Five Years With An Aerostich
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Re: 5 Years With An Aerostich
Now that is a real world product review. Not a bunch of "seems like it would hold up in a crash" or "I didn't get to test it in the rain but I did stand in the shower for 30 seconds and it seems like it would hold out the water". Great that you pointed out the flaws you've encountered over the months and the conditions that you've ridden in it. Very nice!
Now that is a real world product review. Not a bunch of "seems like it would hold up in a crash" or "I didn't get to test it in the rain but I did stand in the shower for 30 seconds and it seems like it would hold out the water". Great that you pointed out the flaws you've encountered over the months and the conditions that you've ridden in it. Very nice!
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295 Posts
Re: 5 Years With An Aerostich
Gabe:
Thanks for not using "Living with . . . ." That was my headline for the VFR review, and Sean seems to have taken possession of it.
Excellent review of the 'Stitch. I have one of those puppies too, and my only real complaint is that I didn't get one sooner. Well written, by the way. Next time go for the fashionable HiViz Yellow.
Francis
Gabe:
Thanks for not using "Living with . . . ." That was my headline for the VFR review, and Sean seems to have taken possession of it.
Excellent review of the 'Stitch. I have one of those puppies too, and my only real complaint is that I didn't get one sooner. Well written, by the way. Next time go for the fashionable HiViz Yellow.
Francis
Re: 5 Years With An Aerostich
I'd like to read a similar review of Motoport's gear and customer service, then compare and contrast. I'd want the Kevlar Ultra II jacket + Kevlar Ultra pants + waterproof liners.
If I'm going to be shelling out $700, I don't want a wet crotch or to be soaked with sweat. The flipside, as the author mentions, is the ease of robing and disrobing.
I'd like to read a similar review of Motoport's gear and customer service, then compare and contrast. I'd want the Kevlar Ultra II jacket + Kevlar Ultra pants + waterproof liners.
If I'm going to be shelling out $700, I don't want a wet crotch or to be soaked with sweat. The flipside, as the author mentions, is the ease of robing and disrobing.
Re: 5 Years With An Aerostich
I got 5 years and 30k on mine with 0 complaints. Its dirty and turning a lighter shade of red but all the zippers and seams are still tip top. I'm also one of the lucky 50% or so that doesnt suffer from "Aerostich Crotch." Guess I just fill it out more so there is no room for the water to pool.
All joking aside most wet crotch sufferers that Ive spoken to "fixed" the problem by making sure to tuck the crotch (of the suit, not their junk, I assume) on rainy days to where there is no place for the water to pool and subsequently leak through the zipper. From what Ive heard on the 2 piece roadcrafters wet crotch is a non issue. The price you pay for convenience I guess.
On hot days leaving the sleeves loose and over your gloves gives a great ram air swamp cooling effect. Lifting up your elbows like doing the chicken dance now and then opens the pit vents a little wider and will cool all the way down to your waist.
Ironically I also purchased a Kilimanjaro prior to my stich. The stich is much cooler in the summer due to the stiffer cuffs allowing much more air up the sleeves. The pit vents catch much more air than the totally inadequate chest vents on the First Gear. Well when behind a faring, the chest vents may work well on a naked bike but I wouldnt know. I did crash test the Kilimanjaro albeit off the bike. I was walking across the street after parking my bike and got scooped up by a red light runner and sent sliding across 3 lanes. I got up rather angry but for the most part unscathed, my helmet was a different story since it was in my hand at the time. Other than being sore and bruised the next few days I didnt have a scratch, nor did the jacket.
I got 5 years and 30k on mine with 0 complaints. Its dirty and turning a lighter shade of red but all the zippers and seams are still tip top. I'm also one of the lucky 50% or so that doesnt suffer from "Aerostich Crotch." Guess I just fill it out more so there is no room for the water to pool.
All joking aside most wet crotch sufferers that Ive spoken to "fixed" the problem by making sure to tuck the crotch (of the suit, not their junk, I assume) on rainy days to where there is no place for the water to pool and subsequently leak through the zipper. From what Ive heard on the 2 piece roadcrafters wet crotch is a non issue. The price you pay for convenience I guess.On hot days leaving the sleeves loose and over your gloves gives a great ram air swamp cooling effect. Lifting up your elbows like doing the chicken dance now and then opens the pit vents a little wider and will cool all the way down to your waist.
