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New Waterproof Leather Aerostich Transit Suit: My Review

masameet said:
I read the story of GORE-TEX.

Do you know what it is?

It's rolled out teflon. Poly(tetrafluoroethylene) or poly(tetrafluoroethene). In other words PTFE. It's not completely impervious to water. But it does a pretty darned good job most of the time. Except a few Sundays ago on that Doc Wong ride. For me anyway.
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You make me hot when you talk all scientific. Please explain what twinkies are made of.
 
I clicked too! I clicked too!!
 
won't that be fun...
 
I understand your point as to the value of the suit... But it doesn't rain *that* often.

My point was... They're trying to offer a weatherproof commuter getup in the form of a leather jacket and pants... Which is something a commuter is probably not going to want to wear anyway. This is hardly catering to the sprotbiler weekend ownz9 crowd who is going to wear a zipped 2 piece or 1 piece leather suit no matter what; they're shooting for the every day rain or shine ride to work sorta guys...

But those guys aren't going to buy leathers for the commute anyway. Too difficult to get in and out of. Too difficult to swap clothes once you arrive.

So what's the point?

I personally would rather wear leather over textiles no matter what. Would this be useful on a long cross country trip where I didn't want to worry about raingear? Sure.

I'm not trying to rip Aerostich in the least. I just fail to see what market segment these guys are shooting for. That said - my next gear purchase is probably going to be a Roadcrafter.
 
I wantr to make it clear that I'm not working for or advocating Aerostich's products in any way...just trying to let you guys know that I tested the product and found it to be high-quality, comfortable and functional. A good all-around riding outfit that you can wear riding anything and not look like a spaceman.

I don't think it's intended as a commuting suit like the Roadcrafter. I think it's more for older riders who love the features of their Roadcrafter or Darien. And if you want to really dig into it, I think Aerostich founder Andy Goldfine has just always wanted to design a leather suit.

I think it is very pricey, but my experience is that it is very convenient and easy to doff/don...not quite like a Roadcrafter, but close. I could wear it over jeans and work clothing, but it would rumple slacks and ironed shirts.

So it's not really intended for a single mission like you say...it's a comprimise intended to replace several different types of riding gear.

Kestrel said:
I understand your point as to the value of the suit... But it doesn't rain *that* often.

My point was... They're trying to offer a weatherproof commuter getup in the form of a leather jacket and pants... Which is something a commuter is probably not going to want to wear anyway. This is hardly catering to the sprotbiler weekend ownz9 crowd who is going to wear a zipped 2 piece or 1 piece leather suit no matter what; they're shooting for the every day rain or shine ride to work sorta guys...

But those guys aren't going to buy leathers for the commute anyway. Too difficult to get in and out of. Too difficult to swap clothes once you arrive.

So what's the point?

I personally would rather wear leather over textiles no matter what. Would this be useful on a long cross country trip where I didn't want to worry about raingear? Sure.

I'm not trying to rip Aerostich in the least. I just fail to see what market segment these guys are shooting for. That said - my next gear purchase is probably going to be a Roadcrafter.
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It was an excellent writeup Gabe
Thanks for putting it out there.
 
masameet said:
I read the story of GORE-TEX.

Do you know what it is?

It's rolled out teflon. Poly(tetrafluoroethylene) or poly(tetrafluoroethene). In other words PTFE. It's not completely impervious to water. But it does a pretty darned good job most of the time. Except a few Sundays ago on that Doc Wong ride. For me anyway.
Click to expand...


I've used Gore-Tex alot in my skiing gear, (and snow is pretty damn clean) and it is only water proof when it's clean. A little bit of use and it loses the water proof, until special cleaning re-news the water proof action.

I wouldn't depend on it for a motorcycle garment. But, maybe things have changed.

I'm happy with how the gear has worked with what we have had. Real leather, real rain gear (or maybe I'm just giddy that I'm not thinking of popping the big bucks that this suit costs) :thumbup
 
Are you perhaps confusing the water-repellent treatment on the outside of the fabric with the waterproof inner PTFE lining? When that wears off, the outer shell saturates and makes the inner side of the garment feel cold and damp. This is why Roadcrafters leak in a driving rain, I think...

