Hello again! Welcome to part 4 of my Road Trip Blog series where I discuss my plans for a future trip and how I’ll be tackling any thoughts and questions I may have about what I’ll need or have to do on my journey. In this part I’ll be talking about the fourth question that comes to mind when I think about taking a long trip- the gear I’m wearing.
You need a lot out of your gear if you plan on riding long distances or plan on riding a lot in general. It needs to be tough, protective, versatile and adaptive as the conditions on the road can change at a moment’s notice. So we will start with the jacket, pants and what traits/features they need:
A tough shell for breaking through strong winds on motorways
Waterproofing for wet weather
Ventilation for when it’s getting warm
Thermal lining / heat retention for when it’s getting cold
Comfort
For the jacket my personal choice would be the Oxford Montreal 2.0 Motorcycle Jacket. I’ve already written a blog post about the Montreal Jacket so I won’t go into too much detail- but put simply, it has everything needed from the aforementioned list. It has a tough shell made from durable materials and stitching with adjusters in all the right places for a custom fit to the rider, allowing the jacket to break through the wind at higher speeds such as on motorways while keeping the rider comfortable. It also has ventilation, a removable thermal lining, a waterproof lining and plenty of pocket space as an extra. The only thing it needs is a bit of extra back protection slipped into the provided back armour pocket and it’s a perfect jacket for touring.
For pants, I want a pair that can attach to the jacket and has all the same qualities of the jacket. So my pick would be the Oxford Ranger 2.0 Motorcycle Trousers. I’ve already written a blog post on the Ranger Trousers so I also won’t go too in-depth about them. But like the jacket- it has everything a biker going on a long journey needs. The durable shell for breaking through the wind, plus extra in critical areas. The waterproof lining plus extra areas of waterproofing in the knees and crotch where other brands tend to overlook. Ventilation that can be opened or closed and a removable thermal lining. Stretch panels for extra comfort in the knees and rear to keep them from shifting around, bunching up on my shins and riding up the rear end. It really does have all you need out of a pair of trousers. And like the jacket- the pockets are a welcome bonus too with easy access to cargo pockets without having to dismount the bike.
But- this is in a perfect world where everything else I need hasn’t already burned a hole in my wallet and immolated my bank account to punish me for spending so much. So is there a more affordable option? Yes there is and I recently purchased it. The Agrius Orion Jacket and Agrius Hydra Trousers kit combo. Sure, they aren’t as fancy as the Oxford stuff and won’t come with all the same leisures the Montreal or the Rangers have to offer but they still have everything I need at a basic level. They’re tough, waterproof, have removable thermal liners and are designed to be more sport-tourer oriented. I’ve also done blog posts on them before if you’re interested. You can get yourself an Agrius Kit for a bargain, I’d love to get myself some Oxfords but I love my Agrius stuff and it’ll do the job just fine
And that’s what I’ll be wearing mostly. I’ll cover some more garments in my next Road Trip installment such as boots, gloves and I’ll finish up with a 6th post on helmets that I either plan to get for my trip myself or alternatives as the costs are starting to climb. Hope to see you there!
Until next time!
-MattW at Ghostbikes.com
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