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Cyclone262
| | Posted on Friday, December 15, 2006 - 09:46 am: | 
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Motoport definitely could use a new web page designer.Bad website!Does anyone know which of the two (stitch or motoport) will better protect you in a crash? I had not even thought of motoport until this thread.Are both made in the U.S. also? |
Jaimec
| | Posted on Friday, December 15, 2006 - 11:12 am: |
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As for the price of a Roadcrafter Suit: I spent $575 on my Roadcrafter 2 back in 1989. I still have that suit and it still fits (though it isn't as waterproof as it used to be; I guess the Gore-Tex laminate eventually wears out). Averaged over 17 years, that $575 doesn't look that expensive. How many suits do you own that still work and fit after 17 years? I bought my second suit in 2003 and I figure I'll be ready for another around 2017 or sometime thereabouts... |
Bomber
| | Posted on Friday, December 15, 2006 - 12:53 pm: |
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I LOVE my two-piece stick, in spite of the fact that the color (got a great ebay deal) makes me look like a crazed door-gunner --
no problems with crotch leakage in either dircection in my experience -- I followed Andy's instructions re: waterproofing the daylights outa the thing, and it held up fine in a three hour frog-strangler
i wear my leathers when I'm at a track day, or out boomin around the back roads -- for anything else, it's my stich alla time |
Hughlysses
| | Posted on Friday, December 15, 2006 - 03:23 pm: |
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Nice to get some first-hand opinions on the Aerostitch stuff. I'm thinking I'll upgrade to a nice touring-style jacket next year and their stuff is certainly on my list to check further into.
I did find a somewhat unfavorable review of a Darien at webbikeworld:
http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/aerostich/darien-ja cket.htm
He doesn't trash the jacket by any means, but he raises some good points about several areas that could stand improvement.
(Message edited by hughlysses on December 15, 2006) |
Bigblock
| | Posted on Friday, December 15, 2006 - 03:51 pm: |
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OK, maybe I spent around 900, It was a year ago, and let me tell you, worth every penny. I rarely wear any other gear anymore, even for short trips, it's just so convenient to use. The one piece rocks, and it goes on and comes off so easy, why ride without full protection?
And your talking to a guy who used to ride in storms with levi jacket and wool beanie for FUN. Now I ride in the rain with my stich and a full face for... fun?
( never said I was the sharpest tool in the shed, and it was nearly 15 years ago...) Ride till your workboots are full, stop, empty, repeat...
Now I can hardly stand it if my toes get damp. |
Hughlysses
| | Posted on Friday, December 15, 2006 - 08:25 pm: |
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There is an excellent review of the Motoport Kevlar gear at advrider:
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=80 138
Sounds like good stuff. |
Brucen
| | Posted on Friday, December 15, 2006 - 08:25 pm: |
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I just read the review of the Darien in the above link. Most of the authors problems seem to be with the style of the jacket. It is a little baggy, but if style is so important why not just ride in a leather vest & chaps.
I have used a Darien for several years & couldn't disagree more with his comments on it's performance. I have ridden for hours through rain in all sorts of conditions & it kept me perfectly dry. The venting kept me as cool as I could expect, even crossing the desert. I haven't tested it in a crash, but it looks like it will hold up as well as any cordura jacket.
The workmanship is first rate. If something happened to it I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Aerostich product. |
Court
| | Posted on Saturday, December 16, 2006 - 05:49 pm: |
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>>>I have used a Darien for several years & couldn't disagree more with his comments on it's performance.
I agree 100%.
I use a High-Viz Darien Jacket in New York City traffic.
It is the standard by which others are measured. |
Imonabuss
| | Posted on Sunday, December 17, 2006 - 12:55 pm: |
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Multiple crashes in Aerostich one piece suits, and they hold up incredibly well. Highest speed of any crash, well over 100mph and zero roadrash. Sent that suit back to Andy and he repaired it in about a month. I swear by them.
Comfort in all weather is amazing, and the one piece goes on and off in seconds, over any kind of clothings. The look on the faces of receptionists when I peel off the full face dark shield helmet and Aerostich, and appear in a suit and tie is priceless. From calling security to "How may I help you, sir." |
Jaimec
| | Posted on Sunday, December 17, 2006 - 08:02 pm: |
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I too have crash tested two Aerostich suits... my original Roadcrafter 1, and my first Roadcrafter 2. Both were repaired as good as new, and I suffered only embarrassment in both cases.
For those who don't remember the Roadcrafter 1, it did not have taped, sealed seams and the elbow abrasion patches did not cover the entire forearm, just an oval patch around the elbow. Also, the "armor" was simple neoprene foam, not the hi-tech "Temper foam" they use today.
After I sent that suit in for repair, I was surprised to get a phone call from Andy Goldfine himself! He wanted to make sure that I was okay, and then he asked me many questions regarding my opinion of the suit. I'll never forget that, and it made me an Aerostich fan for life.
I met Andy a few years later at the BMWMOA Rally in York, PA (1989... my first BMWMOA Rally in the shadow of Harley Davidson). Andy gathered up everyone he saw at the rally wearing Aerostich suits for a photography session. He provided the ice cold Heineken beer and food and we posed away. My photo was actually in the catalog for a couple of years (that black suit I'm wearing above is the same suit I had back then).
