TEKNIC SUPERVENT JACKET
$130 (lightweight)
Teknic's new Supervent jacket sports narrow-gauge nylon, a reinforced mesh outer shell and a soft, perforated mesh lining fitted with CE-approved Teknic/Knox armor in the shoulders, elbows and back, bolstered with heavy-duty 500-denier patches in high-impact areas. Two compression straps per arm are cinched down with snaps, and the arms are precurved for comfort -- but you never feel any material thick enough to rub you the wrong way in this lightweight jacket. Two waist straps on the side connect to a padded kidney pad and adjust the jacket to your body. The collar and cuffs have stretchy neoprene inserts for better comfort (though no padding), and the cuffs have a secure zip closure for a snug fit. The Supervent zips down the middle and carries two outer zip pockets and an inner wallet pouch. A single reflective stripe runs across the upper back. While the jacket is comfortable and the armor sufficiently stout, its light weight (like the MeshTex) felt more like a heavy shirt.
The Supervent comes in U.S. men's sizes 40-56 (roughly M to XXL) in black, black/red, black/blue and black/yellow. Teknic also offers matching Supervent gloves and pants.
What we liked: Strong Knox armor; extra fabric reinforcement; clean design What we didn't: Lightweight feel and outer material; few reflective surfaces
TOUR MASTER CORTECH GS AIR JACKET
$180 (light-middleweight)
Tour Master's excellent Cortech line of riding apparel gains a stablemate with the new GX Air jacket and pants, styled specifically for warm-weather riding.
This mesh jacket felt like an old shirt the minute we put it on -- which wasn't appealing, initially. The jacket's shell construction utilizes a narrow-gauge abrasion-resistant mesh, which provided excellent ventilation, but felt somewhat flimsy. However, we were quickly reassured by the rugged 1680-denier nylon patches swaddling the arms and shoulders. Removable armor in the elbows, shoulders and back, along with padding on the collarbone and lower back also helped quiet our paranoia. The GX Air has precurved sleeves, with a single adjustable forearm strap on each arm and effective zipper-and-hook-and-loop cuff closures to give you a snug fit. The interior is lined with a soft nylon/polyester mesh, with a pant connection zipper inside. An optional, insulated zip-out liner is sold separately.
The elastic-panel waist adjusts with two hook-and-loop belts, and two large storage pockets, an upper back reflective panel and stylish rubber-molded logos round out the details. A simple tab closes over the neck. The Cortech GX Air jacket comes in men's sizes XS-XXXL and women's XS-L, in black/dark silver, red/silver, blue/silver, yellow/silver, silver/dark silver and striking white/silver. Matching GX Air pants are available for $199.
What we liked: Comfortable fit; Cordura reinforcements; excellent finish; cuff closures.
What we didn't: Flimsy feel; lightweight armor; not many reflective surfaces.
TRIUMPH RAPTOR VENTED JACKET
$130 (middleweight)
Triumph's entry in this group seems...well, refined, especially when you consider that most OEM outerwear is a bit chintzy. The bloody Brits have somehow imbued this silly mesh concept with a sense of dignity, and it works. Shimmery, two-tone perforated nylon mesh pairs with solid, heavy-duty Cordura panels to cover removable Knox CE-approved armor in the shoulders and elbows and a heavy foam insert in the back. The sleeves have roper "width adjusters" -- with two snaps per arm, chap. There are four outer storage pockets, with two additional pouches inside the jacket. A soft perforated nylon inner lining provides some comfort, and an elastic waist panel adjusts with a single strap. Very civilized, that. Of course, we're Yanks, so we weren't completely content -- the cuff zippers didn't close tightly enough, and the snaps didn't snug all the extra material at the wrist or neck together. I say, some hook-and-loop would have helped, wot? Reflectivity was also minimal. Airflow, however, was topnotch. Triumph also offers matching Raptor jeans that can be connected to an inner zipper.
The Raptor, alas, comes in two colors only -- black or grey, in men's sizes 38-56 (M-XXXL).
What we liked: CE armor; reinforced shoulders/arms; plenty o' pockets.
What we didn't: Snap closures; unpadded neck; minimal retro-reflectivity
MOTORCYCLE CRUISER PICK:
VANSON VENT JACKET $199 (middleweight)
It may tie for the most expensive jacket in the lot, but you can instantly see why. Vanson Leathers' mesh Vent jacket sports a 1000-denier Cordura nylon panel shell that's doubly reinforced with leather in the shoulder and elbow impact zones. Under that abrasion-resistant combo is Vanson's exclusive armor (it exceeds 2005 CE standards) sequestered in the shoulder and elbow area, along with a long, removable spine protector out back that's covered with additional padding. The heft of the armor is apparent when you pick up the jacket.
In addition, the Vent jacket boasts a free-flowing open-mesh weave; it's lined with soft polyester for comfort and to diffuse the windblasts that come through. Precurved sleeves and a single adjustable forearm strap on each arm offer you a tailored fit, with an adjustable waistband strap on each side to snug material close. A racing-style leather roll collar dips low off your neck, and the wrist cuffs zip closed; two zippered outer and two inner pockets provide plenty of storage. The two reflective shoulder logos, however, don't do much for visibility (there's nothing reflective on the back).
Vanson's Vent jacket is available in black/red, black/blue, black/grey, black/yellow and black/black in men's sizes XS through XXXXL. At presstime, we were told the $199 promotional price would be going up soon. (It is now $249.)
What we liked: superior armor; sturdiness; tough reinforcements; comfortable cut.
What we didn't: collar too low; no included liner; not enough reflectivity.
For additional evaluations of, comparisons of, and shopping advice for motorcycle gear and accessories, see the Accessories and Gear section of MotorcycleCruiser.com.