The Renegade Canvas Motorcycle Jacket from Gryphon features a lightweight (8.5 oz) 100% cotton canvas outer shell fully lined with abrasion-resistant mesh for overall rugged construction designed for everyday wear.
Plenty of storage is available with the Renegade jacket, including two front external side pockets, hand-warmer pockets, and two front chest pockets. Safety features include removable CE Level 2 elbow, shoulder, and back protection and 3M Scotchlite reflective safety elements.
The collared neck comes with hidden snaps to hold the collar in place, and two connecting belt loops keep the jacket securely in position.
Available in men’s and women’s sizes starting at $229.95 at the Gryphon website.
Eight motorcycle jackets and five pairs of riding pants have been added to the growing list of motorcycle gear rated by the award-winning MotoCAP website so riders can compare items before buying.
MotoCAP has now tested a total of 443 jackets, gloves and pants and now includes helmet safety and comfort ratings.
In the latest round of testing, RST Kevlar Tech Pro CE Mens denim pants and BMW PaceGuard textile pants were the highest performing, receiving four out of five stars for safety.
BMW Paceguard gear
The BMW PaceGuard pants are now the highest performing non-denim textile pants for safety and also received ten out of ten for water resistance.
The new ratings for jackets can be viewed here. The new ratings for pants can be viewed here.
The online site also allows readers to view items side by side for easier comparisons before buying.
It is based on evidence from crash injury research and the test protocols of the current industry standard. It is an initiative of state automobile clubs and transport departments.
In 2019, MotoCAP, has won a Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) road safety award.
MotoCAP is a partnership between Transport for NSW, State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA), VicRoads, Transport Accident Commission (TAC), Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV), Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC), Lifetime Support Authority (LSA), the Department for Infrastructure and Transport, Western Australian Police: Road Safety Commission, Department of State Growth, Insurance Australia Group (IAG), Australian Motorcycle Council and Accident Compensation Corporation in New Zealand.
Testing is carried out by the Deakin University Institute for Frontier Materials on behalf of the MotoCAP partners.
All gear rated so far has been obtained through a secretive buying system to guarantee integrity.
As I sit here literally sweating over this article in 34C heat and humidity, it’s comforting to know that Australian motorcycle gear ratings authority MotoCAP also rates breathability.
The internationally awarded MotoCAP online safety ratings service not only provides riders with information about the safety of jackets, pants and gloves, but also tests jackets and pants for breathability and comfort in hot conditions.
This is an important primary safety factor. You can’t be a safe rider if you are uncomfortable, dehydrated and distracted by the discomfort of heat.
In the latest round of testing, MotoCAP rates six leather and six textile jackets, with four leather jackets scoring a safety rating of four out of five stars.
While most riders associate textile jackets with keeping cool while looking daggy and leather jackets with looking cool but feeling hot and sweaty, that is not always the case.
The new ratings reveal the RST TracTech EVO 4 Mesh CE jacket ($A299) scored four stars for safety, but was also awarded a four-star breathability rating and a score of 10 out of 10 for water resistance.
RST TracTech EVO 4 Mesh CE jacket
That shows that you don’t have to sacrifice comfort for safety.
MotoCAP has now tested a total of 415 jackets, gloves and pants, with a recent adjustment to their testing regime that makes it tougher for manufacturers to score well.
Deakin Uni Institute for Frontier Materials Senior Research Fellow and Honda GB400 rider Chris Hurren says the changes are the result of “ongoing tweaking of the system based on new research conducted by Deakin University”.
Chris says these changes mean that accurate ratings are assigned to gear based on the latest research and testing, allowing consumers to make informed decisions on their purchases and increasing their protection on our roads.
The original MotoCAP ratings were developed with the limited information at the time of the risks involved for the hand.
MotoCAP testing
Dr Chris Hurren with one of the uni’s testing machines
All gear tested and rated by MotoCAP is bought covertly.
In 2019, MotoCAP, has won a Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) road safety award.
MotoCAP is a partnership between Transport for NSW, State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA), VicRoads, Transport Accident Commission (TAC), Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV), Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC), Lifetime Support Authority (LSA), the Department for Infrastructure and Transport, Western Australian Police: Road Safety Commission, Department of State Growth, Insurance Australia Group (IAG), Australian Motorcycle Council and Accident Compensation Corporation in New Zealand.
Testing is carried out by the Deakin University Institute for Frontier Materials on behalf of the MotoCAP partners.
All gear rated so far has been obtained through a secretive buying system to guarantee integrity.
Tom is also wearing a British Goldtop ’72 Easy Rider leather jacket in the new film.
The original Easy Rider jacket was released in 1972, heavily inspired by the 1969 film of the same name.
Now the company’s modern re-release comes with a more modern fit, a dropped back, and removable armour as standard, in addition to being CE AAA Certified as are all of their motorcycle jackets.
