| Author | Message | ||
     Bertotti |
So my wife asked what I wanted for Christmas. I am considering some good protective jacket and pants. I saw an olympia at the big box in town and it had the chunks in the shoulders etc. I didn't see the bottoms. I also saw the HD similar coat. My question is does anyone have a favorite? I also like the looks of the Buell setup but no one around here carries it. Are any better then the others? I would like something I could use summer or fall or maybe even winter, but not heated. When it gets cold enough where I feel I need heated gear the roads are usually iced over around here. Thanks | ||
| Lorazepam |
The Olympia gear is good stuff. I have several friends who wear it, and all of them have good things to say about it. I have been wearing first gear stuff for a few years and have been happy with it. I have the HT overpants, and kilimanjaro jacket. They are waterproof, and have decent armor. Buying the stuff branded by Buell or HD in my opinion is spending too much for what you get. First gear, Olympia, Fieldsheer, Tourmaster (cortech), Teknic all make decent gear. If you want to spend a lot, Aerostich makes great stuff, but pricy. | ||
| Maximum |
I love the Olympia stuff! I have two sets... Last winter I first purchased the AST jacket with Ranger 2 pants which was great all winter even down to temps in the teens (combined with grip heaters and a Warm-n-Safe electric jacket liner). When summer rolled around I picked up an Airglide jacket and pants. Those were great in the warmer weather. I wasn't sure how much I liked the idea of having my rain gear under the main garment, but it really works great. I have ridden through some pretty wicked rain showers (thunder storms) and stayed bone dry! The AST is supposed to be water proof, but the Gortex needs to be periodically treated to maintain this. So this winter I am going to use the Airglide liners (water proof) with the AST gear for double protection.   | ||
| M2nc |
I have the Olympia AST Touring Jacket, a Leather Harley Davidson FXRG Jacket, a First Gear Kilimanjaro jacket and a Joe Rocket Phoenix Mesh Jacket. Unfortunately I tested both the Kilimanjaro and the AST jackets. Both jackets protected me from injury but the Olympia jacket suffered no damage while the Kilimanjaro is pretty much shot. The difference is the 2000 Cordura panels over the elbow and shoulders, plus the 500 Cordura over the rest of the jacket. The Kilimanjaro had a lot of small holes all over it and was no long water proof. The Olympia also has CE approved Hard Armor that is better than the dual density soft armor the Kilimanjaro has. I have a few more observations about the about the Olympia versus the First Gear jackets. The First Gear jacket was more comfortable and warmer than the Olympia. That is a good and bad thing. It was more comfortable because the material of the jacket was softer and less abrasive resistant then the Olympia. Had I been traveling fast speeds when I went down with the First Gear, I do not think it would have held up as well as the Olympia. If I am riding in 30°F weather the First Gear is the better coat for warmth. The First Gear coat even with the liner out and the vents open was only good up to 80°F though. Temperatures hotter than than the jacket was uncomfortable. The Olympia on the other hand is good for high 30°F and up to 90°F because it has better vents than the First Gear. The Harley FXRG leather and Phoenix mesh jackets are not as protective as the Olympia Jacket. I use these two jackets for other reasons. The Harley FXRG is my only leather riding jacket. It has better abrasion protection than the Olympia but only has soft thin armor. This jacket is a great jacket for going out on the town because it looks like any other leather jacket to the untrained eye. The Joe Rocket is my dead of summer jacket. In temperatures above 90°F, this is the jacket I wear. To me it is my least protective jacket. Even though it has pretty good dual density armor, its nylon mesh construction provide little abrasion protection which can have a bad side-effect of melting and becoming part of the problem instead of the solution. It is bare minimum wear for me, since I always ride with some sort of jacket. At speed it is cooler to ride with the Joe Rocket coat than without. The jacket provides a sun block but allows the maximum air flow. Its like sitting under a shade tree on a wind day. Here is a link to the Olympia AST Jacket. http://www.olympiamotosports.com/ast_mens/ast_mens .htm | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I've crashed my Aerostitch Darien Jacket and pants, and they held up very well. I can attest to the outcome of Carlos' Deals Gap laydown. He had virtually NO damage. I couldn't believe it. | ||
| Irelage |
I wear the Ultra II Air Mesh Kevlar from Motoport. I've been between 22 and 112 degrees with various combinations of undergarments which include the Warm and Safe heated jacket when the temps reach 60 and below. I can toss the whole outfit in the washer with armer in and let it hang dry to get the new look back. After a year of use I would recommend this as one of the finest systems. It is extremely comfortable on the bike and it is butt ugly. I love it Review: http://www.webbikeworld.com/r3/motoport/ Manufacturer: http://www.motoport.com/detail.asp?InStock=1&Price Call=0&Merchant_ID=633Pm22C&Product_ID=900.102.302 &Merchant_Company=Jackets%20Department&Category=Ke vlar&Merchant_Fax=760-752-9317&Merchant_Phone=1-80 0-777-6499 (Message edited by irelage on October 22, 2007) | ||
