Roadccafter or Roadcrafter light

johnbob

New Member
Joined
Oct 2, 2016
Messages
17
Location
fort wayne indiana
Hello to all
I'm going to Aerostich on labor Day weekend to buy a complete riding outfit. I'm on the fence between the Roadcrafter or Roadcrafter light. My thoughts are going with the Roadcrafter light. Reason being: I can buy the liners for cooler weather, I ride in temps 40-90 degrees. I do not commute. Most of my riding is interstate and back roads.Do you think I may be sacrificing saftey with the "light" opposed to the non light? I've been riding for 41 years. The Roadcrafter light I'm thinking would be more comfortable, but I do not want to cut short saftey issues. This is a one time purchase, so I want to make the right choice. I like the fact of being able to adjust to varing temperatures with the Roadcrafter light . Thank you all for your input.

John
 

twinrider

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Sep 28, 2011
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Yokohama
The regular R3 Roadcrafter doesn't have a liner either. The difference with the light is the cordura is thicker. From a safety perspective I think it's worth the extra couple kilograms to get the standard R3, and that's what I did.
 

Commuter Boy

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May 15, 2017
Messages
42
Location
Halifax NS
I've had a couple getoffs in Roadcrafters over the years. The doubled up ballistics on the impact points of the regular RC's rarely ground thru. The non-doubled up portions would.

If you want protection and lightness, go with the R3. Without the internal liner it's a LOT cooler.

Or, look at Klim's gear. Their new Goretex stuff is miles ahead of Aerostich in terms of lightness.
 

thughes317

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May 27, 2018
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The Bluegrass, KY
Do you mean Roadcrafter R3 vs R3 lite? Or Classic Roadcrafter vs R3? Or Classic Roadcrafter vs R3 Lite? R3 is unlined (std and lite versions), Classic is the fully lined monster.

I believe the difference between the R3 and R3 lite is the the abrasion resistance in a crash. The Lite uses a lighter weight cordura than the R3 standard 500 cordura. With the price difference being negligible, and the weight difference being only @ 2 lbs, I'd go with the standard R3, just for the additional safety factor.

That said......I recently bit the bullet and purchased an R3. These suckers are pretty stiff when you get them but 2000 miles later it's loosened up nicely. The maiden voyage included @ 1500 miles in 90+ degree temps and high humidity. Pit zips open, cuffs unzipped, rear flap open, and unzipped halfway down my chest provided plenty of airflow at interstate speeds....I was pleasantly surprised at how cool it actually stayed (relatively speaking, or course). Also did @ 2 hours in a major downpour on the same trip....not a drop of wet stuff got inside the suit. Haven't tried it in cool weather yet but I gotta think that a good base layer and my heated vest will keep me just as toasty as they do under my unlined Klim jacket/pants.
 

regder

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Joined
Sep 10, 2017
Messages
466
Location
Toronno
I have the R3 Lite. Not for any particular reason, but I bought it used and that's what was available.

Mine is black on black, does ok in the summer heat. Still get hot, probably no better or worse than any other non mesh gear. Nice thing with the one piece suit is it takes 30 seconds to take it on and off. Huge relief to take it off for a five minute break when fueling or getting coffee, or in general not looking like the Michelin man.

It was near new when I bought it so I only count my usage which is about 50k km. First 40k km or so was unbelievably waterproof. Rode in hours and hours of torrential downpour without getting wet. Last 10k km it has started leaking everywhere, in even minor rain. Have tried washing and treating with Nikwax twice with no change. Also the velcro on both front pockets has almost completely detached at the stitching, and the neck velcro tab has almost zero hold anymore. I can look past the water leaking as it seems to be a Goretex failure, but the velcro issues seem to be a general quality issue. Easy fix, but don't think that should happen.

Will be trying a Klim setup next and probably selling the Stitch to someone that wants to deal with sending it back to them for repair.
 

WJBertrand

Ventura Highway
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Jun 20, 2015
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Ventura, CA
I've had classic roadcrafters and they aren't lined either, other than the Gortex bit, there's no thermal insulation.
 
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twinrider

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Yokohama
I have the R3 Lite. Not for any particular reason, but I bought it used and that's what was available.

Mine is black on black, does ok in the summer heat. Still get hot, probably no better or worse than any other non mesh gear. Nice thing with the one piece suit is it takes 30 seconds to take it on and off. Huge relief to take it off for a five minute break when fueling or getting coffee, or in general not looking like the Michelin man.

It was near new when I bought it so I only count my usage which is about 50k km. First 40k km or so was unbelievably waterproof. Rode in hours and hours of torrential downpour without getting wet. Last 10k km it has started leaking everywhere, in even minor rain. Have tried washing and treating with Nikwax twice with no change. Also the velcro on both front pockets has almost completely detached at the stitching, and the neck velcro tab has almost zero hold anymore. I can look past the water leaking as it seems to be a Goretex failure, but the velcro issues seem to be a general quality issue. Easy fix, but don't think that should happen.

Will be trying a Klim setup next and probably selling the Stitch to someone that wants to deal with sending it back to them for repair.
You should contact Aerostich about repairing that suit, their customer service is excellent.

