I'm looking into getting me an adventure / dual sport style jacket, like the Dririder RallyCross Pro 2. Anyone got any feedback on this style of jacket? They are HEAVY, seem to have more protection than normal touring jackets and sometimes a space for a water bladder. Thoughts?
well there are a ton of options for adventure jackets, my problem is i run hot and most jackets dont vent really well. so for me large and many vents are key on my list, and really is the only thing there. i think the water bladder attachment is a stupid idea, wear it in a backpack so you can take it off if you need too. the one you posted looks like a strictly touring jacket. looks really thick and heavy with funky armor built into the outside for sliding on the road. and i see 2 really small vents that wont do a whole lot. take a look at KLIM gear, they are the best adventure gear you can get. also first gear has some cool jackets for a good price. for me im getting my hands on the SCOTTS dual raid adventure jacket. they just came out with it and it looks bad ass. they stole alittle from all the best jackets. lots of vents, waterproof, adjustable everything, and not to bulky.
thanks, yes it is very thick and heavy.... which is good for here in the winter as it gets cold, but summer is hot and then it looks to be too hot. This particular jacket does have two large-ish vents in the chest front that roll / fold away, but I agree it would still be a bit much in 30- 35 degree heat (celcius for you backwater types). Klim looks good but very pricey... So you think that the extra armour on the shoulders is unnecessary?
For me, you can always put more clothes on, so when it's cold I'll just put a thicker shirt on. But it's summer that is always the problem, you can only take so much off. That's why venting and thickness is super important. Race jackets and jackets made for the street have the sliding armor on the outside to help with the grading effect of sliding across the road at 60mp. This is the only adventure jacket I've seen with it. Check out the first gear adventure line, they have a couple for around $320. Or the SCOTTs adventure jackets for $400.
I bought an Olympia X Moto because of the huge zip away panels for venting (which work really well). Good pockets, and two liners. It's a really nice jacket, I'd recommend them.
I just tried on 100 jackets almost. All brands as I was ready to make an investment. BMW rallye 3 did it for me. It fit like a glove on first try and mobility it provides is outstanding. Highly recommended and remember the price tag is high but I plan on riding with mine for many many years to come.
There is no question that things like the Klim or the BMW gear are top of the line for Adventure Riders but if the OPs reality is that 80-90% of their use is on road commuting or general riding then something like the DriRider is probably a realistic option especially when you can buy 4 or 5 DriRiders for the same price as a top line Klim jacket.
Interesting point... I have a new Dririder Air 2 or something like that, light, good for warm weather and only $160.... that said, I'm not 100% confident in it... it has a lot less bulk to it than my DR climate control jacket (that cost twice as much). I bought it primarily for hot weather road riding. The two "adventure" jackets I can see in the shops here are $300 - $350... but they seem so bulky, just not sure if that is what is optimal. Yeah I can see that they would be great for crashing on the road, but is a crash on a dirt road different enough to warrant a different kind of jacket? All those pockets are great, but personally I'd rather put my stuff in a bag, and not have it on me.....
Tourmaster puts out a fantastic line of Jackets, completely on par with Klim and about 1/2 the cost. http://www.compacc.com/p/Tourmaster-Transition-3-Jackets
Take a look at British Motorcycle Gears Adventure suite Both Jacket & pants are quite well suited for all extremes, Paul is on here all the time & is fantastic to deal with. He is quite active in the bike scene & always has a booth at International Motorcycle Shows nation wide. He is also a dealer for the Belstaff & Barbour Waxed cotton jackets,true Moto Origionals. WWW.British Motorcycle Gear.com
Look at the rst adventure - its is about the same price as the dri rider but better venting and better back protector and i think it looks better . I have had the dri rider for years and a mate has the rst so i have some experience with both . If i had the $$$ i would go klim