Transit 3 Waterproof Leather Two Piece Suit

I just thought I would post an update to my review below. My original jacket had the shock cord waist adjustment (1st Gen Jacket). The new jacket has replaced that with d-ring and a leather pull through strip on each side. Very nice update, and a lot more comfortable than the original design.

Thank you Aerostich for making the best leather suit in the world.

This suit is everything Aerostich claims it to be. It's a very substantial piece of leather gear. The pictures online don't do it justice at all. The armor feels great and is secure. The only thing I would change is the connecting zipper, wish it was 360 degree. This is the best suit I have ever owned. Love my Transit. Thanks for making such a fine piece of gear available.

I recently purchased my second Transit suit. My first did a stellar job for over a year, resisting the worst the elements could throw at me. Unfortunately, it met an early demise after a careless motorist t-boned me in traffic. I am happy to say the Transit likely helped reduce my injuries dramatically (no "road rash" at all, armour points protected the pointy bits). Sadly, the suit was effectively trashed, and given the complexity, I can see why they cannot repair it in house.

The crash replacement arrived just in time for my September road trip. I wore that suit for 8 to 10 hours a day for six days from Vancouver, th NoCal and back. Even in the heat of central Cali and southern Oregon, I was comfortable with the rear vent open wide, and the main zip lowered to allow air flow. Comfy indeed.

As to rain proof, yeah it is. I live in Vancouver, BC. We get more rain here in some months than some places will see in an entire year. I commute daily by M/C. I always arrive at my destination bone dry.

The suit's first real trial was a day ride back from Olympia. WA to Vancouver on the I-5 in May of last year. Poured rain the entire way. 5 1/2 hours of PNW downpour. And I stayed dry and warm.

The suit works. And is worth the price. Plus, I think it looks sharp as well. Leathers without having to look like either a Power Ranger or a Pirate. yeah, baby!

The Transit was my fourth riding suit purchase from Aerostich. The first two were two piece Roadcrafters, the first more than twenty years ago. Along the way I picked up a Darien Light in hopes of having something more comfortable to use in the summer, but it really doesn't flow enough air. So when the Transit came along I was anxious to give it a try, especially in the hot summer sun.

I wasn't disappointed. Though a bit heavier than the Roadcrafter, and lots heavier than the Darian Light, the Transit's heft is only noticeable the first few times you put it on. And after more than two years and tens of thousands of miles, I don't notice it at all. At first I missed the large number of pockets from the other 'Stiches, but the Transit has enough pockets to get the job done. In trade I haven't lost anything in the Transit pockets yet because it's easy to check 'em all quickly. The only thing I really miss from the Roadcrafters is the sleeve pocket, which is handy for toll money, but since leaving the San Francisco Bay Area I don't need it and don't miss the commute traffic in the least. The lining in the Transit makes it easy to get on and off, and feels good against my skin if I decide to wear just a T-shirt underneath. With an electric jacket and a wind blocker fleece it'll keep me warm down to freezing. With synthetic shorts, pants, and long sleeve shirt it's comfortable (as long as I'm moving) to over a hundred degrees. I haven't figured out how to keep rain out of my collar yet, but everything else has been bone dry after a day spent in the rain.

I purchased mine large enough to wear pants and several layers of shirts/jackets underneath, so it's a bit baggy on my skinny frame. It won't win me any fashion contests, but that's the Aerostich way. My wife, however, loves the leather, and even likes the fit, especially the pants. I use a Bison Designs Last Chance belt which looks great, is easy to open and close, and may someday come in handy in case I need to rescue myself from going over a cliff.

Only three nits so far: The snap above the pants zipper pulled out of the fabric in the flap because the snap was always stiff and never eased up. The Bison belt keeps the flap in line so I haven't bothered to get that fixed. The left leg zipper is getting bad where it passes the knee. I've tried soap and bees wax to help it along, but it's time for a new zipper. It's been almost a year since the Rider Wearhouse staff commented on repairs here, and I was hoping for some good news but so far nothing. Lastly, no care instructions seem to be available. I've talked to several folks at Rider Wearhouse since the purchase and none of them can be any more specific than "use a quality leather conditioner". One of the things I really valued about my Roadcrafters and Darien is easy repairs and clear instructions on how to keep them clean and waterproof. The Transit is a vast departure from that standard, and for such an expensive purchase, I'm feeling a little anxious at this point. Just today I used saddle soap and a leather conditioning product from Griot's Garage in an attempt to get the bugs off and restore some of the suppleness to the leather. The color has faded on the front and top of the jacket and pants, and the leather near the zipper seams has lost all its color. The Griot's product helped bring some, but not all, of the new look back. It smells good, just like new auto upholstery. Sure hope I didn't screw up the breathe-ability of the perforated leather though.

