Bonneville America Forums Forums Rider Safety Forums Helmets and Gear The Summer of Rain - need to update raingear

I found out the hard way this weekend that I need to upgrade my raingear. It seems that it rained, and rained hard, almost every waking hour this weekend. It seems like it has rained the entire summer.

Went out early when I thought it was just going to be a light rain, and 30 minutes out it became a deluge. Soaked through despite my gear.

What I have now is old, and I am thinking of investing in something better. I see so many advertised now, I really don't know which direction to go. I would appreciate any pointers.

Thanks

Frogg Toggs. Cheap and effective. I got to test my bib style rain pants in Canada. Worked great.

I have the Triumph on epiece rainsuit. Totally waterproof even in the hardest of rain all day long. Of course since it says Triumph on it, it is priced a little high. Worth it though.
I was going to get the Frogg Togs, they are very nice and lightweight too, but I ended up getting the Trump suit only becasue I got the voucher a few years back so it was essentially free.

I have a teknic one piece ransuit that works pretty good given what I paid for it. I got to test it out yesterday in all the rain I rode in on my way down to Charleston and back. I found a hole in the zipper that may have contributed to some of the dampness that I found after I got back and the leg bottoms of my jeans got wet. My feet got wet too so I'll probably look for better footwear as well. I got out during a break in the weather but it didn't last long before i had to take my rainsuit out. I only saw a few other bikes out but rain or not I had to get out of the house for a bit.

Thanks for the help guys. I had heard of the Frogg Toggs before, but thought they only made camouflage. I just checked their website out, and they have lots of stuff. On the Triumph raingear, none of the Triumph dealerships I go to have hardly ANY Triumph gear, and their website is not very revealing for me. I will check it our further also.

EnglishYankee, has Columbia dried out yet? I am in Rock Hill, and it has rained ALL summer it seems. I was in Columbia a few weeks ago. I used to live there, and enjoy going through there when I can. I had been down to Batesburg to Ridge Motorsports - great guys there - and had a great trip down and back on the back roads. It seemed like all of the roads were straight and longggggggg. We have a few more twisties up here.

Thanks again guys

That's one of the things I had to get used to when I moved down here. The weather is usually nice enough to ride (apart from the past 2-3 weeks) but there aren't many twisties to be found anywhere. I knew it was bad when the only thrill I can get around here (on the road) was from an off ramp that had 2 tight, banked twists in it.

I too have the Triumph one piece rainsuit. Keeps me dry, but I still get some wet spots after hours in the rain. Don't know how to wear it right I guess. A real PITA to get in and out of though. The biggest thing I need to buy is a pair of rain overboots. My boots get wet, the water wicks up my jeans and then my legs are wet. The rain also gets up under my helmet. Rain. Lot's of times I just ride through it, but then again lot's of time I get soaked too! Since I've had my windscreen off I haven't had the pleaure of riding in the rain. I bet riding in the rain with no windscreen is something to remember!

I think you don't have to get expensive to get good. DryRider makes a 1-piece that goes for less than $30. I have a Joe Rocket 2-piece that for less than $50 is great. Some will tell you a 2-piece can't work in a storm, but mine does. My daily wear riding pants (arlen ness textile) are waterproof except in a 3-hour downpour. Triumph Retro Paddock is suppose to be 'water resistant' and you know what that means... it doesn't soak up quite as much as a sponge. As with Moe, my biggest problem is I've not found a helmet that can do rain at all. HJC full, HJC Symax, and Nolan N100 all let water in behind the shield. Not floods, but enough to be annoying. If any of you have done long term rain rides with a helmet that keeps the water out, please post!

My sister lives in Charlotte and my folks are moving to Tega Cay in a month or two (finally leaving the rat race in DC) so I go up that way every once in a while. Last time I was up there I rode some backroads up through Jenkinsville (rte 215), Chester (rte 17?), Rock Hill (rte 21), Charlotte. York was a little out of the way but I could tell that the roads and scenery were getting nicer as I went north and a little west. I'll definitely have to break out my map and have a look so I can take a more scenic route the next time I'm up that way, thanks.

Anyone have any good slip over rain boots???

I use a good waterproofing spray. Just have to re-apply it about every 3 months

Works great, absolutely no water penetration.

I give my vote to the Triumph one piece, it has kept me dry in some pretty rough conditions. I paid about $100 with shipping from www.hermys.com

Last year I bought a Triumph one-piece from Palm Beach Triumph when they were selling them on eBay for $39. It is a terrific rain suit. It seems to keep me warm in cooler weather, and in warmer weather I do not feel like I get too hot and sticky with it on.

Soren