I'm a fan of both. Have Aerostich Darien jacket & pants set, and Motoport Air Mesh Kevlar Jacket and GP2 Stretch Kevlar pants.
Aerostich Darien: my go-to option for Oregon drizzle, long trips with weather uncertainty, civil unrest, or survivalist Armageddon. Uncomfortably hot during Oregon sunny desert summers, unbearable in any other humid summer clime. I've never crashed in my Aerostich gear, but feel confident about the outcome. I like the gear a bit loose to allow for flexible layering, including Aerostich Kanetsu electric heated liners. Mostly waterproof. Did my 1000 mile Iron Butt in Darien gear during 6 hours of dark cold downpour; we bonded.
Motoport Kevlar gear rocks. I've crashed in the Mesh jacket/stretch Kevlar pants combo and would gladly crash again. Well, not really, but the gear is 100% crash-worthy. The air mesh works well - it's not the most "open" mesh during stifling heat, but it's still mesh. Complementing the jacket, the stretch Kevlar pants (even GP pants with double layer portions) are amazingly comfortable over very wide range of temperatures. I zip together jacket and pants for better protection and comfort.
I'm not 100% sold on the Aero-Tex waterproof inner liner I got with the Motoport jacket. Don't misunderstand me, the thing works: have worn mine during Noah & Ark downpours and stayed dry, plus the advertised warmth boost it provides when temps plummet is for real. My problem is that the combination of inner membrane jacket with outer mesh Kevlar jacket is just uncomfortable. Probably because I'm fat and sized the gear too small.
I'm going to pop for a pair of the GP2 Air Mesh Kevlar pants to complete my collection. For track days I'm using the GP2 stretch pants zipped to an old DiFi (Cycleport/Motoport) GP2 stretch Kevlar jacket made back in the Reagan Era... retro geek cool. For summer moto trips I'll wear the Air Mesh gear zipped together. 100% crashable breathable bliss.
During the winter (and in Oregon that means 8 months of cool & wet), it's back to the Darien combo.
I've got a small list of gripes about both brands and the gear, but still a fan of each flavor.
I have motoport, son has motoport; I've read the posts; it's the real deal. I've met all the people where they make the stuff; I've seen the gear that gets returned after crashes. Nothing comes close.
Son has green mesh 3/4 jacket and black mesh pants. I have black stretch kevlar jeans with very functional suspenders and a black strech kevlar marathon jacket which has proved to be too hot over 80 degrees even though it has lots of great vents.
All the stuff fits; if you are lucky enough to be near San Diego County you can go there and fine tune your order. I've just ordered a "shirt" that will not have the color shown on the police shirt on their web site, it will have a collar more like the marathon jacket and no big flap pockets; grey mesh with black stretch kevlar accents and armor. It will be about 85% mesh kevlar and 15% stretch kevlar; all of this stuff could be layered. The jeans will work at any reasonable temp.
ATGATT [All the Gear All the Time] pain in the ass, but it gets to be a habit.
This is the real gear. I see other riders and what they are wearing and I cringe. The Harley guys just seem to revel in wife beaters and jeans; I guess I've just read too much and seen too much. Me, I'm ATGATT.
Its a PITA to have to spend roughly 5-10 minutes to "get ready for a ride" ... but I know that if I launch off my bike at *any* speed, I stand a good chance of surviving.
Have the MotoPort with Quad Armor EVERYWHERE (Blk w/Yellow/HiViz Accents top, Blk bottoms with suspenders), zipper tops to bottoms, wear SIDI Canyons, full face Arai or Shoei helmets and appropriate gloves. Harley/Metric guys just laugh ... but I know that I will NOT be having someone pick rocks, roadbase and whatever else out of a wound when I slide a 100 ft along the pavement.
I too cringe when I see what some people wear on rides.
BTW, you *GET* what you pay - MotoPort is the BEST IMNSHO and believe that it might be the most versatile in all weather.
This is one of those cases where there's an easy answer (ride to D-town
and get the Darien gear) and the right answer (try to figure out the sizing
and wait for weeks for the Motoport stuff).
There's a Darien light jacket on CL here that might be just the ticket while
I wait. Perhaps I'll check that out.
I did order a Shoei Multitec in white. So I'm working toward ATGATT
in a slow painful expensive way. Better than a slow painful expensive
recovery if I end up on the ground.
It's funny how I used to not worry about this stuff. Now that I'm getting
older and more importantly have family that cares it has really hit me
that I need to do all I can to stay safe.
Thanks again for the replies. I will let y'all know what happens.
This is one of those cases where there's an easy answer (ride to D-town
and get the Darien gear) and the right answer (try to figure out the sizing
and wait for weeks for the Motoport stuff).
-Matt
Hold on a moment....
While I have neither Motoport nor Darien, I have had custom-cut riding gear in the past, as well as moto saddles and non-motorcycle "fit-to-the-customer" stuff.
Generally speaking, if you can go in and get it fitted (whatever "it" is), you will wind up much happier. You probably get a better fit from the start, and in all probability a better fit in the end - there's far less temptation to "just deal with" something that doesn't feel right when you don't have multi-week turn-around times through the mail. :-) That's a seriously big deal for something you're going to live in / on for hours at a stretch.
By doing so, you greatly increase the chance you'll both go ATGATT and enjoy doing so.
You can also get a direct read on whether the suit will be too hot / cold / whatever for you.
Just a thought. I have no stake in either company ... but based on their reputations, I wouldn't have much hesitation about either one.
