Practical motorcycle guide: how to choose your rain gear ?
Small shower, simple downpour or heavy rain: rain can occur at any time during your motorcycle trips, summer or winter. If it is impossible to pass through the drops, well-fitting rain gear will protect you effectively.. How to choose them? All MNC tips and tricks in our handy guide to rain gear.
For lack of bodywork for shelter, bikers are inevitably exposed to climatic hazards, foremost among which is the rain, sworn enemy of all two-wheeled users (except for a few owners of scooters equipped with a roof, such as BMW C1 and Adiva AD3). To protect yourself effectively, there is only one solution: rain gear !
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Certainly, motorcycle equipment fitted with a waterproof textile membrane is sufficient to repel a downpour. But when the rain is very heavy, it is imperative to add a completely waterproof layer on top..
And above all, it’s more comfortable: riding with a jacket and pants soaked in water is not pleasant, even if the interior remains dry (which is not guaranteed, even with quality equipment advertised as waterproof. )…
Choosing the right rain gear requires you to precisely target your expectations: the commuter who performs "flea jumps" of 10 km per day does not have the same needs as a biker traveling very long distances. To guide you in this buying process, here is the selection of useful tips and advice from the editorial staff Site.
Choose your side: rain suit or jacket-pants set ?
As noted above, the need for rain gear is closely related to your own use. Geographical location also plays a role: bikers in the south of France – although sometimes exposed to violent storms – are less frequently subjected to the vagaries of the weather than their Breton counterparts, at random !
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Two solutions are possible in terms of types of rain gear: the full suit or a jacket and pants set. The wetsuit has the advantage of ensuring a perfect seal (at least, in theory!) Since it covers the lower and upper body in one piece. It is the ideal choice to face serenely long stages on motorbike without fear of "leaks".
But a rain suit has a considerable drawback: putting it on is more laborious and particularly unpleasant when it comes to changing at the last moment at the roadside under a downpour, at best sheltered from a bridge … Moreover, its volume often prevents it from sliding under the saddle of a motorcycle (especially roadster or sports type), where it is sometimes possible to store rather thin rain pants. Always better than nothing when he starts falling off the ropes !
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The jacket and rain pants option therefore has the advantage of being more versatile, because it is easier to put on. In addition, opting for a set gives the possibility of putting on only the top or the bottom in the event of a short shower: an interesting option depending on the degree of waterproofness of the motorcycle clothing worn underneath. Because with the wetsuit, it’s all or nothing … at the risk of taking a good sweat just to avoid a little shower in summer !
On the other hand, the rain pants can serve as a welcome windbreaker on winter trips, a practical and economical solution for bikers who, for example, want to ride in motorcycle jeans all year round. The waterproofing of the rain suit is sufficient in most cases to compensate for a – small – thickness deficit in winter.
On the other hand, the jacket / pants solution is less convincing in the long run, the humidity eventually infiltrating at the junction between the top and the bottom..
For once, it is in winter under an icy drache that this inconvenience takes on its full dimension: "bathing" in cold water from the waist to your underwear is enough to disgust you from the motorcycle for a long time – at least while it dries !
Criteria to take into account when choosing rain gear
1. Materials
Whether your choice is a rain suit or a jacket-pants set, certain technical and practical aspects should be studied closely, starting with the materials that make up the garment..
Nylon is very often used because this light material has the advantage of being completely waterproof, flexible and inexpensive. Its low thickness and elasticity also make it easy to fold clothes and fit them into a small space. Ideal for small top cases !
In return, nylon lacks robustness and is sensitive to tears. The clothes can for example suffer from a "force" passage over the rigid shells located at the elbows and shoulders. The classic case of emergency dressing, when you bitterly regret not having stopped earlier to change as soon as the clouds began to be threatening !
Other synthetic fibers such as polymers – such as polyurethane or PVC – circumvent this problem. But they are more expensive to produce, driving up the purchase price of the outfit. On the other hand, their additional thickness results in greater bulk and sometimes more complex threading because of a certain rigidity. In most cases, they will be transported via luggage storage (backpack, top-case, suitcases, etc.).
The must ? Rainwear that mixes these different types of plastic to combine their advantages! The quality of the seams – imperatively heat-sealed for waterproofing – must also be carefully considered. The first water points often appear at the junctions, especially at the crotch because the heat-welds are perpetually "stretched" by the separation of the legs around the tank..
2. Comfort and ease of donning
The rain gear is intended to be worn over your motorcycle clothing, aim wide on the waist: nothing is more annoying than to contort in the rain to put on this set of pants with a narrow hair. !
