Sell me on a Aerostitch....why or not?

[theshnizzle]

So I am kinda in the market for a stitch,I think, but what are the great advantages of a stitch over some of the other offerings out there in one piece suits. Tourmaster has a nice looking one. And what about some of the other adventiure gear, Killamanjaro jackets, matching overpants ect,ect. Not Klim, cause,holy crap, that stuff is expensive,over 1000 for just a jacket.

I guess what I am asking is if you have a stitch,why do you love it? What makes it better than all others out there? Or you had one and you didn't like it at all? I have never had that type of kit and I am hoping to get some feedback,good and bad,before I pull the trigger....or not.....

For reference, I am looking at a Roadcrafter one piece....

[bomber]

I've got a two-piece stich, that was made in 94 (I bought it uses in 02) . . . it works as well as it did when new, if I'm smart about how I arrange it, it'll keep me dry through multi-hour frogstanglers, it allows me to wear damn near anything under it and arrive at work looking office ready, and, if it shrinks again, over the winter, I'll be able to sell it for what I paid for it.

But, really, your mind is already pretty much made up, ins't it?

;-}

[Lawn Dart]

IMO, a search in the Gear forum will give you plenty of reading on this topic!  

The 'Stich is iconic. For 20+ years it's been the standard by which all other textile suits are measured.  I don't think they are the BEST suits on the market in a specific category (other suits may be better fitting, better breathing, etc.), but they certainly are the most versatile.  

I think that's the real pride of the RC:  how incredibly versatile the whole thing is.  There's real value in that.

[hovmaven]

Because it just plain works.  

I've toured in my one piece in single digit, and 3 digit, temps.   Used heated gear for the coldest, stuffed ice in all the pockets for the hottest.

Ridden through more 'freakin monsoons than I care to remember.

Commuted daily to DC -- year round.

Great night visibility.  

Incredibly well put together.

Did I mention that it just plain works?  

[county]

The Aerostitch is expensive and looks kinda gay....

[BwanaDik]

Because it just plain works.  

I've toured in my one piece in single digit, and 3 digit, temps.   Used heated gear for the coldest, stuffed ice in all the pockets for the hottest.

Ridden through more 'freakin monsoons than I care to remember.

Great night visibility.  

Incredibly well put together.

Did I mention that it just plain works?  

+1  I've got a one piece that I bought in 1995.  It looks a little hammered but still works great.  I've had the zippers and Velcro replaced once.  so it's cost me less than $100/yr over the long haul which I think is a pretty good deal.  Also, get the one piece as it only takes a few seconds to put it on and you're not tempted to ride off with just the jacket and jeans.  I got hit once in England and had zero injuries because I wa wearing it.  

The customer service at Aerostitch is second to none.  I had to send my suit back and forth a couple of times before I got exactly the fit I wanted and  the folks there were nothing but helpful.  A real pleasure dealing with them.

[tthompsr]

I've got a one piece Roadcrafter, It's the suit that I go to during the colder part of the season,and like it's been said it just works!

[ridingfar]

Have had one since '99, now has 120k - 150k miles on it.

Pros: versatile, durable, quality, service/support, dry, decent ventilation, average protection but way better than plastic mesh gear

Cons: hot in hot/humid weather, average protection

Summary: huge versatility and one-garment-does-all that is best suited for cold up to less-than-searing temperatures

Options: Lots of quality clones but there's only one 'stitch; MotoPort has a great Kevlar mesh option offering outstanding protection but it requires their waterproof liners - more versatile and cooler in the heat but less flexible than a one-garment-does-all.

Happy hunting!

[theshnizzle]

I have limited funds to buy kit for my trip, I figure its going to be quite difficult to find a used stitch in my size......5'4...125 lbs.....but easier to find heated gear used, in my size. So maybe I will have to spring for a new stitch ( thats on sale on thier site) and just spend the winter waiting for used heated gear to come up for sale...

Thoughts?

