REV'IT! & ADV Gear Discussion / FAQ

[BoochZilla]

Welcome to the RevZilla.com REV'IT! & ADV Gear Discussion Thread and FAQ

Please post any technical, sizing or general questions about REV'IT! or any other piece of ADV gear carried by
us and we will answer it as quickly as we can. We try read and respond to questions about our gear on ADVRider religiously!

Who We Are:
My name is Anthony I am a motorcyclist and a web guy. I left my career and started RevZilla with two close friends in 2007 after having yet another frustrating experience with an over-promising and under-delivering vendor in our industry. The three of us thought a company that was truly focused on the hard-core rider and service aspect at every step was lacking in the motorcycle gear world. Fortunately, many of our fellow riders nationwide agreed with us and 18 months later later RevZilla is growing by leaps and bounds. The three of us (Myself, Matt & Nick) run RevZilla with a small staff of enthusiasts. We have no corporate backing or affiliation. 100% ours, funded by credit cards and ramen noodles!

Our goal is to feel like a Mega-Store online and a Mom & Pop when you talk to or email us. While we sell everything, we really try to cater to the ADV enthusiasts and Women riders. We also try to LISTEN to our customers and give them many opportunities to offer feedback on how we can improve our service. You can see what our customers are saying about us on this thread, via Google and at other review sites. Our website inventory is update daily. 99% of the time, if you can put it in your cart your order will begin making its way to you within 24 hours.

We are very happy to service an extremely loyal group of riders and friends here on ADVRider and its nice to know that the difference we are trying to make is appreciated.

Why Shop with us?
Prepaid Size Exchanges on REV'IT!
Free Shipping over $39.99
Low Price Guarantee & Matching
TeamZilla Cash Rebate Program allows for repeat customers to earn loyalty dollars toward their next purchase on all orders over $100.

Our offices, main warehouse and retail store are located in Philadelphia and are open to the public. We currently hold the distinction of being the largest REV'IT! dealer (in stock carried and sales volume) in North America. Please see a couple of photos below and and more on RevZilla's Flickr account We also carry the full Olympia line, the Arai and Shoei DS helmets, a selection of Dainese gear, the full SIDI Street / Touring lines, TCX, Alpinestars, Firstgear and Tour Master as well as other gear you would find in your typical motorcycle retailer.



A long shot of our store from the dressing rooms.



Part of our REV'IT! on-floor display featuring the one-off KTM Christini AWD SuperMoto Bike.



By Request - Anthony, Nick and Matt on a normal weekday.


-=REV'IT! Sizing HOW-TO Videos=-

RevZillaTV How-To Video: REV'IT! Jacket Measurements

 

RevZillaTV How-To Video: REV'IT! Pants Measurements

-=BEGIN REV'IT! FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)=-

Q: How do I wash / clean my REV'IT! Textile Gear?
A: The most simple and effective approach is gentle hand-washing in warm water if a damp cloth wipe-down first, wont do the trick. We don't recommend it, but some folks also have used simple green natural cleaner or a front loading washer on gentle / warm cycle for care. We find hand-washing is always best. NEVER use a top loading washer as the center agitator can severely damage the jacket, seams and stitching. Over time the DWR (Direct Water Repellancy) coating on the outer shell can wear off with use. We recommend Nikwax for replenishing the moisture beading properties to the outer shell of REV'IT! garments.

Q: I heard REV'IT! sizes run small, is that true?
A: ABSOLUTELY TRUE! REV'IT! is a Dutch company, and while the clothing is engineered in panels using CAD technologies for maximum articulation,protection and fit, the overall cut is geared to a slender to athletic European build. This means that the shoulders are typically more narrow as are the legs in the pants. The moto-fit of REV'IT! waists and pants is high and tight. Typically where folks in the states get into trouble is the mid-section as the jackets and pants can be less forgiving than a more American cut competitor like Olympia or Firstgear. We recommend that folks in between sizes always go up. Also, as a rule of thumb most times American riders will be a whole size larger than their typical American gear size. If you wear a Large in Firstgear you will most likely be a XL in REV'IT!. The same mostly hold true for Pants and Gloves as well. We recommend that anyone looking into REV'IT! gear measure themselves at the chest (circumference of the widest part of the chest, typically near the top of the armpits), true waist (torso circumference at belly-button) and inseam - then compare with the sizing charts. The waist size of your jeans does not apply, however the second number which is inseam, when converted from inches to CM works. If there is any questions please call, email or post to the thread, we are happy to help - its what we do and the reason for this thread. Complete REV'IT! Size Charts can be found at RevZilla.com.