At the end of the day the real question is "would you buy another Transit suit?" My answer is an unqualified "YES!". It's easily the most versatile riding suit I've ever used, it has a level of protection and padding far above the offerings from BMW, First Gear, etc. and hopefully with proper care it'll be the last suit (unless I "grow" or crash out of it) i'll ever need.

My wife also rides, and wishes there was a version more tailored to the female physique. Since her birthday is next month, I do, too!

This is cool!

I bought the Transit suit a year and a half ago. I live and ride in Malaysia, where the temperature is 88 to 92 degrees, Fahrenheit, everyday. 60% humidity, and monsoon rains, six months a year. I have had a Roadcrafter for five years and love it. When I wanted more abrasion protection, for longer rides and track days, i got the Transit. I love it, not hot at all when on the road and moving. Very dry in the rain, and comfortable. Wouldn't wear it, commuting around town, but great on toll roads and up through the mountains.

I own a 'stich and also the Transit. The'stich is my go to suit for 60-75 degree weather because it is so easy to get into and out of -- and is comfortable. I've used the Transit for bad weather and for long tours as I think it offers more protection, is also comfortable, and so far has really been water proof.

The Transit jacket is just plain difficult to zip to the pants. The zipper is really hard to reach to start it on its way and the zipper tends to stick a lot whether trying to zip it together or going the other way and trying to un zip it. I think work needs to be done to improve the zipper and I certainly wish the zipper weren't so far back there where is it hard to reach and hard to see. Why not have a longer zipper that starts and ends in front of the hips guys?

Compared to the Roadcrafter, the pockets on the Transit are just plain poor. They are small -- can't fit much in them -- and they have some kind of fleece lining -- which makes them really stupidly hard to use with wet hands.

It would be nice if some kind of venting could be built into the jacket that would not spoil the waterproof goodness of the suit. A little venting would really help on hot days.

Having said all that, the suit is really comfortable (except for hot days of course) to wear and I think offers really superior protection. Which is why I use it for touring and for more challenging rides when an unintended separation from the bike is a bit more likely.

Just finished 12 days in Argentina, Chile & Peru and wore the suit everyday. Crossing the Andes in freezing temperatures and 60 to 70 mph winds, I though life would be hell. All I had on was thermal underwear under the pants and a thermal top plus a sweatshirt on top and had no problem with the cold, even after 6 hours. It's amazingly comfortable in almost all weather. Granted, in 85 degrees and sitting at a cafe, yes, it's hot but how often does that happen. I doubt I would ever wear jeans under the pants as it would be too bulky and uncomfortable. The rain never came so can't comment on that but in every other respect, it was worth the cost.

Just completed an 1800 mile trip from Chicago to Las Vegas in my Transit Suit. Wearing REI boxers and T-Shirt underneath, I was a bit warm over 86 degrees in the sun and a bit chilly below 58 at night. Fit and finish are great. The real power of this suit could be seen during a 200+ mile run in Utah through the rain. Not a single drop- unbelievable. Combined with my Alpinestar Durban boots and Tech Road gloves I was completely dry. Worth every cent!

I rode through a torrential thunderstorm today in my Transit and emerged on the other end dry as a bone, though my leather gloves soaked up about a pound of water apiece.

I've been riding 30 years and this Transit suit is the best gear I've ever had. I started out in Vanson and Brooks leathers, switched to an Aerostich Roadcrafter about ten years ago. Wanted to get back to leather about the time the Transit came out. Comfortable, great fit, reasonably cool on a hot day, and awesome in the rain. Another well thought out piece of quality gear from Aerostich.