Ironically I also purchased a Kilimanjaro prior to my stich. The stich is much cooler in the summer due to the stiffer cuffs allowing much more air up the sleeves. The pit vents catch much more air than the totally inadequate chest vents on the First Gear. Well when behind a faring, the chest vents may work well on a naked bike but I wouldnt know. I did crash test the Kilimanjaro albeit off the bike. I was walking across the street after parking my bike and got scooped up by a red light runner and sent sliding across 3 lanes. I got up rather angry but for the most part unscathed, my helmet was a different story since it was in my hand at the time. Other than being sore and bruised the next few days I didnt have a scratch, nor did the jacket.
T-Pro
I purchased my T-Pro armor at Johnson Leathers in San Francisco. I don't know where else to get it. It's about $30 per piece, I don't know how much the back protector is. Check out Johnson's T-Pro Page. It exceeds the CE standard by a very wide margin.
I purchased my T-Pro armor at Johnson Leathers in San Francisco. I don't know where else to get it. It's about $30 per piece, I don't know how much the back protector is. Check out Johnson's T-Pro Page. It exceeds the CE standard by a very wide margin.
Re: 5 Years With An Aerostich
I commute in Indiana, as well as tour ,wearing an Aerostich. The Niwax wash-in water treatment is very effective in keeping my suit waterproof. It even seems to help the zippers. If your suit bunches up at the waist be sure that the inner part of the fold is at the bottom, if it faces upward it will collect a pool of water and rapidly develope a leak.
I commute in Indiana, as well as tour ,wearing an Aerostich. The Niwax wash-in water treatment is very effective in keeping my suit waterproof. It even seems to help the zippers. If your suit bunches up at the waist be sure that the inner part of the fold is at the bottom, if it faces upward it will collect a pool of water and rapidly develope a leak.
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3,415 Posts
Re: 5 Years With An Aerostich
I hate to pee in everyones Cheerio's but $800 for a suit that leaks, breaks zippers, is hot in the summer and the armor rots away doesn't seem like a good deal to me
My Joe Rocket 4.0 Ballistic coat and pants was $350. delivered to my door, in 3 years of almost daily use it hasn't leaked a drop in some seriously crappy rain, is warm with just a fleece pullover underneath, the zipper hasn't broken is armored down the neck and back shoulders and elbows and doesn't flap and billow at speed.
About the only bad thing I can say about it is the knee armor is too narrow and it probably doesn't have the "cool" factor an Aerostich has.
I'm pretty happy with it anyway.
I hate to pee in everyones Cheerio's but $800 for a suit that leaks, breaks zippers, is hot in the summer and the armor rots away doesn't seem like a good deal to me
My Joe Rocket 4.0 Ballistic coat and pants was $350. delivered to my door, in 3 years of almost daily use it hasn't leaked a drop in some seriously crappy rain, is warm with just a fleece pullover underneath, the zipper hasn't broken is armored down the neck and back shoulders and elbows and doesn't flap and billow at speed.
About the only bad thing I can say about it is the knee armor is too narrow and it probably doesn't have the "cool" factor an Aerostich has.
I'm pretty happy with it anyway.
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17,449 Posts
Re: 5 Years With An Aerostich
I've had good service from my JR Ballisitic Jacket also. I have a pair of FirstGear pants that have been excellent, keeping me nice and toasty down to freezing temperatures... they both work well on the snowmobile too at well below freezing.
I've had good service from my JR Ballisitic Jacket also. I have a pair of FirstGear pants that have been excellent, keeping me nice and toasty down to freezing temperatures... they both work well on the snowmobile too at well below freezing.
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1,538 Posts
Cool vs Not Cool
Stichs are "cool" to riders and dorky to poseurs. That about sums it up. -Sean
Stichs are "cool" to riders and dorky to poseurs. That about sums it up. -Sean
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Re: 5 Years With An Aerostich - Hot weather
I'm on my 2nd 'stich. I take issue with them not being good in hot weather. First off, they are much better than leathers if it's hot out. Second, you can turn on the air conditioning: Stuff the front pockets with ice. The Gortex under the pockets keep you dry as the ice melts. It works great. I've used it on several trips.
I'm on my 2nd 'stich. I take issue with them not being good in hot weather. First off, they are much better than leathers if it's hot out. Second, you can turn on the air conditioning: Stuff the front pockets with ice. The Gortex under the pockets keep you dry as the ice melts. It works great. I've used it on several trips.
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