[agent9]

Had a two piece stich in the past. This time Teiz is getting my money on either a Power Shell or Lombard one piece. I can't justify, or afford, the price of a roadcrafter anymore with other options out there.

[theshnizzle]

Ineresting....I wondered if anyone had anything kind of negative to say. Yes, I looked at the Teiz,and it looks really nice, but holy......that is WAAAAAY out of my price range. The stitch I am looking at is on sale.

[sleazy rider]

I have limited funds to buy kit for my trip, I figure its going to be quite difficult to find a used stitch in my size......5'4...125 lbs.....but easier to find heated gear used, in my size. So maybe I will have to spring for a new stitch ( thats on sale on thier site) and just spend the winter waiting for used heated gear to come up for sale...

Thoughts?

Cruise thru advrider.com 's for sale section.  I see 'em regularly, even in a smidget size.   

I have one, has about 1ook miles on it in the past four years.  It's going back over the winter for a good cleaning and to have the new waterproof zippers installed.  Mine came to me thru their returns sales.  It was new and only ran me a$650, comapred to new with the mods over $1000.

[theshnizzle]

The other suit I was looking at is a Tourmaster Centurion suit. They have them in XS sizes and the specs actually seem a bit higher than the RC. At a lower pricepoint. From the sizing it looks like the TM may be a tick big  but just a bit, like an inch longer than needs be in the arms and legs. I am wondering how the sizing would be that much different from the TM and the RC?

They are both mens sizes.....the RC being a 36R. mens......

[theshnizzle]

I used the search function!!!! for Tourmaster Centurion suit and nothing came up.

[Orson]

I guess what I am asking is if you have a stitch,why do you love it?

For myself, the answer is two fold...

firstly, as others have mentioned, is its versatility, all-in-oneness. If it starts raining, there is no need to stop.

secondly is its comfort. While seated on the bike, I can hardly tell I'm wearing it  

[bomber]

for a used stich, watch the ads here, anda over on ADVRider . . . also, ebay . . . .

[Jetpilot5]

I had a one piece for several years and sold it.  Everything already said is absolutely accurate.  It's well built, offers decent protection for textile, vents decent, is reasonably warm with layers on and mine didn't leak in the rain.  What I found was the one piece was a PITA once you got off the bike.  While it's quick to take off and on it's an all or nothing proposition.  I would routinely wear shorts under it in the summer so I looked like a complete goof (even worse than usual) wearing boots and shorts going into a restaurant if I took it off, or looked like a skydiver if I left it on.  Stopping on a hot day for gas I usually just left it on but it gets hot quick with no air moving and often left the gas stop sweating hard.

I sold it and went with two piece leathers and a rain suit.  The ability to unzip the jacket and take it off by itself is a feature I need.  If I were to go with the Stich again I would only consider the two piece.  The one piece was great while on the bike, not great when off the bike.

[cbsnbiker]

Here's another way to think about it.

Do you want the ultimate in crash protection? Then get racing-quality leathers.

Do you want the ultimate in waterproof protection? There are other options that are waterproof, or put a rain suit over the aforementioned leathers. The Roadcrafter isn't quite waterproof (and isn't advertised as such).

Do you want gear for hot weather riding? There is specialized gear.

Do you want gear for cold weather riding? There's gear for that.

But do you want an all-around suit, that does everything fairly well, and fits over your street clothing? That's the 'Stich.

Re cost: if you can't afford it, you can't afford it. But if you can afford it, you can amortize it over many years. I used my first 'Stich from '95 until '07 when I was hit by a car. I could have had it repaired, but chose instead to buy a replacement.

I have a one piece 'Stich. It's easy to don and doff.

The Aerostitch is expensive and looks kinda gay....

I know a young woman who thinks I look sexy in mine.    

[hovmaven]

Buy used -- much more affordable.  

[bomber]

Just a data point -- two- piece stich (when zipped together) goes on and off *almost* as easily as a one piece, and seems to be a bit more waterproof in the cratchular area, to boot.