Gussets – at the end of the arms and legs – sufficiently elastic and correctly dimensioned are one of the essential keys for easy donning. Also check that the sleeve gussets allow the passage of large gloves, so that you can fold your sleeves over them. Otherwise, water runs inside the gloves with all the resulting inconvenience (humidity and cold).
Long side zipped openings at the legs also make putting on much easier, without having to remove your boots. An option to be voted down! Most suits and pants also have an elastic strap to wedge under the sole of the boots to ensure a perfect hold..
The bottom of the garment tends to rise once seated on the motorcycle, which can cause very unpleasant infiltration at the ankles during trips in the rain. Before purchasing, do not hesitate to test the strength of this strap, because it sometimes leaves something to be desired.
3 – The little practical extras
It is well known: the devil is in the details! So faith of MNC, given the inconvenience that humidity causes during a motorcycle trip, do not neglect these practical aspects and common sense advice….
In the first place, opt for a jacket or coverall collar high enough to prevent any infiltration. Also prefer clothes with a flap above the central zipper, which ensures a better seal. Zips with textile tabs will be a valuable asset, as they are easier to handle with thick gloves.
The presence of one or two external pockets is always a plus, even if we avoid slipping precious or fragile objects such as a telephone. In addition, being able to store your clothes in a cover provided with the purchase is quite practical. Some manufacturers even offer easily compactable equipment to slip into a bag that fits in your hand. !
Finally, opt for clothes equipped with reflective bands and preferably in bright colors, even fluorescent. The rain is usually accompanied by low light and therefore reduced visibility, which can even be greatly reduced when torrents of water pour from the sky and splashes are raised by other vehicles. !
Better to put all the chances on your side to be seen, knowing that a motorcycle is already not super visible because of its reduced dimensions. So yes, it’s true: a fluorescent yellow outfit is not very sexy … But who bothered with aesthetic considerations when it was pouring rain? ?
Additional accessories for rain
In addition to rain gear, several equipment and accessories designed for wet runs advantageously complete the range of the foresighted biker. Among them: the "Pinlok" lens to stick inside the screen of your helmet, if it does not come from the factory. Easy to set up, this system is one of the best anti-fog solutions.
To prevent water from entering the neck, do not hesitate to slip an additional neck strap into your bag, if possible covered with a waterproof material or a water-repellent treatment (water slides over it). Likewise, a silk balaclava is an asset to face long journeys in the rain, particularly in autumn and winter..
Concerning the hands and feet, extremities very sensitive to the cold, caution is also in order: investing in over-boots and under-gloves is not a vain investment, even if your boots and gloves are advertised. "100% waterproof"! As their name suggests, overboots slip on over boots, often with a side opening zip, to ensure perfect waterproofing. Heavy rollers use it frequently, especially on long stages in winter.
Thin waterproof under-gloves – neoprene, for example – keep your hands dry if the waterproof membrane of the gloves fails (unfortunately quite common inconvenience, despite the promises of the manufacturers) … The grip of the controls necessarily suffers from this additional thickness, but this discomfort far outweighs the discomfort and risks associated with driving with cold hands !
Note that there are also overgloves to be placed over a pair of non-waterproof gloves (leather models, in particular). Not necessarily the most practical, but formidably effective.
Maintain motorcycle rain gear
Rainwear does not require particularly extensive maintenance, but a few simple measures considerably prolong its qualities and its lifespan. Like, for example, drying them before putting them away, so as not to end up with a shapeless and moldy heap on the next trip !
At least once a year, remember to re-waterproof them after washing them by hand, with lukewarm water and soap (not in a washing machine to avoid damaging the various surface treatments such as water repellent or Waterproofing). For the same reasons, prefer natural drying and never using a dryer or an electric heater, which would melt and crack the synthetic fibers..
Motorcycle rain gear prices
The price ranges are wide enough for motorcycle rain suits depending on the brands, materials used and practicalities. Count between 40 and 80 € for a rain jacket and 20 to 60 € for pants. The price of a full rain suit is generally between 50 and 100 €. Finally, count from 10 to 30 € for a Pinlok lens, around 15 € for under-gloves and from 15 to 50 € for over-boots.
MNC advice: don’t hesitate to put the glove in your pocket on your first purchase, rather than playing it "pliers". On the one hand, because a quality rain suit is often more ergonomic, waterproof and practical than a low-end version. And on the other hand, the savings made do not mean anything if the set must be renewed every year because it is no longer waterproof or tears on all sides. !
Finally, some high-end rainwear is fitted with approved protections so that it can be worn over a classic outfit, with rigid shells at the knees and hips. An interesting option, but cumbersome and quite expensive…
Have a good trip … despite the rain !
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