This leather has a permanent water repellent soaked into it at the tannery, so it shouldn't wear off...I don't think you can do that with Cordura or other fabric.

If your gear has the Gore-Tex label, Gore-Tex will repair or replace your garment if it leaks...send it back!

louemc said:
I've used Gore-Tex alot in my skiing gear, (and snow is pretty damn clean) and it is only water proof when it's clean. A little bit of use and it loses the water proof, until special cleaning re-news the water proof action.

I wouldn't depend on it for a motorcycle garment. But, maybe things have changed.

I'm happy with how the gear has worked with what we have had. Real leather, real rain gear (or maybe I'm just giddy that I'm not thinking of popping the big bucks that this suit costs) :thumbup
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Gabe said:
A good all-around riding outfit that you can wear riding anything and not look like a spaceman.
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But I like looking like a spaceman! :x

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Gabe said:
Are you perhaps confusing the water-repellent treatment on the outside of the fabric with the waterproof inner PTFE lining? When that wears off, the outer shell saturates and makes the inner side of the garment feel cold and damp. This is why Roadcrafters leak in a driving rain, I think...

This leather has a permanent water repellent soaked into it at the tannery, so it shouldn't wear off...I don't think you can do that with Cordura or other fabric.

If your gear has the Gore-Tex label, Gore-Tex will repair or replace your garment if it leaks...send it back!
Click to expand...


Nope, not confusing anything. The GoreTex was an inner layer, in my Ski suit.

I said it leaked when the garment got a tad dirty, and the care of the garment instructions said, when it happens how to clean the garment to return the water proof function. It wasn't a "flaw" in the material, and I'm not sending things back (but if a flaw was involved I'd take it back to the shop that sold it to me).
 
It sounds like the material in your ski gear is very different from the Pro-Shell leather...I don't think dirt will affect it.

louemc said:
Nope, not confusing anything. The GoreTex was an inner layer, in my Ski suit.

I said it leaked when the garment got a tad dirty, and the care of the garment instructions said, when it happens how to clean the garment to return the water proof function. It wasn't a "flaw" in the material, and I'm not sending things back (but if a flaw was involved I'd take it back to the shop that sold it to me).
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Arg...

So my problem is like so: I own one of those expensive roadrace suits. I'm no stranger to dumping a load of cash on some quality gear.

But how do I know how comfortable it is without wearing it at least once for a test ride? In fact, I have higher standards when it comes to the usability of my street gear than I do my track gear, as my street gear will be forced to perform in all weather and all temps, whereas my track gear just has to be very protective and not restrict me on the bike.

I'm hard pressed to dump 1500$ on a jacket and set of pants that's not vented at all without somehow being convinced that it'll vent enough to keep me comfortable in 90+ degree heat. I know the difference that 2 small zippers can make in terms of cooling, and I think that Aerostitch may be trying to compromise the impossible...

The suit looks awesome, though.

Gabe, thoughts on how well it cooled?
 
Aerostich has a 100% 30-day refund/return policy, so it's no risk, unless you crash in the suit...

OK, one place where the suit may be deficient is venting/cooling. I started wearing it in December, so I can't really speak to how it is in hot weather. It has some kind of anti-UV treatment, so Aerostich claims it's 30% cooler than regular black leather. It is perforated, but the perforations don't really flow air because of the Gore-Tex. There are no vents (other than the main front zipper), but you do get a little breeze under the arms and on the sleeves where there are fabric stretch panels. There's also a large back vent similar to the Roadcrafter's. Overall, it feels very light, so I'm going to go out on a limb and say it will feel similar to a Roadcrafter or other textile overjacket in the heat. Over 90 degrees I think it would be uncomfortable, but so is anything except mesh, right?

If I had to only have one riding suit...I would still go with the Roadcrafter. But if I really had to have leather, did a lot of riding and had the money to spend (and god bless you if you do, these days), I'd think hard about the Transit.

Z3n said:
Arg...

So my problem is like so: I own one of those expensive roadrace suits. I'm no stranger to dumping a load of cash on some quality gear.

But how do I know how comfortable it is without wearing it at least once for a test ride? In fact, I have higher standards when it comes to the usability of my street gear than I do my track gear, as my street gear will be forced to perform in all weather and all temps, whereas my track gear just has to be very protective and not restrict me on the bike.

