2 minute read
ThE lAST WoRD
OCTOBER 2021 Having a Vent!
Cindy Bennett, Member #4170
Motorcycle jackets, from Fonzie cool retro leather to high tech vented, Goretex and even ones with an airbag – there is a bewildering array of choices out there. Baffling and copyrighted terms such as Cordura, Matryx and Air-tech also serve to confuse matters. What type of riding you do and what type of bike you own definitely plays a major part in selecting the ideal jacket. And meeting the Australian safety standards is of course a given. Unless you snag a bargain on Gumtree (or our BMWMCQ For Sale FaceBook Page) a jacket is a major investment, so the risk of getting it wrong can be very costly indeed. I do like to read reviews of jackets, but to try them on and try out the zips and pockets is necessary for me. I haven’t brought a jacket online, but I know others have and it has worked well for them. Since I got back into riding nearly 10 years ago, I have had 5 jackets. Two are still in use. My Klim Altitude jacket was a significant investment 2 years ago, but so worthwhile. What I like about it is that it is completely waterproof, doesn’t need a liner and the vents open well to provide enough air flow for all but the hottest days. Because they are made for females they fit well around the hip and bust region as well. I previously had a BMW GS Dry jacket but being a “unisex” one and the fit was boxy and it didn’t turn out to be so dry after being caught in several downpours! My summer riding jacket is a BMW summer venting style which I really like as it feels like riding in just a t-shirt. The faded denim look is also quite stylish I think! I have also had a Dririder Vortex adventure style jacket which I wore on our Africa trip and aside from needing a liner to be waterproof it was a comfortable unit and had a practical length which made it a pleasure to wear. It did fade to a dark grey colour from the relentless sun. Our recent ride to Cape York brought about a wardrobe shopping spree to get “MX ready”! Zip up long sleeve body armour and a jersey looked after the top half nicely. This outfit also did extra duty as a swimsuit, jumping into rare croc-free water holes had the dual advantage of cooling me down nicely and giving the outfit a bit of a wash! Although a learning was to buy darker colours as my fashionable “Fly” light blue jersey became red dust tinted to the extent that Napisan could not shift it upon return from the trip! So, my conclusion about jackets is that one size definitely does not fit all and throughout our riding years needs (and sizes…) evolve considerably. I strongly believe that you do get what you pay for, my current Klim jacket being the proof in the pudding. But not sure I will be riding with one of the Flannelette hoody versions anytime soon!
MX prepared in the vented armour vest (and cold bevvie)
The Klim jacket is even suitable for Tassie!
