Jacket recommendations please

I was out in the downpoor/flash flood warning on Sunday and found my
waterproof jacket isn't. I'm in the market for a winter textile jacket for
no more than £150. Is it possible to get a fully waterproof jacket for this
money that will keep me 100% dry? Any recommendations (that don't include a
car)?

Mark

 

I've used a Spada jacket for the last 4 years and it's never let a drop of
rain get through and I rode through THE worst weather on a cross Europe
jaunt this year. 3 days of **** all but thunderstorms.

Expensive as **** mind, at 39 quid.



--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

I bought a MQP ("Motor Quality Products") bike jacket from J&S.
Black, with padding (not armour and no pockets for armour, mind) with
nasty purple and green gay flashes and a separate black fleece that
poppered in. Warm as toast, completely windproof, breathable (well, I
didn't get too sweaty, and I'm a sweaty fucker) and completely
waterproof. Not waterproof pockets, mind: took me a couple of packets
of tobacco soup to convince me of that.

IIRC, the MQP jacket was about that.

 

Similar still available, apparently:
http://www.jsaccessories.co.uk/hermes/shop/7,1,100

 

The HG Cruise GTX I have is a bit out of that price range[1] at 250
quids. You'll need GORE_TEX (or Shell-tex) for it to be guaranteed
100% waterproof.

This month's Bike magazine has a review of the jackets owned by the
staff over the long term. I don't have it to hand so can only point
you in the direction of WH Smith.

[1] That's two recommendations in two days by me for a *winter* jacket.
Whatever next?

 

I use a Frank Thomas waterproof jacket over my normal leathers, warmer
and 100% dry. Can be a bit awkward if you want just one jacket, but
I've never found a reasonably priced waterproof jacket thats been 100%
waterproof except this one. Was less than £100 for both that and the
bottoms too.

 

I was looking into getting some Hein Gericke gear, but for a matching
pair of gortex / cordura armoured jacket and trousers they wanted
something like £380!!! Ouch! They wouldnt even do me a deal.

As a consequence I rode to work today in leathers and waterproofs over
the top

 

Have been reading my posts in another thread? We should consider having
children together.

 

If you choose to ignore BRC and me and go for textiles then the Held
stuff sold here http://www.glfacc.demon.co.uk comes recommended and in
your price range.

 

I read ukrm via Google and can't find your other post, so eh?
<wanders off to look>

 

Although others might not agree I still find the OLD style Akito
Python II to be a fab jacket.

It's done 20,000 miles in the last year and a bit and even though I
was out in the flash-flood that was Last Night it's still perfectly
waterproof, even without the thermal lining in.[1]

I also Road Surface Abrasion Tested my old one and it did quite well.

The new Akito Python II's aren't up to much, but if you can source an
old one (I don't know if there are any left - look for geniune 3M
reflective piping and I think they have a rear outside pocket at the
bottom) then I suggest you seriously consider it.

[1] It's worth noting that I've never washed the jacket which probably
helps with water-proofing.

 

I think the cordura outer layer of my jacket [0] was treated with some sort
of moisture repellant that made water run off. After a couple of winters
the repelling stopped: I noticed this due to a) nearly collapsing under the
weight of absorbed water and b) the huge puddle left in the West End Cafe
at Llandovery after one very wet ride. They must have been used to this
sort of thing as a nice young man appeared with a mop & bucket as we were
leaving. I suspect that in the week most of their customers are Auvache
types on day release form the local care homes.

Anyway, earlier this year I stuffed the jacket and my similar trousers into
the wash with some Nikwax stuff. This has gone some way to restore the
repellant nature of the clothing...

[0] no point recommending it as it was from the now defunct Motorcycle
Shitty but it was cheap & is still very good.

 

BGN says...

The current stock of Python 11s are the same as the original design,just
like your pre-accident one and the one you have now. There was just one
small batch of the design you were unhappy with and they've all gone
now.

--
Lozzo
Triumph Daytona 955i SE (Black with added black bits)
GSF600SW (broked)
'I do not object to people looking at their watches when I am speaking.
But I strongly object when they start shaking them to make certain they
are still going.' William Norman Birkett, 1st Baron Birkett, Oct 1960.

 

BGN says...

Washing is recommended to clear the pores in the waterproof liner and
help the breathability of it. Use non-bio detergent on a 40 degree wash
and spin well before gentle tumble drying.

--
Lozzo
Triumph Daytona 955i SE (Black with added black bits)
GSF600SW (broked)
'I do not object to people looking at their watches when I am speaking.
But I strongly object when they start shaking them to make certain they
are still going.' William Norman Birkett, 1st Baron Birkett, Oct 1960.

 

Thank **** for that.

 

Rinse, repeat if required.

 

I've been uber pikey this weekend and bought some Spada textile kecks too.
Waterproof (which I believe) and breathable, so they shouldn't make me
sweat, the only "downside" is the lining isn't remoable, but as they're
winter pants, I don't see that as a problem. 2 pairs for a total of 79 quid.

All of the other kecks I looked at failed to mention the "breathable" bit,
apart from a pair by "Rev-it" at 198 quid. I felt the Spada represented a
better deal.


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

They never seem to have anything like that range in at J&S whenever I go
there. Some interesting stuff at good prices though.


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

Will you marry me?


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

Beav says...

<thinks>

No, the first Mrs Birkett caught me out with that question.

--
Lozzo
Triumph Daytona 955i SE (Black with added black bits)
GSF600SW (broked)
'I do not object to people looking at their watches when I am speaking.
But I strongly object when they start shaking them to make certain they
are still going.' William Norman Birkett, 1st Baron Birkett, Oct 1960.