The jacket is made of 1.4mm thickness black aniline cowhide leather and features an industrial grade hand-polished centre zip with AERO pull, blue quilted lining, 3 zipped external pockets, 2 interior chest pockets, adjustable cuffs with traditional ball zips, stainless steel adjustable waist buckles and collar snap, tan suede leather trim inside collar and black suede leather trim inside cuffs and zip guard.
Goldtop was established in 1951 by Godfreys of Hull who started by producing horse riding clothing for the British Household Cavalry as well as jackets, boots and gloves for the motorcycle police.
Their gear became popular among motorcycle riders, but like too many British manufacturers in the 1970s and ‘80s, the brand went bankrupt and closed in the mid 1980s.
However, London rider Kasey Cullen, whose background is in the vintage gloves and clothing industry, bought the rights to the logo in 2012 and began re-introducing some of the old products.
Joe Cullen wearing a Goldtop jacket and Bobber gloves
To copy the original designs, Kasey and his son, Joe, studied historic photos and bought old gear from eBay.
However, they are now re-manufactured using modern manufacturing techniques and only the highest quality materials and fittings they can source.
Australia’s internationally awarded MotoCAP motorcycle gear safety ratings service has now performed testing and issued safety and comfort ratings ratings for 340 items of rider jackets, gloves and pants.
It has now added 16 more products to its online ratings of 165 jackets, 83 pairs of pants and 92 pairs of gloves.
The new safety ratings for 13 jackets and three pairs of pants range from one to three out of five stars for safety.
All pairs of pants from DriRider (Titan and Xena ladies pants) and Macna (transfer) tested were rated at just one star.
The Dainese Prima72 leather jacket was the top jacket performer with three stars.
Dainese Prima72 jacket
Riders are urged to consider checking the safety and comfort ratings of gear before they buy.
While some have disputed the veracity or usefulness of the tests, rider representative groups and road safety experts say MotoCAP at least makes riders more aware of wearing protective gear.
MotoCAP is a partnership between Transport for NSW, State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA), VicRoads, Transport Accident Commission (TAC), Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV), Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC), Lifetime Support Authority (LSA), the Department for Infrastructure and Transport, Western Australian Police: Road Safety Commission, Department of State Growth, Insurance Australia Group (IAG), Australian Motorcycle Council and Accident Compensation Corporation in New Zealand.
Testing is carried out by the Deakin University Institute for Frontier Materials on behalf of the MotoCAP partners.
All gear rated so far has been obtained through a secretive buying system to guarantee integrity.
Company spokesman Elijah Weir says that since launching their motorcycle helmets they have had “tons of requests from our community asking ‘what jacket is that’ every time we put a post out on social media”.
“We’ve made some serious waves in the helmet industry and the aim is to do the same in the motorcycle gear market,” he says.
“The aim is to revolutionise the motorcycle industry and redefine safety-approved gear.
“Our mission is to help save lives and re-invent what motorcycle gear can be and we believe with the help of people like yourself we can most definitely make this happen.”
The company has launched their Enginehawk Instagram pagewith photos of the Predator jacket which is the first of their range of 10 leather and textile jackets and a thermal vest that will be unveiled over coming days:
The brand will be officially launched on 27 April 2021 with full details and pricing.
The company make the following promises about their jackets:
We strive for perfect fit. Gear that doesn’t restrict you. Gear that looks great on all body shapes and sizes. Gear that makes you look like a f*king bad ass.
We only use the highest grade materials that will hold up in a slide. We will only use premium impact armours.
We make gear that looks great on and off the bike. The goal is to make garments riders to want to wear even when they aren’t riding, because that’s the only way to make sure they are when they do.
We keep our prices accessible despite using the most premium materials and manufacturing processes available. We will do this by selling direct to the rider through our website. Our customer is the rider, not the store.
Just in time for Christmas, Australia’s internationally awarded MotoCAP motorcycle gear safety ratings service has added 16 new items.
The addition of safety and comfort ratings for ten jackets and six pairs of pants brings the total number of items of clothing to 239, comprised of 115 jackets, 56 pairs of pants and 73 pairs of gloves.
Alpinestars GP Plus R V3 leather jacket
In the latest round of testing, the Alpinestars GP Plus R V3 leather jacket performed well, receiving four stars for safety.
Importantly as we start summer, the RJays Samurai 3 leather jacket also performed well for both safety and breathability, scoring three out of five stars in both categories. That comfort rating is pretty good for a leather jacket.
MotoCAP is a partnership between Transport for NSW, State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA), VicRoads, Transport Accident Commission (TAC), Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV), Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC), Lifetime Support Authority (LSA), Western Australian Police: Road Safety Commission, Department of State Growth, Insurance Australia Group (IAG), Australian Motorcycle Council and Accident Compensation Corporation in New Zealand.
