FAQ on motorcyclists' clothing

[The Spin Doctor]

Pinched from Paul Varnsverry's LinkIn account:

"The British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) has published an updated version of its Frequently Asked Questions on motorcyclists’ clothing, the Personal Protective Equipment Regulation, and standards for riding kit, at https://lnkd.in/epZVc64v. This version confirms the compliance dates for UKCA certification, and also clarifies the situation regarding goods purchased online."

It's just three pages so isn't a heap of technical data.

https://www.bsif.co.uk/wp-content/uploa ... st-PPE.pdf

[Hot_Air]

It’s not FAQ, but Bennetts has published its view on motorcyclists’ protective clothing:
https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/n ... -standards

@The Spin Doctor Could it be worth a mention on your Facebook page (or Elevenses on YouTube)?

[The Spin Doctor]

It’s not FAQ, but Bennetts has published its view on motorcyclists’ protective clothing:
https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/n ... -standards

@The Spin Doctor Could it be worth a mention on your Facebook page (or Elevenses on YouTube)?

Oddly enough I was chatting to Paul Varnsverry this morning via the comments on Elevenses on standards (again)

[Hot_Air]

@The Spin Doctor If you’re in touch with Paul Varnsverry, could you ask for his take on the new Rukka Nivala 2? It’s a £2,100 suit (!) with just an A-rating

[The Spin Doctor]

I'll see what he says!

Personally, I think Rukka are simply extracting the urine.

I appreciate it's a long time ago but I doubt the construction has changed much since a mate had a top of the range Rukka jacket about 20 years ago. They were getting a lot of press attention as THE jacket to own - I seem to remember it was about £1k back then. The trousers set him back another grand.

He fell off in Spain (we actually went along the road a couple of years later and he recognised the corner even though it had been reprofiled - we found a bit of his CBR600 fairing still under the armco barrier). It was a 40 / 50 mph bend when I rode it, he reckoned it was about 25 mph when he fell off - the jacket shredded. I'm sure I have some photos somewhere.

[Yorick]

I'll see what he says!

Personally, I think Rukka are simply extracting the urine.

I appreciate it's a long time ago but I doubt the construction has changed much since a mate had a top of the range Rukka jacket about 20 years ago. They were getting a lot of press attention as THE jacket to own - I seem to remember it was about £1k back then. The trousers set him back another grand.

He fell off in Spain (we actually went along the road a couple of years later and he recognised the corner even though it had been reprofiled - we found a bit of his CBR600 fairing still under the armco barrier). It was a 40 / 50 mph bend when I rode it, he reckoned it was about 25 mph when he fell off - the jacket shredded. I'm sure I have some photos somewhere.

Why bugger about with anything other than leather?

[Cousin Jack]

Why bugger about with anything other than leather?

In a word - RAIN.

You know, that wet stuff that falls out of the sky, except in Lanzerotte of course.

[MrLongbeard]

No mention of the UKNI mark?

[Yorick]

Why bugger about with anything other than leather?

In a word - RAIN.

You know, that wet stuff that falls out of the sky, except in Lanzerotte of course.

£20 waterproofs from the Army and Navy stores.

[Horse]

Why bugger about with anything other than leather?

For me, practicality.

My one piece suit went over ordinary clothes, so I could arrive somewhere and be a 'normal person' within a minute or two (and without needing a private area and carrying a complete set of clothes).

It was usable in all weather; vents open hot weather, dry in rain, warm in cold weather (thermal lining, heated waistcoat if needed).

One suit covering all eventualities, no need to stop and add a layer if it rained.

[The Spin Doctor]

No mention of the UKNI mark?

AFAIK, UKNI is the UK conformity certificate for Northern Ireland.

The UKCA marking, which comes in to force on Jan 1 2023 I believe, still has to be shown alongside the relevant CE marking for two years after the end of the Brexit Transition period, and the Withdrawal Agreement specified that the transition period would last until 31 December 2020

After that time the UKCA (United Kingdom Conformity Assessed) Mark will be set up, and will replace the CE Mark for the UK market.

[The Spin Doctor]

Why bugger about with anything other than leather?

