Gear Failure or not?- you decide!!!

[LiLiBug]

Ok so here is what happened yesterday.

Jon (I promised him I would stop calling him "hubby" when I post - geez some people are so touchy!!:roflmao:) and I rode home form Portland Maine. It was about 65 miles from home.

We rode up the highway in the pouring rain and I have to say that I was a tiny bit concerned about it as I have never ridden in the rain. The one thing that I was not concerned about was my gear because I bought "waterproof" pants, a "waterproof" Jacket, and waterproof gloves. I thought I was fine.

Well the ride was totally fine and not at all as disconcerting as I thought it would be BUT

10 minutes before I got home, I realized I was SOAKING WET. I could ring my gloves out they were so wet and my jacket was not terrible but damp all the way thru. My pants were a complete failure. The only thing that worked as it should was my boots.

:confused2:So my adventure newbie question is : Did my gear fail or did I expect too much and should just invest in a rain suit? I did ride 65 miles on the highway in the pouring rain.

My jacket is the Tourmaster Transition Series 2 and my pants are Tourmaster Over Pant.

What say you guys???

:w2:

[ridingAK]

You should have been dry. I don't know about that particular gear, but I have ridden several hours in heavy rain in both my Olympia jacket, and in the Re'vit jacket I had before and I never got wet. The outer layer of my Re'vit held water, so I was air-cooled more than was comfortable but at least I was dry.

My BMW pants also hold water, but have a snap in waterproof layer that does work.

All that said, rain gear is nice because it keeps you so much warmer than wearing a wet outer layer that gives you evaporative cooling when you least want it.

[BlueLghtning]

LOL, wateproof gear is sort of a misnomer. Basically gear is waterproof till its not! :p: Not the most scientific answer, but the trick is finding the stuff that holds out the water the longest. If you are going to be in a steady rain for well over a couple hours or more, you might as well break out some rain gear on top of your water proof gear or make sure you have like another waterproof layer like maybe a liner thats waterproof also. That should extend the time you can ride and stay dry.

Generally I find that as you found out, boots tend to keep the water out the longest.
Jackets generally do a good job as long as you keep all the little vents closed and velcro fastened tight, etc. A liner under a jacket helps a lot also.
For most pants I've tried out, I've found a lot more that have failed then worked, but even some of the best pants, you seem to end up with a wet butt or wet crotch.
Gloves seem to be about the worst to find some that can really hold up.

For all your gear, there is always tradeoff's for comfort or else they would just make it out of that PVC type rain gear stuff, but you would roast. If your Gear has vents and stuff to keep you cool on a warm day, well that's all the many more places that water can come in. The more zippers it has, the more chance you have of water finding its way in. Make sure if you have flaps, they are layed out nice and are arranged properly. Usually in our haste to get geared up, we neglect this stuff.

Now, the other part of this equation is how old is your gear and how many times have you "washed it"? If its still relatively new and you've never washed it, that's pretty sad for the gear.

I have an Olympia AST jacket that is 1 season old (20k miles maybe) and Olympia Ranger 2 pants that are 2 seasons old (45k+ miles). My 1st Olympia Jacket took me through 2 seasons and never leaked at all. I sold it though and bought a newer one (hi viz) as my other one was getting pretty dirty. My Olympia pants actually did very well when they were new, but just today, I got caught in about a 30 minute heavy down poor and my butt got soaked. I guess they are starting to show their age. My jacket is still pretty new and it keeps me dry just fine.

There are other options as your gear ages. You can wash in something like "Nikwax" which helps restore the waterproofing. I've actually not personally tried this yet, but I'm going to because I'm like you if I'm wearing waterproof gear, I shouldn't be getting wet. My pants will be something I try out that Nikwax on. Also not washing gear at all helps keep its original water proofness although even UV and stuff takes its toll.

So basically in short some gear does much better then others. First make sure you are buttoning up the gear correctly and doing everything you can to keep water from finding its way in. If you are in a hard enough rain, you'll probably eventually get wet, but we do expect our gear to keep us dry for at least some period of time.

[gypsyangel]

Could be worse..I have a Joe Rocket jacket that is the opposite of waterproof. It actually soaks up water like a sponge and even gets heavier the longer its left getting soaked. :(

As for the gloves, the best answer a salesman told me, was the only waterproof gloves come from a pharmacy in a box i.e. latex gloves. He suggests wearing them under your gloves. I haven't tried it yet, but it makes sense.

[LiLiBug]

Thanks, for the quick responses! My gear is, sadly, all new.

I have some suspicions about my Jacket. I think that the dampness may have come from the exposed neck part of my turtle neck so I will hold out the jury on that - for now.