Testing is carried out by the Deakin University Institute for Frontier Materials on behalf of the MotoCAP partners.
Have you ever found out the hard way that waterproof gear has a use-by date after which it is totally useless?
Two pairs of boots, two pairs of gloves, a jacket and several pair of pants have failed me after as little as five years of periodic use.
This is despite the fact that I look after my gear and store it in a cool, dry cupboard.
Waterproof warranty
I’ve checked all my waterproof gear and none offers a lifetime guarantee.
Also, note that “weatherproof”, “water-resistant” and “water-repellent” are not the same as “waterproof”. These terms mean the garment is rarely watertight even in light showers when you are riding.
This rating consists of two numbers. The first from 0-6 measures protection from foreign bodies such as dust, while the second from 0-9K measures resistance to water. Click here for more details.
Also note that your supposedly waterproof gear may only be guaranteed to be impervious to water in some areas or just have watertight pockets.
Waterproof warranties are typically the same as the garment which is usually from one year to about three years.
Manufacturers could fit jackets and pants with more robust and heavier waterproof membranes and offer longer warranties.
However, that would impact on comfort, weight and price.
So it’s important to look after your waterproof gear.
Failures
Caught in the rain
One of the main problems with waterproof failures is that you may not notice a fault in your gear when you put it on.
And even the most minor fault, crack or split can suck in moisture when you are riding at highway speeds!
There can be a number of reasons for waterproofing failures:
Waterproof leather gear is usually the first to give in because it can age and crack;
Boots can develop minuscule cracks in the soles from simply walking around in them;
Racing boots with bolt-in toe sliders can become loose as they repeatedly hit the ground, allowing in water;
Waterproof pants can develop small tears in the lining or you can dislodge the glued-on taped seams if you pull them on while wearing your boots; Waterproof pants lose their taped seams and lining from years of use
Folding waterproof garments can cause them to wear and split at the creases;
Carrying waterproof gear on your bike scrunched up on a rack and secured by Occy straps can cause rips and wear;
Gore-Tex pants and jackets should last a long time, but the outside layer can get worn from rubbing in areas such as the armpits, crutch and backside;
Zippers can become rusted from rain and road grime and even waterproof zippers can become gummed up by dust and bugs; and
Machine washing your gear can remove or destroy the watertight capabilities of some materials.
Waterproof care
King Canute found he could not hold back the tide and maintaining waterproof riding gear can be similar.
However there are some things you can do:
Boots will last longer if you only wear them on the bike and do limited walking.
Regular treatment of leather with shoe polish, special softeners and waxes such as Dubbin may help prolong their waterproof life;
Take your boots off before pulling on waterproof overpants;
Re-spray your textile gear with waterproof sprays;
Store your gear in a cool, dry cupboard;
Hang your jackets and pants and never fold them;
Always allow wet gear to dry in a well-ventilated area out of direct sunlight before storing;
Carry waterproof gear in a safe place in your backpack or bike luggage, preferably rolled up, not folded;
Give zippers an occasional spray with silicon or rub them with an appropriate wax to help the zipper slide smoothly and last longer; and
So you should periodically wash your gear before storing it away.
When washing your gear, always follow the manufacturer’s instructions. They usually stipulate a hand wash or gentle, warm-wash machine cycle.
Long, hot machine washing cycles can limit the waterproofed life of a garment.
Never use fabric softener when washing and most manufacturers warn against tumble drying or ironing.
However, note that some materials, such as Gore-Tex, actually require tumble drying or ironing after washing to restore their waterproof qualities. Watch this instructional video.
“The majority of wet claims I believe are mainly due to incorrect usage or fitment,” he says.
“You can have the best jacket in the world, but if you don’t get all the closures correctly positioned, ensure your shirt collar or cuffs aren’t exposed (which creates a wicking point for water entry) you will still get wet.
“If you wear gloves over your cuff, water penetrates through the jacket stitching in the chest and arms, runs down between the outer shell and the outside of the waterproof liner (so the rider is still dry) and drains straight into the gloves. This is not a glove issue but a rider fitment issue.
“Likewise with waterproof boots. I see riders buy ‘shorty’ waterproof boots and then complain they get wet feet.
“If you have a look at their rain pants when their feet are on the pegs, the rain pants may ride up just enough to allow water into the boots.”
Ron Grant tests waterproof gear
Ron warns that water will finds its way into that 1% vulnerable area in your whole riding ensemble and spoil your ride.
He says he left for work recently in the pouring rain on his Triumph Tiger 800 fitted with a new, large touring screen to protect him from the elements.
“This new screen creates a bit of a vacuum between the screen and I could see water droplets swirling around in front of me around my throat area,” he says.
“I didn’t really think about this too well, but I had pulled my neck-sock on before fitting my jacket as it’s more comfortable that way.
