I picked up an Olympia Stealth suit last week for the daily commute. I got the silver (I don't have a yellow 599 any longer). Initial impressions are it that it at least comes with some armor and should be cooler than my perforated leather. It is easy to get into and out of, a minute either way. The fact that I don't have to wear a jacked and protective pants is nice. I just zip it up over the office wear (and boots which I do change) and off I go.

I have ridden with it two work twice. In the mornings it is nice and when I'm moving the air flows pretty well. I haven't broken into a sweat on the way to work in the AM but have felt a bit of the humidity DFW is experiencing. It looks like I will have the chance to see how dry it will keep me this afternoon. I am not holding out much hope for being dry on my torso as all of that mesh that lets air flow will probably let plenty of water in as well. I guess I'll have evaporative cooling as well. :D

So far it is a thumbs up. I had a pair of Olympia overpants when I went down some time ago. The fabric itself held up pretty well except for where my knee made contact. The mesh tore but I don't think the flesh eating concrete made it to the skin there. The armor moved from my knee then but this suit has the armor more to the interior of the knees, which would have helped in my incident. I don't have any plans on testing the protective value any time soon so please don't be expecting a crash report.

Any updates? The mid 90s this week are putting my perforated leathers to the test. Since I do a lot of commuting, a one piece has some appeal!

I was out on my bike Tuesday, BF and I took the bikes up to Blue Goose in Addison. I was breaking into a sweat in my Fieldsheer Mesh jacket :roll:

Now I'm wishing the summer away for fall again!

C-

Any of you venture out during this wind Wednesday? That was wild. :shock: I'm stuck in a cage while I get some stands and tires, but even my car was rockin' during the gusts...

I have an Olympia textile/mesh jacket, and the temp's "okay" while I'm rolling, but traffic lights suck.

I don't know how it was over there, but I was blowing around a bit on the interstate today. I've definitely been in worse, though.

I still sweat with the Phoenix 4, especially in traffic, but I've usually got a polo and undershirt for work as well. I sweated just the same last summer when my squidly ass was riding around without the jacket, though, so I still feel no inclination to go without.

Yeah. I've been riding all week up until today. Yesterday sucked complete ass. 30mph gusts can just kiss my butt. I could feel the rear tire sliding all around the place. This morning, running late, I decided that I didn't have the patience to deal with it. :P

I'm wearing my full gear - Dainese Laguna Seca Leather jacket, Olympia Airglide tex/mesh overpants, boots and gauntlets. Same thing. It's not bad at speed, but sitting at lights (Highway 121 anyone?!) for 15 minutes makes me a sad man by the time I get home. I'm actually very surprised that I'm not a lot MORE uncomfortable. At the very least, the need for a tinted versus sunglasses has become quite apparent.

At the very least, the need for a tinted versus sunglasses has become quite apparent.

Just got a tinted screen for my Shoei. "Only" $40. It's really not that dark, though, so I've been wearing sunglasses with it anyway. 8)

Just got a tinted screen for my Shoei. "Only" $40. It's really not that dark, though, so I've been wearing sunglasses with it anyway. 8)
What I'm thinking of doing is getting a dark smoke screen and adding a sunblocker strip to the top - http://www.2wf.com/content/view/1583/45/ . Might make the smoke one too dark, but I can always remove it and pop it in the clear visor. Decisions decisions.

Interesting. I'm really sensitive to light, so I could probably use a full-visor version... :D I wonder if anyone has tried buying DIY limo tint film from Wal-Mart and wrapping their whole visor?

I've got a tinted for my RF-1000. The fact that the phoenix jacket has a visor pocket is a big plus for me.

Sweating at lights is a given. The road absorbs the sun and you're surrounded by cars spewing out heat. Getting up to 30 mph feels so good as the evaporation kicks in.

I was tired of changing from Rx glasses to Rx sunglasses and bought a silver mirror visor for my RF-1000. If I plan to ride until it's dark, I put the clear in my backpack.

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/9799/lidto4.jpg

I really wanted a mirrored shield for my helmet until I remembered my scratched up mirrored sunglasses. One of the roads on my commute is heavy construction, so scratching is nearly guaranteed. That and the money I save on getting smoke versus mirrored can pay for an anti-fog insert AND a sunblocker. Or any of the 900 other things I want to pick up.

But it looks so good!

I have ridden with the suit most of the past two weeks. Is it as comfortable as driving in air conditioning? No way. I rode in the wind that we've been having for what, seems like forever, and when the gusts weren't influencing my lane position it was great to have the breeze.

I work in a shirt and tie office so the convenience is great. I put my boots on and shoes in my luggage and change office into shoes when I get to work. I have been taking off the shirt and tie and riding in a tshirt under the suit on the way home.

It is incredibly convenient, in or out in about two minutes. I am considering finding a tailor to add some strapping to the knee area to hold the armor in place. The elbow has such straps but not the knee. The suit flows very much like the Olympia pants I used to have.

I like that the legs velcro closed around my boots. On my riding jeans I made the mistake of buying the same inseam I usually wear. When mounted the jeans ride up around my boots, only a problem really when it is colder outside. These don't ride up as much because I can velcro the pants down tight.

When or if I have the money I may eventually upgrade to a Motoport suit but for the price they are asking I could get several of the Olympia suits.

I hope I don't have an opportunity to test the protective quality of the suit. I had a similar set of pants and I like the armor placement in the knees better on the suit. It places the armor to the inside of my knee, which is what made contact before.

When moving the air flows pretty good through the suit. I rode home yesterday about 5 and the only part that was damp when I got home was under the back armor. That was low 90's with some heat index on top of that.

It has 6 pockets I think. Two hip pockets, two on the chest and two in the interior. One is a cell phone pocket closed with velcro and the others zip closed. The ones on the chest would probably inhibit wind flow if something large and solid were placed within.

I hold no illusion that the suit is as protective as leathers. I didn't get the chance to rain test it but since wind flows through the suit so well I am certain the water will as well.

So far I am happy with the purchase. I have incredibly convenient protection I can don in minutes and hang up when I get to the office. I figure I save about $4 a day riding instead of driving. The suit should pay for itself by the end of the summer.

So far I am happy with the purchase. I have incredibly convenient protection I can don in minutes and hang up when I get to the office. I figure I save about $4 a day riding instead of driving. The suit should pay for itself by the end of the summer.
Awesome writeup! It looks like an outstanding alternative to the Aerostich offerings and at a great price. I agree with many of your points on the Olympia pants - I'd like the knee armor to be a bit more secure. How long is your commute?

So far I am happy with the purchase. I have incredibly convenient protection I can don in minutes and hang up when I get to the office. I figure I save about $4 a day riding instead of driving. The suit should pay for itself by the end of the summer.
Awesome writeup! It looks like an outstanding alternative to the Aerostich offerings and at a great price. I agree with many of your points on the Olympia pants - I'd like the knee armor to be a bit more secure. How long is your commute?

Around 18 miles each way. I take the surface streets because it is just as quick as the tollway for my commute.

Around 18 miles each way. I take the surface streets because it is just as quick as the tollway for my commute.
Very comparable, then. Whelp, so much for saving money and not buying more gear! :D

Around 18 miles each way. I take the surface streets because it is just as quick as the tollway for my commute.
Very comparable, then. Whelp, so much for saving money and not buying more gear! :D

Just consider it your civic duty and spend your stimulus check. :) If that's already gone just consider yourself a model consumer, uh, citizen.