Modern Vespa

It appears on the rain gear I have is fine for light rain (even when riding) - its just some packable raingear I got form REI and fits over other clothes/jackets like a charm. So far I have been fine riding in it with rain.

Today on my way in it was a sudden downpour (I saw the rain clouds coming so already had my gear on luckily) and it came down hard...and it lasted a good 15 mins (about the rest of my commute in).

I knew I was wet before even taking anything off and sure enough everything including my undies were soaked.


What brand of raingear has show to be "THE BEST" and by that I mean not only keep you dry, but not made of rubber so that it sticks to you like glue.

Breathable but perfectly dry no matter what.

I did a quick search but no one seems to share what the gear is other than "put your rain gear on"

Thanks

I am looking at a Thermoscud at the moment...that with my north face coat, and I should be able to stay dry!
also a member here has a company called scooterskirts, which are similar...vespa and corrazzi also make one.....one type attaches to you, the other to your scoot....

hope that helps ya some

I hear Froggs Toggs are good.

I've been happy with my cheap 'dri ducks' jacket and pants. Frogg Togs is another popular brand (I think Frogg Togs has bought out dri ducks). They're both (relatively) inexpensive, packable & lightweight but don't expect them to be extremely durable.

Durable as in lasting 20 years or durable as in dependable at keeping you dry?

If its will keep me dry and cheap I don't care if I have to buy a new set once a year - I"ll just ask for it as birthday/christmas/etc gifts.

I've looked into some of the skirts...but they don't keep my top half dry which is a must if I'm shelling out serious cash.

Durable, as in hikers use them a couple years and replace. The zippers are flimsy, so if you're ham-handed they're not recommended. I've had mine for two years now, without problems.

User Reviews
O2rainsuit

Frogg Toggs

DriDucks

I bit the bullet and bought the Frogg Toggs Road Toad set. I don't ride in the rain much, but I wanted something that would do the job if I got caught. The cheap stuff from the discount store just wouldn't do.
They retail for $69.95 here:
http://www.froggtoggs.com/?outerwear/classic/FT1032

but Amazon.com (Powersport Superstore) has them now for $47.54:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001AWNACW/ref=oss_product

Frogg Toggs does have even more expensive rain gear (up to $160.00) and some cheaper (including the previously mentioned Dri-Ducks for $19.95), but I thought the middle-of-the-road ones would do for me.

I paid $55.50 a few months ago from the same seller, so it sounds like a pretty good deal now. I've only used them a few times, but the seem to do the job nicely, except last Friday I didn't make sure the pant legs were down over my boot tops far enough and my socks got wet. I think they should last me several years.

Also, believe what the reviewers say about sizing. I usually wear large, but the Medium Frogg Toggs are plenty roomy enough, even over my armored jacket.

YMMV

The stick-to-you-like glue thing is solved w/ a two-layer approach. Technically, they call it three layer, bcs the waterproof layer counts (even if it's stuck to the back of the outer layer). Nice suits will have a light inner layer to help it all slip on around your regular (motorcycle) clothes.

There're a bunch of high quality options. I pulled the trigger on BMW's Pro Rain Suit & their KlimaKomfort suit (the stupid naming I think is in reference to their K-line of motorcycles), and have never been soaked through them. I ride year round, and riding around in hurricane conditions puts a grin on my face. Good stuff. Top of the line construction & materials. I was lazy & didn't shop around. I'm sure there're cheaper options.

BUT...I have been soaked by my own sweat. I can tell you're going to be disappointed in the breath-ability of literally every option out there, though. Breathability & water-resistance at 60mph means that you really need to take the term "breathable" with a grain of salt. The material has to stop water ingress under significant pressure. Since I'm not doing marketing for them, I'll translate it to the layman's interpretation. Rain gear is *not* breathable, in any way that helps you cool off in hot weather, if you expect it to do its job. Yes, teensy amounts of water vapor might be able to get out...but not enough to keep a sweating man in 80°F weather from sweating his balls off, meaning you're going ot be soaked anyways, from your own sweat if you don your gear in 80°F+ weather wearing a full set of Toreador Pants under it.


Third generation suit, and those geniuses fiiiinally started to realize that black isn't the best color to make the suit when it's dark & rainy out. If you want "the best." and not "the best cheap option"...my vote goes to these:






http://www.bmw-motorrad.com/com/en/equipment/rider_equipment/detail.jsp?pid=298&cid=131

http://www.bmw-motorrad.com/com/en/equipment/rider_equipment/detail.jsp?pid=93&cid=131

My textile riding jacket is hot, but pretty rain resistant and I am satisfied with it. When I get to work it weighs about 3# more, but by the time I am ready to head home it is dry enough again. I am able to open the vents in the back and that helps with air flow, relatively speaking.

I also have a Corazzo scooter skirt, as long as I make sure my jacket is on the OUTSIDE of the skirt (arrived to work one warm, wet day to find that because my jacket was under my skirt the water had run down inside of the skirt and I basically looked like I had peed my pants. Anyway, so as long as the skirt is underneath the jacket it works beautifully, it is very easy to put on, even if I am caught on the side of the road in a sudden downpour (having been caught in these conditions enough times, trying to get my wet, muddy boots through the legs of rain pants was the deciding factor for me, with a scooter skirt you just snap the belt around your waist, hop on your scooter and go!)

