One thing worth considering is what guarantee you get regarding the waterproof element of a textile suit. I chose my Klim Badlands gear knowing Gore warranty the waterproof element for longer than the warranty of the build of the suit(zips,poppers etc). After 4 years my Gore lined Sidi boots leaked. I got a new pair as Gore warranty longer than the 1 year from Sidi for every other part. How long do Hideout & BKS stand by their waterproof claim?
Good point and I honestly don’t know re waterproofing. However my post very much leans towards the protection required should ‘an unscheduled dismount’ happen. This is the criteria that very few suppliers are able to meet with regards to police riders etc requirements. Cat A should offer protection in urban speeds etc AA a bit better AAA looking at good leather standard and the BKS/Hideout textile quality I very much imagine we need at least AA to AAA blasting around. Think do racers wear textile? And not for a reason, if it offered the best protection they would use it, but leather looses it strength when wet.
Protection yes but water proof quality is a point I’m sure many people consider when looking at textiles. Protection, waterproofness and comfort are the 3 things that to me define how good a set is.
I know what you are saying, it is a mix of all 3. If it was just waterproofing the one piece waterproof suit from Tesco for £10 several years ago is still going strong!!!
My main zip on my Rukka went after 5.5 years solid use (commuting for 4 years). They replaced the zip under the 6 year guarantee
My go to two piece suit is a BMW Enduroguard, probably five years old now, great kit, surely CE and a fraction of the price Rukka. It’s start to look a bit grubby having been washed many times, still doesn’t leak.
It’s a good point and, I expect, explains why BKS took over two years to find the right materials for their textiles to be comfortable yet ultra-protective. When I tried on Hideout’s Hi-Pro stuff, I was amazed how comfy it felt (nicer than any other textiles I’ve ever tried). I guess that’s why it’s not cheap!
Racers wear leather because it's a good compromise of protection vs price vs performance, not because it's the best protection. Synthetic materials these days can be way more protective than leather.
Yes Kevlar is a bulletproof material, the only problem is the heat build up in a high speed off. It burns you.
Yep, I’ve heard of this happening to a rider in a 100 mph plus spill it was stated that his jacket melted to his skin. Thought it was an urban myth, maybe not then.
I’ll stick to my Rukka Kalix 2.0 suit. Fully waterproof, nice soft material with enough room to layer up underneath, and a fraction of the price of the Kingsley. Perfect for a part time rider like me!
It can be lined, but an off/slide at 170mph would be an interesting test on heat resistance lining. It also has to have nice handle and not be hot to wear etc.
This is why I said leather is a compromise of price and quality. Pretty much anything can be achieved for the right price.
Presumably, leather remains the best and most protective choice for racing because MotoGP riders wear it. They have no need to compromise on the price. Kate Jennings, who runs Hideout, advocates leather as the most protective choice despite selling (expensive) textile kit.
More a question of 'good enough'. In future, when composites are cheaper to develop, they'll change. Carbon nanotube suits.