Good roads,
- Lewellen
Ask not why we should do a thing; rather, ask why we should not.
I'd agree - either is likely to be a fine choice. My suit of choice is an Aerostich Roadcrafter 2 piece. I'm on my second one. First one shrank one winter (about about 15 years of use), and SWMBO suggested I buy a new one (I think she was embarrased that I was seen in it - it has lots of good "cred"..)
Good things about the Roadcrafter.. It's all-weather for me. I ride in it from 30F-100F (sometimes on the same ride..) just adding heated gear when it gets below 65F or so, and opening zippers when it gets above 80F. It works well enough that I've ridden all day in the rain, and came out of the suit still happy. Not perfectly dry (a tiny bit of crotch zipper seepage is going to happen if you ride slowly in heavy rain - ride fast enough and it's not an issue), but usually much dryer then my friends who didn't want to stop to put on their seperate rainsuits, and subsequently get soaked. Friends who have crash tested them have been generally quite effusive in their praise of the protection it provides. And Andy Goldfine will go a long ways and to a lot of effort to get one made that fits you correctly. He does custom fits - and if it doesn't work out - you're just out the cost of shipping. If possible - I'd suggest contacting Andy directly if you're doing a custom fit. My experience has been much better when he made suggestions based on talking to me.
It's not cheap.. but good rarely is. It is long lasting, so I just figure over 12-15 years, it turns out being quite cheap actually... rather then replacing the gear every few years (and he does have options for modifications on existing ones to help with problems of "winter shrinkage"..)
Don Eilenberger - NJ Shore
2012 R1200R - I love this bike!
I also have a Motoport kevlar mesh jacket....I have had quite a few others over the years, never an Aerostitch, but know folks who do...Stich is generally cosidered VERY good. imho the Motorport is better for me. it is a bit bulky and heavy, the liners are good and seem to work well enough....riding in a frog strangler will get you wet no matter what you do....I particularly like the armor and it placement. having fallen a few times and broken ribs (not in this jacket) the armor in the MP is better placed to protect what hurts.
the jacked when new was very stiff and after a few weeks of riding became much more flexible. air flow is wonderful in high heat...I got a grey one with hi viz yellow stripes...grey being the fastest color ;>)
the measuring process was not a big deal and the consultation before sewing the custom jacket helped. all in all, being done by mail it worked out very well.
getting older and realizing your mortality is not a bad thing. gear heals faster than body parts these days....easier to replace also.
another very satisfied Motoport wearer ...
MikeT
08R1200R crystal grey
09R1200R alpine white
95 R1100RS RIP
Motoport Fitment is not a big deal; I bought a pair of Walmart jeans down the road that fit; they made a pattern and I took the jeans back when I was done. Jacket would be the same deal; just send them something, they figure it out; I'm lucky enough to live nearby and just go it; but truly you don't have to worry about where to put the armor; maybe take a picture of you on your bike and send it in; do let them talk you through it on the phone. Never had stich I'm sure it's great, but if it melts when you hit the pavement or the seams melt or burst then what was the point? It's a total pain to go through all this but all I can say is for me it was the right way to go.
Another Motoport vote here. I have "crash tested" my original Kevlar Airmesh II jacket and pants (Black jacket with hi-vis panels). The gear worked as advertised, limiting the damage to some cracked ribs. Doc said the chest armor saved shattered bone, and the cracks were because I slammed down hard to the right side in essentially a body slam causing the ribcage to flex and cracks at the front and back attach points.
Changed out the black for a lime-green hi-vis kevlar jacket because it is much, much cooler in south Louisiana in the summer. It does not absorb the heat the black did. This jacket has the quad armor and is very comfortable in the heat. It looks funny to other riders and cagers, but I am a firm believer in this stuff. It works as advertised and is top quality all the way. Do not worry about fitment. If you correctly measure your body (clear instructions in the form) and submit it to Motoport, they custom build the jacket and pants to your fit.
THe liners work pretty well, however when using both the rain liner and the cold weather liners in the jacket it is a bit snug for my liking. I use the wind liner with my electric liner inside for cold weather work. For really cold stuff I add my rain gear over the mesh gear for better insulation. Have done trips with this setup in 20 degree weather and was fully comfortable..
I have tried other "stylish" jackets and pants and frankly nothing I have tried even comes close to the protection levels of this gear. Most of the competitive gear makes me feel positively naked and unprotected. None of the off the shelf stuff managed to have the armor in correct places for me. One expensive full suit with ultra modern design and fabric could not be made to fit. The proper size had a torso too short for comfort if you understand my drift. The torso size that fit had arms and legs like an NBA basketball player would have. You cannot go wrong with this gear. The only "problem" with Motoport is that their website is clunky and very aggravating to find stuff on. I can forgive the website due to the outstanding quality of the gear.
MSF #127350 NAUI #36288
2011 RT WARNING: TEST RIDING THE R1200R IS HAZARDOUS TO YOUR FINANCES
Aerostitch Darien: well enough ventilated to stand the highest temps, unless you are stopped in traffic. Warm with insulating layers added and dry enough to survive the worst weather you are likely to ride in. Based upon informal surveys of other 'stitch users, the Darien pants do a better job of keeping your crotch dry. Same jacket since 1996. Traded the pants for a smaller size about 8 years ago. Both pair of pants are still going strong.
Bruce
'13 R12R Montego Blue
'10 R12R's Black Biarritz Blue RIP '95 Mystic Red K75
'94 Black HD FXDS
