Nikwax

Re: Nikwax

feeds@yuku.com (Fredrider) — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 11:07:34 GMT

Duke,

This was the first time I ever washed that gear in the washing machine. Previously I had always handwashed them in the bath tub. I probably could still have handwashed the TX.Direct Wash-In into the jacket and pants, but I wanted the washing machine to really do a thorough job of it. Yes, the fabrics could have turned out softer just due to the washing machine instead of from the Nikwax products.

Andy,

After Tour Master replaced my supposedly waterproof...

Re: Nikwax

feeds@yuku.com (dukey33) — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 08:43:33 GMT

Fred,
could the softer feel of the material just be a result of going thru the washing machine?
Had you ever washed these garments previously?

I don't know what long term effects there might be, but if you look on some other chat boards like adventure rider and pashnit, you will find there are plenty of riders that use Nikwax on their riding gear and none have reported anything bad as a result. Given a lack of funds, facility and expertise to perform a series of tests,...

Re: Nikwax

feeds@yuku.com (CleRider) — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 07:32:14 GMT

Hey Fred,

Smart a$$ answer #37... you're not supposed to put rain gear on a muffler

Just saw a full page ad in this months AMA magazine for Tour Master gear. Sealer nylon which should be lighter than a rubberized coating. High collar and a covered, zippered connection to the pants.

Re: Nikwax

feeds@yuku.com (Fredrider) — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 03:59:30 GMT

Duke,

Thanks for all the informative details. On garments it seems that Nikwax products actually significantly soften the fabric. Most riding gear is somewhat stiff, not so anymore with my Tour Master Cortech pants which I treated along with my well-worn, thread-bare First Gear Kenya jacket. Have you noticed this? Are there any long-term detrimental effects of a softer, ballistic fabric? It probably still provides the same abrasion protection, but since it is so pliable it feels...

Re: Nikwax

feeds@yuku.com (dukey33) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 23:00:38 GMT

Most anything not made of natural materials (leather, cotton, wool, etc) will melt on hot surfaces. Exceptions would be Nomex, Kevlar and other synthetics specifically developed to resist heat.

Fred, the Nikwax waterproofing lasts about 4 months depending on how much use/abuse the garment gets. If you use it everyday, I'd guess it will be good for about a month.

Frogg Toggs use DriPore which is described to be very similar to Gore-tex. Since the patent on Gore-tex ran...

Re: Nikwax

feeds@yuku.com (Fredrider) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:45:21 GMT

Thanks for the tip Andy. A few years ago I was put off by Frogg Toggs, because they were not motorcycle oriented. At that time, they did not have covers over the zippers. They did not have watertight closures on the sleeve ends or around the neck. They looked like they would flap in the wind and they did not have any reflective material. Now they seem to have all that. I heard they will melt on the muffler, but I need to give them another look.

Re: Nikwax

feeds@yuku.com (CleRider) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 12:29:42 GMT

Fred,

Only 8.5 years out of one jacket??? I'd say, you certainly got your monies worth.

When you start looking for a replacement set of rain gear... I'm a walking, talking ad for Frogg Toggs. Their made with Gortex, making them lightweight, waterproof and breathable (if there is such a word).

My old Nelson Rigg rubberized gear was definitely waterproof but very hot to wear. I would only pull them out in the heaviest of rain (usually too late to stay...

Re: Nikwax

feeds@yuku.com (Fredrider) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 11:35:34 GMT

Andy,

I already know the outcome of my wife spraying my First Gear Kenya jacket with a hose, even though she has not done it. After the jacket dried I picked it up and looked at it. Previously it had always felt stiff to me, but after being washed twice, first with Nikwax Tech Wash and then with TX. Direct Wash-In, I find it is not only soft (as are the Tour Master Cortech pants I also treated), it is thread-bare in spots and three seams have opened up in four places typically for...

Re: Nikwax

feeds@yuku.com (alepel) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 07:18:43 GMT

I agree Fred.....the ride home from Americade in 2006 was not only wet but very very cold. For all intents and purposes it felt like winter coming down out of the Adirondacks. And the irony of it is in 2007 it was just the opposite. Coming out of the Adirondacks last year it was warm and sunny. An absolutely gorgeous ride. But somewhere down in the "flat lands" it turned about 20 degrees colder and grey and overcast. It was wierd. We ran into some riders who were going up on a...

Re: Nikwax

feeds@yuku.com (Fredrider) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:43:15 GMT

Andy,

That's why I need good rain gear. I don't want a rainstorm to stop my fun when it's road trip time, but coming back from Americade in 2006 I did have to stop riding in the middle of the afternoon. My feet were cold and wet. My shirt was also cold and wet. Rain had dripped down past the high collar on my Nelson-Rigg rain jacket. I gotta start plugging the leaks!

