Question about Jackets

[oregon-rider]

I just bought a Fly Racing Terra Trek Jacket . Looks good so far. I will let you know how it works out . ::008::

 

[hANNAbONE]

Best luck with Belstaff and even Fieldsheer.
I just picked up some VERY nice REV'IT gear..jacket and pants.
Beautifully made and proportionally sized right.
Enjoy your search.

 

[houndman]

All of this gear is a real challenge for me. At 6'1" Im not unusually tall but with the build of a linebacker I have a hard time fitting things. I tried on the Firstgear stuff and even in 3x it was tight on my arms and shoulders. Some stuff works but it costs like 600 or more bucks. Boots arent made for my ee feet etc. Was lucky to find that tcx boots worked though. First gear stuff seems quality so does Olympia.

 

[EricV]

I've talked to people with Revit gear that have been hit or miss on quality and longevity. For those that went this direction, please give us an update when you have lived with it for a while and let us know how the current generation gear is working out for you.

From what I've seen recently, specific to RevIt pants, I did not care for the short leg zippers, but the quality looked first rate.

 

[houndman]

So far I have lived with a Klim Badlands Pro for 1 day and find it to be very good. I can tell that it will need to be worn in to make it even better but the thing is built with everything top notch right out of the gate. I considered the price but also realize that this will be the last jacket I buy for a long time barring any hard get offs. The lesser jackets I could tell were made with a lesser grade material. After much ado I splurged on what I wanted in the end because I knew that I would be sitting there always wishing I would have bought it. ::008::

 

[EricV]

So far I have lived with a Klim Badlands Pro for 1 day and find it to be very good.

Details please. How long was your one day? Sunny, rainy, temps, etc.

I suspect every jacket is very good on the first day. It's the things we learn to love, hate or just put up with over time that make us happy or frustrated with our gear.

 

[rem]

I have the Roadgear XCaliber jacket and have used it for one season in some extreme conditions. It is warm, waterproof and windproof. I really like it. We had some particularly rude warm weather for ONE day and it was definitely too heavy, even with the liner out, but that's not a problem very often up here. Great jacket, and it makes me look not a day over 65 .... uh, which I am so ... never mind... but I did catch an 80 year old bar maid checking me out ..... or maybe the bike ... aw, hell ... never mind. R


http://roadgear.com/xcaliber-jacket-p-115.html

 

[houndman]

Details please. How long was your one day? Sunny, rainy, temps, etc.

I suspect every jacket is very good on the first day. It's the things we learn to love, hate or just put up with over time that make us happy or frustrated with our gear.

Details were the 6 vents up front/ 2 exhaust in back, the collar doesn't rub my chin off, the integrated kidney belt, the high quality armor, and fit. I appreciated the styling too , not to mention the availability of pockets all over, under and in places where I can put my "off duty" equipment. it is a bit rigid now as it is new but will loosen up over time. I am suspecting you are coming with your message in a light hearted manner, I agree it is some money for this product. I rationalized it by budget as I will not spend 1500 to 1700 bucks on a couple of panniers that frankly I really like but would rather not put a price limit on what protects me, not my stuff. I am coming down to Holan or Caribou on that. So its a little give and take. In my opinion I think there are some ::008:: things where you get what you pay for , and protective riding gear is one of them.

 

[EricV]

Well Stated Houndman. ::008:: It's funny what we choose to spend money on. I'm more likely to spend on things that have indefinite life expectancy, like bike protection or even panniers, than on gear I know will wear out, but is to protect me. Doesn't really make sense in some ways.

Like a lot of us, I ride ATGATT and am wearing something north of $1500 in gear every time I get on the bike. I am curious about how you like the venting on the Badlands when things warm up a bit more. It just kills me to spend that much on something that I wear and will wear out.

I will probably just get another Darien in the next year or so as my current one is getting ratty.

