Motorcycle Clothing Reviews
Helite Adventure Airbag Jacket Preview
Helite Airbag Technology in a Jacket webBikeWorld readers may remember our Helite “Airnest” Airbag Vest review. There are now three good news items to report: first, Helite products are now available in the U.S.A. Second, Helite has expanded (pun!) the lineup, with the new Helite Adventure Airbag Jacket (review). And third, Helite has partnered with Held to …
Warmthru Heated Motorcycle Gloves Review
Leather and Heat for Winter Bikers This latest version of the Warmthru battery heated gloves are specifically designed for motorcycling. The new all-leather outer shell feels thick and supple. The interior fabric is soft and comfortable and the gloves feature a Hipora waterproof breathable membrane liner. The gloves proved waterproof in the webBikeWorld “Bucket Test”. The gloves …
Held Air N Dry Gloves Review
The Held Version of the Dual Chamber Glove The Held Air N Dry gloves have an excellent overall construction. They also have the “dual chamber” design we’ve seen before. But this time, it’s a Gore-Tex waterproof chamber on top and a perforated leather chamber on the bottom. That does seem to us as reversed from …
Pilot Slate Air Jacket and Vanguard Air Vest Review
Mix-and-Match Mesh Jacket and High-Viz Vest Like the Pilot Visto Air high-visibility jacket I reviewedrecently, the even simpler Pilot Slate Air jacket works as advertised. It is a comfortable and well-made mesh-based high-air-flow garment and costs just $99.99. Large sections of “Pilotex” micro-mesh fabric provide the ventilation. Strong and durable sections of 600 denier textile with …
Racer Traveller Gloves Review
Waterproof Gloves for Women and Men The Traveller gloves strike a good balance of protection and comfort in a touring style glove. The mcFIT liner system adds comfort and ensures that the gloves remain waterproof. In case you’re wondering, the word “Traveller” is the British spelling of the word, which means “someone who is traveling …
Racer Grip Gloves Review
Street/Sport Gloves With Style They have protection for the aggressive street rider and they offer more protection than most commuting or touring gloves. This makes them a good all-around pair of motorcycle gloves that offer a good balance of protection and comfort. SuperFabric and CE certification, along with a proper gauntlet and wrist closure instill …
Pilot Visto Air Jacket Review
A High-Viz Mesh Jacket Value The Pilot Visto Hi-Viz Jacket is a near clone of the Pilot Direct Air jacket we reviewed in June 2014, but with one significant difference: the visibility factor. Instead of the strategically placed hi-viz insert panels used on the Direct Air, the Visto jacket is (almost) completely made up of high-visibility textile and …
Held Sambia Gloves Review
The Gloves of August Excellent quality hot-weather gloves with a touch of kangaroo leather and Superfabric. Not the ultimate in protection, but perhaps enough to satisfy. As always with summer gloves, there’s a compromise between ventilation and safety. Held USA is under new management by SCHUBERTH USA. Seems a bit strange but makes a bit of sense also, …
REV’IT! Jersey and Philly Jeans Review
The Perfect Compromise of Safety and Style? The REV’IT! Jersey and Philly jeans hit the formula just right, with style, comfort and performance. They’re made from Cordura Denim with Coolmax. The wear points have an extra layer of the special REV’IT! “PWR | shield” abrasion protection. This forms an extra layer in the seat and …
Klim Induction Gloves Review
Protection? Comfort? Ventilation? Check. While not perfect, the Klim Induction gloves offer a winning combination of protective features, comfort and feel and hot weather ventilation. This combination does come at a price, but still provides good value for the money spent. Compromises. Most hot weather or “Summer” motorcycle riding gear will be a study in …
Joe Rocket Phoenix Ion Jacket Review
Let’s Reflect on This Mesh Jacket The Joe Rocket Phoenix Ion Jacket is a variant of the long-running and ever-popular Joe Rocket Phoenix mesh jacket (review). Our feeling is that there’s not all that much difference between the standard Phoenix jacket and the Phoenix Ion version. There is one thing though: the “INNOLITE” reflective coating on …
AGV Sport Gallant Gloves Review
AGV Sport “Gallant” Leather Gloves The AGV Gallant gloves are also new to the 2015 lineup. They’re another all leather type with no perforations or vents. The Gallant gloves are a close cousin to the AGV Spirit gloves described in Part 1 of this review. Where the Spirit gloves have a glossy leather exterior, the Gallant gloves …
AGV Sport Spirit Gloves Review
AGV Sport “Spirit” Leather Gloves The AGV Sport Spirit gloves are new for 2015. They’re all leather with no perforations or vents and the leather is a light- to mid-weight type. AGV Sport lists these as “mid length” and that’s about right. The gauntlet is neither too short nor too long. They’re lined along the top and unlined …
