SomeStrangeGuy

www.aerostitch.com

I've got a plethora of 2 piece gear, but there is this part inside of me that craves a roadcrafter. I feel like it's somehow easier and faster/better for commuting or LD riding in any weather or temp ,and would be safer than most 2 piece configs for some reason.

Thoughts and opinions?


p.s. I don't really have a budget for it this year, so if there is a 99% comparable equivalent that works as well...color me interested.

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luvtolean

Thoughts?

Sure, best piece of road gear I own...unbelievably well thought out.

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G-ForceJunkie

Nothing works as well, I couldnt be happier with mine. Watch ebay and moto sites, used ones usualy go for $400-500.

HondaGalToo

I love mine (it's a 2 piece). Makes commuting to work much better....zip, zip, I'm out of it. Otherwise I'd have to carry clothes and change. Great for long trips/weekends. It's mostly waterproof, so no stopping on the side of the road to do the "dance" to get into a rainsuit. I've had mine for nearly 9 years. That reminds me, I should freshen up the waterproofing this year.

Watch the aerostich site, too, sign up for their emails. Sometimes they have good discounts on discontinued colors, or a custom someone decided they didn't want...

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Baketech

Like most, I dig my Roadcrafter...but if I were doing LD riding, I'd have me a Darien...

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BizJetGuy

Don't dismiss the Olympia Phantom - it's quite the bargain compared to the roadcrafter. I've got a review of mine somewhere around here...

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seamus

+1. I don't have the Phantom but have been thoroughly impressed with the pants I bought to go with my Cortech jacket.

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SomeStrangeGuy

That is really something to say especially someone as picky as you (sorry d it sounds better than saying picky as me ).

Damn, and both you guys live in hotter places too, I must admit I didn't expect the feedback to be that positive as it looks like a warmish piece of gear.

I noticed in the last couple years they started listing their 'do not wants' on their sale page but never thought of signing up. Thanks HGT

The dance is what I am really after...I sorta want something I can just wear and not think about. I currently have some Fieldsheer mesh gear that works well in 100 degree temps but has liners that make it comfy even at 30 degrees (no joke). Im really impressed with the FS stuff, but having to pull over and do the dance is really annoying still, and the convenience of a suit = awesomeness.

9 years eh? wow. I bought some of the waterproofing stuff (Techwash & nikwax) for my Joe Rocket stuff and it works very well. It even 'helps' non gore tex stuff I realized. I got mine at EMS for about 20$ btw for both.

Darien eh...I will have to look at their page again. I may be barking up the wrong tree. What makes you feel that way (or is it obvious reasons).

A couple friends have the Olympia stuff, it's actually what I was looking to buy when I ended up with my Fieldsheer items. The place didn't have a suit when I was there though so I didn't get to try one on. But when I said comparable alternative...this is exactly what I had in mine

To you Olympia fans...have either of ya ridden in much rain with em?

I have some trips coming up later this year (read as: paid to ride ) that are a few hundred miles away. The catch is once I am at my destination I'm going to be doing some local running around and don't really want the hassle of dealing with liner or no liner for WP-ness, or separation anxiety of pants and jacket....would be nice to step in and step out while in work clothes.

One of these days I'll do you guys and gals the same courtesy and write a review about the most awesome street boots I have ever ridden with, the Sidi Discovery boots. Finding boots that really were waterproof and breathable but with good protection is what prompted me to finally start searching for a suit out there that does do this

Thanks all very much for your input, I greatly appreciate it as well as any others with positive experiences (or negative ones).

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SomeStrangeGuy

Hmm, wordy bastid meets multi-quote anti-postwhoredom...odd

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Baketech

Caveat: I don't own a Darien, but have LD friends that do...most had Roadcrafters prior...

From listening to them, the Darien sounds to be more flexible for touring, mostly because it is more resistant to water intrusion during long rain rides, and seems to handle a wider range of temperature...

As you already know, the 2pc can be more flexible on the road as well...

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SomeStrangeGuy

I will put your two cents in my piggybank and more closely review the Darien, thanks you sir

I hadn't given it much of a look as the RC just has the rep. as the lifetime suit of choice so I figured the Darien stuff was its uglier sister or something.

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HondaGalToo

Another thing I just recently did to my Roadcrafter, FWIW, is upgraded the back protector. I was happy with the knee, shoulder, and elbow armour, but the optional backpad is pretty sparse. They make a "competition" one, but my impression is that it is the same stuff, just bigger. No CE rating.

