Rain gear

[BF]

What's the good stuff.....and where's the best place to get it?

[gordonv]

Depending on what level of water protection you want.

Heavy, Frogers.

Med, First Gear.

Light (caught out in a storm), pocket wind breaker kind of gear.

I'd check out Motorcycle Gear. They have a discount section.
http://www.motorcyclegear.com/

I bought my First Gear from them for $60 or $70 a couple of years ago.

The very best gear you can have, is the one with you at the time you need them. I always have my pocket rain/wind breaker in my saddle bags, incase I encounter a shower. But when the forcast is for rain, I put on my jacket, sometimes pants or chaps, when I head out for my drive to work.

[scoot]

We bought Frogg Toggs several years ago, and are still using them. We absolutely love them. They are light, and pack easily. I keep them in the vacuum bags in the saddle bags. They dry quickly. We have rode through some heavy rain storms and stayed quite dry. They range in price from normally around $60.00 on up. If you check around you may be able to find some on clearance.

[alph]

too late in the season now, but i got a pair of frog togg bibs for $35 at Gander Mountain during a fall close out sale.  my other pair of frogg toggs ripped out in the crotch, they were a combo set (bibs and top) the regular bibs that don't come with the combo are built bigger in the crotch, not the same "large" as the combo set.

i like frog toggs, very light weight, and they do keep you nice and dry.  the other thing you'll want to get is a pair of "rain gator" boot covers.  get the kind that go over the tips of your boot, then up your leg.

[Hef]

+1 on the Frogg Toggs. Used them for years and as others said they don't take up much room.

[Jess from VA]

You can't go wrong with these.  Get sizes to fit over everything you might be wearing.  Nothing funnier than watching someone hopping around then fall into the mud while hurrying into the pants.  Rolled tight, they still take up some room, but the upside is even if there is no rain, you have a way to get warm when the temp drops 20-30 degrees far from home.

http://www.motorcyclegear.com/street/raingear/jackets_and_pants/tour_master/elite_ii_motorcycle_rain_jacket.html   (the little hood is great if you are a half helmet wearer)

http://www.motorcyclegear.com/street/raingear/jackets_and_pants/tour_master/elite_ii_motorcycle_rain_pants.html

(nomex on the inside legs is unnecessary for valk, but great on any V-twin)

Unlike Frog Togs, these should last a lifetime.

[BF]

Unlike Frog Togs, these should last a lifetime.

I thought that I've read on here in the past of several folks that weren't all that happy with their Frogg Togs.  I don't remember what the issue(s) were, but perhaps that was it. 

[Jess from VA]

I'm not sure if the material has changed, but the FrogTogs I've seen were made of something very similar to Tyvek house wrap (high-tech paper).  Many are torn stuffing big boots down the pants.  The upside is they are breathable like Gortex (and probably fold to half the size of nylon ones);  the ones I posted (and most rain gear) are not breathable and can be brutal in hot summer heat (but in that case, they are usually just going over a Tshirt and jeans, and come back off as soon as the rain has passed).

The upside is, mine stay on the bike, and when traveling they are also there for unexpected colder weather (for which I do not carry a heavier jacket).  (I have loaned mine out several times to fellow riders who began to freeze with what they had with them)   

[Fritz The Cat]

Years ago I bought my rain gear at Walmart. It's never let me down and doubles as a windbreak too. Kept me from freezing to death on the BRP one year.

[thunderbass53]

My wife and I both have Tourmaster Defender sets, and I also use a Tourmaster heavy jacket for winter riding. I've used the rain suit a few times, but mostly in light rain occasions...no downpours. So far it has been excellent-it keeps me dry, packs small and is very well constructed. It also has an attached hood to go underneath your helmet so you can keep water from sneaking inside your jacket (it folds up inside the collar when not in use).
Here's a link..

http://www.tourmaster.com/xcart/catalog/Defender-2-Piece-Rainsuit-p-88_8.html

[fudgie]

I'm with Fritz. We got a set from Sterns from wal mart. Works very well and rolls real small.

[fordmano]

Try the closeout rack at Bass Pro shops, I picked up my set of Frog-Toggs a few years back for $24.xx sixe 3xxl so they will fit over my gear. I have only wore them one time because I can read weather forecasts, ,,, and I am to damn chicken to ride in the rain if it can be avoided at any cost.

[Garland]

I used to use FrogTogs. They kept me reasonably dry and packed small. I did not like how billowy the top was, so I would end up tying a rope or belt around my waist to keep the ballooning effect down.

I use Aerostich Darien Light pants now (bought used cheap), a waterproof mesh jacket and waterproof boots. The pants zip way up the side so they are easy to put on. The pants and jacket together pretty much fill one saddlebag but most of my riding right now is back and forth to work so it works fine for me. The nicest thing is that I don't care at all whether it rains anymore, because I am already wearing my gear.

[BamaDrifter64]

Frogg Toggs has come out with a new material that is alot like regular polyester but still breathable.  Think HD rainsuit, but not the dreaded burning up feeling.  Model name is Horny Toads.  Pricey, but I bought a set and love them.  Smoking Joe bought a set too, not sure what his opinion is of them.  Take a look: http://www.froggtoggsraingear.com/HornyToadz.shtm

Dave

[wobray]

Probably NOT the place to say this.... BUT...... HD has the best IMHO..
I have them and they fit and function very well/

[Jess from VA]

Probably NOT the place to say this.... BUT...... HD has the best IMHO..
I have them and they fit and function very well/

But can you actually buy them without HARLEY DAVIDSON written all over them?  I think not.

I have a dozen nice Harley silkscreen T's from my 18 years on that brand, but I won't wear them on the Valks.......... because sure as there are little green apples, some guy will ride up and say " Dude, who you tryin to fool, that ain't no Harley Davidson, you're just a poser wanabee."   So I wear them to mow the lawn.   

I'm just sayin

(though if I had a nice set of Hog raingear I iwouldn't pitch them either)

[fudgie]

Probably NOT the place to say this.... BUT...... HD has the best IMHO..
I have them and they fit and function very well/

But can you actually buy them without HARLEY DAVIDSON written all over them?  I think not.

I have a dozen nice Harley silkscreen T's from my 18 years on that brand, but I won't wear them on the Valks.......... because sure as there are little green apples, some guy will ride up and say " Dude, who you tryin to fool, that ain't no Harley Davidson, you're just a poser wanabee."   So I wear them to mow the lawn.   

I'm just sayin

(though if I had a nice set of Hog raingear I iwouldn't pitch them either)

Heck thats all I wear on the bike! Just got in from a ride, yup, HD sleavless! 

[Jess from VA]

Probably NOT the place to say this.... BUT...... HD has the best IMHO..
I have them and they fit and function very well/

But can you actually buy them without HARLEY DAVIDSON written all over them?  I think not.

I have a dozen nice Harley silkscreen T's from my 18 years on that brand, but I won't wear them on the Valks.......... because sure as there are little green apples, some guy will ride up and say " Dude, who you tryin to fool, that ain't no Harley Davidson, you're just a poser wanabee."   So I wear them to mow the lawn.   

I'm just sayin

(though if I had a nice set of Hog raingear I iwouldn't pitch them either)

Heck thats all I wear on the bike! Just got in from a ride, yup, HD sleavless! 

Well shoot, I'd mail them to you.......... but then what would I mow the lawn in?