Olympia Gear

[creggur]

What do you guys/gals think about the quality of Olympia gear? Coming from sport bikes I have always worn full leather gear (perforated for the Florida heat) but it's time for some new stuff and have been looking closely at the Olympia Nomad jacket and MotoX pants.

http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/olympia-nomad-jacket

http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/olympia-x-moto-pants

With the tuck-away mesh covers and included liners it looks like actual three to three-and-a-half season gear (or maybe four season) here in the south. I have no experience with textile/mesh and want to get something that will handle the heat, work better off road than leather, but without compromising protection any more than necessary.
These pieces seem to be what I'm looking for and are at a price point I can live with if the quality is there.

Thanks in advance for any input...

 

[Spider]

I haven't bought Olympia gear for nine years, because I'm still wearing the Olympia jackets (one leather for up to 70 degrees, one mesh for warmer) that I bought in 2003. One of these two jackets has been with me on every ride since then without any issues, very comfortable and well-made. If their new stuff is like their old stuff, I highly recommend it.

Good luck!

G

 

[Buckeye71]

I ordered a Nomad from Revzilla a couple of months ago and really like it so far. I'm really curious to see how well the jacket will vent later in the summer once the temps creep up into the 90's, but it was comfortable in the low 80's with the all the vents open. With the insulated liner in I was able to ride comfortably with temps in the 40's.
I like it enough that I will be ordering the matching X-moto pants here in the near future.

 

[Venture]

I have a few pieces of Olympia gear. An Airglide 2 jacket, Airglide 2 pants, and Ranger 2 pants. I'm very happy with all of them.

The only caution I would give is that the fit of the jackets can vary greatly with and without the liners in. Try and consider that when you determine your purpose for the jacket (mainly summer riding or truly a combination of hot and cold). If you can, try and buy from a local dealer so you can check the fitment, which also varies greatly across the range of jackets.

 

[elizilla]

I haven't tried any of their mesh, but I have their AST jacket and whatever the matching pants are. Best textile gear I have ever owned. I'd buy some of their mesh if any of it fit me.

Edited to add: Venture speaks truth about the fit. But the other thing about the fit is that the Olympia stuff is American-sized. You can wear the size you would wear in street clothes. My Olympia pants are the same size as my Levis, and I didn't have to take the armor out to squeeze into them.

 

[fredz43]

My dealer sells Olympiaa gear and I have admired the looks and apparent quality. Last year, I decided that I wanted their 3/4 length Moab mesh jacket. I wanted hi viz, but our store only had other colors and only in the previous model of 3/4 mesh jacket, I forget the model name, but the Moab is the replacement for it. I tried on the ones we had and couldn't decide which size I needed. I am 5' 11" 185 pounds and wear a Large in the several Tourmaster jackets I have. Olympia's size chart said I should take a Large. However, the Large's I tried on were too short in sleeve length. The XL's had the right sleeve length, but were too big in the body. I called Olympia and talked to the Co-Owner and she said I should take a Large and I was the same size as her husband, who is the model in their catalogs. She said she would send a Large and XL in Hi Viz and I could send back the one that didn't fit.

When they got here I was really pleased with the look and the hi viz color. However, it was the same story, the Large's sleeves were too short and the XL had correct sleeve length, but the chest fit like a bag. So, I sent them both back and had to pay shipping both ways and it cost me $20 to find out that Olympia sizes do not work for me. I later tried a Large waist length Olympia that we had in stock and it was the same problem, sleeves were too short.

 

[MurphCO]

Do these jackets that you all are talking about have armor?

 

[elizilla]

That's my story with the Olympia mesh, too, but I don't really blame them for it - I'm 5'11", NO women's fit jacket has ever had long enough sleeves for me. I'm wearing a men's medium AST, which fits me because it has hip gussets. The men's mesh jacket doesn't have those details at the hips, so I can't wear it. The women's jacket sleeves are the usual two inches too short. It's too bad - I really like some of those jackets. But I guess it's better to not fit mesh jackets very well, than to not fit a Super10.

And yes, the jackets have armor, and it actually stays where it is supposed to, which is the basic minimum requirement I have which most commodity gear fails to meet.

 

[Big Blu]

I've got several pieces of Olympia gear, good stuff and wears well. Last year I got the Aairglide 3 jacket, color TOXIC..... VERY HI VIZ, but the sleeves could be longer then it would be perfect!

Regards, Paul

 

[Venture]

And yes, the jackets have armor, and it actually stays where it is supposed to, which is the basic minimum requirement I have which most commodity gear fails to meet.

Also, they are one of the few manufacturers that put a decent CE rated articulated back protector right from the factory. Most others put i a junky foam pad and cal it good, not Olympia.

 

[pteppic]

I've had an AST in hi-viz for about 4 years. It's great equipment, but they're really missing it by not offering tall sizes. I had to settle for a 2XL to get the sleeve length I need. When it's cold I have to add a vest to fill out the extra air space in the body.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk

 

[SisuTen]

My wife and I have had Olympia textile gear for 3 seasons. No complaints and looks good. I'm not sure how you would design a textile jacket that didn't get a little baggy when you pull the liner, unless you fitted very tight with the liner in. The gear is very comfortable, and with my shape no amount of tailoring could help.