Q: I am very tall and thin what are my Adventure Riding Gear Options?
A: REV'IT!, among many brands, does offer Tall and Short sizes for most of its pant styles to accommodate different shaped bodies and unusually tall folks. Not many brands however do offer Tall sizes in Jackets. To date we have only seen FirstGear, so unfortunately if you are 6'3" and 165 lbs the REV'IT! arms will either be too short - or the arms will fit and the chest will be huge. We get this question a lot and for the time being the FirstGear Jacket Tall sizes are the best bet for the dramatically tall and thin folks.

REV'IT! APPLICATION Questions:

Q: Warm Climate 4-Season Riding: What is the best heat resistant / ventilating REV'IT! jacket & pants with protection for cool and wet conditions along with summer heat?
A: The REV'IT! Sirocco Jacket was designed to be the best ventilating All Season REV'IT! Jacket with Dynax Mesh Panels, and detachable waterproof/breathable and thermal liners. This Jacket is geared for maximum cooling for those on the West Coast and in the Southern US where the riding temp rarely ventures that much below 35F-40F. If taking it consistently below the 40F mark beefed up or heated base layers are recommended for optimal comfort. The Sirocco received WebBikeWorld.com's Jacket of the Year award for 2008. While the Turbine Jacket does not have any liners or waterproof capabilities, the Turbine Mesh Composite Pants come with the Hydratex removable waterproof breathable liner and make a great match for the Sirocco. The Cayenne Pro Pants, Mistral Pants (Mesh) or Dakar Pants provide slightly less ventilation but more temperature range adjustability and liners and can be considered as well to complete the suit.

Q: Temperate Climate 4-Season Riding: Best REV'IT! Jacket & Pants Combo for all-weather riding with more exposure to cold (e.i Northeast, Mountains etc)?
A: The Cayenne Pro Jacket and Pants combination are the best option in terms of all-season versatility and protection on the market today. They feature SAS-TEC Armor, SuperFabric Panels and Exkin thermal liners. The materials are all next generation and no expense was spared in their development. The Cayenne Pro is meant to be worn from 20F-90F depending on the liner configuration. In 90+ heat if you aren't moving you will be hot regardless. There are other 4-season options which also perform very well but ar slightly less "bombproof". The Offtrack Jacket, Navigator Jacket, Dragon Jacket or Siren Jacket (Womens) are all 4-season moderate climate jackets at vary prices with different styling and features. The Dakar Pants & Factor Pants are other options for versatile all-season adventure pants for protection in colder temperature ranges.

Q: Hot Weather Options - What is the best REV'IT! equipment for summer-only riding?
A: REV'IT! has numerous hot/warm weather jacket and pant combinations. In 2009 they introduced the Turbine Jacket and Pants combo featuring Pro-Life Armor, Superfabric and Dynax Mesh. The Turbine is meant to be bombproof and breathable for the most serious riders and comes in men's and women's styles . REV'IT! also has a few other hot weather only jackets in the line including the men's and women's Phoenix perf'ed leather Jacket and Air Jacket respectively. Other than than the high-end Turbine pants, REV'IT! offers the Mistral Pant (mesh with lining), the Gear Pant (leather mesh composite) and the Rotor Pants (Mesh). Click to see all of the REV'IT! gear suited for warm weather here.