| Joe_solo |
Got a Aerostich - 2 piece roadcrafter in 1994, it has preformed well. Have more than 150,000km in it. The zippers are the weakest part of the suit. My riding partner has First Gear Kilimanjaro 2 piece, the pants are not as functional - no usable fly. The jacket has a removable liner which is nice. I have worn his jacket and it performs better than my old Stitch. I use a product like "Camp Dry" after I wash or clean the suit - for the most part I have remained dry. | ||
| Rotorhead |
You get what you pay for. I wore a HD rain suit with polar fleece under it for the last winter in GA. That combo worked great for a 40 mile one way drive to work each day. The combo offered NO protection at all. After the wife rode with me for the first ever (150 miles and loved every minute, sold her on riding 2 up) she insisted that I buy the an all weather jacket and pants. My 1st choice was the AST jacket and ranger combo. I read many reveiws but the one here http://www.webbikeworld.com/r3/olympia-ast/ sold me. The full length zipper up the front edge of the sleeve just fills the jacket with air durring hot weather. The ranger2 pants are warm during the hot months but it is hot riding a ULY with any pants during the summer!!! From 22 to 112 I have worn this Olympia combo and would recomend it to any rider from weekend rider to every day rider. I wear the high vis yellow and get tons of compliments from cage drivers saying they saw me from "miles away" with this "stimulating" color jacket. I think to myself EXACTLY!! You saw me!!! That is a good thing!!! Make sure you try one on before you buy. I figured the MED would fit and it did with the liner. Take the liner out and I was swimming in it. I'm 5'7" 160lb "ISH" and the small fits better for my torso length. When I sat on the bike the back protector pushed the collar up to my helmet in the MED but the SM didn't do it. If your going to shell out a bundle on gear make sure it fits to function not look good!!! | ||
| Cycletlh |
I have 2 Tourmaster jackets, one mesh for hot summer and the other a full length Transition series jacket. Actually like the full jacket the best. Have Tourmaster pants also. I put them on over jeans. Wife has a First Gear mesh and I think the Tourmaster mesh is better. Really like the color of the Olympia. Being seen is a good thing.  | ||
| Ejbeert |
aerostitch road crafter two piece owned since 1986 washed millions of times general riding and off road dual sport no pavement crashes millions of dirt crashes replaced the collar twice and several zippers all you do is send it back to aerostitch and they fix it for you also have a 1969 brooks brothers leather zipper broken liner torn general riding and enduros on honda mt250 elsinor with cr upper would not trade either for the world wish i still had that elsinore | ||
| Etennuly |
I have the Buell Adventure jacket and the Buell XRUP pants. They were both well tested at Road America and have no real damage. This jacket is only about $220.00. It has a removable liner and zip out strips in the front, also it has zipper vents in the arms and on the back. This is the most comfortable use all of the time jacket I've ever had. The sleeves will zip down tight on my wrists so that gloves with cuffs will easily fit over them. If I have any complaint about the jacket is that it has a lack of a collar that will allow my neck to get cold. With out the liner in cold weather I can see just how much its material can breathe. These Buell pants are great in cooler weather or when you crash. They hit the pavement hard and have literally no damage and I felt the knee pad doing its job. There are zippered vents in the front of the legs that do nothing when it is above 80F. They are very comfortable when on the bike and moving. | ||
| Cyclonedon |
I have the FXRG Nylon mid-weight jacket with the removable liner and the matching pants which I like, but if I had the money, I would purchase the Aerostitch Roadcrafter two-piece set. | ||
| Supertoon |
Had a Roadcrafter Jacket but wasn't cut right for the position on the VFR, probably would be ok on the Uly. Great jacket, very warm if needed and very cool with excellent ventilation. A little pricey in todays market and due for a redesign. I have a Rev'it setup now and really like it! Fits like a glove, first suit I have ever had that did that! Tried the Olympia stuff and really wanted to like it, but couldn't get a good fit and it has too many do-dads all over it. Padding is no good if the fit sucks and the stuff moves around during a slide! | ||
| Adrian_8 |
The zipper pulls on the Olympia Air Jacket will break off...all but one of mine are now tie wraps... | ||
| Bertotti |
Thanks for the info all. I guess the big thing I learned is I need to get to some places and try them all on. | ||
| Lorazepam |
If you live near Kansas City, Motorcycle Closeouts has a store with tons of selection. Iron Pony and Competition Accessories have huge selections in their Ohio stores. | ||
| Bertotti |
I was in KC a couple weeks ago but probably won't be back for several years. Maybe Minneapolis will have a good place or St. Cloud or Omaha. |
