New textile time...but what?
Discussion
SVS said:
Rukka's CE mark is a marketing con 
Rukka might make great gear, and it's certainly well made, but it's not passed the CE testing for Personal Protective Equipment. Rukka found a different CE test to pass - but not a PPE test - to get away with adding "CE" to some of its textiles. There's been a couple of threads on AdvRider about it.
Well I'm happy to use it until something better comes along.Rukka might make great gear, and it's certainly well made, but it's not passed the CE testing for Personal Protective Equipment. Rukka found a different CE test to pass - but not a PPE test - to get away with adding "CE" to some of its textiles. There's been a couple of threads on AdvRider about it.
To be honest, having seen how much kit has worked in some extreme circumstances I'm not going to get hung up on the nuances of exactly which standards which kit has been tested under. Maybe the CE test is the be all and end all of safety standards, but this is the same regime that signed off VW engines as being environmentally acceptable.
If I'm honest, the s
t thrown at Rukka kit seems to mainly come from people who are offended at how much it costs. If someone wants to suggest something better, I'm happy to try it, but criticism based on cost makes no sense at all to me. 
James_B said:
Well I'm happy to use it until something better comes along.
To be honest, having seen how much kit has worked in some extreme circumstances I'm not going to get hung up on the nuances of exactly which standards which kit has been tested under. Maybe the CE test is the be all and end all of safety standards, but this is the same regime that signed off VW engines as being environmentally acceptable.
If I'm honest, the st thrown at Rukka kit seems to mainly come from people who are offended at how much it costs. If someone wants to suggest something better, I'm happy to try it, but criticism based on cost makes no sense at all to me.
Right so, back to what you said earlier, despite your claims to the contrary, not only have you seen non-CE marked motorcycle clothing, you actually paid a great deal of money (yes for most people it is) for a fashion outfit, and now have back tracked to the anecdotes and "it feels well made" arguments most of us are reduced to... To be honest, having seen how much kit has worked in some extreme circumstances I'm not going to get hung up on the nuances of exactly which standards which kit has been tested under. Maybe the CE test is the be all and end all of safety standards, but this is the same regime that signed off VW engines as being environmentally acceptable.
If I'm honest, the s
t thrown at Rukka kit seems to mainly come from people who are offended at how much it costs. If someone wants to suggest something better, I'm happy to try it, but criticism based on cost makes no sense at all to me. 
This is exactly my point however. CE-marking as PPE is not a gold standard, it depends entirely on what testing is done, but it is a standard. Without that we have little idea how our garments will hold up, and are just relying on hearsay. That isn't acceptable given we are spending a great deal of money on something we want to keep us safe.
It's nice to hear that it's due to change however. It doesn't surprise me, already online/mail order retailers like Demon Tweeks are clearly stating which items are CE marked and which aren't, presumably driven by a new consumer focus.
Prof Prolapse said:
Right so, back to what you said earlier, despite your claims to the contrary, not only have you seen non-CE marked motorcycle clothing, you actually paid a great deal of money (yes for most people it is) for a fashion outfit, and now have back tracked to the anecdotes and "it feels well made" arguments most of us are reduced to...
This is exactly my point however. CE-marking as PPE is not a gold standard, it depends entirely on what testing is done, but it is a standard. Without that we have little idea how our garments will hold up, and are just relying on hearsay. That isn't acceptable given we are spending a great deal of money on something we want to keep us safe.
It's nice to hear that it's due to change however. It doesn't surprise me, already online/mail order retailers like Demon Tweeks are clearly stating which items are CE marked and which aren't, presumably driven by a new consumer focus.
Well, not quite. You may gripe that it shouldn't be, but it clearly is at the moment.This is exactly my point however. CE-marking as PPE is not a gold standard, it depends entirely on what testing is done, but it is a standard. Without that we have little idea how our garments will hold up, and are just relying on hearsay. That isn't acceptable given we are spending a great deal of money on something we want to keep us safe.
It's nice to hear that it's due to change however. It doesn't surprise me, already online/mail order retailers like Demon Tweeks are clearly stating which items are CE marked and which aren't, presumably driven by a new consumer focus.
A quick update.
I waited until the foul weather started to kick in and have now bought the Poseidon. Typically it arrived just in time for me to be not using the bike for ten days!
Two things to be aware of:
- It doesn't come with a back protector as standard. I bought the CE level 2 approved one from Revit.
- There's no hip armour as standard which is a bit of an irritant which I hadn't spotted.
Good luck to all the others out there that were looking, hopefully you have found some good stuff to keep you warm and dry.
I waited until the foul weather started to kick in and have now bought the Poseidon. Typically it arrived just in time for me to be not using the bike for ten days!
Two things to be aware of:
- It doesn't come with a back protector as standard. I bought the CE level 2 approved one from Revit.
- There's no hip armour as standard which is a bit of an irritant which I hadn't spotted.
Good luck to all the others out there that were looking, hopefully you have found some good stuff to keep you warm and dry.
Good call - I have the defender pro GTX gear - Love the rev it stuff and have had some minor offs in it too. Holds up well and jet washes clean! Been everywhere from Wales to Africa in it - rain to baking sun....love it.