Great guy, great company, great product. I can't endorse them enough! |
Court
| | Posted on Monday, December 18, 2006 - 09:25 am: |
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I was actually a cover boy on the catalog wearing one of my 2-peice Roadcrafters with the Green S-2 when I took the Ducati club to the top of Mount Evans.
You'll find no finer riding gear, nor better folks to deal with, than Aerostich. |
Blake
| | Posted on Monday, December 18, 2006 - 04:18 pm: |
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When I signed the Declaration of Independence I was wearing my Aerostich. I spilled ink all over it and it didn't stain. |
Cyclone262
| | Posted on Monday, December 18, 2006 - 07:08 pm: |
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I just got the Aerostich catalog in the mail.They have a ton of neat stuff in it.It's actually a pretty amusing read! |
Bomber
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 19, 2006 - 09:22 am: |
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that catalog lives in the Men's Room at home -- helps get me through the winter, it does! |
Road_thing
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 19, 2006 - 10:55 am: |
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Is it softer than the Snap-On catalogue?
rt |
Bomber
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 19, 2006 - 10:58 am: |
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much! |
Jaimec
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 19, 2006 - 10:58 am: |
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Bathroom is a good place for that catalog... assuming you don't have a telephone and your credit cards handy while you're in there reading it... it COULD be hazardous to your financial well being! |
Josh_
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 19, 2006 - 11:26 am: |
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I've got almost 7 years and over 70,000miles on my 1pc 'Stitch. Hasn't leaked since I used seamsealer and scotchguard and I ride regardless of weather. Went down wearing it at about 60MPH and only tweaked my foot a bit (landed on it, not the suits fault)
A while back I sent it in for a refresher, got new reflectors, new collar, zippers and they fixed a few stitches that had come out.
I figure it's good for another 50k miles.
Cons:
Most of the 20 pockets are useless unless you are just storing pieces of paper.
Better vents would be nice.
Styling leaves a lot to be desired.
Mine was fine for the S3T and Harley, but in a sport tuck it's pretty tight in the shoulders and I can't wear it at all on the RS due to the leg fit. |
Jaimec
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 19, 2006 - 12:29 pm: |
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I agree with Josh. It was absolutely worthless for carrying home my new car battery and Craftmen tool kit. What were they thinking when they designed that thing? |
Bomber
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 19, 2006 - 01:04 pm: |
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actually, thtat does raise a good topic -- the catalog advises against carrying anything bigger and harder than a letter in the pockets -- though I regularly breake the rule
lsat time I got off the biggest bruise clearly illustrated what I had in my pockets (all of em!) |
Henrik
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 20, 2006 - 10:16 am: |
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A friend of mine went down on the street (years ago) with keys, leatherman and such in his pockets. He'd have been fine except for the huge black'n blues the pocketed items left all over his thighs. He was limping for weeks.
I never carry anything, other than a small wallet, in my pockets now. It all goes in the tank bag.
I think forearm sleeve vents on the Stitch would make a world of difference in comfort.
Henrik |
Jaimec
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 20, 2006 - 10:29 am: |
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Henrik,
Do what I do: Don't zip the cuffs closed, and open up the velcroed "flap" to widen the cuff as much as possible. Don't wear gauntlet style gloves and you'll have PLENTY of airflow up your arms; especially if you have the underarm vents open!
In hot weather, I'll wear a 100% cotton long sleeved shirt that I've SOAKED in water. Underneath the Aerostich it's almost like air conditioning! |
Henrik
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 20, 2006 - 11:11 am: |
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Jaime; I have done that, but don't like the thought that the sleeve could *potentially* slide up and uncover my forearm in case of a crash. I also only own gauntlet style gloves for the added wrist protection.
I know ... it's a Catch 22 
Henrik |
Jaimec
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 20, 2006 - 11:48 am: |
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That fabric is so heavy I'd be surprised if it COULD roll up in a crash (not to mention the armor running down the forearm stiffens it even further). Unlike leather, the nylon doesn't "grab" the asphalt... it slides across it so it's even less likely for that to happen.
See, I'd think having an open mesh vent over my forearms would leave me more exposed to injury. To each his own! |
Bigblock
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 20, 2006 - 01:21 pm: |
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Actually, the catalog says you can carry a full liter bottle of water in the large right torso pocket. Although I haven't, I have stuffed my tourmaster foul weather gloves in there for backup, and they are quite large and bulky. They recommend you don't carry hard stuff that might injure you in the case of a fall, but I have definitely used my pockets for a lot of stuff, spare clothes, lunch, etc. Those pockets are quite useful, atleast for me. Don't order your suit too small, make sure you have enough room for layers, if you plan to ride in cold weather. Save the hard stuff for your tank bag! |
Bigdaddy
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 20, 2006 - 04:58 pm: |
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Sliding along with only a Leatherman, and a cell phone, between you and the asphalt really sucks. Monstrous deep hip bruising is right below busted ribs.