Re: Nikwax

feeds@yuku.com (alepel) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 12:15:23 GMT

CleRider wrote:
- I'm sure you could convince Yvonne to pull out the garden hose and spray you down while sitting on your bike in the driveway...

Re: Nikwax

feeds@yuku.com (CleRider) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 11:47:05 GMT

Fred,

I've used the Nikwax products in the past. Not the clothing waterproofing products, but the boot conditioners and tent seam sealers. Also, REI has a great reputation as an outfitter and, in my opinion, only sells quality products.

As I read your post I could only think of two things:

- I'm sure you could convince Yvonne to pull out the garden hose and spray you down while sitting on your bike in the driveway...
- Last summer, sitting in...

Re: Nikwax

feeds@yuku.com (Fredrider) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 11:26:41 GMT

On Sat. I rode about 45 minutes in the rain. For the first time since I bought my First Gear Kenya jacket my arms got wet. So Sun. I went over to REI and bought some Nikwax Tech Wash and Nikwax TX.Direct Wash-In. First I washed my First Gear Kenya jacket and Tour Master Cortech pants in our washing machine with the Nikwax Tech Wash to get all of the dirt out of those garmets without hurting any waterproof aspects of the same, then I washed them a second time in the washing machine with...

Re: Nikwax

feeds@yuku.com (Fredrider) — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 20:49:12 GMT

Duke, I did visit a local REI store yesterday and that store did have Nikwax' TX.Direct. I think I will give it a try.

Fred

Re: Nikwax

feeds@yuku.com (Fredrider) — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 20:27:11 GMT

Duke, I know there is a lot of truth to your statement about what bike and set-up a person is riding as to whether they get wet or not. My brother bought the same TourMaster Cortech pants and never got wet wearing them when he was behind the fairing of his '84 Gold Wing. Now that he rides a '03 VTX 1800R I will have to ask him what he thinks of those pants.

On the other hand, even though I have a very large windshield on my T, not all of my body is out of the windstream. My arms...

Re: Nikwax

feeds@yuku.com (alepel) — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 16:23:28 GMT

To make my ride in the rain to the Americade last year, I resorted to wearing a rainsuit I bought from Cabela's for hunting. It was a bit of a joke because it was a camo style pants and jacket. It was two piece with a 3/4 length jackets. I felt foolish wearing it but I was hoping to keep warm and dry with them. I was facing a three and a half hour drive and I wasn't about to cancel this trip.

I've got to tell you I was, well...

Re: Nikwax

feeds@yuku.com (dukey33) — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 01:49:48 GMT

Fred,
If there's one thing I have learned about product reviews from other riders, it is the type of bike they are riding will greatly influence their experience.

A rider on a fully faired wing or K12LT will find their gear warm and waterproof while another rider on a 620 Monster will say the same exact gear is cold and absolutely not waterproof.

In any case, insofar was waterproofing goes, the chemical treatments to the surface textile is only the first line of defense...

Re: Nikwax

feeds@yuku.com (Fredrider) — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 23:56:15 GMT

Duke,

I have had two pairs of Cortech pants which TourMaster swears are waterproof. TourMaster even wanted me to send my second pair in so they could inspect them and waterproof them again. I had lost faith in them and did not bother to take their offer. Those pants and also the ones they replaced at their expense would get soaked and also soak my work pants underneath even riding on dry roads if I happened to be riding through mist or fog. It was not only the seems that leaked,...

Re: Nikwax

feeds@yuku.com (dukey33) — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 23:38:48 GMT

I've used their Techwash product and the Tx.Direct Wash-in re-waterproofing product. They were both very good products in my opinion and did what they claimed. However, I have never tried using their other products to waterproof something that was not originally.

If your Cortech pants are leaking at a seam, I don't think these products will fix that, but McNett SeamGrip seam sealer is supposed to be an excellent product and should do a good job there.

Look in your local...

Re: Nikwax

feeds@yuku.com (mktobob) — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 18:46:52 GMT

Looks like this product is available at Cabela's. Oh my, I guess I will just HAVE to go there and get some! Bob

Nikwax

feeds@yuku.com (Fredrider) — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 04:16:16 GMT

Anybody try this product to waterproof their riding gear?

www.nikwax.co.uk/en-us/ac...OTORBIKING

My TourMaster Cortech riding pants have never been waterproof nor even close to water resistent despite the claims of the manufacturer. One owner of Cortech pants says they can be made waterproof by washing them in Nikwax. I am just wondering if...