REV'IT! Defender GTX vs REV'IT! Cayenne Pro: Comparison and Conclusion

We were recently asked to compare and contrast the new REV'IT! Defender GTX Jacket and Pants Outfit with the REV'IT! Cayenne Pro Jacket and Pants Outfit. Before REV'IT! GORE-TEX line and the Defender GTX were released the REV'IT! Cayenne Pro had been the top of the food chain ADV jacket from REV'IT! for a few years. The Defender GTX now raises the bar and changes the game.

The Defender GTX, as most folks know is new for Fall 2010 and features some upgrades as well as a GORE-TEX liner. In this post we are going to take a deep dive on functionality and material similarities and differences between them.

If you would rather watch the HD videos of both outfits, they are on the product pages as well as video detailing liner breakdown and fit. Click to see the REV'IT! Cayenne Pro or REV'IT! Defender GTX Jacket to watch the video.

On to the comparison.....

Styling: Slightly Different. Both jackets are close to waist length, but the color blocking on both is different. The Defender GTX is more inline with the updated style of the Sand Jacket and Pants. The Cayenne Pro comes in 5 jacket colors and 3 pant colors, Defender GTX comes in 4 jacket colors and 2 pants colors. In our opinion we like that they are different enough to stand out from one another.

Fit: Slightly Different. Both jackets have a more of a European cut. The Cayenne Pro is a dramatic athletic / sport cut while the Defender GTX is a more forgiving "Touring Fit" for a wider range of body types.

Armor: Same. Both The REV'IT! Defender and REV'IT! Cayenne Pro use the SAS-TEC molecular armor in shoulders, elbows and knees. The SAS-TEC armor is only getting better and is some of the best armor available on the planet. It becomes rigid upon impact and absorbs more joules of energy than anything currently available. It is also continually improving. They both come with a temperfoam back pad, but you can upgrade to a SAS-TEC. We find that most folks do.


Superfabric: Slightly different. Both the Cayenne Pro and the Defender GTX user Superfabric Panels to cover high-impact areas (elbows and knees). SuperFabric is tiny laser welded ceramic plates which are 14x more abrasion resistant than Kevlar. The ability to slide longer distance without transferring heat is huge upside in a get-off. For the Defender the Superfabric was cut into a cross-hatched pattern, which upon testing showed no diminishment in protection but increased ability to breath which is a plus in warmer / more active scenarios when you are potentially sweating.

SuperFabric Pattern: Cayenne Pro on left, Defender GTX on Right

Insulation Liner: Same. Both use REV'IT!'s removable Exkin Air Thermal Liner which is half the weight, half the thickness and and 4x the warmth of DuPont Thermalite. In a nutshell is is one of the warmest synthetics around which stretches both of these jacket deeper into the temp range than anything we carry. The only thing warmer at RevZilla is Gerbings Heated Gear. The Thermal liner is a removable drop liner.


Waterproof / Breathable Liner: Different. This feature is a huge difference between the jackets. The "GTX" in Defender GTX stands for GORE-TEX Performance Shell. The Cayenne Pro uses  REV'IT!'s best proprietary Hydratex drop liner which is waterproof and breathable. The Defender's GORE-TEX liner is more waterproof over longer periods of extreme testing and it will breath better than the Hydratex. Tech specs: GTX is 9000ml/H20 24hrs - Hydratex is 5000ml/H20 24hrs. When you sweat in a jacket like this, the ease in which your perspiration can evaporate out of the jacket is key. The REV'IT! Hydratex liner is an 8/10. The GORE-TEX liner is a 10/10. GORE-TEX invented the technology and it remains the standard for waterproof and breathable membranes. The Defender also passes W.L. Gore's OnRoad test which is the most stringent waterproof test done in the industry. The inclusion of GORE-TEX in the Defender GTX is the biggest factor in the price increase over the Cayenne Pro. Both waterproof liners are removable in both outfits.


