I was able to recently try on an Olympia Voyager jacket. I tried on the AST last year and liked it a great deal. Well I had forgotten how different the collar is than on my current jacket. And no matter how I tried to fasten the Voyager collar, it seemed to be quite bothersome. When I had it buttoned all the way up, if I turned my head to the right, part of the collar would catch on my throat. It was extremely irritating and actually would dig into my throat. Longer rides could be a big problem. Also, the collar doesn't fit as tightly around my neck as with my current jacket. It's taller, and leaves quite a bit of room between my neck and the edge of the top of the collar. I remember the www.webbikeworld.com review saying something similar. Has anyone else found this to be a problem? I really like the jacket. Any suggestions to make it more comfortable? I chose the appropriate size based on Olympia's sizing chart. Let me add that jacket fits very well in all other aspects.
Annie GS offered a service in the past for correcting issues like this on the Aerostitch stuff. I would P.M. her to see if she can/will help you correct this. From what I've read in here her work is very well done.
I found the same thing on the Olympia Sentry jacket. Very loose at the collar even with the liner in which was a bitch in the winter. I think it's because the liner collar is low, like a flight jacket. Now I wear a bandana around my neck or a bacalava and it's OK. They should have made the liner collar as tall as the jackets collar, but for the price it still kicks ass. YMMV Kevin
The Olympia website describes the AST as having, "Comfort neoprene collar and neck inserts." http://www.olympiamotosports.com/ast_mens/ast_mens.htm I wonder if they had this design feature on the jacket reviewed by WebBikeWorld or if it's a design change that's resolved the problem. Does anyone know what the deal is with this neck insert feature? None of the MC dealers around me stock the Oly gear. I really like the jacket on paper but wonder what it's really like. The type of neck fitment described by WebBikeWorld and noted in this thread is absolutely a deal-breaker for me. I also wish they had dedicated Tall sizes. FirstGear is probably the only 'mass-produced' manufacturer that offers Tall sizes. Certainly the more custom ones such as Aerostitch and Motoport do though. But those are generally in another price point. Otherwise the jacket looks like a great possibility. Rick
My mileage does vary. I have a 20 inch neck and the darned thing barely stays latched with the liner underneath. I turn my head either way and it sometimes comes undone. I am a bit disappointed with the Olympia. It's good, but not great. I was expecting great. My tourmaster transition fits me better....wait for it... except the neck is too tight. In foggy days however, the hi-vis Olympia can be as ill fitting as it wants. I am seen.
Try this. With the jacket on stand in front of a mirror and make sure you are fastening the collar correctly. The way I thought it should fasten by feel and the way it actually fastens were different. Now that I know how to fasten the collar it fits me comfortably snug and stays closed. YMMV.
On the ladies AST, the collar is too large in the summer... but in the winter with the liner in, helmet baclava, turtlenecks, etc,.. it fits just right. In the summer, I am able to fasten the collar so it doesn't scrape... it is just a little too big.
Good call. It does fasten better when I look in a car windo reflection. I think I just have a big neck. (fat head as some people might have said once)
Just to throw in another data point.. I purchased an Olympia AST in Jan from Atlanta BMW, and found the collar to just suck overall. The rest of the jacket is nice enough to make up for it though. Sometimes my neck feels like it gets a bit scratched up by the way it's been fastened, but overall it's just a hair too tight. If I wear a heated vest underneath (that has a mini collar), the collar can't reach the small velcro area to fasten. If only Rev'It made hi-viz jackets.
The description on the Oly website "comfort neoprene collar and neck inserts," indicates there's adjustability in the neck/collar fitment. At least that's what it sounds like to me. Can anyone who's seen or tried on the AST confirm or deny this? Did they change, and hopefully improve, the design from when it was first released? Rick
I called Olympia as asked this question a while ago. I was wondering about the "neck inserts" as well; thought it might be an improvement. I was told that there has been no change in the design. That would explain why when I first tried on the AST and then when I recently tried on the Voyager, I had the same issue with the collar.
I have the same issue... man, my adams apple is aching again at the mere mental image! Jeez I leave the collar infastened (velcroed back on itself) and it bothers me no more... waiting for the first bee flying down there to change my mind again. Other than that and the fact there are no provisions for running heated cord into the suit (wish I knew before ordering), Phantom breaking in nicely! -John
What they mean by "inserts" is that there is a piece of soft neoprene on the top edge of the flap that pulls across your neck. It is sewn into the flap. Inserted if you will. It is not a bad deal actualy. The neoprene is soft and if I can lose 20 pounds I'll bet the collar fits. Another feature I sort of liked was that when it gets a little warmer, the flap that almost goes across my petite little neck folds over and velcros to itself. No flapping in the wind. I like that way the belt cinches up and there are a lot of little details that have gone into the design of this thing. The hi-viz is as mentioned above the best part of the deal. I also have a slight issue with the left elbow armor and have yet to get it adjusted for comfort, the right one is fine. Go figure. I thought this would be The One, but it is only the hi-viz one.
It's a padded section lined with neoprene - see A. I usually take a Tall XL and I could barely zipper an XL: they seem to run small.
I had the same issue with my AST. Until I did this. Seems I was fastening it all wrong (bad angle) and the velcro was rubbing my neck when I would turn. Other than that, it's a great jacket. I'm 6' 220 and the large fits perfect. I even have plenty of room left underneith for a fleece. I am so happy with my AST it's not funny. It's been through a lot this past weekend an dnever failed. It was waterproof, warm, cool and visiable (grey - but the included relectors are great).
I found a simple solution to this collar problem. I fold the part of the collar that bothers me outwards before fastening it. I used a paper clip to take a picture, but in real life it stays in place after I fasten the collar.
I just picked up an AST this week on a trip to FLA. I typically have fit issues with many NA cut jackets. I am long in the arms, but with a 34-36" waist and 42-44" chest. I normally need an XL to fit in the arms, but the body is then big enough I could put my 8 year old son in there with me. The AST large fit quite similar to a First Gear large tall for me. Much nicer. I was going to go with a Darien, but after trying my cousin's XL I knew it was going to require custom fitting to work well for me. The large AST fits very nicely, although I have yet to have the opportunity to road test.