No need to worry about the Leatherman it was fine. The Handy didn't make it,,,,the slide was terminal. |
Josh_
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 20, 2006 - 11:04 pm: |
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My point would be, why bother putting pockets on that can only hold a few scraps of paper? I've never used 4 of the pockets on the suit. Seems like a waste of material.
Hard stuff is why I've got a locking glovebox. Wallet, Treo, sidestand plate, earplug case, GasHog, Advil, and a baggie for the Escort in case of rain. |
Nutsosane
| | Posted on Thursday, December 21, 2006 - 06:46 am: |
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Jaime, I especially like your "morphed" pic on page one. I wish I could keep a bike and helmet that long! NUTS. Awaiting 'Stich catalog for mega financial irresponsibility |
Jaimec
| | Posted on Thursday, December 21, 2006 - 10:16 am: |
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I haven't had the helmet that long... only the suit. I need to retake that shot on a CLOUDY day. It isn't so obvious in that reduced size photo, but in the full size you can see the shadows of the trees don't line up properly. That's because in the time it took me to change suits, the sun moved enough in the sky to skew the shadows in the second shot so they didn't line up when I spliced them together... |
Jaimec
| | Posted on Thursday, December 21, 2006 - 10:18 am: |
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Josh, maybe you didn't buy the proper sized suit? I can fit a heckuva lot more than "just a few scraps of paper" in the pockets of my suits. My girlfriend keeps magazines and books in the big pocket on the back so she has something to read on the highway. :-p |
Henrik
| | Posted on Thursday, December 21, 2006 - 11:07 am: |
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That fabric is so heavy I'd be surprised if it COULD roll up in a crash
I know that it's not likely, but there is an amazing amount of energy needing to be "scrubbed off" once you hit the ground.
As for the vent, I'd want it zippered with an armor mesh backing. If it was located towards the thumb/palm side of the forearm it would be much less likely to take a hard hit, in which case it should be plenty protective. Of course everything is a compromise.
Henrik |
Josh_
| | Posted on Thursday, December 21, 2006 - 11:23 am: |
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My suit doesn't have a pocket on the back?
The leg pocket (right upper thigh), the pockets on top of the "hand warmers", the left chest pocket and the right arm pocket all are flush on the suit with no extra material or give.
Kind of hard to put anything other than a few coins in any of those pockets, which is a point many reviewers make:
"However, the pockets aren't really all they're cracked up to be. Fill any of them up with more than a few keys or pieces of paper and you quickly discover that they're designed to lie pretty much flat. I've got a pair of sunglasses in a 1 inch thick case in the left breast pocket, and it's almost uncomfortably full. The same holds true of any of the other pockets. Forget about leaving anything bulky in any of the pockets. "
The jacket has several usable pockets, the suit has one. |
Jaimec
| | Posted on Thursday, December 21, 2006 - 12:44 pm: |
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Do you have the Darien or the Roadcrafter? If you have the Roadcrafter, that "vent" in the back is also a giant pocket, like a small, built-in back pack... |
Metalstorm
| | Posted on Thursday, December 21, 2006 - 01:32 pm: |
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I should have a one piece Roadcrater in about four weeks. There's a three week back order on it.
I was planning on waiting until spring to order one when my income swings back to the positive side but I had second thoughts & decided to not endure one more winter with out.
It's just amazing that one garment can completely obliterate the complications (well... mainly frustration) of gearing up then stripping it all off.
It makes ATGATT easy as pie.
Mmmmmm pie... is it Christmas yet? I want pie!  |
Bigblock
| | Posted on Thursday, December 21, 2006 - 05:21 pm: |
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If you can't use the pockets, your suit is too small. |
Metalstorm
| | Posted on Thursday, January 11, 2007 - 02:00 am: |
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Woo Hoo!
My Roadcrafter is in the mail!!!
It'll be here Monday.
I will be ROCKIN THE STICH!!!  |
Metalstorm
| | Posted on Sunday, January 21, 2007 - 06:11 pm: |
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Well, I've spent a week now with the suit and all I can say is I wish I had one of these at the very start of my motorcycling life.
The pockets are a Godsend. I use them for my cold weather gear. Silk glove liners in the inside right pocket. Wind triangle in the upper left pocket. Windproof balaclava in the lower left pocket. Glove rain covers in the right thigh pocket. When I hop off the bike, my gloves fit nicely in the HUGE right chest pocket. I throw my wallet & whatever else I need in the right lower pocket.
I know they say you can get the suit on in 10 seconds but I can't seem to beat 13 seconds. That's still about two minutes faster than my best time with a separate jacket & pants.
The suit makes it easy to slide around on the seat but isn't too slippery so I'm not sliding unless I want to be sliding.
I look like a freaking astronaut with a huge caboose off the bike but it's perfect when I'm sitting on the bike & that's how it should be.
I thought it was super expensive when I bought it but now after wearing it, living in it I can say it was worth every penny. If I were a rich man I would fly to Deluth & give every one who built my suit a BIG tip. They actually included a card with my suit signed by all who built it.
Overall the suit rates an 11 out of 10.
Yes I could just make 10 a little better but this rating goes up to 11  |
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