Outer Shell Construction: Different. The Cayenne Pro will always remain a bombproof jacket featuring DuPont Cordura® 500D, DuPont Cordura® 1000D. In its own right a very strong tag team of textiles. The Defender raises the bar slightly by using Cordura® 500D ripstop with Teflon® coating, PWR|shell 500D with Teflon® coating, Cordura® 1000D ripstop with Teflon® coating. The teflon coating on all the fabrics aid in its strength and durability. Ripstop is a tiny checkerboard pattern on the textile to keep a potential puncture or tear from running. This is a nice upgrade for a very adventure oriented jacket. Both upgraded features make the Defender GTX shell stronger and more durable in the long and short term. Also while neither outershell is waterproof (the inner liners are) they are both water resistant and have a DWR coating. REV'IT! continued the tradition of rugged exteriors which do not have a "crunchy" feel to them. We find most riders are happy with that approach. The upgrade from either of these jackets is something like the KLIM Adventure Rally suit using GORE-TEX Talisman and Armacore which are stronger but heavier, less comfortable fabrics.



Ventilation: Different. The Defender uses 3D Mesh panels for better airflow than the Cayenne Pro. Similar to the Sand Jacket, the 3D mesh creates a slight gap from the chest and the outershell to offer less restriction of airflow and aid in body cooling. The Cayenne Pro uses upgraded Dynax Mesh in its chest panels which flow slightly less air. The Defender also uses the Two-way cuff / sleeve zipper system which in the open position directs airflow up the sleeve vs the Cayenne Pro's basic sleeve vent. Neither of these jackets will vent as well as a mesh like the REV'IT! Sirocco, but If I give the Cayenne Pro Jacket an 7.5/10 in Venting, the Defender GTX Jacket gets a 9. Both Pants vent similarly. At highway speeds a rider would be fine in either aside from extreme conditions. At a stand still, like any jacket, a rider could become hot fast.

Reflective : Slightly Different. They both use 3M Scotchlight panels, but the design is slightly improved on the Defender GTX Jacket.

Price:  The Cayenne Pro will set you back $579 for Jacket and $399 for the Pants. The Defender GTX comes in at $749 for the Jacket and $599 for the pants. It's reasonable increase in price built around mainly the GORE-TEX inclusion and R&D as well as some new features and upgraded shell materials.

Conclusion:  For the hardcore adventurer, the Defender GTX is a big step up in functional performance with the inclusion of GORE-TEX, some newer generation ripstop elements and a better ventilaiton scheme than the already solid Cayenne Pro. Overall the features should contribute to a jacket / pants combo which will be more rugged, protective and further the active extreme temperature range but may very well be overkill for the average to above average touring rider. The Cayenne Pro was built with heavy duty extreme riding in mind and, while the Defender GTX pushes the envelope, the GTX level of cost may not be necessary for 95% of the 4-Season Riding population. Most folks can save the extra cash and go Cayenne Pro unless they know the extra functionality is valuable to them.The bottom line is that for their price points, both of these outfits are excellent.

 We have already road and off-road tested our Defenders and have been quite impressed with the performance - I will admit that we are not surprised.

-Anthony Bucci

Find the Gear On RevZilla.com:  $549.99

REV'IT! Defender GTX Jacket $749.99
REV'IT! Defender GTX Pants $599.99

REV'IT! Cayenne Pro Jacket $549.99
REV'IT! Cayenne Pro Pants $399.99

REV'IT! GORE-TEX Gear

Cold Weather Touring Motorcycle Gear Guide

Next up in our Cold Weather Motorcycle Gear Guide series is Touring Gear. Winter Touring Motorcycle Gear has to meet certain criteria for us to classify it as such. It needs to be able to handle cold extremely well making thermal liners a must. It also has to fend off all elements that Mother Nature rains down; snow, sleet, rain - it all needs to bounce right off. To that end, all this gear needs to have an element of waterproof breathability, be it a membrane bonded to the outershell or a removable liner membrane.

