waterproof liners, correct?

[Django]

Why don’t cows take a week to dry out?

Cow skin is alive, leather is dead but tanned to avoid it rotting away.
Yes Guth, I'm really happy with my Roadcrafter R 3. And it is 100% dry indeed, if you cared to close it the rigth way: collar up and close the velcros really flat. The material is Cordura 500, laminated with a membrane inside.

Sometimes, on a Sunday ride, when I know, weather will be fine, I take my ol' leathers, which I rode for about 20 years now. Still a good feeling and I look cool at the biker's inn.

But for commuting and for long rides or trips I happily take the R3. That one does not look cool at the biker's meeting, but I really like the function.

For commuting, I just take on my boots, wear a down jacket now at lower temps, pull over the R3, close the zippers and I'm ready to go, takes me just seconds. Before I had the R3, it took quite some time to change clothes every time and then feeling like a sausage with all the layers underneath the leathers.

In summertime, I just have a t-shirt and shorts under the R3, but still wear boots (atgatt). When I arrive, I replace the boots by sandals and I'm really comfortable.

On long trips, I really like to be relaxed, wearing the R3. Comes rain or not, it just doesn't matter. Also I don't have to stop to get out the rain gear. I just ride on.

June 2016 I did an IBA ride: 4 corners, visit Germany's most east, south and west corners in 24 hours. Those were more than 2,200 km for me. I had to go thru 2 really heavy thunderstorms: no issue with my R3. Last year the R3 was my companion along 5,500 km in one week thru sometimes difficult weather conditions.

Meanwhile my R3 has shared about 45,000 km with me and I don't want to miss it. Also, last autumn, when I had the crash with a car hitting me, the protections all where just at the right places.

So, Aerostich does not know, how to make it look cool, but they know how to make it function, at least for me.
Cool leather jacket versus Roadcrafter R3:

[Banned_imp]

The HD FXRG gear uses waterproof liners, correct?

Correct, it has a non-removable gortex membrane inside.

The other thing I like about the FXRG gear is that it doesn't have giant HD logos all over it, just a small rubber on the left chest. I like my HD bike and the gear is great I just don't need to scream it out the world.

[cookiemech]

Yeah, the FXRG leathers do pick up a bit of weight from the water, but I never noticed it becoming unreasonably heavy. Didn't seem to take too long to dry the next day, hanging in the garage.

[the Ferret]

Compromises.. we all have to settle for compromises in our riding gear. It just depends on which compromises we are willing to put up with. I can't imagine giving up the air flow of my mesh jacket in the heat of the summer. I like the look of a 2 piece pants/jacket, and the ability to remove just the jacket at a rest stop and have several combos of each from heavy duty cordura, to light weight cordura, and solid leather to ventilated leather, from waist coats to 3/4 length, and from jean type cordura and leather pants to touring type cordura pants. I am willing to stop and put on a rain suit occasionally so as not to give up the versatility of the riding gear I have now. It's why I also wear the Hi Viz vest which will go over any jacket I have from mesh to heavy duty leather.

[jedd_imp]

compromises is right.
I'm up to 4 different sets of street riding gear now.
started w/ a 1 pc aerostich roadcrafter light, but that's too geeky for bar hopping and day rides, so,
bought kevlar jeans + 2 leather jackets, one black, one brown, but leather's too hot for TX summers, so,
bought a mesh jacket for summers, but the jean pants don't offer enough protection w/o pads,
I wanted aerostich pants, so decided to buy roadcrafter 2 pce combo. I think I've got my bases covered for now.

But, I'm lacking in hard core ADV gear...

[rboe]

I'll be in Duluth next month, plan on visiting Aerostich (again), this discussion on the R3 may cost me some $$,

[emptysea]

I prefer my rain gear to be the outer layer rather than the inner layer. Main reasons are: Easier to add/remove and keeps my regular jacket and pants dry. My regular gear does have waterproof liners, but I only wear them to keep the wind out.

[Cormanus]

Why don’t cows take a week to dry out?

They do.