Ok, here we are in the rainy part of the year again and I'm faced with teh same bloody problem as ever - finding rain gear that actually works.

Winter gloves (gauntlet style), my old Mars jacket and a vest keep the top half pretty dry, but I can't find pants that make a difference.

I've tried full suits, bib and braces style pants, overpants, etc etc etc. I've tried most major brands (Dririder's a joke, should be called Wetrider) and ski gear but no matter what, if it's even slightly raining by the time I get 200m I've got a wet arse. By the time I get anywhere (usually work) I have to change pretty much everything from the belt down.

Anyone got any tips on stuff that works for them?

I ride every day, to work, for fun, to the shops, whatever and have done for decades so I'm pretty used to it, but just thought someone might have a solution.

Oilskins for example, never tried 'em, do they work?

 

I have a pair of HD rain pants/jacket (the kind you just throw over your normal gear). I haven't tried it yet in the raid but looking at YouTube vids they seem like they work.

Tim S.G here on the forum has some RST wet weather gear and he rates them highly.

I've got harley wet weather jacket, cheap aldi wet weather pants and gp boots. The jacket and pants fold up small and live in one of my bags. They go over the top of other gear and work well for me. But I've got a fairing on my bike with a reasonable size windshield and fairing lowers. This set-up gets most of the rain off me I suspect as I barely even feel the rain when in motion

As Roady said , I swear by the RST pants and jacket I have . I use an Irwin trouser braces ( made to hold a tradie toolbag ) to hold pants up as the shiny inner lets them slip down without braces . Removable quilted liner in both , so warm on a cold day its like riding in a sleeping bag . Absolutely 100% waterproof , and they breathe when its not raining . Pants and jacket are called PRO Series . Once a year I also give them a thorough spray with silicon spray , don,t know whether they need it or not , but I do it anyway .

Oilskins or waxed cotton do work , but are dirty , and new technology with the textile gear has outclassed then , in my view anyway . Alpine Stars gear is more expensive as they use Goretex and have to pay royalties as such .

The absolute best thing for stopping the rain is a fairing, wet weather gear helps but moving air and an effective fairing can't be beat.

I've never found any wet weather gear that's effective long term (and I mean up to riding for hours in heavy rain) without one.

I used to wear my R Jays pants with zip out liner, They have never let water in anywhere ( not even the crouch). But since having the lower part of my spine Fused, I had trouble putting them on, especially when in a hurry. I bought a HD set ( Incinterator) I think that style called. Yes they worked ok for normal showers, But I liked as easy to pull pants on without removing boots. But on a Lap of Oz in 2014. When I left Perth to head back to NSW in mid August, There were 3 weather fronts, with Torential rain & gail force winds almost 70 to 80% of the way across to Melbourne. and I was soaked right through each days riding. So spent nights drying clothes in motel rooms ready for next day. I have past on this info to Harley Heaven in Dandenong as that's where I had bought the HD jacket & pants. So maybe if pouring rain I might have to spend time getting the RJays pants on.
Just my opinion .

sounds like you've got the top half sussed.
Best wet weather pants I've owned bar none are my rivet rainlock pants with thinsulate lining.
I've been in a lot of rain and they've never leaked, thinsulate keeps the warmth in as well.
As for boots get some with the gore tex lining, they don't leak.

Thanks for all that, I'll head out to the new MCAs when itopens and see if I can find one of the ones recommended. I'm just sick of getting two minutes from home and feeling the wet start to grow. I have a full set of leathers from the old sportsbike days that work really well and by boots are fine (I alternate between a pair of Rossis and some Carolinas, both do a great job of keeping my feet dry) it's just the backside that gets soaked every bloody time. Good look when I arrive at work, there's always some smart arse who says "Mate if riding in traffic scares you that much!"

I use Dririder gear you can take the layers out so it hotter and put the layers in as it gets colder. Very warm and dry..

Olympia Horizon from revzilla.com

 

I have DriRider jacket and pants, I found the jacket was not bad, only got danp in the front of the collar
the pants were good for about an hour, then as you feel the tide rise in the back of the scrote, you just know the next 4 hours will be uncoumftable, dont bother getting them out the Robe.

I travel in jeans and leather jacket and vest, 6-8 hours in the rain, cloths drier for the jeans and aircon for the vest and jacket, I'm good for the next day

Take a look on ebay for snow mobile outfits, pants from the US, they be dry and warm, wind and waterproof.

 

P.S. Tip,when our winter is on the way, their summer is starting so most places over there are setting up clearance sales for the winter stuff.

While I was in Adelaide a few years ago, I bought the Dry Rider Blizzaed II series jacket and pants.

These also have the removable linner.

Only only wish I bought one model down with airflow zips for the warmer days.
So the pants dont get worn much up here in the north.

Travelling back and forward from the coast for a few years was just shy of 200klms a day. The basic plastic pants that you get from Army deposals or any bike shop. They only last for 6 month before they leak, my leather jacket and a long Dry as a bone over the top stopped most of the water. The plastic boot covers and a screen for the helmet. The Dry as a bone rolls up into the backpack when it's not needed. For the S&E exposed Air Pod Filter, a modified 2litre coke bottle slid over it. Doesn't matter how hard it rains, the bike won't stop. The gloves I'd just leave on the engine and when I got back they'd nearly be dry. I reckon buying a bike with a screen would be the best.

I wear my kevlar liners and leather jacket , then over it I put on my snow gear I brought from Alsi , keeps my warm and dry in the winter when I need to ride in the cold and wet

I use my good 'ol full length Drizabone coat and RST pants... I'm XL, but I use XXXL so I get the length I want.

Back in the 70's & 80's I had the trusty Belstaffs - oiled canvas. Always kept rain out and kept me warm. Disadvantage was the oil stains on other clothing. Useless in the summer as you used to sweat so much.

In the 90's I could't find anything that was really waterproof, comfortable and able to be worn in summer. Good leather with layers of Dubbin was OK. Have found the HD light weight top great but the bottoms leaked after a few long rides in the wet.

Now have the Aldi Torque jacket and trousers. Great (so far) even in the heaviest rain (2 weeks in Tassie earlier this year tested them on a couple of wet days!!) plus warm - the Jacket breaths and has air vents, so an all weather jacket. Plus have the Aldi light weight trousers for summer.

Dri rider Apex2 Jacket and my old Walden Miller waxed cotton pants for winter. The old pants are outstanding for keeping dry and warm considering they are 30+ years old. The apex 2 jacket has been through a few big storms and so far so good after about 3 years.

Just to piggy back onto this topic. Everyone has had a say about their wet weather over clothes, but what do folks recommend as best wet weather winter gloves?

I've tried , leather pants and jacket , jeans and jacket ,, and textile pants and jackets ,, for rain and drizzle , i wear my rj's textile jacket , its warm and keeps you dry , better than my other dri rider or leather jackets ,,, For pants nothing works ..

If its heavy rain , or continuous rain , I've done a lot of travelling in the rain and the only thing i've found that works is my rj' s plastic pull over stuff , pain putting it on , but if the rain gets through that it gets through anything .

Boots and gloves are the problem , I wear rossi boots there not bad but they do get soaked , gloves i carry 3 pair if i get caught in heavy rain i change each pair after a couple of hrs , but i have some triumph gloves which are generally good for a couple of hours ..