Apparel

Motorcycling and leather are forever linked. The relationship goes back to the origins of the sport. I guess that's why I like leather jackets with a classic look and feel. The REV'IT! CR Leather Jacket fits this bill. I can't help but think the "CR" stands ...

I know this jacket, because I OWN this jacket. In the summer, I see a lot of riders wearing T-shirts where I live. Some think you have to choose either protection or comfort in hot weather. Not true.

Armored mesh jackets are the answer. The Dainese ...

The Fly Racing Patrol Jacket is a model of dirt apparel versatility. Just listen to what it can do. In cool weather, leave everything zipped and attached. As things cool, you can remove the sleeves and open the vents. If you need to remove the jacket ...

When the discussion of ultra-premium racing gear comes up in sport-bike circles, Dainese will certainly be mentioned early and often. The Dainese Racing Leather Jacket is a new offering by the legendary Italian company. It will cost you, but if you want to ride in a jacket ...

The Moose Racing Qualifier Jersey is simply a well-made, well-designed dirt jersey. It is not some frilly, gaudy, attention-seeking billboard. It is attractive, understated, and functional. This is a welcome departure from modern MX gear for a lot of us.

The jersey is polyester with sublimated graphics. What ...

The Icon TiMax 2 textile jacket is a rider favorite for good reason. Interestingly, the titanium is not just a sales ploy (although it is certainly that, too). There is actually exterior titanium armor plating and titanium reinforced textile panels in critical areas.

The TiMax 2 comes ...

Back to basics. That's how I would describe the Gaerne Balance Oiled Boots. Adventurer tourers and dual-sport riders are decidedly less prone to buy the multi-hued and trendy gear that is so popular with the motocross crowd. These Gaerne boots have a traditional leather look and feel ...

We review lots of protective gear here at Spot Motorcycles: textile jackets and pants, leather jackets and pants, and every combination of the two. However, there is a simple fact: for the ultimate protection, a full suit is still the king. Also known as racing leathers, ...

Puma motorcycle footwear is growing in popularity in the moto-world as aggressively as its namesake hunts its prey. The company has taken its understanding of the foot and translated that knowledge into the demanding realm of protective motorcycling wear.

The Puma 1000 v2 Boots are a serious race-oriented boot. ...

Joe Rocket Speedmaster gloves have been around for quite a while. I see a lot to like about the latest incarnation, the Speedmaster 8.0. I guess 8.0 means that this is the 8th version -- I'm quick that way.

Anyway, here's what the glove has to offer. It has the standard drum-dyed ...

I have been looking for a pair boots to fit my narrowish foot. I tried the Alpinestars Web Gortex boots, but the width was just too much for me, even with inserts. After sampling many boots, the Sidi Vertigo Boots may just be the ticket.

The Vertigo is ...

What we have here is an incredible jacket with a Shakespearean fatal flaw.

The Speed and Strength Hell 'n Back Jacket has a list of features and functions I have never seen in any other jacket. It has a body constructed of water-resistant AR-600 textile. That body has what ...

More and more apparel companies are offering riding shoes that have motorcycle specific features, but no real armor. I am not naive. I know that we don't all wear protective apparel every time we ride, but in terms of protection, more is better.

The Alpinestars Mille Shoes are motorcycle ...

Most riders avoid weather extremes like rain, hail, snow, sleet, and blazing heat. I know adventure riders who actually seek out these extremes -- preferably in the same day! Obviously, riders with this mindset seek out gear with the ability to adapt to this full palette ...

I just got back from a 500-mile ride in the upper Baja of Mexico wearing the Alpinestars Rodeo Denim jeans. Are they the perfect casual armored riding pants? No. Are they good? Yes. I like them; and I believe they will become my primary ...

When I begin a review of adventure touring apparel, I first turn to a forum called Adventure Rider Motorcycle Forum (ADV). What I am looking for are early reactions by my fellow rabid adventure tourers. When I searched for notes on the Klim Adventure Rally Jacket (and matching ...