Knox Zero 2 Gloves Review
No Liner Needed for Cold and Wet Weather If you’re looking for high-quality, full-featured motorcycle gloves for cold and wet weather, I have a pair for your consideration. The Knox Zero 2 gloves — revised and renamed from an earlier version — are windproof, waterproof, insulated and protective. And they still provide a good amount of dexterity …
Dainese D-Explorer Pants Review
The Dainese Modular Ventilation System Continued The Dainese D-Explorer pants are the perfect match for the Dainese D-Explorer jacket (review). As with the Dainese Teren pants (review), these would also make an excellent choice for all-season use with other types and brands of jackets. The pants have the unique Dainese “Modular Flap System” with a two-level adjustable …
REV’IT! Dominator GTX Jacket Review
Master the Elements With the REV’IT! Dominator GTX The brand-new REV’IT! Dominator GTX is the Netherlands-based company’s highest-spec jacket yet. While other top-of-the-line REV’IT! jackets are aimed at the 80/20 touring/adventure market, the Dominator GTX flips the ratio. That means the Dominator GTX is designed to compete with the likes of the Rukka Armaxis (review) and others in price …
Dainese D-Explorer Jacket Review
The Perfect All-Season 3/4-Length Adventure Touring Jacket? Just when you thought that every possible iteration of the classic 3/4-length motorcycle jacket had been done, along comes the Dainese D-Explorer. This may just well be the “perfect” all-season, all-around, touring, dual-sporting and adventure-touring outfit you’ll find. Or should we append a “yet” to that sentence? If it …
Bull-it Jeans Review
Bull-it SR6 Jeans With Covec Lining The Bull-it jeans are now distributed and sold in the U.S.A. Bull-it jeans feature the special Covec Ltd. abrasion-resistant non-melting “Technical Textiles” liners The jeans are claimed to be tested to meet CE Level 1 for the SR6 jeans. This makes them one of the more protective motorcycle jeans …
Joe Rocket Crew Jacket Review
Moto Style, Technology for Winter Street Adventures The Joe Rocket Crew Cold Weather Jacket (the official name) brings motorcycle clothing technology to the street. I’ve been wearing mine this winter and it does an excellent job at keeping Mr. Freeze under control. The styling is what might be called “sport adventure” that suits just about …
Richa Arctic Gloves Review
Waterproof, Warm and Protective Winter Gloves If you’re looking for winter motorcycle gloves that won’t break the bank but will do everything a more expensive pair will, then it’s time to look at the Richa Arctic gloves. I have been wearing them over the past two months and have found them to be waterproof and …
REV’IT! 2015 Spring/Summer Clothing
A New Year Brings New Gear and REV’IT! Updates I’ve been closely following REV’IT! since the Netherlands-based company first started selling motorcycle clothing in the U.S. over a decade ago. This has provided me with a unique perspective in learning how the various products evolve over time. For example, the original REV’IT! Cayenne jacket (review) from 2005 …
Bull-it Roadster and Carbon Jacket Review
Denim Jackets With CE-Rated Protection The Bull-it Carbon and Roadster jackets are an excellent blend of casual looks and tough protection. Neither jacket gives away its function as protective gear, as the styling of both jackets is subdued. In fact, if the protectors were removed, I see no reason that these jackets couldn’t be used …
Joe Rocket “Rocket Burner” Gloves Review
Inexpensive Instant Heat The Joe Rocket “Rocket Burner” gloves are new for the winter of 2014. These are textile gloves with a “stainless core heating system” pumping out 3 levels of near-instant heat where it counts — on top of the fingers and thumb. The gloves are also claimed waterproof, with a Hipora liner. But one didn’t …
Teknic Cyclone
Teknic Cyclone Jacket & Pants Review Every once and a while, someone comes up with a completely new way of doing things with an idea, a strategy or a product that immediately sets them apart from the crowd. In business terms, it’s called “jumping the curve”, a phrase that, as far as I know, was …
Rukka Armaxis Jacket Review
Ultimate 3-Season Protection With the Rukka Armaxis The Rukka Armaxis is the Finnish company’s latest ultra-spec, Super DeLuxe, Armageddon-inspired deluge-avoidance protection system. It’s also a three-season motorcycle jacket! The Armaxis is loaded with the current state-of-the-art fabrics and technology available for motorcycle jackets. For example, it includes the Gore-Tex Pro Shell With Armacor (Report), which is guaranteed waterproof. It …
Rukka Imatra Gloves Review