My pants and gloves are my biggest disappointment. I do not know when I will get to test my "waterproofing" but will try to look closer at my pants. I may have left something open but they are pretty simple.:shrug:

So far I had been thrilled with the warmth and then the cooling when I open the vents. (The saying around here is if you do not like the weather in New England, wait 5 minutes)

Anyway, it didn't "dampen" my :yahoo:if you pardon the pun!

:D:

[indianscout]

Big differance between "water proof" and "water resistant". Most items are fine for a few minutes of drive time in the rain but to be blasted at highway speeds in heavy rain will try the best of gear. I have come to the conclusion that I will get wet eventually but try to put it off as long as possable so I usually add the extra rain suit and hope for the best.

[sweptwingnut]

Hard to say really without more information. An hour + in the pouring rain will certainly reveal ANY weakness in your gear no matter how small it may be. Are you sure water was not finding it's way in from around the edges? In the past, I have found that if I don't take the time to ensure my gear is perfectly zipped, snapped, and adjusted that water WILL find it's way in during long periods of wet riding.

I wear my gloves over the top of my jacket sleeve. I used to have a heck of a problem with water running from my elbow to my wrist and into my glove because my sitting position placed my elbows higher than my wrist. A set of Verholen Bar risers fixed that problem for me. I swear by my FirstGear explorer gloves. I have had excellent luck with my pair.

If your pants were wet in the seating area and thigh then I would rule them a failure. If it was just from the top of the calf down or from around the waistband then maybe not so much so. Is it possible that water found it's way in at a cuff and the pants you were wearing underneath 'wicked' the moisture until you were soaked? Did you have your jacket zipped to your pants with the included zipper?

I have the same Olympia pants and Jacket as BlueLghtning. Olympia is pretty clear that even with their waterproof membranes that the user still apply some type of water repellent coating to the outer fabric. :shrug: By comparison, my previous BMW pant with liner NEVER failed me even after all day of wet riding.

[sweptwingnut]

.....
I have some suspicions about my Jacket. I think that the dampness may have come from the exposed neck part of my turtle neck so I will hold out the jury on that - for now.



hehehe,,,,you beat me to my post.

[LiLiBug]

Thanks guys. I have to be honest. I was so concerned about the actual rain that i can't answer whether of not I snapped, zippered and Velcro'd everything correctly.

Nut, by your description, my pants totally failed. I was drenched! Well the good news is that I was warm all the way except the last ten minutes because I started to think about it as I relaxed arriving closer to home. The first 60 miles I was all business focusing only on my ride in the rain and paying steel-like attention to the road.:zen:

Either way, great ride!

[sweptwingnut]

.......

Nut, by your description, my pants totally failed. ......


rAK and I have had zero problems with the BMW pant and rain liner. I can't speak for the Olympia pant I am wearing now. I need to find a rain storm or else sit on the bike while the kids wash it....:lol:

[LiLiBug]

rAK and I have had zero problems with the BMW pant and rain liner. I can't speak for the Olympia pant I am wearing now. I need to find a rain storm or else sit on the bike while the kids wash it....:lol:

:roflmao:

[LiLiBug]

Hey! I just noticed I became a Senior Member!!! :wootrock:

Should I be offended? I feel so young!!!!

:roflmao:

[indianscout]

or else sit on the bike while the kids wash it....:lol:


:LT: are manditory!!!




:popcorn1:

[KCDakar]

I have found that for me if I get wet it is from wicking most of the time. My liner is pulled to far down and it wicks back up my arm/leg/neck etc,,, I put on my rain gear over my AST Olympia jacket and Darien pants as an extra layer when it is going to be a long hard rain. One to stay warmer and two to stay dry(er). The longer you ride with your rain gear the damper you will get from perspiration from being sealed up tight.

My Darien pants are no longer waterproof.:grump: I got to looking at what was up with that and found that the seam in the crotch was going out. So I need to send it off to get repaired. How did I find this out? Well after riding the last time in the rain with all my gear on the first place I got wet was my seat. I pulled over and found that my rain pants had a hole in them also. :gaah:

I am glad to hear that you had a good ride even when you got soaked. Sure sign that you have the Bug!:wootrock:

[Luna Tique]

I carry Nelson Rigg 2 piece rain suit.

I would rather have lots of air flow and gear that breathes well for the majority of my riding ( My gear is as IS noted "Water Resisitant" )and for the small % I get caught in a major soaking:singingrain: I can stop and put the rain gear on over rmy gear and know I will be dry.( hopefully :D:)

:thumbup: I have heard about wearing rubber gloves inside my moto gloves (I have a pair in my kit but have never tried it.

[Inky]

Buy yourself a rainsuit. And practice putting it on. Nothing is worse than it's pouring on you and you are trying on your gear for the first time..............

[LiLiBug]

Inky: I am thinking that a Rain Suit is a must!

:singingrain:

[KCDakar]

Inky: I am thinking that a Rain Suit is a must!

