Page 80 - 2022-08-01 RiDE

RATED THE RiDE PRODUCT TEST

What to

look for… FIT OPTIONS
Although jackets come in standard

In a set of two-piece leathers sizes, often jeans can be bought in a
variety of leg lengths, from short to
long. Getting the right size will stop
the jeans bunching up uncomfortably
ARMOUR behind your knee or being too tight
Where is the armour located and on the ankle as they try to rise up
what standard is it? Most two-piece
suits have armour in the shoulders,
elbows and knees as standard with
some having it in the hips and back
as well or as an option. Sometimes
it can be a combination of Level-1
and 2. For ultimate protection, can
you add chest armour?
ZIPS
YKK is the benchmark zip manufacturer
and a chunkier zip is easier to do up.
BACK PROTECTOR Look to see if there is a tag to assist
Some jackets have no back with locating the zip with a gloved hand
protector or a non-CE-approved and also inspect the quality of the zip.
one, so check that the pocket is Again, for trackdays, you want as solid
large enough to fit a CE-approved and secure a zip as possible
protector (Level-1 or 2), which
can often be bought separately
from the manufacturer
POCKETS
How many pockets are there
and where are they located?
Internal pockets are handy to
keep your phone close at hand
and safe but external pockets
should be easy to access

ATTACHMENT
The jacket should be able to be
zipped to a set of leather jeans. How
far does the zip extend around the
jeans and is there a stretch panel to
assist with comfort? If you plan on LINING
doing trackdays, ideally you want a Although leather trousers are unlikely
long metal zip to ensure the jacket to have a removable lining, check
and trousers stay together in the how comfortable the inbuilt lining
event of an accident. Is it easy to feels. If the jacket has a removable
access the zip with the jacket on? lining, check how securely it attaches
to the inside of the jacket; one that
pulls out easily is very annoying

KNEE-SLIDERS
If you are considering taking to the
track, buy a set of jeans with
sliders already attached. If you
don’t end up using them or don’t
like the look, it is far easier to
remove a slider from the jeans STRETCH PANELS
than attempt to attach a new Velcro Leather can be quite firm and
backing so they can accept sliders unforgiving, so stretch panels in
areas that require flexibility, such
as the shoulders and groin, will
make the suit far more comfortable
to wear both on and off the bike

CE APPROVAL
Like all motorcycle clothing, two-piece
leathers must be CE approved and rated.
Jackets and trousers will be awarded a
rating that is either A, AA or AAA; the
latter is the highest protective rating. The
armour will also be CE-certified to Level-1
or 2; Level-2 indicates a greater
protective capacity for absorbing and
dissipating impact forces

80 SEPTEMBER 2022