The old textile clothing debate
Discussion
This time round (used to ride a VFR800) I've gone for the "low hassle" option and have started commuting in to work (15 minute country roads) on my R1150RT. I opted for the BMW Tourance clothing because I wanted something I could easily throw on over my work clothes, would be comfy and provide warmth and some protection from the rain, although I probably won't ride it much if it's wet.
I tried Hein Gericke but was frankly rather unimpressed by the way they had one or two sizes in 15 different styles, so that I could find a jacket that fitted but no trousers, or vice versa. In desperation I went to a BMW place, thinking that anything they sell must provide decent protection.
So anyway the jacket zips to the bottoms, but not all the way round, and I have discovered that I can quite easily pull the legs up off my boots (exposing skin) and also easily lift up the jacket and raise it past my middle. It's got Cordura in it - which I now learn is probably the least effective of all the textiles - but even so it's not gonna provide a lot of protection if it's pulled out of the way, is it?? The sleeves are also quite easy to pull back off the gloves - there's just some velcro holding them together (same with the trouser bottoms).
So - either their kit is fine and in practice jackets and trousers never get pulled upwards, or else this stuff is gonna be as much use as a chocolate fireguard if I come off at anything above walking pace.
I know leathers are best in most senses - but I kinda thought that by now textiles must be decent, and anything sold by BMW ought to be good too (if expensive).
Opinions?????
I tried Hein Gericke but was frankly rather unimpressed by the way they had one or two sizes in 15 different styles, so that I could find a jacket that fitted but no trousers, or vice versa. In desperation I went to a BMW place, thinking that anything they sell must provide decent protection.
So anyway the jacket zips to the bottoms, but not all the way round, and I have discovered that I can quite easily pull the legs up off my boots (exposing skin) and also easily lift up the jacket and raise it past my middle. It's got Cordura in it - which I now learn is probably the least effective of all the textiles - but even so it's not gonna provide a lot of protection if it's pulled out of the way, is it?? The sleeves are also quite easy to pull back off the gloves - there's just some velcro holding them together (same with the trouser bottoms).
So - either their kit is fine and in practice jackets and trousers never get pulled upwards, or else this stuff is gonna be as much use as a chocolate fireguard if I come off at anything above walking pace.
I know leathers are best in most senses - but I kinda thought that by now textiles must be decent, and anything sold by BMW ought to be good too (if expensive).
Opinions?????
Edited by zadumbreion on Thursday 18th October 18:34
Edited by zadumbreion on Thursday 18th October 18:34
My Rukka jacket was fine, Kept me dry ( not that warm ) but when I had a 40mph spill the right arm wore straight through to the rubber armour which was pushed back in it's 'pocket'.
My arm was ok but if I'd been going faster it would have been a different story.
No textile jacket gives the same abrasion resistance as leather.
My arm was ok but if I'd been going faster it would have been a different story.
No textile jacket gives the same abrasion resistance as leather.
Hi there,
Out of interest, which Rukka items were you wearing in the spill? Rukka use very different materials in their range. For example, their Steel jacket only uses Cordura 500 (which only offers fair abrasion resistance). Whereas their Armadillo and Armax jackets uses Armacor, which should offer comparable abrasion resistance to leather.
I know what you mean about BMW clothing being a slack fit. I guess it’s down to personal shape! I also tried on some of their textile gear, but it was loose on me too and slipped off my boots. Maybe BMW riders are supposed to be fatter than me!
(Having said that, I’ve used BMW Transition boots a few winters: they have been some of the best kit I’ve ever bought.)
I think textile kit is no different from leathers: you simply have to try on several brands to find the best fit.
When it comes to abrasion resistance, the best available textile is Armacor. Some BMW, Rukka and Hein Gericke textiles use this, usually the top of their ranges.
Failing that, when it comes to Cordura, the higher the number the better. Entry-level Rukka and BMW kit is typically Cordura 500, but some BMW is the tougher spec Cordura 700. Kushitani textile gear can be as tough as Cordura 1000.
Hope this helps a bit!
Out of interest, which Rukka items were you wearing in the spill? Rukka use very different materials in their range. For example, their Steel jacket only uses Cordura 500 (which only offers fair abrasion resistance). Whereas their Armadillo and Armax jackets uses Armacor, which should offer comparable abrasion resistance to leather.
I know what you mean about BMW clothing being a slack fit. I guess it’s down to personal shape! I also tried on some of their textile gear, but it was loose on me too and slipped off my boots. Maybe BMW riders are supposed to be fatter than me!
(Having said that, I’ve used BMW Transition boots a few winters: they have been some of the best kit I’ve ever bought.)
I think textile kit is no different from leathers: you simply have to try on several brands to find the best fit.
When it comes to abrasion resistance, the best available textile is Armacor. Some BMW, Rukka and Hein Gericke textiles use this, usually the top of their ranges.
Failing that, when it comes to Cordura, the higher the number the better. Entry-level Rukka and BMW kit is typically Cordura 500, but some BMW is the tougher spec Cordura 700. Kushitani textile gear can be as tough as Cordura 1000.
Hope this helps a bit!
It's the fact that there's nothing to stop the jacket from riding up way past my wasit that bother me the most. Not only were my leather stiffer but they were also zipped all the way round so couldn't ride up at all.
I would guess the vast majority of textile jackets suffer from this. Is it not a major risk?
I would guess the vast majority of textile jackets suffer from this. Is it not a major risk?
zadumbreion said:
It's the fact that there's nothing to stop the jacket from riding up way past my wasit that bother me the most. Not only were my leather stiffer but they were also zipped all the way round so couldn't ride up at all.
I would guess the vast majority of textile jackets suffer from this. Is it not a major risk?
My HG has a strap that goes under the crotch to stop this. It also has zips but unfortunately they don't match the zip of the HG trousers which I bought at a different time.I would guess the vast majority of textile jackets suffer from this. Is it not a major risk?
Edited by dern on Friday 19th October 09:45
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