Q: What are the best Warm Weather Adventure Glove Options?
A: The best textile option we have seen in a while is the new for 2009, REV'IT! Comet Glove. It replaces the R59 and is a textile based composite with leather (goat) panels for additional protection. There are also some additional padded panels sewn in for cushion in high-use typical impact areas. This glove is the culmination of a lot of learning from R&D and the Comet's predecessors. The REV'IT! Monster is a less ADV styled full perfed leather option which is very tough and all around great even in the hottest weather. (I lowsided in '08 with Monsters on and they performed beatifully - I still wear the same pair). The REV'IT! Zenith H20 is a great Spring, Summer and Fall full-guantlet glove providing waterproof & breathable funcionality. It will get a tad warm in the dead heat of the summer though. The Zenith and Monster Gloves come in womens models.

Feature, Component & Technology Questions:

Q: What is SuperFabric?
A: SuperFabric® technology is an advanced process that transforms ordinary fabrics into unique, highly protective materials. Protective shields (tiny scales) are applied close to each other but remain separate to allow maximum flexibility. Those micro guard plates provide an additional layer of protection without adding weight and will help resist abrasion to underlying fabrics. SuperFabric® is 5 times more abrasion resistant than leather with only half the weight. It is used in the Cayenne Pro Jackets and Pants, Infinity Suit, Navigator Jacket, Turbine Jacket and Pants as well as Tempest, GT Corse and Zenith H20 Gloves.

Q: What is Exkin Thermal Insulation?
A: Maximum insulation with minimal wieght - ExKin material is used in several of the high-end REV'IT! products. ExKin provides to have half the thickness / weight and four times the warmth of previous materials used for liners such as Dupont Thermolite.

Q: What is Hydratex Lining?
A: A waterproof layer is laminated onto a carrier to construct the REV’IT! Hydratex® membrane. The carrier in turn protects the membrane against rub and tear damage. The seams of the membrane are taped to ensure waterproofing. The REV’IT! Hydratex® membrane is used in garments that demand a high level of all-weather protection.

Q: What is SAS-TEC Armor?
A: SAS-TEC protection, manufactured in Germany, has the highest CE rating available. The intelligent protection armour is constructed from smart molecules: in case of an impact the armour will rapidly freeze and harden, absorbing the shock and distributing it over a large area to reduce the risk of fractures. The soft exterior of the armour offers a great deal of comfort and mobility. It has no current CE rating of 1 or 2 because it has exceeded the CE scale. (We rate this armor as BEST AVAILABLE)

Q: What is Pro-Life Armor?
A: CE approved armour designed in Italy; it is constructed from elastomeres, which contain micro pores of trapped air. This trapped air considerably absorbs the impact of a shock and distributes the deriving forces. (We rate this armor as BETTER)

Q: What is Knox Armor?
A: CE approved protection armour designed in the UK. Combining rubber foam interior with a hard shell polyurethane exterior, KNOX® is used in a broad range of REV’IT! products including our lifestyle apparel, and offers a highly effective means of protection. KNOX® amour is extremely durable, lightweight and flexible. (We rate this armor as GOOD)

[DiscoDino]

That tempest glove looks nice...what's the specs temperature/waterproof wise?

[BoochZilla]

Originally Posted by DiscoDino

That tempest glove looks nice...what's the specs temperature/waterproof wise?

Hey DiscoDino,

Good Question - I am not sure if you saw, but I posted some hi-res shots recently of the REV'IT Tempest Glove and WebBikeWorld.com just wrote a great write-up after beating the hell out them. ;-) (link to Tempest review)

The short of it is that the Tempest is Waterproof and breathable by utilizing the REV'IT! Hydratex Z-liner which is sewn in to the glove. Not sure if you are familiar with Hydratex, but its a Gore-Tex like membrane that lets water vapor out and won't let any condensed water or precipitation in.

It passed WBW's bucket test, which is complete submerging underwater of a fixed length of time. I have not worn it in a monsoon, but I haven't seen or heard of any real problems from any customers yet.

From a Temperature standpoint, this is REV'IT's highest end bombproof, weatherproof winter glove - built for the nastiest of cold and precipitation.