The main differentiating factors between this Touring Gear Guide and our previous ADV Gear Guide lie in application and technologies used. With ADV Touring Gear, you generally see more space-age materials in addition to advanced technical features that are very specific to the application the gear is designed for. ADV Gear is designed for a closer-to-even balance of on-road & off-road riding and therefore needs to be more technically-advanced. The Touring Motorcycle Gear featured in this video will be focused more towards on-road riding with slightly less adventurous, if any at all, off-roading.

That said, we pulled out seven of our favorite Cold Weather Touring outfits and gave a brief breakdown of the application, features and fit of each. We hope this will serve as a guide for all the Sport Touring riders out their looking to keep the rubber side on the road through the coldest months. Without further adieu, our Cold Weather & Winter Touring Motorcycle Gear Guide:

First up in our Winter Touring Motorcycle Gear Guide is the REV'IT! Sand Jacket & REV'IT! Sand Pants. This combo is the best-selling mid-level touring outfit of 2010. Out of all the outfits featured in this video, this very well may be the best at performing in all four seasons. With an impressive venting configuration for hot weather and removable Hydratex waterproof breathable liner and thermal liner, you're covered in cool & cold wet weather as well. Don't miss our part 1, the REV'IT! Sand Jacket & Pant Review, and part 2, the REV'IT! Sand Jacket & Pant Armor & Liner Breakdown, for a more detailed look at this impressive piece of gear.

We know we featured this outfit in our Winter ADV Motorcycle Gear Guide, but it's for good reason that we included the Firstgear TPG Rainier Jacket & Firstgear TPG Escape Pants in this collection as well: performance in all weather conditions, all temperature ranges and all seasons. The TPG Rainier was a standout of last year's Firstgear class, and a year later the TPG Escape pants came up to speed. The fit is articulated, the d3o molecular-level armor is there; it's simply an all-around better pant than the first iteration was. This combo will do a great job of competing with anything else on the market.

As part of REV'IT!'s new teaming with GORE-TEX and as a complement to the REV'IT! Defender GTX featured in our ADV guide, the REV'IT! Legacy GTX Jacket & REV'IT! Legacy GTX Pants pack a mean punch and will be perfectly suited for the rider in the Pacific Northwest. The reasoning? They feature a non-removable GORE-TEX waterproof breathable membrane that is bonded to the outershell. This outfit is the only one in this collection that features GORE-TEX, the ultimate in waterproof breathability. You can stretch this outfit into the warmer temperature zones with the removable thermal liner, but it's going to shine in the cool/cold wet weather. Seattle, Portland, this is for you.

Out of everything in this video, the Olympia AST Jacket & Olympia Ranger 2 Over Pants comprise the outfit most relegated to three-season riding. With fewer venting options than the other six combos in this lineup, the AST Jacket & Ranger 2 Pants will perform extremely well in the cool and cold weather, easily fending off all forms of precipitation. The Thermolite insulated liner jacket can be worn standalone, making it a great destination layer for when you get off the bike. And of course, the thermal liner jacket can be taken out entirely and vents opened up for the warmer times of the year. It's also available in the hi-vis yellow option from Olympia shown in the video.

The REV'IT! Dragon Jacket & REV'IT! Factor Pants are the mid-range offering from REV'IT! for Cold Weather Touring rides. The Dragon features a stylish standalone liner jacket that also contains the Hydratex membrane, the waterproof breathable element of this jacket. Beyond that is a detachable thermal liner that will keep you plenty warm in the winter but when removed, will flow a great amount of air for warmer weather riding. The Factor pants also offer a detachable thermal lining, but the waterproof breathable membrane is bonded to the outershell. Bottom line, this outfit will perform great in all seasons, all temperatures, and all levels of precipitation.