Only minor was green laning and ended up under a KTM400 - burnt a hole through the knee on the exhaust......textile melts fast! (but you can buy cordura patches and superglue holds it fine!)
Only minor was green laning and ended up under a KTM400 - burnt a hole through the knee on the exhaust......textile melts fast! (but you can buy cordura patches and superglue holds it fine!)
I've been looking at Dainese, Rukka etc and bloody hell it's expensive.
So as an alternative i have been looking at belstaff and this is cheaper. In particular the brooklands or the longer version Trialmaster. At £500 they are a decent value, fully waterproof with membrane, D30 armour plus you could also wear as a normal coat.
Do i need to buy a vintage bike and grow a beard to match the coat?
So as an alternative i have been looking at belstaff and this is cheaper. In particular the brooklands or the longer version Trialmaster. At £500 they are a decent value, fully waterproof with membrane, D30 armour plus you could also wear as a normal coat.
Do i need to buy a vintage bike and grow a beard to match the coat?
I appreciate its a bit late now, but BMW Streetguard suits are always worth a look once you're into the 1K mark for a suit:
https://www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk/en/wear/ride/Street...
https://www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk/en/wear/ride/Street...
rat840771 said:
I've been looking at Dainese, Rukka etc and bloody hell it's expensive.
So as an alternative i have been looking at belstaff and this is cheaper. In particular the brooklands or the longer version Trialmaster. At £500 they are a decent value, fully waterproof with membrane, D30 armour plus you could also wear as a normal coat.
Do i need to buy a vintage bike and grow a beard to match the coat?
You could commute in waxed cotton, but I suspect the last 50-odd years development in fabric kit hasn't been wasted and would be a better bet for all-round use. So as an alternative i have been looking at belstaff and this is cheaper. In particular the brooklands or the longer version Trialmaster. At £500 they are a decent value, fully waterproof with membrane, D30 armour plus you could also wear as a normal coat.
Do i need to buy a vintage bike and grow a beard to match the coat?
SS7
For year round commuting as I’ve said before I’d go for Goretex Pro. If it’s too expensive some manufacturers have come out with their own laminated membranes for a lot less money. They probably won’t last as long but a good alternative. I’d take one of those over a performance shell gtx jacket.
Look at the Rev’it Horizon 2 or Alpinestars Yokohama. To me the wax cotton jackets won’t be as good as Goretex nor as strong as the materials on normal textile jackets. I can’t see a belstaff standing up to the same use as a Gtx Pro Jacket.
Look at the Rev’it Horizon 2 or Alpinestars Yokohama. To me the wax cotton jackets won’t be as good as Goretex nor as strong as the materials on normal textile jackets. I can’t see a belstaff standing up to the same use as a Gtx Pro Jacket.
Having been in J&S recently looking for a Goretex suit to replace my ageing Hein Gericke kit and trying a few suits I ended up with the Richa Cyclone set.
Really well made with strong zips, sturdy lining, fits well etc. and has proven completely water proof commuting into London over the last couple of weeks. Reccomended!
In comparison, the Dainese (£750 set) gear felt flimsy with weak tabs on the lining, fiddly zips etc.
Really well made with strong zips, sturdy lining, fits well etc. and has proven completely water proof commuting into London over the last couple of weeks. Reccomended!
In comparison, the Dainese (£750 set) gear felt flimsy with weak tabs on the lining, fiddly zips etc.
Just purchased my first textile outfit - Alpinestars Andes jacket and trousers, as it was the last of the outgoing model all in for £265 (jacket from Germany via post trousers from Infinity)
Used 6 times so far and been caught in rain 5 times of which twice were proper southern storms where a boat would have sifficed.
Always warm and dry and very happy with them but am aware there are better more expensive stuff out there but for my commute I am pleased with them.
Used 6 times so far and been caught in rain 5 times of which twice were proper southern storms where a boat would have sifficed.
Always warm and dry and very happy with them but am aware there are better more expensive stuff out there but for my commute I am pleased with them.
If I was looking for new textile kit, I'd be giving these serious consideration ....
http://www.scottleathers.co.uk/prodpage.asp?produc...
http://www.scottleathers.co.uk/prodpage.asp?produc...
Given their usual customers, I expect they'll be pretty good bits of kit and they're not a silly price either.
http://www.scottleathers.co.uk/prodpage.asp?produc...
http://www.scottleathers.co.uk/prodpage.asp?produc...
Given their usual customers, I expect they'll be pretty good bits of kit and they're not a silly price either.
black-k1 said:
If I was looking for new textile kit, I'd be giving these serious consideration ....
http://www.scottleathers.co.uk/prodpage.asp?produc...
http://www.scottleathers.co.uk/prodpage.asp?produc...
Given their usual customers, I expect they'll be pretty good bits of kit and they're not a silly price either.
This will keep the polite hi viz bib lot super happy http://www.scottleathers.co.uk/prodpage.asp?produc...
http://www.scottleathers.co.uk/prodpage.asp?produc...
Given their usual customers, I expect they'll be pretty good bits of kit and they're not a silly price either.
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