Best place to buy motorbike waterproofs

mildred1978

missile wrote: »

There are many equivalents, but I prefer Goretex which is a quality product made in the UK.

Goretex is a brand name for the fabric, they do not make zips. Experienced bikers will avoid garments with zips for wet weather riding. Even fully taped seams & waterproof zips will leak under arduos conditions.

Hien Gericke do not make garments. They sold a wide range of products. Some good and some not so good quality. Price point is not a reliable guide to quality.

OH has been riding for about 12 years, but lately only for pleasure, once a month or so.

The items were branded HG, and their head of customer services certainly considered them a HG product when he told me that they had a manufacturing fault. (Pocket had labels stating "waterproof" sewn into them when the tags etc said that the pockets weren't waterproof).

missile

If you would like to give us the product name, we may be able to comment.

mildred1978

missile wrote: »

If you would like to give us the product name, we may be able to comment.

They are called Summit GTX.

fivetide

I've always found Hein Gerike to be good. Remember Gore-Tex isn't their own, the cheaper stuff often has Sheltex in which is their own material, it's a bit less breathable.

Persoanlly, I've had a Hein Gerike jacket and trousers that have never leaked. I've got a pair of Joe Rocket Gore-Tex trousers that should have cost a lot more and they do leak so cost doesn't always = quality.

If it leaks they send it back to Gore-Tex who usually tell you it's fine...

Mute point anyways Hein Gerike UK are in admin although Hein gerike the German parent isn't and again, a waterproof guarantee should be with Gore-Tex not Hein Gerike themselves.

Apart from that I've found www.getgeared.co.uk cheap and reliable.

If you want super super high quality kit, spend a grand on a Rukka outfit!

5t.

mildred1978

Yes, the stuff went back to goretex, and yes, they said it was fine. But they aren't responsible for the zips or design which is where the problem lies.

HG sell it as waterproof. It isn't waterproof. They admit that the pockets were mistakenly labelled as waterproof when they aren't. So what else did they get wrong? They also don't say it's waterproof if you do this or that. There aren't really many ways you can wear trousers and a jacket, are there?

Going through a section 75 claim on the credit card now.

fivetide

As I say, My experience with Gore-tex is they invariably say it is nothing to do with them. If it isn't due to 'zip design' then it is because you haven't washed it. If you have washed it then that's the fault too.

I had a similar row with them over a jacket (not from HG) and that was basically what came back.

Also had a similar fight over some gloves. They claim if they can put them in water for 5 mins and they don't leak then they are waterproof, even if they then let water in after six minutes! My argument was that = water resistant not waterproof but no dice.

As I say, Rukka are probably the most expensive you can get and you should be guaranteed toasty there although they still use gore-tex.

5t.

maccp

I also have bought some great used stuff on ebay. I recently took a chance & bought a used Shoei XR1000 helmet for £35 not a mark on it. They are around £200 in the shops now as they have been replaced but still a significant saving but obviously you need to be careful with used helmets. I have also bought off ebay BMW waterproof gloves & Sidi boots too all quality gear really cheaply.

oldtoolie

Here's a product test -- a few years old but might help: http://www.ride.co.uk/upload/Ride%20Magazine/Product%20test%20pdfs/16%20may09%20OVERSUITS.pdf

mkirkby

oldtoolie wrote: »

Here's a product test -- a few years old but might help: http://www.ride.co.uk/upload/Ride%20Magazine/Product%20test%20pdfs/16%20may09%20OVERSUITS.pdf

That's the way to go. A jacket and trousers are good for minor rain, but an optional over suit cannot be beaten.

My Frank Thomas one is really thick plastic and can stand up to a hurricane of rain (as I can happily testify after the last few months...)

I only wear it when the heavens open.

Happychappy

I ride professionally and have had many suits over time, the worse by far were Hein Gerrike and they all leaked after around a year, plus the pockets were next to useless and leaked.

For the past four years I have had a Rukka suit, which I cannot recommend more highly, they are very expensive but also have a 5 year guarantee.

Some colleague's had an issue with the ink dye fading after a couple or three years, but these were replaced without quibble? so it really depends on how much riding he does, what protection he is prepared to pay for, and then the waterproof quality, with Rukka you get high protection and good waterproof quality even at high speeds for prolonged periods, but at the end of the day you really do get what you pay for?