Comfort. I got heat stroke in the south of France riding in 40+ heat with high humidity in my one-piece Manx leathers. And I froze my b@llocks off as a courier riding in -5 temps in my Lewis Leathers one-piece.

Leather has its good points - specifically abrasion resistance - but textiles don't have to be rubbish either, my Aerostich suit has been shown to have pretty good crash resistance by others who wear them. I doubt my Alpinestars fabric kit comes close though.

[Horse]

but textiles don't have to be rubbish either, my Aerostich suit has been shown to have pretty good crash resistance by others who wear them. I doubt my Alpinestars fabric kit comes close though.

I doubt that my suit has the protection of a 'Stich. However, it has 500D fabric with 2000D Cordura on all more vulnerable areas and double stitching. CE armour too.

[The Spin Doctor]

I doubt that my suit has the protection of a 'Stich. However, it has 500D fabric with 2000D Cordura on all more vulnerable areas and double stitching. CE armour too.

My old Scott Road Jacket looks to be identical to the one that they provided to police and achieved CE certification too. Shame I gave it to my brother

[Hot_Air]

I agree with @The Spin Doctor that Rukka suit construction appears unchanged in years, and it’s still using the same materials.

The only Rukka stuff to get an AA rating is the Kingsley, which has a double layer of Keprotec and Armacor in the shoulders and arms. However, the new Nivala 2, which costs over £2,100 for a suit, has just a single Armacor layer. Rukka’s extracting the urine to charge so much for an A-rated suit!

It was a 40 / 50 mph bend when I rode it, he reckoned it was about 25 mph when he fell off - the jacket shredded. I'm sure I have some photos somewhere.

It would be interesting to see the photos. Meanwhile, I have attached an image from an old ADAC test result. It shows the inadequacy of a single Armacor layer, and ADAC comments on the likely resultant injuries.

[Horse]

[Count Steer]

Why bugger about with anything other than leather?

For me, practicality.

My one piece suit went over ordinary clothes, so I could arrive somewhere and be a 'normal person' within a minute or two (and without needing a private area and carrying a complete set of clothes).

It was usable in all weather; vents open hot weather, dry in rain, warm in cold weather (thermal lining, heated waistcoat if needed).

One suit covering all eventualities, no need to stop and add a layer if it rained.

Damn sight easier to leave work early without attracting attention too.

[The Spin Doctor]

I saw that video y'day and damn good it is too. It's exactly the sort of thing I'd like to try if I had the facilities.

I'll be covering something that came up in passing on TIPS on TUESDAY this week - 'skin shear'...

And looking at the video's results on Wednesday on Elevenses.

[Hot_Air]

@The Spin Doctor This latest, if depressing, news could be material for Elevenses:
Some motorcycle clothing brands don’t want you to choose safety: motorcycle industry's dirty secret

Knox, Rukka and Dainese come across very badly. Hmmm, I wonder who’s lobbying against better protection standards?

However, several companies deserve credit for supporting high standards — RST, Roadskin, Hood Jeans, Scott Leathers, BKS, Hideout and Oxford Products.

I don’t see any reason why not to offer higher standards, and I’ve not heard a convincing argument from anyone against it.

There has to be [a higher standard] … a guy who’s doing a track day absolutely expects the highest levels of security when he’s doing 180mph.

It’s a shame the companies lobbying against better protection standards appear to be winning with BSI

And who represents rider interests to BSI?

[MrLongbeard]

No mention of the UKNI mark?

AFAIK, UKNI is the UK conformity certificate for Northern Ireland.

The UKCA marking, which comes in to force on Jan 1 2023 I believe, still has to be shown alongside the relevant CE marking for two years after the end of the Brexit Transition period, and the Withdrawal Agreement specified that the transition period would last until 31 December 2020

After that time the UKCA (United Kingdom Conformity Assessed) Mark will be set up, and will replace the CE Mark for the UK market.

Or not, as out politicians have backpedalled again the spineless tards

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/using-the-ukca-marking

the government will bring forward legislation that would continue to allow recognition of the CE marking and the reversed epsilon marking for most goods that are being placed on the market, or put into service before 11pm on 31 December 2024.