Just because you’re ready to make a big investment in some quality, long-lasting motorcycle gear doesn’t mean you don’t still appreciate a bargain. We all like getting more for our money, even if we’re already in the mindset to spend more, right? Along those lines, the Rukka Thund-R motorcycle jacket and pants are nearing the end of their lifespans, which means they’re starting to show up on sale. “On sale” is relative, when it comes to quality Rukka gear like this (as I write this, right now at RevZilla the jacket is marked down to $599 from $799 and the pants from $699 to $519), but it makes a good set of gear even more attractive.
If you’re not familiar with Rukka, it’s a company in Finland, a place where motorcyclists have some weather to deal with (though this gear is manufactured in China). Rukka gear is not cheap, but it does tend to be high quality and the combination of the Thund-R pants and jacket live up to the reputation. I’ve spent thousands of miles in this gear over the past half a year and it feels like it’s going to last forever.
I got the gear from RevZilla in May when I was about to travel to Arizona for the press launch of the 2019 Kawasaki Versys 1000 SE LT+. Think Arizona and you think hot, and the first reaction of the gear experts at RevZilla (they decide what I wear, when I’m being photographed for an article) was to send me hot-weather gear. But I knew I needed some seriously weatherproof gear because not only was the intro ride going well up into the mountains to Flagstaff, but I was also riding the Versys home to Ohio, as Kawasaki was letting us keep one for long-term testing.
When I left Flagstaff at dawn to begin the three-day ride home, the Versys’ dash said the temperature was 25 degrees Fahrenheit, and later that day, crossing the Continental Divide in New Mexico, the ground was mostly still covered with snow. The Rukka gear was perfect for a trip that ranged from the 20s to the 70s.
The Thund-R gear is definitely a three-season, cool-weather ensemble. Venting is very minimal on the jacket and non-existent on the pants. The textile exterior is bonded to a Gore-Tex liner for waterproofness and breathability. The jacket also features weather-resistant zippers. They have almost a “rubberized” feel to them, which means it takes a bit more effort to zip them, but they put up at least some resistance to water getting through. Behind the jacket’s main zipper is a rain gutter. Despite having more than 6,000 miles on this gear after using it all spring and then again this fall (it stayed on the hanger all summer, due to the lack of venting), I’ve spent little time in serious rain. But when I did get caught in steady rain, the Thund-R gear kept me dry, despite my doubts about the effectiveness of that single zipper and unsecured rain flap right up the middle of my chest.
I did learn the hard way to be careful to make sure the rain gutter was in the right position. In one shower, I didn’t notice the rain gutter material had gotten folded over. That left me with a wet belly. But other than that one incident of operator error, I stayed dry.
The Thund-R jacket and pants both come with a zip-out 60-gram thermal liner. The liner is lighter than ones you’ll find in some other gear, but I don’t see that as a drawback. On cool days, the liner is sufficient and on the really cold days you can add a mid-layer of your own choice underneath the jacket and liner, or a base layer under the pants and liner.
My first use of the Rukka Thund-R jacket and Thund-R pants was a ride across three time zones from Arizona to Ohio, in temperatures ranging from the 20s to the 70s Fahrenheit. Photo by Kevin Wing.
One distinctive feature of the Thund-R jacket is the high neck. The interior of the collar is lined with a soft corduroy material and atop that is a strip of neoprene. A strap with a hook-and-loop fastener closes the neck. The good part is that the materials feel soft against the neck and the high collar provides more weather protection. It may feel a little too tight, however, for riders who are burly in the neck area.
As mentioned already, in terms of weather protection, the Rukka Thund-R jacket is all about keeping you warm and dry, not about managing hot temperatures. This is not a summer jacket. About the only feature that might be useful for keeping cool are two zippered mesh panels on the sides of the jacket. Two zippers allow you to open these panels from the top, to create an opening for a small amount of airflow, or from the bottom, which also allows for expansion of the waist. The effect is minimal. Realistically, this jacket makes no attempt to be a four-season jacket and I leave it on the gear rack any time temperatures are much above 70 degrees.
The two-way side zippers allow you to open a mesh area to get at least a minor amount of ventilation. Zipping up from the bottom (left) opens the waist. Zipping down from the top (right) keeps the waist snug and allows a little air to enter. The effect is minimal.
But I’m fine with that. I’d rather have two or three jackets that are really good at handling certain temperature ranges and weather conditions and switch back and forth as needed. Other riders prefer to have one jacket that does it all. In my experience, a jacket that tries to be a true four-season jacket usually has a system of multiple removable liners that makes it more complicated than I like and it still ends up being a compromise, in one way or another. Whichever approach you prefer, just know what you’re getting.
The interior of the Rukka Thund-R jacket. The white arrow points to the removable thermal lining, which zips all the way around from the waist to the neck to the waist. The yellow arrow points to the elastic band that carries the zipper for the attachment to the pants. The elastic makes it easier to line up the two zippers, which offer a 270-degree connection.
More features of the Rukka Thund-R jacket
Of course weather protection isn’t the only kind of protection that matters. The Thund-R jacket comes equipped with D3O shoulder and elbow armor that’s very reassuring. For one thing, the pieces of armor are larger than usual. There’s more coverage around the shoulder and the elbow piece extends all the way down the forearm to nearly where a full-gauntlet glove would reach.