Also, they use Exkin, the same insulation which is used in the Cayenne Pro and the other higher end items. Exkin is at least 4x the insulating rating while being half thick to maximize feel. The Tempests also use Schoeller PCM (Phase Change Matertial) which is a temperature regulation layer, in the glove, to absorb excess heat when your hands are warmer and release that stored heat when hands start to cool. Think of it as a thermostat membrane in the glove. It is not electrical in any way, it actually works through a chemical reaction in the PCM.

Bottom line: The Tempest eats cold weather's lunch. ;-)

I'm wearing the Tempests this winter and have been very happy. Their baby brother with some differences is the Kelvin is a very solid cold weather glove as well. We have both the Kelvin and the Tempests in stock at RevZilla.com.

I hope I answered your questions without getting too long winded. Let me know what else I could offer, Dino.

Best,

Anthony

[DiscoDino]

Yep - very clear! Thanks...Loved the offices by the way...was there for the sale, and love my Shade jacket for city touring...

Cheers,
Nadim

[tkuhe]

Originally Posted by BoochZilla

As promised... REV'IT! Navigator Jacket

Here is a first look a the new universally styled 4-season REV'IT! Navigator Jacket. Its a restyled Cayenne Pro chassis featuring the same level of functionality and protection but with a less offroad and more Dualsport & Sport Touring feel. Will come in Black with accent colors as well.

Superfabric, Exkin and SAS-TEC armor all play a part in the Jacket's design and year round application.

Aside from the basics the mesh backed chest ventilation as well as the generous soft-lined wind collar are two of my favorite features as well.

The full Flickr Gallery is available here. REV'IT! Navigator Jacket Pics

It will be available late Feb 2009 at RevZilla.

Full Frontal ;-)


Mesh backed Chest Vent with rubber rain-gutter at top.


Font right sleeve closeup


Not the best back shot we've ever taken ;-)


Back Right Arm - Notice Venting and Superfabric on high-impact elbow area


Extended Frontal Softlined Windcollar


3-Layer Detachable Exkin Air (Thermal) and Hydratex (Wind/Water Proof) liners


Interested in hearing folks reactions to the new gear or answering any pointed questions.

Anthony

Very nice. Almost wish I had waited on buying my Shade in favor of the Navigator.

[BoochZilla]

As our 2009 unveiling continues....

This is the all new 4-season REV'IT Dragon Jacket. Its mid-range version of the Cayenne Pro at a mid range price point of $299. This jacket is slated to go heads up with the Olympia AST Jacket. It uses the REV'IT 3-layer detachable liner system and the windproof/waterproof liner is styled to be a windbreaker which can be worn separately.

Its shown here in red, and other colors are available including HI-VIS Yellow. The jacket will be available from RevZilla in late February

Many similar features as the Navigator and Cayenne Pro at half the price.











See the full Gallery for the REVIT Dragon on Flickr. Buy it here at RevZilla

[ovd]

Can you post pictures and tell us about Rev'it pants? Rotor, for instance?

[KullZilla]

The Rotors are new for this year to fill in a "hole" in the previous lineup. Previously there was no direct match for the Air Jacket. The closest would be the Zip Pants at 159.99 (which are a waterproof overpant), or the Mistral Pants at 239.99, a mesh pant with a wind / waterproof layer.

The Rotor pants are a ventilated mesh pant (no wind or waterproofing) priced at 169.99. The pants have Knox (CE level 1) armor in the knees, the same armor as the Air Jacket does. The hips have EVA padding.

We have some stock photos up at http://www.revzilla.com/product/revit-rotor-pants We are hoping for them to come in with the rest of the REV'IT line in March.

While I haven't had a chance to try them yet personally my gut on the temperature range they will be will be good for is 65+ which is going to be the same as the Air Jacket. You can extend this temp range by adding some mid layers / thermals.

Other pants new for this year are the Turbine Pants, the GT2 Leather Pants, and Aurora Pants

The big differences between the Turbine (first post in the thread at $329.99) and Rotor Pants (169.99) is materials. The Turbines have Superfabric on the impact areas and the better armor - ProLife (CE level 2) . The Turbine pants also include the wind/waterproof layer, and the Rotors do not.

[ovd]

Great! This explains a lot. I want to order some pants from Revzilla but being frustrated due to lack of understanding what really every pant offers. For example, I had no idea that the pants offer different type of armor (level 1 vs level 2).

