Look for rain gear with mesh inside the jacket, and pants.... keeps you from the clammy feeling...most of them have zippers and velcro clousures, so you can put them on over your jeans, and boots quickly. The REAL good ones have material on the inside of the legs, and that prevents burnt plastic on your pipes.

Good rain gear, and a light weight jacket, will take the place of a heavey jacket, and chaps during the warm months)
I like Tour master.... but... don't "save money" buying cheap stuff.... figure $75-100 at a minimum, for quality gear

 

if space is an issue the MOCO has a set that fits inside itself and is about 8in around and about 3 inches high. We do 2 up trips for a couple of weeks at a time, so the space saving is really nice.

 

Frogg Toggs works great light weight and breathable. I had problems with the pants seams in the crouch seperating and leaking not fun.

 

I use Harley rainsuit and have never had a problem.....may I add they also help in cool weather...

 

I think that if you're touring 10,000 miles, heading to Alaska or South America then you should have the very best rain gear available.
2 week trips don't normally require "expedition" rain gear.
My Frogg Toggs work very good, they're easy to put on over my leathers, they pack tight, keep me dry and they're not expensive.

 

Wow, thank you all for your replies. You've really helped out. I think I'm going to have to spring for the quality stuff so that I can double the pants for 'cold' weather use since I don't have leather pants/chaps either. I will be going to take a look at some gear tonight.

 

Take a look at the Nelson Rigg suits top quaility suite with a great warrentty. Also a really good price with your 10% forum Discount.

http://www.techncycle.com/products/N...ain-Suite.html

 

I dropped some pretty coins for a HD Overpass suit...maybe a bit warm for the summer but comfortable and very good quality...I have a frist gear also, forget the model and it works pretty good.

 

Lots of threads on rain gear in this forum. And like oil, cams, and women: Everyone has an opinion as to the 'best'.

If your touring plans will include extended periods of time riding in the rain, both at interstate and slower speeds, then you will want to get quality rain gear, designed for motorcyclists. I've been both wet and dry. I prefer being dry.

Here's what I'd recommend:

The Harley stuff is very good, and IMO fairly priced for the quality. I purchased a set (dealer tent at the York open house) back in 1995. They were a Varathane (sp?) material. Pricey, but they were discounted almost 40%. These are by far the best summer rain gear I could ever want. Two pieces, Bibs and jacket. They are large enough to fit over my riding leathers if necessary, and very easy to put on. They fold up into a very small bundle/bag (actually I have all my rain gear in the same HD bag). The only downside is they aren't windproof, so for late fall or cold weather, they won't keep you warm. Dry, but not warm. My gear has kept me bone dry, on several occassions, while riding 8+ hours on I-75 in the remnants of hurricanes. I will rue the day I need to replace them. But I imagine the materials, construction, and comfort has improved in the last fifteen years.

In 2003 I purchased my wife a two piece set at the local dealers. Her's are black/silver, and they stop a bit more of the wind. They also kept her perfectly dry, as tested at 70 mph on I-75, in 7 hours of rain from Knoxville, TN to Lake City, FL.

I should add, that our rain gear also includes Tote's slipover boots, and gauntlet length 'rubberized' or 'chemical' gloves. I wear a pair of cheap white/brown cotton gloves inside them to keep down the sweat. My hands stay dry and warm with this combo. I also have a pair of clear wraparound safety glasses (when it's too dark for sunglasses) that I put on, 'cause even with a windshield, da rain stings at 70 mph when it hit's ya in da eye.

I would recommend a two piece suit. Mainly because you can put it on in stages. When the first indication of rain appears, stop and put on the bibs (you want bibbed pants-trust me) and rain boots, if your boots aren't waterproof at 70 mph. I wear a light set of Rockies, that claim to be waterproof, but don't pass the 70 mph test. Make certain the bibs have easy access to your wallet, or remove it and put it in a saddlebag when you put on the gear. Or you'll be fighting for it at every fuel stop. Also, you want stirrups on the pants that go under your boots to keep the pants from blowing up your leg. Check where the heat guards are on the pants. If you've got a custom exhaust, they may or may not be in the right location.

Look for a jacket, with a collar, that fits snuggly around your neck, because the rain will waterfall off you helmet/head and get you wet from the inside out. Ya gotta trust me on that one too. Another option is a scuba drysuit hood you could wear under your helmet and over your jacket collar. Also look for one that has a good seal around your wrists, WITH or WITHOUT your gloves on. Pockets are a personal thing. Some people use them, some don't. I don't carry anything in them while riding.

When you try the various suits on, wear your normal riding clothes, and do it while standing or leaning against something. This will recreate the amount of contortions you will be doing while stand under that overpass (or along the side of the road), trying to get on your gear before you get soaked. If you're only going to purchase one set of gear (summer vs fall/winter), make certain you can get the suit OVER your leathers AND any other clothes you might be wearing due to cold temps. Loose is better than snug. Most jackets have internal cords to snug up the fit around your chest/gut. If you're a diehard rider, I would recommend two different suits for the spring/summer and fall/winter. All depending on where you do your riding. I've seen riders, in full blown snowmobile gear, riding in the dead of winter on the interstates.

Visibility. Make certain there is adequate amounts of reflective material attached to the suit. If there isn't, consider getting a Hi-Viz mesh vest and wearing that over the rain gear. Especially at night. When it gets dark, and the trucks/RV's are kicking up a bunch of spray, you want to stick out.

 

great info Hackd, thanks a lot, from where you ride you should know