Next up, the Firstgear Kilimanjaro Jacket & Firstgear HT Overpants are a great option for the rider looking for a roomier fit. These Firstgear products feature a box cut which puts them along the lines of a classic American fit as opposed to the European svelte cut that we so often see in Touring gear. The Hypertex bonded membrane in the jacket and the pants provide the waterproofing and breathability in this outfit. The jacket and pants both offer standalone thermal liners that can be worn when you hop off the bike or removed entirely for warmer weather riding. This is another excellent mid-level Winter Touring option from Firstgear.

Finally, the Dainese D-System D-Dry Jacket and Dainese D-System D-Dry Pants take all of the great Italian styling and design that go into their street gear and apply it to an all-season all-weather Touring outfit. With a full DuPont Cordura outer construction and a removable waterproof breathable D-Dry liner system, Dainese created an outfit that will keep you warm, dry and in style no matter what treacherous winter weather gets hurled at you. It's going to shine in the colder, wetter months of the year but also perform very well in the heat with its ample ventilation.

That will wrap up our second Cold Weather Motorcycle Gear Guide. Be sure not to miss all of the installments!

-RetroZilla

Cold Weather ADV Motorcycle Gear Guide

REV'IT! GORE-TEX Gear Guide

Olympia Ranger 2 Pants Review

REV'IT! Legacy GTX Jacket & Pants Review

Cold Weather ADV Motorcycle Gear Guide

It's that time of year again. Time to put away the lightweight summer mesh jackets and bust out the brawnier winter motorcycle gear. Park the sportbike in the garage until spring and roll out the GS (or KTM or V-Strom of course). No more outdoor picnics in the sunshine. Just raw, bleak, absolutely bone-chilling weather. There will be freezing rain, sleet, blizzards. All of this makes it seem like the perfect time to ride, right? If you have the right gear for the weather, then there's no doubt about it.

That said, we're rolling out a series of HD videos we're calling our 2010 Cold Weather Motorcycle Gear Guides. Our hope is that these guides will serve as a means to navigate the vast array of cold weather motorcycle gear, effectively making the buying process that much easier. We've broken it down into four categories: Everyday Riding, Sport Riding, Sport Touring, and ADV Touring.

This first video focuses on our picks for Cold Weather ADV Touring Motorcycle Gear. We cover six different outfits from five brands to give a glance at the many different options available. Check out the full video below:

The first outfit we featured is REV'IT!'s new flagship all-season all-weather outfit, born from their new marriage with GORE-TEX. The REV'IT! Defender GTX Jacket & REV'IT! Defender GTX Pants will perform tremendously under any conditions that Mother Nature throws. We've done a two full 10-minute videos on the Defender, one in which we discuss application, features, and fit; in the other we break down the armor and liner system. You can check them out by visiting our REV'IT! Defender GTX Jacket & Pants.

Next up is the new for Fall 2010 Alpinestars Durban Gore-Tex Jacket & Alpinestars Durban Gore-Tex Pants. With a strong history of producing apparel for the race track and roots in motocross gear, it only seemed logical that Alpinestars would eventually enter the ADV Touring realm with strong offerings. Building on the strong foundation of the Alpinestars Frontier Gore-Tex Jacket, they spent another year worth of R&D and came out swinging with the Durban suit. The Alpinestars Durban Suit plays really well in the arena of ADV Touring gear and offers a ton of four-season versatility. We'll be rolling out our full 15-minute review of this suit in the very near future.

Third in line is the Firstgear TPG Rainier Jacket & Firstgear TPG Escape Pants. We already knew that Firstgear had hit an ADV Touring home run last fall when they released the TPG Rainier, a jacket that immediately joined the upper-echelon of all-season all-weather gear. But the R&D in the TPG pants weren't quite there yet. Give them another year of hard work, and they roll out the much new and improved TPG Escape pants. The addition of molecular-level d3o armor, the completely redesigned fit & articulation and a generally more well-thought out product results in a pair of winter motorcycle pants that can flex its muscles up against the best of the best on the market.