I'll take function over form no matter what. I have Caribou Cases. That should tell you something.

Paul

 

[jajpko]

My dealer sells Olympiaa gear and I have admired the looks and apparent quality. Last year, I decided that I wanted their 3/4 length Moab mesh jacket. I wanted hi viz, but our store only had other colors and only in the previous model of 3/4 mesh jacket, I forget the model name, but the Moab is the replacement for it. I tried on the ones we had and couldn't decide which size I needed. I am 5' 11" 185 pounds and wear a Large in the several Tourmaster jackets I have. Olympia's size chart said I should take a Large. However, the Large's I tried on were too short in sleeve length. The XL's had the right sleeve length, but were too big in the body. I called Olympia and talked to the Co-Owner and she said I should take a Large and I was the same size as her husband, who is the model in their catalogs. She said she would send a Large and XL in Hi Viz and I could send back the one that didn't fit.

When they got here I was really pleased with the look and the hi viz color. However, it was the same story, the Large's sleeves were too short and the XL had correct sleeve length, but the chest fit like a bag. So, I sent them both back and had to pay shipping both ways and it cost me $20 to find out that Olympia sizes do not work for me. I later tried a Large waist length Olympia that we had in stock and it was the same problem, sleeves were too short.

I've tried Olympia jackets and had the same problem as you. The Airglide pants were ok, as I had to hem them up.
I have use first gear and like the way they fit. Also I have found them to fit true to size and they come in a long.
Now have a Scorpio Master jacket, 3/4 length mesh with good armor except the back. I changed that out and used a Klim Viper D30.

I took an xl in the jacket for a good fit.

 

[dcc46]

I have thousands upon thousands of miles on my Olympia gear and I am very happy with it. I have a couple of their Bushwacker 3/4 jackets and a short bonneville jacket . I wear their airglide mesh pants or maverick pants depending on the temp here in FL. You can get some really good deals on their gear on closeouts.

 

[avc8130]

Olympia uses a Tenere on their home page.

I have had a Phantom suit for ~6 months now. I bought it used off a member at ADVRider. I am VERY happy with the quality of the suit. It is truly first-rate. The customer service has been excellent also. Putting the suit on and taking it off is pretty easy. I would say less than 2 mins.

The fit is not perfect FOR ME. I am 5' 11" and ~250 pounds. My fatness makes me order a size too big so the other dimensions go a bit out of whack for me. The main being the torso is a bit tall for me so I can't close the neck. If you are a "normal" size this wouldn't be a problem. Chances are a 2XL SHORT would be perfect for me, but they don't offer short sizes.

I am so happy with the Phantom that I am strongly considering buying a Stealth mesh suit.

ac

 

[plugugly]

I just ordered a Phantom for my wife, it's not here yet. A bit disappointed I couldn't find one at either dealer within 250 miles of my house for her to try on, as they offer no sizing info for women on the one piece. I just went with the closest measurements and online reviews, and picked a place with a good return policy.

Depending how it looks, I may replace my Aerostich with one. It's been great, but has always been a bit snug. I've added some mass that lets me justify it's replacement, but it's really been faultless gear, too. Just pricey.

 

[Spider]

Do these jackets that you all are talking about have armor?

My old Olympia jackets have armor, assume the new ones do as well. I had to replace the armor in my leather jacket...TSA ripped the old armor to shreds looking for something that wasn't there when I came back from a ride in Europe last year. Seemed to be pretty good stuff.

G

 

[newventurer]

I have the X-Moto pants and jacket. I love them. I am comfortable in the jacket with no liner to about 90 degrees F. Love the looks, versitility, armor, seasonality. Not cheap.

 

[Twisties]

Wife and I both use Olympia. I think it's better than Aerostitch in some ways, Aerostitch in others. Both use the same materials for outer textiles... abrasion protection. So far as I know they are the only two using the proper grade of Cordura.

I believe Olympia's CE armor and price are better. I don't like the lack of a 3/4 zipper on the Oly 2-piece setups, but now they do offer a one piece. I couldn't get the one piece to fit right and I like to swap jackets (mesh and non-mesh) so I have two piece with the cheesy 6" zipper to tie them them together.

I have had one jacket replaced, no questions asked, due to hi-viz fade. No other issues in 60k miles and 8 years (several pieces spread over that time frame)

All in all though, I think Oly is by far the best off the shelf value out there. Aerostitch if you want made in the USA and customized fit, don't mind the lack of CE certification (it's pretty good though, from what I see), and are willing to PAY for it.

Wife appreciates the fit and styling of hers. We both feel well protected and comfy. I slid 15' on asphalt in the mesh pants and continued to use them for four more years until I melted them on a dirt bike muffler.

 

[plugugly]

Got the wife's suit today, it looks pretty nice. The fit is not very female friendly, which is probably why they don't advertise them for women. She fits in it fine, but if she were more "hippy", the medium would be too small there, and a large would be too large everywhere else.

The only thing I've noticed so far is the time it takes to get in and out due to all the velcro and the different zipper arrangments. For her needs, I'm sure it will be fine. If it doesn't get any faster with some break in and practice, I'm definitely going to stay with Aerostich.

That said, just looking at the construction I wouldn't be afraid to crash in it. It seems very well made and I actually prefer the arm vents in theory.