“The droplets eventually soaked my neck-sock which wicked the water downwards wetting my jumper and shirt. My waterproof jacket didn’t fail, it was the dummy wearing it that failed!”
As Australia’s internationally awardedMotoCAP safety and thermal comfort testing and ratings system for motorcycle clothing has surpassed 200 tested items, there seems to be a paucity of women’s gear.
However, in women’s gear only eight leather jackets, eight textile jackets, seven textile pants and three gloves have been tested.
The lack of women’s gear is a common criticism we receive here about the MotoCAP testing.
However, it should be pointed out that the testing is actually quite representative of the proportion of female riders in the community which is estimated to be about 10-12%.
In fact, the women’s gear tested represents 12.9% which does not account for the fact that gloves are often sold as unisex, rather than for men or women exclusively.
Testing methodology
Dr Chris Hurren*, a research scientist at Deakin University in Geelong where he and his laboratory work on protective motorcycle clothing, explains the MotoCAP methodology for selecting gear for testing.
“We have all of the instore women’s gear in the purchasing database alongside the instore men’s gear,” he says.
“The algorithm determines what will be purchased and it does not discriminate between men’s and women’s apparel.
“Appropriate proportions of both are being purchased.
“We have tested women’s gear in each of the categories of MotoCAP.
“If you compare the percentages tested with what is hanging in store the ratio of men’s to women’s is quite similar.”
In the past 24 months, all garments reported on the MotoCAP website have been purchased covertly by MotoCAP purchasing staff.
None has been supplied by distributors or manufacturers.
* Dr Hurren worked with Dr Liz de Rome and others to produce the protocol that is used by MotoCAP for their testing regime. He has also written a series of four articles for Motorbike Writer on the new European clothing standard which you can start reading by clicking here.
If you love touring on your Ducati in Italian style, safety and comfort, you’re going to want the new touring range from the Borgo Panigale manufacturer.
If you can’t wait, you can buy the gear online on shop.ducati.com.
Sport Touring C3 Jacket ($A789)
The Tour C3 sport-touring jacket, is produced by Spidi exclusively for Ducati with CE-certified protectors on shoulders and elbows. You can also fit a back protector.
The outer jacket, made of a mix of polyester fabrics, is equipped with large air vents and has a waterproof and breathable H2Out membrane.
The removable thermal lining can also be worn as a casual jacket.
It is designed to be worn zipped together with Tour C3 trousers.
It comes in a men’s cut in black/red and high-visibility black/ yellow, and for women in black/red.
Tour C3 Trousers ($A499)
The Tour C3 trousers are designed by Aldo Drudi and made in collaboration with Spidi Sport.
They also have the H2Outmembrane, CE-certified shin and hip protectors, a removable lining, elastic fabric, and zipper-adjustable air vents.
The pants are tailored in different cuts for men and women.
Fabric-leather gloves Strada C4 ($A299)
These limited Strada C4 gloves are produced by Held exclusively for Ducati.
The exterior is made of cowhide, sheep leather and polyamide fabric.
Inside is a Gore-Tex waterproof and breathable membrane. However, the reduced thickness created by the Gore grip process still allows control sensitivity.
They also have SuperFabricinserts, volume adjustments on the wrist and are fully CE-certified.
Horizon helmet ($A999)
The Horizon composite fibre helmet is based on X-lite’s X-1004 shell, but designed by Drudi Performance.
The chin guard has a dual safety opening system and ventilation system.
There is a removable and washable internal padding, a sun visor with UV 400 protection and reflex inserts for greater visibility.
Black Steel helmet ($A949)
The Black Steel helmet is based on the Arai Renegade V and designed by Drudi.
The outer shell is made of SFL fibre while the inner shell is made of EPS with differentiated density.
Its interior is made of antibacterial and washable fabric, the VAS visor has a wide field of view and the ventilation system is able to circulate about 14 litres of air per minute.
All Terrain Touring Boots ($A569)
These CE-approved, full grain leather and suede, all-terrain boots were made in collaboration with TCX.
They are equipped with a waterproof and breathable eVentmembrane and a closure system with adjustable, interchangeable aluminium levers.
The boots have a rubber sole for maximum grip on the pegs and feature lined pleats to increase comfort.
Ducati Communication System V2 ($A569)
This intercom system with voice commands allows up to 15 motorcyclists to communicate simultaneously in a range up to 1.6km in “ideal conditions” and about 1km in “real conditions”.
The connection is automatic, activates by talking and goes off after 30 seconds of silence.
In case of interruption, the connection is automatically restored.
It is based on a Cardo Intercom System and allows the rider to make and answer calls, control mobile devices with the touch of a finger or a voice command and listen Bluetooth music or the integrated FM radio.
The volume of the device adjusts automatically according to the background noise.
It features universal connectivity with any Bluetooth headset of any brand.