I emailed the folks at Johnson Leather, they are the official distributor for T-Force armour. I sent them the backpad, and they matched it up with one of their back protectors, and sewed in velcro in the right places. I now have a really good back protector that's velcroed right into the suit, as I don't like fussing with a separate one for street riding. They did the mods for no additional charge. Great customer service!! The T-Force is good stuff. As an aside, I had them put velcro in the right place for shoulder armour for my Vanson as well. (The stock Vanson shoulder armour comes in one size....linebacker).

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luvtolean

The Roadcrafter manual has some comments on choosing 1 or 2 piece:

http://tank.aerostich.com/pdf/RCManual.pdf

I commute somewhat frequently by bike, and just love how easy it is to get in and out of. Gym clothes to a suit, it just zips right over.

Stop for lunch on a ride, 15 seconds, whole thing is off.

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ND4SPD

For the lazy/ignorant - how does sizing work? You tell them what size suit you normally would wear and they compensate and give you one that would fit over it or do you have to oversize for yourself?

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HondaGalToo

Not sure exactly, but when I was ordering mine, I called because they aren't exactly cut for women. The guy spent about 1/2 hr on the phone with me, discussing measurements and sizes. The pants and jacket come in a few different lengths. With the 2 piece, I could mix and match to get a good size.

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“I want to stand as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all the kinds of things you can't see from the center.”
~Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

G-ForceJunkie

I don't wear my RC for hot weather work...your right, it is pretty hot. around 85 deg is my cutoff. Above that its a mesh jacket, sometimes a cooling vest for over 95 deg.

slickwill

Competition Accessories

48 hour sale on Fieldsheer stuff.

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SomeStrangeGuy

Damn forgot all about those guys...thanks Will!

Their special sale appears to be an additional 10% off their already 10-13% off the stuff, not bad. They have a Cyclone suit that is 318$ to my door.

Now the question is...if it shows up at my door, will I be happy?


Fieldsheer gets the SSG nod of approval. I haven't crashed with it (thanks) but it seems pretty sturdy.


Ok I'm done whoring my own thread.

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G-ForceJunkie

The suits are sized bigger than normal so order your normal size. If you wear 46 leathers, you can wear a 46 roadcrafter over jeans and a heated vest. The sizing chart on the Aerostitch website is pretty good.

MrsStrangeGuy

I think the bigger question is...if it shows up at your door, will your wife be happy?

luvtolean

I thought it was, "can I hide the credit card bill somehow?"

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CBR929RE

easy solution there, he can have it sent to my house and come and get it. or he can ride down and we can check out the gigantic selection of Fieldsheer stuff at Brockton Cycle.

the credit card bill on the other hand I can't help.

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SomeStrangeGuy

Of course..it's in a huge box I am sure so I'd be fine. I thought you only get nervous when the little boxes from newegg or costco.com show up?

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SomeStrangeGuy

thats what I call bromance, thanks B.

Actually RJ's in Nashua has a ton of FS stuff and their pricing is pretty darn close to CA's I notice. When should I mention the nice lady above bought me my current set of FS stuff, or is she going to beat me to it, or just beat me?

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CBR929RE

I haven't been to RJ's in a couple years since he dyno tuned my bike. I go by every night I'm working but they're already closed. Do you know if they still carry Shark helmets? been meaning to try one out and maybe buy one for a second helmet. I think they fit me pretty well last time I tried one on.

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MrsStrangeGuy

It's the WOOT boxes that really bug me. Not only do I find them on the front steps, outside the garage doors, and in the garage for me to fall over...but they get stuffed in the mailbox too! WTF!!

I'll just beat ya.

SomeStrangeGuy

Those are the same ones, I just keep taping them back up and placing them randomly about. It's a social experiment to see how honest our "neighbors" are, I swear.

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CBR929RE

Fieldsheer Cyclone One-Piece Suit - Motorcycle Superstore

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BizJetGuy

Nice find - that would make one hell of a commuter get-up. And at that price, you wouldn't mind beating on it a little.

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SomeStrangeGuy

I took it my wife pointing out this link to me was her way of telling me I should buy it, for the record.

She doesen't know I just got a little extra bonus at work, so taking a small % of it towards safe and comfortable riding gear doesen't make me feel bad. I just have to keep that a secret from her or she'll be asking me where our deck is, SSSHH people...sssh...

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