The Olympia X-Moto Jacket and Olympia X-Moto Pants also get a thumbs-up from us. Out of all the cold weather ADV motorcycle gear we carry, this outfit is likely to be the most versatile in terms of multi-season wearability. Utilizing Olympia's Mega Vent Panel system, this suit will work very well with the integrated hydration pack in the summer as well as performing exceptionally in the brutal, bitter cold of winter. The waterproof breathable liner will keep you dry, the Thermolite lining will keep you warm, and the 2000D Cordura reinforcements will keep you protected. This is a great middle-of-the-road option that offers a ton of bang for the buck.

Next, we featured the Klim Adventure Rally Jacket & Klim Adventure Rally Pants for the rider who is going to do the majority of riding off-road. Think something along the lines of a 90% off-road, 10% on-road split. Inspired by the Dakar Rally, Klim created this suit to be the most bomb-proof outershell on the market today. Constructed exclusively with the most rugged GORE-TEX materials, the Klim Adventure Rally Suit is waterproof, breathable and ultimately indestructible. The only caveat with this outfit is the lack of thermal liner. Basically, what you choose to do for in terms of insulation is your call with this suit, but the exterior is heavy-duty to the point where we couldn't leave it out.

Finally, perhaps the best-selling ADV touring outfit over the last three years at RevZilla.com, the REV'IT! Cayenne Pro Jacket & REV'IT! Cayenne Pro Pants. Prior to the previously-detailed REV'IT! Defender GTX Jacket & Pants, this was the absolute mountaintop for REV'IT's ADV gear. And for good reason. It offers true four-season flexibility, with removable liner systems, Hydratex waterproof breathability, and futuristic materials like SuperFabric. The implementation of the Exkin liner, 2x warmer & 1/2 the weight of Thermolite, means you'll be nice and toasty in the frosty weather. This is without question an upper-echelon beast of an ADV touring outfit.

There are two 10-minute video reviews detailing this outfit that you can see by visiting our REV'IT! Cayenne Pro Review page.

That does it for our first Cold Weather Motorcycle Gear Guide. Stay tuned for all four installments.

-RetroZilla

Related Posts:

REV'IT! GORE-TEX Gear Guide

Alpinestars Tech Touring Gear

Olympia X-Moto Review

Fall 2010 Firstgear Kathmandu Gloves

Out of all the brand new Fall 2010 Firstgear gloves, the Firstgear Kathmandu Gloves are the ones that have us most excited. Coming in at the $79.95 price point, the Kathmandu packs a great feature set for a cold weather ADV touring glove, truly providing all-weather versatility. Check out our full HD video review of the glove below.

Here's the quickie breakdown of what the Kathmandu brings to the table:

• 330D DuPont Cordura on the back of hand
• Full Clarino palm with reinforcement patch over foam pad to dampen vibrations
• Hipora waterproof breathable membrane
• Thinsulate lining for added warmth
• Injection-molded TPU knuckle protectors
• Box fingers with articulation for comfort & flexibility
• 3" Neoprene cuff locks out cold air

The Firstgear Kathmandu Gloves are going to handle cool & cold weather exceptionally well, deflecting any form of precipitation that Mother Nature casts. This is one of our favorites of Firstgear's new Fall line.

Compare it to the rest of the pack by visiting our winter motorcycle gloves page.

Stay tuned for more new Firstgear products. They've certainly taken it to the next level.

-RetroZilla

Related:

Firstgear Kilimanjaro Gloves

REV'IT! Orion GTX Gloves

REV'IT! Bastion GTX Gloves

Fall 2010 Icon Variant Speedmetal

Brand new in the Fall 2010 Icon Gear Collection is the Icon Variant Speedmetal Helmet. Earlier this year Icon released the Variant due to the overwhelming demand from the dual sport and super-motard crowd. This helmet is built to perform everyday in the streets but offer the versatility of going enduro when the mood strikes. Icon modified the shape of their already existing lids and added all of the dual-sport elements to make this helmet a leader in the pack of helmets that perform at a high level both on and off road.