:singingrain:
:thumbsup:

[Tractor]

Last spring Cory and I rode from Chilliwack BC to past Portland Oregan in hard rain. A good 6 hour ride. My waterproof Olympia gloves worked well, and we were both wearing cheap Wetskins raingear from Costco. A little bulky to pack, but we were dry. My feet were soaked, some kind of boots I picked up at the Harley shop needless to say the are gone now! I do not think they were really meant to be used.

[LiLiBug]

Last spring Cory and I rode from Chilliwack BC to past Portland Oregan in hard rain. A good 6 hour ride. My waterproof Olympia gloves worked well, and we were both wearing cheap Wetskins raingear from Costco. A little bulky to pack, but we were dry. My feet were soaked, some kind of boots I picked up at the Harley shop needless to say the are gone now! I do not think they were really meant to be used.

Good idea! Will be looking for my Wetskins then too!
:singingrain:

[waterlilly]

Best boots IMHO are the Alpinestar Web Gortex, great fitting boot and its is totally waterproof and easy to walk in, works well with jeans on if going out for dinner and have jeans on under riding gear.

[Unforgiven]

Our Frogtogs work pretty good. Nothing worse than a wet butt on a seat. I'd settle for the rest of me being soaked if my butt stayed dry.

[KCDakar]

Our Frogtogs work pretty good. Nothing worse than a wet butt on a seat. I'd settle for the rest of me being soaked if my butt stayed dry.


True so very true...:lol:

[Luna Tique]

True so very true...:lol:

Coming from who I would consider our :worthy: "Expert" in riding in heavy rain:singingrain: :D:

[KCDakar]

:redface1:

[indianscout]

Coming from who I would consider our :worthy: "Expert" in riding in heavy rain:singingrain: :D:


That would explain the flippers and snorkel she had on her bike the last time I seen her........:lol:


.

[KCDakar]

That would explain the flippers and snorkel she had on her bike the last time I seen her........:lol:


.

ATGATT for sure!:lol:

[Luna Tique]

This was a typical day while KCD was here.

NO it is not out of focus That is how hard the rain came down

http://lunatique.smugmug.com/photos/678165763_ZxyQM-L.jpg (http://lunatique.smugmug.com/Weather/2008/9937960_2DhAW#678165763_ZxyQM-A-LB)


so the few times it was just a drizzle this is what I caught her doing :rofl:

http://lunatique.smugmug.com/photos/678168850_C3StM-L.jpg (http://lunatique.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/PEOPLE/7398817_j2rUr#678168850_C3StM-A-LB)


for some reason she insisted that her bike handled better being soaking wet ;):

http://lunatique.smugmug.com/photos/678165191_D9ocV-L.jpg (http://lunatique.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/PEOPLE/7398817_j2rUr#678165191_D9ocV-A-LB)

That is why she is the :singingrain::kcd: "Rain Rider" :wootrock:
That's my story and I am sticking to it :lol:

[ridingAK]

:rofl: Thanks for my morning grin LT

[indianscout]

:rofl: Thanks for my morning grin LT


Same here LT!! :rofl:



You can be so sneeky can't you! :devilsmile:

[Astir]

:rofl:

:thumbsup:

[KansasKawboy]

:rofl: Thanks for my morning grin LT
:iagree: :rofl:

[sweptwingnut]

http://lunatique.smugmug.com/photos/678168850_C3StM-L.jpg (http://lunatique.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/PEOPLE/7398817_j2rUr#678168850_C3StM-A-LB)


for some reason she insisted that her bike handled better being soaking wet ;):



:rofl::rofl: That's a good one!! Maybe I will have to make that my new wallpaper for a while. Great shot! :lol:

[Luna Tique]

I just hope she thinks it is as funny :hiding:

[indianscout]

I just hope she thinks it is as funny :hiding:


Who cares as long as WE think it's funny!!! :devilsmile:




Does anyone else here see the similarity between dakar's expression and this.....:eek:





:rofl:

[Unforgiven]

http://lunatique.smugmug.com/photos/678168850_C3StM-L.jpg (http://lunatique.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/PEOPLE/7398817_j2rUr#678168850_C3StM-A-LB)



So is the orange thing one of those 8 man life rafts just in case the water gets too deep and your bike won't float any longer? Just reach back, pull the inflation cord and just bail off the bike.

[Luna Tique]

:rofl:

[Astir]

:rofl:

[KansasKawboy]

:rofl:

[kjfreeman]

i love the bag:) i want one:drool:

[KCDakar]

OMdoG!!! You all are a stitch for sure!:lol:
I have been under the weather and have not been on much and so needed a good laugh.
Thank you...







I think....





:lol:

[indianscout]

i love the bag:) i want one:drool:





Oh I am SO not going there......................









:devilsmile:

[KCDakar]

:rofl: