How Long Does Your Kit Last?
Discussion
I bought a Rev it leather jacket for £300 back in 2016. I reckon I clocked up 20 k miles in it, only in dry weather. Last summer the zip gave up 50 miles from home! I had thought about getting a local cobbler to fix it, but today decided to declutter & dump it - not worth the risk...
I appreciate 10 years is a good innings, but seems a real waste!
So, what do PH perfectionists reckon on longevity?
My list so far:
Lid = 5 years
Gloves = 3 years
Kevlar jeans = 5 years
Boots = 5 years
I don't do track days or ride in the wet...
I appreciate 10 years is a good innings, but seems a real waste!
So, what do PH perfectionists reckon on longevity?
My list so far:
Lid = 5 years
Gloves = 3 years
Kevlar jeans = 5 years
Boots = 5 years
I don't do track days or ride in the wet...
I’ve found leather jackets just seem to last forever (although they might fade a bit). I have quite a bit of well-used Dianese stuff that is over 20 years old but still looks (almost) new once it’s been cleaned up a bit.
I change helmets roughly every 4-5 years (but bizarrely keep the old one for about another 5 years before I eventually bin it).
Boots are probably the only thing that start to fail (leak) after a while, but even then I’ve got 10+ years out of them.
I change helmets roughly every 4-5 years (but bizarrely keep the old one for about another 5 years before I eventually bin it).
Boots are probably the only thing that start to fail (leak) after a while, but even then I’ve got 10+ years out of them.
With a still decent leather jacket I would spend are quid getting it repaired or stick it on ebay for 99p plus postage so someone else can.
Other stuff. Helmets at 5 years. Gloves when they get start to wear out. Boots and waterproofs when they leak. Kevlar jeans when they look so tatty on the outside that the wife takes them off me (armed linings never wear out).
Other stuff. Helmets at 5 years. Gloves when they get start to wear out. Boots and waterproofs when they leak. Kevlar jeans when they look so tatty on the outside that the wife takes them off me (armed linings never wear out).
Like the OP I think in years, but it's better to think in miles and usage. 20k miles over a decade avoiding rain is probably equivalent of my two years riding year round in all weathers. I get pissed off at gear that only lasts a year or two.
Regular gear, all holding up well:
Spidi jacket: nearly four years
Scott Leather's textile trousers: can't remember! Six years? Needing a bit of TLC soon tbh
Daytona boots: six years, look great when I polish them (which isn't often)
BKS MTM gloves: three years, nicely broken in
Arai lids: One is nearing eight years, still fits well, used for commuting. Other is two years, used for ride outs and touring.
Alpinestars leather trousers get used sporadically, quite happy. Alpinestars leather jacket hardly gets used, already replaced under warranty after multiple failures and the replacement has a wonky zip (now bodged). PMJ jeans get some use, original pair were replaced under warranty after six months after they fell apart like cheap denim jeans, disappointing.
Regular gear, all holding up well:
Spidi jacket: nearly four years
Scott Leather's textile trousers: can't remember! Six years? Needing a bit of TLC soon tbh
Daytona boots: six years, look great when I polish them (which isn't often)
BKS MTM gloves: three years, nicely broken in
Arai lids: One is nearing eight years, still fits well, used for commuting. Other is two years, used for ride outs and touring.
Alpinestars leather trousers get used sporadically, quite happy. Alpinestars leather jacket hardly gets used, already replaced under warranty after multiple failures and the replacement has a wonky zip (now bodged). PMJ jeans get some use, original pair were replaced under warranty after six months after they fell apart like cheap denim jeans, disappointing.
BKS M2M Leathers - now 10 years old. Previous set "shrunk" after 20 years but is now being used by my sone so 30 years old.
Held GTX gloves - now 5 years old - only used in wet/cold weather.
BKS M2M summer gloves - now 6 years old.
Daytona boots - 10+ years old
All above are going well and I expect them all to last at least another 2 to 3 years.
Schuberth C4 Pro helmet. 2 years old - expect to change after another 4 years.
Held GTX gloves - now 5 years old - only used in wet/cold weather.
BKS M2M summer gloves - now 6 years old.
Daytona boots - 10+ years old
All above are going well and I expect them all to last at least another 2 to 3 years.
Schuberth C4 Pro helmet. 2 years old - expect to change after another 4 years.
Leathers for road last forever.
Helmets - usually 2 a year. Boots normally every year (though I have pairs on rotation depending upon what im riding - when they're really tatty, theyre held together with duct tape and used for minibikes). Gloves replaced as and when I crash - always keep a new pair as spares.
Helmets - usually 2 a year. Boots normally every year (though I have pairs on rotation depending upon what im riding - when they're really tatty, theyre held together with duct tape and used for minibikes). Gloves replaced as and when I crash - always keep a new pair as spares.
I’ve a best mate in the motorbike clothing / helmet import and distribution game so I get a lot of really nice gear at cost, however I don’t do a lot of miles and won’t willingly ride in the wet so stuff last years. I’ve a lot of helmets (eight of them are Rossi reps) and they’re stored in dark cupboards and some are 15 yeas old, still like new.
My current RST textiles are 8 years old - I do 10k a year in all weathers so they've held up pretty well but inner thighs onthe trousers have worn due to tank pads, jackets fine.
RST boots I'd say last me approx 2 years before they start leaking & Im on my 2nd set of heated RST gloves, 1st set lasted 2 winters & I have a pair of Alpinestars leather gloves for its not winter/cold which are 5 years old.
RST boots I'd say last me approx 2 years before they start leaking & Im on my 2nd set of heated RST gloves, 1st set lasted 2 winters & I have a pair of Alpinestars leather gloves for its not winter/cold which are 5 years old.
gloves do not last very long due to the stink
no idea how peeps keep them five or six years; only last a season
Daytona boots two/three years but they double up as site boots most of the time so get a hard life
hideout salopettes - three years now fine with a regular wash, zipper pull wore out but replaced - cheap from amazon
Knox armoured jacket two years still fine
outer wear - Scott waterproof fine since I had the cuff modified otherwise it lasted 24hrs before the cuff fell apart
helmet Shoei had three years – fine
heated shirt/trousers still ok after three years - despite regular washing
heated socks just a year
no idea how peeps keep them five or six years; only last a season
Daytona boots two/three years but they double up as site boots most of the time so get a hard life
hideout salopettes - three years now fine with a regular wash, zipper pull wore out but replaced - cheap from amazon
Knox armoured jacket two years still fine
outer wear - Scott waterproof fine since I had the cuff modified otherwise it lasted 24hrs before the cuff fell apart
helmet Shoei had three years – fine
heated shirt/trousers still ok after three years - despite regular washing
heated socks just a year
Currently rocking my dad's old w
k Thomas jacket (no longer waterproof) which he bought in c2009. It was a full textile suit but he lost the trousers (cut off) in an off in 2012, this jacket just has a missing popper on the sleeve/cuff.
My AGV helmet was new in ~2014 and still going strong. My gloves are "Racer" from Amazon and must be c4 years old now.
This kit (ex gloves) has lasted well, c45k miles of zone 6-city commuting, although I no longer ride in the rain or when it's below c2*. Been saying for years my kit needs a refresh but I generally run a bike to save £, when the bike goes/breaks/is stolen ill be on the train so loathed to buy a whole new load of kit!
k Thomas jacket (no longer waterproof) which he bought in c2009. It was a full textile suit but he lost the trousers (cut off) in an off in 2012, this jacket just has a missing popper on the sleeve/cuff.My AGV helmet was new in ~2014 and still going strong. My gloves are "Racer" from Amazon and must be c4 years old now.
This kit (ex gloves) has lasted well, c45k miles of zone 6-city commuting, although I no longer ride in the rain or when it's below c2*. Been saying for years my kit needs a refresh but I generally run a bike to save £, when the bike goes/breaks/is stolen ill be on the train so loathed to buy a whole new load of kit!
Started riding at 16 (2006) and kept the same helmet for 12 years......
Jeans maybe 4 or 5 years/ until my sizing changes
Textile suit 4/5 years/ until my sizing changes or they bring out new tech (laminate etc)
I don't wear a leather jacket anymore.
Gloves can be anywhere from a year to 3 or 4 years
Jeans maybe 4 or 5 years/ until my sizing changes
Textile suit 4/5 years/ until my sizing changes or they bring out new tech (laminate etc)
I don't wear a leather jacket anymore.
Gloves can be anywhere from a year to 3 or 4 years
I've two sets of kit, Textiles and Leather.
Textiles..
Jacket & Trousers - Dainese - 3 years.
Boots - TCX - 14 years and showing very little sign of wear, no plans to change.
Gloves - Richa - 9 years so far, no longer keep the water out though!
Leathers..
Jacket & Trousers - Dainese - 11 years so far, no track use, not been on in a while as either they've shrunk or i've inflated!
Boots - TCX again - 11 Years.
Helmet I change every 3 years or so if something catches my eye.
Currenty 2.5 year old Neotec 3
Textiles..
Jacket & Trousers - Dainese - 3 years.
Boots - TCX - 14 years and showing very little sign of wear, no plans to change.
Gloves - Richa - 9 years so far, no longer keep the water out though!
Leathers..
Jacket & Trousers - Dainese - 11 years so far, no track use, not been on in a while as either they've shrunk or i've inflated!
Boots - TCX again - 11 Years.
Helmet I change every 3 years or so if something catches my eye.
Currenty 2.5 year old Neotec 3
Textiles:
First Rukka suit - 10 years and about 100,000 miles, still functioned perfectly, sold for 50% of purchase price (in 2014)
2nd Rukka suit - bought in 2014 and still going strong.
Daytona boots the same:
First pair started leaking after 10 years/100k.
2nd pair still working fine.
Winter/all round Gloves:
I have used Racer Pluvios for years having bought any that came up for sale. The leather on the fingers/palms has generally worn through after about 5 years. Now use Keis heated gloves, I've only had them for 4 years but all good so far apart from an early warranty replacement.
Summer gloves:
A mixture of RS Taichi, Kustani and Alpinestars. The Japanese gloves have been superb, the Alpinestars the opposite, and split the stitching in a minor prang.
Leathers:
I have 2 sets of BKS leathers about 25 years old, still faultless, but haven't worn them since I moved to Scotland.
Helmets: Have bought Arai, Schuberth and Shoei, and tend to buy new ones on a whim every 5-7 years.
First Rukka suit - 10 years and about 100,000 miles, still functioned perfectly, sold for 50% of purchase price (in 2014)
2nd Rukka suit - bought in 2014 and still going strong.
Daytona boots the same:
First pair started leaking after 10 years/100k.
2nd pair still working fine.
Winter/all round Gloves:
I have used Racer Pluvios for years having bought any that came up for sale. The leather on the fingers/palms has generally worn through after about 5 years. Now use Keis heated gloves, I've only had them for 4 years but all good so far apart from an early warranty replacement.
Summer gloves:
A mixture of RS Taichi, Kus
tani and Alpinestars. The Japanese gloves have been superb, the Alpinestars the opposite, and split the stitching in a minor prang.Leathers:
I have 2 sets of BKS leathers about 25 years old, still faultless, but haven't worn them since I moved to Scotland.
Helmets: Have bought Arai, Schuberth and Shoei, and tend to buy new ones on a whim every 5-7 years.
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