I'm hard pressed to dump 1500$ on a jacket and set of pants that's not vented at all without somehow being convinced that it'll vent enough to keep me comfortable in 90+ degree heat. I know the difference that 2 small zippers can make in terms of cooling, and I think that Aerostitch may be trying to compromise the impossible...

The suit looks awesome, though.

Gabe, thoughts on how well it cooled?
Click to expand...
 
Gabe said:
Aerostich has a 100% 30-day refund/return policy, so it's no risk, unless you crash in the suit...

OK, one place where the suit may be deficient is venting/cooling. I started wearing it in December, so I can't really speak to how it is in hot weather. It has some kind of anti-UV treatment, so Aerostich claims it's 30% cooler than regular black leather. It is perforated, but the perforations don't really flow air because of the Gore-Tex. There are no vents (other than the main front zipper), but you do get a little breeze under the arms and on the sleeves where there are fabric stretch panels. There's also a large back vent similar to the Roadcrafter's. Overall, it feels very light, so I'm going to go out on a limb and say it will feel similar to a Roadcrafter or other textile overjacket in the heat. Over 90 degrees I think it would be uncomfortable, but so is anything except mesh, right?

If I had to only have one riding suit...I would still go with the Roadcrafter. But if I really had to have leather, did a lot of riding and had the money to spend (and god bless you if you do, these days), I'd think hard about the Transit.
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I had money...then I decided to go racing. goodbye money. :laughing

I wasn't aware that they have a return policy. Even on the custom stuff? That's good to know...I really want a roadcrafter...maybe I can find something.

Thanks for the post :)
 
Check ebay for used roadcrafters... Usually they sell for around 300-350 bucks... If you can find one in your size with tolerable colors, you'll be surprised at the deals you can get.
 
at least aerostich is trying sum thin new they are so behind the times :twofinger suit looks good

this is what i have owned and tryed and beat on ... 1st hand experience
1 pc roadcrafter use to be red then turned pink ... after many years of use ... sold it on ebay for way morre than it it was worth (sum melted nylon on the knees from hot pipes .. does leather do this ???) then bought a brand new 1pc ... spent over 1 k to get it right now luv it ....minor crash once 125 to get it fixed .... have also owned 2 darien jackets 1 older with general sizing the new one with real sizing ... also own a roadcrafter 2 pc with the optional bib for just rockin the pants ...

the 1 pc crotch leaks cause its real hard to gore seam tape that area due to lots of stretching as in lifting leg geting on and off the bike if you got a big wind sheild you prolly wont notice it ...much ..same on both new and old suits .. now they got gore stretch panels which aero dont use .. pockets on the 1 pc and darien are not water proof as dont put your phone in those pockets i think if aero used water proof reverse style zippers it would help the problem ..which they dont ... funny thing is they did change the back vent zipper on my new darien to a waterproof stye zip .. but it dont really need it there cause its under the reflective flap :rofl the other anoying things are the vecro cuffs around the wrists they take in water and will fill the cuff they should tape that area better.. the darien insides will wear from rubbing it wears that shiny gray protective layer only seen on triple layered gore and the type of gore aero uses is a generation old now its all about xcr gore ...

gore dont leak cause its dirty it just breaths less pores get cloged .. cause your sweating so much on that motorcycle :rofl you know high aerobic activity :rofl

i luv my aerostich stuff but it can be better :thumbup

gore is the best stuff i have tryed compared to sympatex ... mountain harwears conduit .. marmots membrane .. columbias omnitech ...lowe alpine triple point ceramic .... etc and good luck trying to get gore to repair stuff unless its majorly delaminating

aero needs to hire the person designing the arcteryx stuff lik the stuff in me closet but hey what do i know i didnt get a free bee :nerd
 
Well damn. I'd love to buy one of these suits but there is a slight problem here in that they don't make the damn jacket friggen big enough!! I'm at a 54 and still growing due to all the training I'm doing and I seriously doubt even the bigger sizes would account for the sheer size of my shoulders. As it is I can barely find shirts to fit my shoulders/arms so it looks like as much as I want this, I'll just have to get a roadcrafter...
 
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