So you've read the Spot Motorcycles product reviews of the newest motorcycling boots and you've made your choice. That's the end of the footwear story… right? Wrong! What you wear under those new boots will have a huge impact on comfort and fit. Quality socks even ...

I tried these gloves on several recent winter rides. OK, my winter rides in Arizona may not be like your winter rides in North Dakota. However, I tested these gloves at 65 miles per hour in sub-40 degree temps. The Alpinestars ST-1 Drystar Gloves kept my digits comfortable. ...

The company name tries a little too hard to inspire excitement, but REV'IT! is producing some good gear. The REV'IT! Airvolution Glove is a good product that doesn't quite live up to the name.

When you think about it, it is easy to be well-protected and comfortable in cool weather. ...

I have always found that Alpinestars boots fit my foot well. Because of this, I find myself feeling comfortable ordering the Italian company's boots online with little trepidation. The Alpinestars Web Gore-Tex Boots are a bit of a different fit, however.

The boots are what I look for ...

Heavy gauge, full leather gloves provide the ultimate in crash protection for the hands. However, they can be downright uncomfortable in hot weather. I have worn Fieldsheer gloves of the leather variety and was very impressed. With this in mind, I had high hopes for the Fieldsheer ...

More and more riders are wearing textile pants for everyday motorcycling duty. Textile looks more casual than its leather counterpart. In many ways, it is also more comfortable. Dainese's new Drake Air textile pants are a nice addition to the choices in this motorcycle apparel ...

Held is somewhat of a legendary company in terms of rider apparel. In the 1940s, German glove-maker Edgar Held started the line of high quality motorcycle gloves. How appropriate the company's name is to the English-speaking consumer base is purely coincidence.

The Held Steve 2 is ...

I live in the beautiful Southwest, so rain suits are not typically on the forefront of my mind. For me they are a seldom used, unglamorous item relegated to some recess of my touring luggage.

That is all well and good, but when you need a good rain suit, you ...

When you ride in cold or wet weather, the one area that is typically left exposed is the chin and neck area. This is also an area that is usually in the direct airflow over the windscreen… not a good combination.

Enter the REV'IT! Blaze Balaclava. This head and neck ...

I am intrigued by the premium (and pricey) motorcycle apparel brands as much as anyone. However, in these tough times, finding a company that continually produces quality protective wear at an affordable price is nice. Olympia is just such a company. I have found Olympia gear ...

In some people's eyes, the problem with armored motorcycles jackets is… well, they look like armored motorcycle jackets. The Teknic Women's Diamond Jacket offers a good measure of protection while still looking good off the bike.

Let's start, as we should, with protection. The Teknic Diamond features Knox Lite ...

The Dainese Santa Monica Perforated Leather Jacket carries a name that conjures the beauty of the West Coast. This varied terrain ranges from cool coastal temperatures to the toasty desert inland. This jacket should perform well in this spectrum of temperatures.

First off, this jacket is perforated for ...

Alpinestars Afrika Shoes are a new-for-2010 offering of the Italian apparel company. Quite frankly, I am a bit confused by this boot…or shoe. First, there is the name. When I connect Africa (no matter how you spell it) and motorcycling, my mind conjures up visions of adventure touring ...

I can see the EVS PP05 Ultimate Shorts as a great protection option in a variety of riding situations. The shorts are constructed of Lycra and Spandex and are intended to be worn under other pants (unless you have a LOT of confidence). The garment includes high-impact ...

Comfort versus protection is a battle many of us in the motorcycling world fight. In reality, protective gear needs to be relatively tight for ultimate protection. All you need to do is watch a MotoGP or World Superbike race to see how tight the racers' suits are. ...

I recently watched a TV documentary on the workings of the Alpinestars factory in Italy. I was more than impressed with the attention to detail of everyone featured, from the engineers to the testers and fabricators. They all seemed passionate about producing a quality product. There is ...

Icon is an interesting company. Where many of the older apparel companies market traditional "tried-and-true" designs, Icon focuses on designs that appeal to the youngest segment of our sport. Some would even call the company trendy. However, the upside to all of this is that young ...