So, could you also please shed some light onto what Mistral and Factor offer in comparison to Turbine?

Thanks!

[BoochZilla]

Hi Ovd,

The REV'IT Factor is a mid-range 4-season waterproof pant with a sewn in waterproof lining, a detachable thermal lining and no mesh panels. Its a sturdy pant that offers a lot of bang for the buck for moderate all season riding. The Factor offers Knox level 1 CE protection.

The REV'IT Mistral is a a 3-season waterproof mesh pant which is suited best for warm to hot weather. The mesh panels are on the shell of the pant and offer greatly improved breathability compared to the Factor. The waterproofedness comes from the use of the detachable waterproof/breathable Hydratex liner. The Mistral offers Knox level 1 CE protection.

The REV'IT Turbine pant are basically the Mistral on steroids with SAS-TEC Armor (exceeds CE level 2), Superfabric on the impact areas and beefed up exterior materials all around. The Turbine is meant for hot weather riding and has a detachable waterproof layer. The Factor performes under any condition, while the Turbine and Mistral are suited for warmer riding specifically with the Turbine being the most aggressive option.

Let me know what else myself or Matt could offer.

Anthony

Originally Posted by ovd

Great! This explains a lot. I want to order some pants from Revzilla but being frustrated due to lack of understanding what really every pant offers. For example, I had no idea that the pants offer different type of armor (level 1 vs level 2).

So, could you also please shed some light onto what Mistral and Factor offer in comparison to Turbine?

Thanks!

[ovd]

Originally Posted by BoochZilla

Hi Ovd,

The REV'IT Factor is a mid-range 4-season waterproof pant with a sewn in waterproof lining, a detachable thermal lining and no mesh panels. Its a sturdy pant that offers a lot of bang for the buck for moderate all season riding. The Factor offers Knox level 1 CE protection.

The REV'IT Mistral is a a 3-season waterproof mesh pant which is suited best for warm to hot weather. The mesh panels are on the shell of the pant and offer greatly improved breathability compared to the Factor. The waterproofedness comes from the use of the detachable waterproof/breathable Hydratex liner. The Mistral offers Knox level 1 CE protection.

The REV'IT Turbine pant are basically the Mistral on steroids with SAS-Tec CE level 3+ armor, Superfabric on the impact areas and beefed up exterior materials all around. The Turbine is meant for hot weather riding and has a detachable waterproof layer. The Factor performes under any condition, while the Turbine and Mistral are suited for warmer riding specifically with the Turbine being the most aggressive option.

Let me know what else myself or Matt could offer.

Anthony

Finally, I get it! Thanks a bunch! One last question before I drive you completely nuts: how would you compare each of these pants to which Dainese pants and how they stand up in comparison? I'm pretty sure I'm going to order something this week, just need to make sure I'm buying the right thing.

Guys, you should consider putting all this info with the description of articles on your web site. I mean, seriously, look at the site: all pants look-a-like, only price differs, material used description is "slightly" different (just a mention of key technology names) and that's it! Armor used, for example: until you mentioned it I had no idea what CE level the pants have.

[ovd]

Also, what would you recommend: Turbine or Ignition jacket?

[KullZilla]

No problem.

In my opinion, Dainese's bread and butter are its leathers and track gear. The Dainese textile's are certainly nice, but they are pricey! I think it is hard for them to compete with REV'IT (or anyone for that matter) in the textile category.

Right now I have the Dainese Odessa Gore-Tex Pants and the Drake Air Textile Pants sitting in front of me, Ill start with the Odessa's.

The Odessa's are a cold weather pant. Comparable at 379.99 to the REV'IT Dakar or Cayenne Pro Pants. One big immediate difference is the use of Goretex in the Odessa's to give it a 100% waterproof outer shell. In all of their pants, REV'IT uses a 3 layer system and waterproofing is gained through a removable waterproof membrane. The Cayenne Pro's have better protection through the use of Superfabric and SAS-TAC armor. The Dainese armor is nice (and provides good coverage extending down the shin) but SAS-TEC is going to be higher quality. It is probably on par with the Pro-Life used in the Dakar Pants. The Odessa's have a removable thermal liner, which feels on par with the Dupont Thermolite used in the Dakars, but not as thin and nice as the Exkin liner used in Cayenne Pro's. The Odessa's do not have any venting, so warm weather use is going to very limited. There is plenty of venting for warm weather riding on both the Dakar and Cayenne Pro Pants.