I am short and that helps the scooter skirt cover my legs enough to keep them dry enough (I have arrived with the outside of the hems of my pants wet, but because I wear boots it does not bother me.)

I have also used my scotoer skirt to help keep me warm to extend the riding season, for my larger scooter I have the kind of "lap apron" that attaches to the scooter and if it is really cold I put the Corazzo underneath for an additional layer of warmth and protection.

I also like that if it is misting and hot out I can choose to just wear my mesh jacket and take a clean shirt (knit, it does not wrinkle) and when I get to work I just change my shirt into the dry one. I prefer to be wet from rain and change into something dry than wet from sweat and trying to change into something dry (ick).

I tend to try to find things that are flexible and work together to suit the needs of the particular day.

cheers,
-v

My First Gear jacket has a waterproof liner that works great for the top half. For the bottom half, I swear by my Skooter Skirt - www.skooterskirts.com This is the 3rd skooter I've used it on - 4 years so far. Protects from rain and road spray to keep office clothes clean and dry, plus catches the heat from the engine and keeps me warm in winter. Must make sure jacket is OVER skirt band, not under for waterproofing!
Guy who runs company answered phone himself 4 years ago! Gave me great service at a great price - happy to recommend his product to everyone I know.

It's also a lot faster to put on and take off than rain pants or a one piece suit over boots!

+1 Frogg Toggs are great. Rode 2+ days through Katrina's outter storms on a Harley at 70 mph, and they held up great. The new ones are even better designed for air flow while riding.

Rubber wear is what I use...basically commercial fishing rain gear...because it works! Rubber boots are key...dry feat = happy feat...wet feat ...not so much.

I rode lots last winter in the Oregon rain...rain X the wind shield and drive carefully. Grew up riding in Juneau Ak...

Dress right and your good ...don't and you will hate it.

Enjoy and stay safe.

Dave

Every piece of rain gear I have tried leaks, eventually.

Even the good stuff.

I have learned that a good quality waterproof textile jacket will ALWAYS keep you dry *if* you add rain gear over it.

What little water gets past the rain gear is stopped by the jacket underneath.

Kinda like 'belt & braces'.

A Scooterskirt added over waterproof textile pants will keep the rest of you dry.

Aprillia Titanium touring gloves are the best gloves I have for the rain, no leaks in 4+ years of use. Pity they seem to not be available any more.

My $0.02

R

8)

In the summer I keep an LL Bean waterproof jacket shell and Columbia waterproof pants shell in my pet-carrier.

The LL Bean jacket under, or over, my mesh armored jacket has kept me dry the last 3 summers (and cost me $20 - it is a pretty gnarly shade of green - off the discount rack )

The Columbia pants are great. Thin and breathable but completely water proof. I did a 7 hour ride in continuous rain, at times torrential, and was as dry when I got home as I was when I left. I use them year round.

I hear great things about Frog Togs but the pants and jacket set me back about $40 total and I can, and do, use them off the scoot as well.

Beyond the summer I have a Belstaff Discovery jacket which is water proof and with it's removable wind-proof fleece liner it's basically a 3 season jacket that keps me warm and dry no matter what.

My point to all this rambling... get a good 3 season water/wind proof riding jacket with a removable thermal/fleece liner and you'll only have to worry about the summer and an inexpensive waterproof shell or Frog Togs will set you right.

Dont know if available on your side of the world but I brought a pair of Rev'it over pants which pack into themselves (pouch) - have never leaked even in the heavest down pours (all seams are rubber sealed etc) - only about USD45. These combined with a Rev'it textile jacket and gloves and I've never got wet - people at work can't believe it when I peel it off to reveal a dry work shirt and suit pants underneath.

Good rain gear is almost like riding in a cage.....no wait ....that would be boring!

From what I'm reading I think I'll go with the frogs.

My uncle also mentioned a suit made of gortex - expensive but will last and keep you dry.

Thanks for the help guys I now know where to really begin the search.

I do like the idea of wearing a rain jacket over the other gear. I'll have to try that with my extremly micro weight stuff whcih would defintly breaath and help give a little extra barrier.

I wanted to put in a plug for overgloves, to keep your gloves & hands dry
See: http://www.newenough.com/street/raingear/over_gloves/fieldsheer/overglove_2_motorcycle_rain_gloves.html
for example

I enjoy riding through the winter in cold rain, with my lap apron:

Once this is strapped on to my scooter,
I only need a rain jacket and the overgloves
because the lap apron covers the rest of me

(Well, most of the rest of me...
Please notice the critical placement of the blue bag)

Has anyone found a US outlet for either the Termoscud or the Vespa-branded Magno? It seems a popular question without answer.

http://www.wheelup.it for the Termoscud and http://www.scootercrazy.com for the Magno, but none stateside.