Speed and Strength (SS) is a company with an eye for appearance but also solid attention to detail. The Speed And Strength Moment Of Truth SP Men's Mesh Motorcycle Jacket is no exception. It is a good-looking jacket that will keep you cool and protected in ...

The Alpinestars Royal Drystar Textile Motorcycle Jacket is a true foul-weather friend. This piece of riding apparel has features that will protect in extreme conditions. It is geared toward the commuter or the full-on touring rider.

The shell is nylon with PU-coating construction for strength and abrasion resistance. It ...

I have spent quite a bit of time reviewing helmets for adventure-touring. However, the second most difficult body part for the adventure-tourer to outfit is the foot. These riders (of which I am one) ride through water, mud, and dust, and still must have a boot that will ...

Last year, I was in the market for a new pair of street boots. I looked mostly to my favorite boot brands: Alpinestars and Sidi. However, since I am a bit anal when it comes to my riding gear, I did an exhaustive search. In this ...

I have not worn leather pants since I was the keyboardist for REO Speedwagon back in the late '70s. OK, that's a lie -- not the leather pants part, the REO part. I do wear armored pants in both the cordura and denim styles, however. Despite ...

As I have mentioned in other reviews, I live and ride in Arizona. The summer riding season is hot, hot, hot. One of the worst things a rider can do is forego protective riding gear because of the temperature. With this in mind, I'm sure why ...

Transition… now that's a good name for this jacket. The Tour Master Transition Series 2 jacket is well equipped to make the transition from warm, to cold, to wet riding conditions.

This three-quarter length touring jacket has a 600 denier shell and a warming 100-gram Polyfill removable ...

I like Dainese gear. It's not cheap, and I mean that in both implications of the word. Dainese leather gear often has a price that puts it out of the reach of the budget-constrained rider. However, Dainese is becoming a much bigger player in the textile market, ...

Puma footwear is well known in the sporting world. If you are into basketball, football or baseball, you have either seen or worn Puma shoes. Puma's motorcycle footwear is not as familiar, but is growing in popularity. Puma offers a full range of moto-specific boots. ...

I began my motorcycle riding obsession over three decades ago on dirt bikes. To this day, I still ride in the dirt, and I still love it. However, there is one thing that has always stuck in my craw -- the overly trendy and gaudy nature ...

Dual sport riding is a great compromise in the motorcycling world. It is growing in popularity for a number of reasons. Dual sport motorcycles can perform reasonably well in both dirt and street situations. However, this dual nature can create some interesting gear conundrums for ...

The Icon Men's Accelerant leather jacket is simply a quality piece of riding apparel. Icon has a reputation for being a company that appeals to the young and trendy segment of the riding community. Some of their gear is, in my opinion, a little "over the top" ...

Mt. Kilimanjaro is an extreme mountain environment in Tanzania. The Firstgear Men's Kilimanjaro Waterproof Jacket is a jacket designed for extreme motorcycling conditions. If you spend much time around touring and adventure motorcyclists, certain jackets tend to come up in conversation. Premium and extremely pricey jackets like ...

Having lived in Arizona for over 4 decades, I know a little something about heat. Having been a motorcyclist for almost as long, I know a little something about hot weather gear. I don't know if Joe Rocket invented the armored mesh jacket, but they are at least ...

Leather is protective, heavy, and expensive. Cordura textile is versatile, waterproof, and relatively affordable. An increasing number of quality motorcycle jackets are mating these two materials with very positive results. By placing leather in the impact-prone zones of the jacket, like the forearms and shoulders, the ...

Big names in scooter boot manufacturing come largely from Italy, these days. Gaerne's made a good name for themselves in the mid-price range. I first heard of these back in the '90s from a friend who has enough money to buy whatever he likes, but chose a pair ...

Personally, I'm not into the whole "fear and intimidation" aspect in a lot of today's motorcycling gear. I have never donned flames, bones, or skulls. However, I am a realist, and I know this is a marketable aspect of our sport.

Icon's Men's Skull Leather Motorcycle Jacket plays ...