You can see a writeup on Odessa Pants by a fellow inmate on his blog -> PACWIT 5-Way Shootout

I know you did not ask about the Dakar / Cayenne Pro Pants but I had the Odessa's sitting here so figured it would be a useful comparison for someone out there ;)

The Drake Air Textile Pants ($249.99) are a summer textile pant with big mesh panels above and below the knees. It is going to compete with the Mistral, Turbine or Rotor Pants. At a price point slightly more expensive then the Mistral Pants (239.99), the Mistrals get the edge as far as functionality goes. There is no waterproofing in the Drakes, while the Mistrals provide a wind/waterproof later. Functionality wise the Drake's are comparable to the Rotor Pants. Armor quality is going to be similar between the Rotors, Mistrals and Drakes, but protection is where the Turbine Pants shine. The Turbines are the most expensive in the lot but all that extra money is going towards SAS-TEC and Superfabric and higher quality mesh.

So bottom line:

Summer mesh pant and weather protection is not a concern => Rotors (169.99)

Summer Mesh Pant and you need waterproofing => Mistrals (239.99)

Summer Mesh Pant and protection is the most important metric => Turbine (329.99)

Summer Mesh Pant and you need a Dainese logo => Drake Air (249.99)

We are actually relaunching our website in the next 2 weeks. One of the goals of that is to be able to provide more useful and relevant information to our customers so I agree 100% we need this type of information on there!

Originally Posted by ovd

Finally, I get it! Thanks a bunch! One last question before I drive you completely nuts: how would you compare each of these pants to which Dainese pants and how they stand up in comparison? I'm pretty sure I'm going to order something this week, just need to make sure I'm buying the right thing.

Guys, you should consider putting all this info with the description of articles on your web site. I mean, seriously, look at the site: all pants look-a-like, only price differs, material used description is "slightly" different (just a mention of key technology names) and that's it! Armor used, for example: until you mentioned it I had no idea what CE level the pants have.

[ovd]

KullZilla, man, I wish I asked this questions a week ago, that would have saved me a week of frustration! :) Your description nails it, that's exactly the info I needed! Thanks! And good luck with the launch of the new site.

[KullZilla]

The Turbine and Ignition is a bit of an apples-oranges comparison.

I ran through some of the features of the turbine earlier, but to summarize the Turbine is the 'bombproof' hot weather mesh jacket.

The Ignition Jacket is a Leather / Mesh hybrid. It is primarily a leather, with big mesh panels on the front and back for ventilation. The ignition uses the REV'IT three layer system with a leather/mesh outer layer, a wind / waterproof layer, and then a insulated thermal vest. Take all the layers out and you have a great hot weather jacket which gives you the air-flow of mesh but the protection of leather. Add the layers in and you have a solid three season jacket. The Ignition uses ProLife (CE level 2) armor.

The Ignition is a really sharp looking jacket and was one of our best sellers last season, especially in-store. There is a bit of sticker shock online (at 439) but once people try it on and feel the quality they are sold ;)

It is a tough choice, and actually one I am debating myself at the moment. Last year's hot weather riding jacket for me was the REV'IT Air, I loved it but am really interested in seeing the production Turbine first-hand, and the leather of the Ignition has always been appealing. The Air Jacket / Turbine will get you chilly fast once the temperatures drop, but I picked up a REV'IT Digital to use as a mid-layer and it turned my Air Jacket into a solid 3-season choice, so I am sure it could do the same for the Turbine. In the end, I think you will be happy with either choice (cop-out I know)

Anyway keep the questions coming I enjoy talking about this stuff

Originally Posted by ovd

Also, what would you recommend: Turbine or Ignition jacket?