I lost interest in Klim after they farmed out the production to China. Premium American prices for Chinese workmanship, no thanks.
 

regder

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Sep 10, 2017
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Toronno
You should contact Aerostich about repairing that suit, their customer service is excellent.

I lost interest in Klim after they farmed out the production to China. Premium American prices for Chinese workmanship, no thanks.
I have no doubts they would repair the suit for free or a very reasonable price, I would still have to pay for shipping which wouldn't be cheap from Canada. I never fell in love with the Roadcrafter which is why I'm probably going to sell it.

Pretty much everything is made in Asia these days, to varying degrees of quality. The Latitude pants I have sitting around, I think are made in Vietnam. I have bought crappy products that are made in North America, and great stuff that is made overseas. I don't care too much about where it's made as long as it's good.
 

escapefjrtist

Searching for Dry Roads
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Sep 5, 2010
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Snohomish WA
I have a two-piece Classic. Fully lined, very versatile in that I can mix-match pants and jacket with different gear if I get the urge. Easy on-off, just like a true one piece. Open the vents and wet down my LDComfort top and it's good well into the 90s, add a heated jacket and I'm comfortable into the high 20s. I hate carrying and donning rain gear so the 'stich checks that box too.

~G
 

twinrider

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Sep 28, 2011
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I have no doubts they would repair the suit for free or a very reasonable price, I would still have to pay for shipping which wouldn't be cheap from Canada. I never fell in love with the Roadcrafter which is why I'm probably going to sell it.

Pretty much everything is made in Asia these days, to varying degrees of quality. The Latitude pants I have sitting around, I think are made in Vietnam. I have bought crappy products that are made in North America, and great stuff that is made overseas. I don't care too much about where it's made as long as it's good.
The Stich is still made in the USA. That combined with the great quality and customer support is enough to keep me a loyal customer. My first suit has lasted 17 years and I still use it for commuting. How many motorcycle riding wear companies can you contact to get a custom fit and directly email the president if you want? Just Aerostich as far as I know.

I don't think it'd cost that much from Canada to Minnesota. Only costs $75 from Japan to there.
 

Madhatter

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Mar 25, 2013
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buda texas
big fan of aerostich…. I have the darian jacket , had two choices regular and lite, chose the regular …. yesterday it was 102 in buda texas, cannot see that a lite version would be any cooler than the one I have , I wanted protection , if I wanted comfort in the heat I would drive my truck. it seems counter intuitive that a jacket like this would keep one cooler but it does insulate you from the outside air ….. you are going to sweat and that's where evaporative cooling comes in . at speed I can feel the air pulling through the jacket and as long as I am hydrated can ride quite along time in the heat. I have been wanting the r-3 , been saving my nickles and dimes so at some point I will buy an r-3 and it will not be the lite version. my neighbor asked me about my jacket (he says he is considering one ) and I said its great , and reminded him another buddy of his wears one too. if you thing being dry is cool you will not like this jacket or suit much , but for me I would not go back to a mesh anything , never felt cool in one , once the sweat was gone just the hot air blasting through the jacket. it will be 106 today , time to saddle up.
 

GearheadGrrrl

Active Member
Joined
Mar 12, 2015
Messages
130
Location
Minnesota, USA
I started with Roadcrafters back in the late 80s and then migrated to Dariens after my second Roadcrafter. Currently on my 3rd Darien and getting due for a 4th... I'm an Aerostitch customer for life. I won a free Klim jacket at a BMW rally, but after I saw them insult and slander american workers on their website I'll have nothing to do with Klim!
 

Longdog Cymru

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Jul 21, 2018
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Swansea, Wales, UK
I bought my ‘Stitch from a guy in Anchorage, yes it’s a long way from Wales, UK, but it was the right size and the colour that I wanted and including shipping, it cost me less than half the price of a new one if I ordered from U.K.. I spoke to Aerostitch first and gave them my measurements and they told me what size I should get. Aerostitch were very helpful considering that I told them that I was buying a pre-owned suit and they assured me I was still eligible for the same customer service as any of their customers.

Anyway, that was about 14 years ago. I still have my ‘Stitch, it is still waterproof, apart from the occasional leak from the zip in the crotch area, (sometimes it leaks, sometimes it doesn’t), but I have worn in in icy weather with a heated jacket underneath and pretty hot summer weather with just a Tee shirt and shorts underneath. Yes, it could be warmer in winter but it is great in summer. I would never wear a mesh jacket or trousers, I feel that they don’t offer the protection that I want, but my ‘Stitch does all I ask. I have toured in it, commuted in it and ridden for pleasure in it and even fallen off in it but 14 years on, it still looks almost as good as new.

A ‘Stitch is an investment, for safety and protection and financially. I have never needed to send my suit back, but it’s good to know that I can if I ever need to.
 
R

RonH

Guest
I've had the Roadcrafter Classic for 11yrs now. Bought it because of John Ryan riding the 5600 miles or whatever from Deadhorse AK, to Key West FL in 3 1/2 days, whatever it was wore the Roadcrafter Classic. The suit works in any weather. Don't know about the R3, don't care either. Tried the Darien Light in a jacket only and it was a total piece of crap, so light is kind of on my reject list from Aerostich forever.
 
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