Gore-Tex and Outlast Reporting for Winter Duty The Rukka Imatra gloves pretty much have it all. Gore-Tex? Check. That means they’re 100% guaranteed waterproof. Leather? Check. Nice ‘n’ soft. Doubled on the middle knucks. Knuckle protection? Check. Nice big carbon fiber unit over the mains and TPU cover the first three fingers. Scaphoid palm slider? Check. Secure …
IXS Motorcycle Clothing 2015
IXS Swiss Motorcycle Fashion Coming to the U.S.A. October 21, 2014 – In what could be one of the most interesting reveals at the 2014 AIMExpo show, IXS Motorcycle Fashion announced its U.S. introduction. The IXS brand is owned by Hostettler AG, a large Swiss-based, 100-year-old family-owned company. Hostettler AG is the Yamaha importer for Switzerland …
REV’IT! Safeway Belt Review
Ingenious REV’IT! Safeway Connector Belt The REV’IT! Safeway belt was first introduced on webBikeWorld in the REV’IT! 2014 Fall/Winter preview. The Safeway belt connector is a simple device that slides over the leather belt and adds a connector that fits any REV’IT! jacket. Not only is it simple and easy to use, the design is ingenious …
Fieldsheer Adventure Tour Jacket Review
Fieldsheer Is Back With The Adventure Tour Outfit Fieldsheer is back! Remember them? The Fieldsheer brand is owned by the U.S.-based Helmet House distributor and sales are focused on the U.S. market. The company disappeared off the radar screens for a few years but as it turns out, they’ve been secretly cooking some hot stuff in their …
BMW Boulder Neon Jacket Review
Wake ‘Em Up With the “Neon” Version of the Boulder 2 Jacket Can you see me now? If you miss seeing me on the road when I’m wearing this hi-viz neon garment then there is truly something wrong. Even at night, the minimalistic but strategically placed retro-reflective strips cannot be missed when illuminated. Even the BMW Motorrad …
REV’IT! Memphis H20 Jeans Review
REV’IT! Memphis H20: World’s First Waterproof Jeans? The REV’IT! Memphis H20 jeans have a Hydratex 3L (3 Layer) waterproof liner bonded to the inside of the denim. A full-length internal mesh liner adds comfort on the inside. But the Memphis H20 jeans do not have a full-length abrasion-resistant Kevlar or other type of lining. The …
Fieldsheer Adventure Tour Pants Review
Versatile Pants Are A Match for Any Jacket The new Fieldsheer Adventure Tour jacket (review) has a pair of matching pants. No surprise there! The pants are made from the same Fieldsheer-developed 500 denier Maxtena-Pro outer shell — “heavy duty” stuff. With a different approach and to simplify the on/off process, the Exkin Air insulating liner is …
Moto-Skiveez Review
Moto-Skiveez Motorcycle Underwear Moto-Skiveez are underwear for motorcycle riding designed by a competitive motorcyclist. Moto-Skiveez have a nice design and construction that should work well for many riders, off-road, touring, sport or street riding. Most motorcycle riders at one time or another have had to deal with the issue of on-bike comfort. Most motorcycles are …
REV’IT! Flatbush Jacket Review
REV’IT! Flatbush Jacket: Urban Street Style With Protection The REV’IT! Flatbush jacket is a modern take on a motorcycle classic. It is made from a soft and supple full grain cowhide with an “understated simple” design theme. But underneath that unadorned exterior lies SAS-Tech shoulder and elbow “armor” for serious protection. The Flatbush jacket can also fit …
Tucano Urbano Calamaro Gloves Review
Tucano Urbano “Calamaro” Gloves Review It is seldom the season for mesh gloves in London; mine get so little wear I’ve been using the same ones since 2005. But occasionally it is time for something a little lighter, so I gave the Tucano Urbano Calamaro a try. With their leather palm and light textile upper, they looked …
Racer Queens Gloves Review
Racer “Queens” Women’s Leather Motorcycle Gloves The Racer Queens gloves are made from black goat leather with a light pink liner. The design is feminine with functionality at its heart. Right from the package, the gloves fit well and have remained comfortable. While not without some shortfalls, the Queens gloves represent good value, like most …
Dainese Veleta Gloves Review
Dainese “Veleta” Gore-Tex X-TRAFIT Waterproof Gloves The Dainese Veleta gloves are an interesting new design for 2014. The design is a successful mashup of features cribbed from motocross, adventure-touring and street touring gloves. The Veleta gloves passed the webBikeWorld “Bucket Test” with flying colors; that is, they’re completely waterproof, due to the Gore-Tex 3-layer X-TRAFIT …
Forcefield Pro and Sport Lite Back Protector Insert Review
Forcefield Pro and Sport Lite Back Protector Inserts Forcefield has added the Sport Lite line of Level 1 back protector inserts to their product lineup. Also, the Forcefield Pro back protector insert is now available in eight different sizes (up from 6) to fit a variety of motorcycle jackets. The Forcefield Pro back protector inserts …