I added the Rukka D3O Air Full Back Protector ($69), but for a jacket of this price, I was disappointed a back protector was not included. Are there really that many buyers who purchase a jacket of this quality, price point and level of protection and don’t want a back protector?
In addition to the four patches of high-visibility color on the shoulders of the jacket, there is also some reflective piping along the front of the shoulder and across the back, a reflective pattern on the side of the shoulder and a splash of color and reflectivity in the Rukka logo on the back. If you don’t like high-vis, there’s a black version.
The waist of the jacket has hook-and-loop adjusters and there are snap adjusters on the arms. Once again, I wonder who in this world has arms so much skinnier than mine that they could possibly use the snaps in the tightest of the three positions.
Like the neck, the cuffs of the sleeves close with hook-and-loop fasteners.
The Rukka Thund-R jacket has two zippered handwarmer pockets and a Napolean pocket on both sides, not just one side, like most jackets. Those interior pockets are deeper and roomier than most, too. So deep, it can be hard to reach all the way to the bottom to retrieve small items. On the left side, there’s also a pouch inside the pocket, just right for storing your phone.
Around the waist of the jacket is a 270-degree zipper that attaches to the matching pants. Which brings me to…
Features of the Rukka Thund-R pants
The all-black Thund-R pants share many of the same attributes as the jacket, such as the bonded Gore-Tex lining and the zip-out thermal lining. I like them because they are simultaneously simple yet high in quality.
Like the armor in the jacket, the protection in the Thund-R pants is bigger than most. The hip pads provide more coverage than most and the knee armor extends so far down the shin that it might even overlap with the shin protection on your boots, if you’re wearing tall boots. Rukka also makes it easy to remove the knee armor if you’re washing the pants. There’s an external zipper that allows access to the pocket for the pads, so you’re not fishing around inside the pants leg, trying to get the armor out or back in.
The thermal lining zips around the waist and around the lower legs. There’s also a long zipper that allows you to expand the cuff to fit over boots. Even when zipped, the legs fit over all the boots I have. Rukka also thoughtfully added a tab of hook-and-loop material in both the zipped and unzipped positions, just to keep things tidy.
There’s a gusset behind the fly to keep water out and there are two tabs at the waist with hook-and-loop closures to adjust the fit. In the back, there’s a sturdy elastic section that also helps with the fit and using the 270-degree zipper to attach the Thund-R pants to the jacket also makes the combo more secure and reduces the possibility of drafts. I personally think the shorter rear zipper attachments used by other brands is sufficient, but the waist zipper on the jacket is attached to an elastic material and that ability to stretch makes it not too difficult to attach the jacket and pants.
One of the things I most appreciate about these pants is the comfort of the lining. I have some other waterproof riding pants that stick to my skin when putting them on, especially in warm weather. The liner of the Thund-R pants feels soft against the skin and never sticky, and the same is true for the thermal liner.
There are two features in the seat of the Thund-R pants you might easily overlook. One is a patch of material that’s intended to keep you from sliding around on the seat. It’s just a patch of rough, tacky material. I could do without it, because I like to move around on the bike, but it doesn’t really bother me. The other feature is a thin layer of foam-like material in the seat that is intended to allow airflow and reduce pressure points, keeping you more comfortable on longer rides. Rukka calls it their “Air Cushion System.” Considering that I put 5,403 miles on our Versys 1000 SE LT+ test bike (Arizona to Ohio in three 600-mile-plus days, then to Road America in Wisconsin, and then to RevZilla HQ in Philadelphia) all while wearing this gear, I was grateful for any comfort help I could get.
If you’ve ever fished around inside your pants legs, trying to remove the armor for washing, you’ll appreciate the outside zippered access to the knee armor on the Rukka pants.
I love the simplicity and quality of the Thund-R pants, but the one complaint I have is an area where maybe they are too simple. There is only one, small, zippered pocket on the right side and it is not waterproof. The ample pockets on the jacket partially make up for that lack of pants pockets, but really, only one? I have two hands. Shouldn’t I have two pockets in my pants? At least?
A 12-inch zipper allows the cuff of the Thund-R pants to open wide to accommodate boots. Hook-and-loop fasteners allow for adjustments.
Sizing
The Thund-R jacket and pants are clearly touring gear, but they do not have the blousey cut of some U.S.-made touring gear. Nor do they have the rotated sleeves and trimmer sport cut of gear made for the sport bike riding position. The fit is trim but neutral and natural. I am five feet, 11 inches tall (actual, not the usual exaggerated height most men report) and weigh 175 pounds with a 32-inch inseam and the Euro size 50 jacket and size 50 pants fit comfortably. Those are smaller sizes than I normally wear (my other jackets and track suit are a size 52) so if you’re in doubt or between sizes, I’d recommend going down a size.
Conclusion
After about 6,000 miles of use in the spring, I’ve put the Rukka Thund-R jacket and pants back into service now that the weather has turned cool. I like the feel of quality the gear exudes and I trust it to keep me dry, something that’s far more important when the weather is cold than in the summer. The D3O armor is soft and flexible enough to be comfortable but provides reassuring protection and broader coverage than any other jacket I own or have owned. The comfortably snug fit also adds to confidence that the armor will be in place if needed. Other than my track-day leathers, there’s no other set of gear I own that gives me more of a feeling of being protected in case things go wrong out there on the street.
