Adventure Bike Rider Forum

I have a Klim mesh type off road top, which is great with armour under when it's tropical.
The thing is, most of us tend to head into mountains on tours and unless it's right in the middle of Summer it can still be a bit cool.
I've over packed with riding kit options in the past, nowadays if I set off from the UK in let's say early May and head to warmer climates I except that I will be a bit overdressed compared to the local bikers.
These days I am almost obsessed with keeping kit as simple and light as possible.
I've been caught out in the past by assuming it's going to be lovely, warm and dry, then being miserable cold and wet.
Klim Badlands are in my opinion a very good all weather touring option.
That's what I'll be wearing next month in the Carpatians, Romania/Ukraine/Poland. I know I will encounter a big range of temperatures together with a very high risk of heavy rain. There is nothing worse than being pissed wet through and cold on a motorcycle.
Local bikers can wear kit to match the conditions on a day to day basis, when you are on a multi day trip your kit options are limited, in my opinion it's always better to be a bit over-dressed and be a bit hot and sweaty because you'll be glad of warm dry kit should the weather go tits up.
Klim Badlands have an excellent venting system, good armour and are pretty water resistant, but they are heavy!
Edit...I don't like pulling over and putting on and removing waterproof layers or taking off or putting on thermal layers.
Plus it's all extra kit that has to be stowed on the bike.

Diesel Pete wrote:Armoured shirt and enduro jacket? Sounds like just what I need for hotter climates this summer.

I ended up riding in T shirt crossing France and Belgium last year on the way home.... not ideal but passing out with heatstroke seemed the most pressing risk at the time..... I also found its illegal to ride with bare arms in Belgium :S

Any links to what to look for would be appreciated (thumbs)

Revit Airwave or similar. Huge mesh areas and OK armour. Back protector is thin, but can be upgraded. Just carry a lightweight waterproof over Jacket that will also cut the wind early in the mornings. I was trail riding in Spain in 30c+ last year and was comfortable... Just had a lightweight fleece for warmth. I might try the heated vest in May and keep weight down.

Some ADV full mesh jackets about but they are rare in the UK, I have been looking for 18months...

Thanks for the tips all (thumbs)

I will be doing a few countries with warmer climates soon (Italy etc) as part of a run out so it may be worth checking local shops in these places if I can't find anything decent locally.

I will check out all the makes mentioned though

Rukka, the motorcycle riding bods' clothing of choice, have some very nice warm weather clothing. Import from Germany to reduce cost.

totally agree with steve W - its very difficult to cover all bases on a euro-trip!

last year - i had 42DegC in belgium on day 1
Day2 - 21DegC and torrential rain (i mean, constant, rods of rain for hours!) in the black forest
day 3 - 27DegC and sunny on the shores of lake lucerne but 4DegC at the top of the furkha pass!

how to you cover all that?

I've quite a cheap Alpinestars tech-touring jacket - it coped ok actually - worst was the 42DegC boiling heat through Spa - it was ridiculous. but the other conditions it covered very well.

My Missus got Spada mesh jacket for our recent trip to Aus, it has a zip in thermal liner and a water proof over jacket that folds up and fits in the pocket at the back, the back protector is very basic but easy and cheap to up grade, swap one over from another jacket if not in use, best bit was it was about £100 from the Sports bike Shop in Boston Lincolnshire.

Riding in a T shirt???

You obviously haven't done a flying W on a gravel road at 100kph....Yet!

stephenasprey wrote:Riding in a T shirt???

You obviously haven't done a flying W on a gravel road at 100kph....Yet!

If you're able to predict the future so accurately can you let me know the lottery numbers for tonight please (thumbs)