Membrane trust: The best motorcycle waterproofs to keep you dry whatever the weather chosen by MCN

[Cousin Jack]

I have done just 1 long very wet ride where I stayed completely dry. Lots of others, with varying results, from damp at the edges through drowned.

Anyway, the secret. Decent waterproof kit, including boots and gloves. Then boil in the bag waterproof oversuit on top, followed by overboots and overgloves. Make sure everything is tight, especially neck and wrist seals.Waddle to the bike, shut the visor, and don't stop. If you stop you will overheat in seconds, and opening anything will inevitably lead to a leak.

It can be done, it is not comfortable, and not practical for most journeys. I don't bother, I tolerate minor leaks.

My favourite one piece oversuit moment was riding for 4 hrs in France in rain so heavy it was bouncing off the tank, up under my chin and soaked the lining of my lid! However I was dry in my suit. Right up to the point I unzipped it just that touch too at the toll both and let a load of water flood into my lap

I did say 'do not stop'. Stopping for tolls is a guarantee of a leak, either immediately as you found, or 3 miles down the road when you have not quite sealed it up again.

I succeeded just once, until I ran low on fuel with about 30 miles to go. Dry as a bone at the stop, but the last few miles got very soggy.

[Taipan]

I dislike full on lined bike trousers, especially if worn over jeans in winter, so tend to use cheap over trousers over my jeans. I've used Richa and the oxford rainseals and both always leak at the crutch in anything other than light rain. I've tried buying oversized ones so they aren't pulling tight, but they still leak.

The best trousers i've had for staying dry was Dainese Dryline but they stopped making the ones I had and they've nowbecome D-Dry and they arent as good.

As was said in the gloves thread, the price of this stuff has gone up but the quality appears to have come down.

[Horse]

In VFM terms - although both were a few years ago (ok, 35 ish ... ):

- a Rukka PVC over trousers, £5 from shop clearance bin. Never leaked, just eventually wore through

- a two piece set, thin PVC, golfing waterproofs, from the 'Innovations' shop (they had catalogues too). Thin enough to fold up and keep under the seat, fitted over leathers. Eventually melted into one lump, the way old plastic does

Essentially, heat-sealed PVC boil-in-the-bag is the way to go. Then good gloves and boots. Well-fitted cuffs and collar.

Re neck, trickling in, there have been suits with a built-in hood.

[Supermofo]

Chatting to a mate who's a motorcycle test examiner and he had an interesting take on over trousers. He said take an old pair and cut them into knee length shorts and wear them over your new pair. Very belt and braces but he said as they tend to leak at the seams and the seams won't line up plus you have double waterproofing (kind of) in the area that they are most likely to leak. Sort of makes sense, although will be wearing 4 layers (with pants) at the top so might be like the Michelin man

[hawkati]

Sofa sogood for the oxford rainseal jacket I bought last year. Only went and lost the trousers so bought a new pair last week. Remind me to take them out of the tent where I left them whilst at cadwell the other day!

[Supermofo]

The jacket held up to a couple of hours rain Sat morning. The trousers did too I think, hard to tell as by lunchtime when I took them off my jeans were damp, but I think from condensation.

[wheelnut]

Has anyone tried any overtrousers that actually work?

Given the start to our 'Summer' I think the chances of me getting 4 dry days on my trip to Cornwall are pretty bloody slim! As mentioned above the SBS best seller Richa 'rain' warrior are the ones I own, worn twice and leaked in the first real rain. I know they leak so need a new pair. At this point I'm gonna order these Oxford rainseal ones as I've not tried them, no one mentions leaks in the reviews (like all the others, although bet the do eventually) and hopefully they'll last the 4 days, please .
https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorc ... rod/741635

The only ones mentioned as being best for not leaking are the Scott ones at £70 quid the cheapest I can find online.
https://www.urbanrider.co.uk/scott-ergo ... gJJWfD_BwE

But I'm a skint flint and only ridden in rain twice in about 6 years so being tight about 70 quid My fear is like the RIcha they stay in the cupboard for 4 years, get worn, leak but way to old to complain.

Sir needs some of these. Normal weekly commuting sees me in jeans and A* goretex jacket with some of these in the top box. They really are superb.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/262163139513 ... media=COPY

[Skub]

Sir needs some of these. Normal weekly commuting sees me in jeans and A* goretex jacket with some of these in the top box. They really are superb.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/262163139513 ... media=COPY

Only waist size 28" left.

[Rockburner]

Sir needs some of these. Normal weekly commuting sees me in jeans and A* goretex jacket with some of these in the top box. They really are superb.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/262163139513 ... media=COPY

Only waist size 28" left.

Just need to wait for the next boat from China.