 

[houndman]

Can't go wrong with an Aerostich Darien. They are built for durability and built right, and priced well for what you get,. I suspect that if they bling it out a bit with more pockets and stuff the price would be a bit more. One thing too is that Klim is an American company, which was big to me. Aerostich actually makes the Darien in USA. Aerostich was a close 2nd. Here where I live it gets hot like Minnesota gets cold. The Klim seems as though it would be fine up into the 90's. Get into the 100's and I don't care what you have on its a blow dryer.

 

[TNVol12]

Anyone have experience with the Motoport jackets - cordura specifically? Found them on the internet search for american made motorcycle jackets. Great recommendations from this topic as I research a jacket for summer riding. Thank you.

 

[elizilla]

I haven't tried Motoport but I have seen them and they get fantastic reviews. Also, Motoport and Teiz are the only manufacturers I've found, who offer custom sizing in textile gear.

 

[TierHawg]

Anyone have experience with the Motoport jackets - cordura specifically? Found them on the internet search for american made motorcycle jackets. Great recommendations from this topic as I research a jacket for summer riding. Thank you.

I have a Kevlar Air-Mesh jacket. It is a beast of a jacket and very protective. Almost feels like wearing a set of chainmail. Being the Air-Mesh, I wear it during the warmer months. The armor in the jacket is not the normal CE rated elbow, shoulder and back. It is made of a propriety type of foam and covers those areas pus the ribs. It does allow the jacket to breath.

So, with that, be prepared to spend some money, and also deal with the owner, Wayne. If you are of a "standard" size you should be okay. If you order a custom sized jacket, you may need alittle luck. After reading one of the threads on Adv Rider, I found I wasn't alone in my experience.

 

[MurphCO]

FYI anyone in or near Denver, I went to MotoGear Outlet Saturday and bought the Klim Badlands Jacket


Great small business, very helpful and friendly, and they gve you a $50 credit on any purchase over $600..... They call it a customer program, but basically you get $50 off every time you spend $600, and it accrues so if you just buy stuff here and there, it's still a good deal.



That's the ONLY deal I could find on the Klim Badlands jacket, no matter where I looked all over the Internet

 

[Epping]

Still really happy with my Klim Traverse jacket ::012::but can't get the matching 30" std length pant anywhere. Out of stock. Coming into winter and really wet now. About 70" ran last 24 hrs. Really need them.

 

[STPanther]

Hi Guillermo,

I have the Firstgear Kathmandu Jacket and HT Overpants. I live in New England and have done extended ridding down to 32 degrees F(of course w/ all liners And additional layers underneath). With almost 9k miles on so far since Aug 2011, am very happy keeping warm and dry. Also have been very flexible/comfortable w/ removable liners and vents mid-summer.

I Have had an issue w/ the pants; busted the front and side zippers, each on separate occasions! Both times the pants have been replaced/swapped for new without any questions, so that is good. Once at the store where originally purchased and anoteher by the company while on extended road trip. So I guess I'm getting value out of the 2-year warranty there.

Best of luck w/ your choices.

Regards, dean ::001::

I also have been riding with First Gear Kilamanjaro jacket and HT overpants. I have had no issues and like them. The pants have zip out liner. The pants full side zipper is handy for quick cooling. The Kilamanjaro jacket has stylish inner jacket that I wear for leisure quite often. The jacket has lots of protection but was pretty stiff new and took awhile to break in. I also ride with First Gear TPG all weather gloves on cooler/wet days on the bike.
I would recommend First Gear as a top choice. Good luck.

 

[jajpko]

Still really happy with my Klim Traverse jacket ::012::but can't get the matching 30" std length pant anywhere. Out of stock. Coming into winter and really wet now. About 70" ran last 24 hrs. Really need them.

Did you mean 7" of rain, or are you building an Ark? ::025::

 

[Epping]

Did you mean 7" of rain, or are you building an Ark? ::025::

Ahh, so you spotted my deliberate mistake. Was meant to be 70mm. They forecast 200mm for this week. Don't know how much fell but rode my bike to the Dealer for service. Wet middle bits and hands soaked there & back. But as they say a bad day on the S10 beats a good day doing almost any thing else. ::008::