We have a full video review of the Icon Variant Helmet which you can see below:

We first saw this new graphic with the release of the Icon Alliance Speedmetal Helmet last month and now it's being integrated into their hybrid-riding standout. Everything is always extremely well thought out in Icon's design. The black accents on the visor and the chin vent, the red guts; they simply don't miss anything. We're juiced up about all of the new Fall 2010 Icon Gear and the new Icon Variant Speedmetal is no exception.

Check out what this helmet goes head-to-head with by visiting our dual sport motorcycle helmets page.

-RetroZilla

Related posts:

Fall 2010 Icon Motorcycle Jacket Guide

Fall 2010 Icon Waterproof Gear

Fall 2010 Icon Airframe Helmets

Fall 2010 Icon Alliance Helmets

Fall 2010 Firstgear Kilimanjaro Gloves

As part of the brand new Fall 2010 gear lineup, Firstgear released a series of gloves to complement their standout ADV Touring gear. Today, we'll take a look at the Firstgear Kilimanjaro Gloves and Firstgear Kilimanjaro Air Gloves. Vastly different in application, what the Kilimanjaro and Kilimanjaro Air share is extensive R&D and thoughtful design from a company who has through the years developed many US patents, utilized innovative technologies and put their products through the veritable ringer of testing before ever going public. They continue to do so today and these gloves are another example of exceptional engineering and design.

Here is our video review of the brand new for fall 2010 Firstgear Kilimanjaro Gloves:

The Kilimanjaro Glove boasts a 330D Cordura Gauntlet for durability with an integrated storm cuff that keeps the elements out of the glove. The Hipora waterproof breathable membrane ensures that no precipitation will get through to your hand while allowing perspiration to evaporate through, keeping you dry and comfortable. The palm sports a Pittards WR100X leather, a treated leather that is water/wind-resistant and breathable, but sacrifices nothing in the way of softness or suppleness. Injected TPU hard parts in the fingers provide additional protection while the left thumb's wiper blade provides the convenience of cleaning your face shield on the fly. Overall, the First Gear Kilimanjaro is a great cool/cold weather ADV touring option.

Next up, the Firstgear Kilimanjaro Air Gloves:

Consider these the little brother of the Kilimanjaro Gloves. Built for the summertime ADV touring rider, the First Gear Kilimanjaro Air Gloves are lightweight, built with a backhand construction of 320D mesh, and durable thanks to the leather palm with Clarino & foam reinforcements for resistance to wear and vibration-dampening. The liner is made with Bemberg fabric, a very soft and smooth silk-like fiber that creates a comfortable glove interior. It also has that great integrated wiper blade on the left thumb to quickly and easily clean your face shield, a feature we're seeing on a lot of the new Firstgear gloves. With exceptional features and functionality, these gloves are sure to be a huge hit for the rider seeking a lightweight summertime touring glove.

Stay tuned for more from the new Fall 2010 Firstgear lineup!

To see competitors of the cool/cold weather Kilimanjaro, visit our winter motorcycle gloves page.

To see what stacks against the Kilimanjaro Air, check out our summer motorcycle gloves section at RevZilla.com

-RetroZilla

Related:

REV'IT! Bastion Winter Gloves

Icon Sub Summer Gloves

Alpinestars Tech Touring Gear

Utilizing nearly 50 years worth of R&D in the development of high-performance motorcycle gear, Alpinestars decided to elevate their ADV Touring gear to the next level in the Fall of 2010. With their partnership with GORE-TEX, Alpinestars is able to create some of the most technical and protective all-season all-weather apparel. We saw them dabbling into that territory in 2009 with the Alpinestars Frontier Gore-Tex Jacket but their newest ADV Touring combo, the Durban, ushers in the next generation for Alpinestars technical textile apparel.

Here's a little sneak peek:

The Alpinestars Durban Gore-Tex Jacket & Alpinestars Durban Gore-Tex Pants are going to go toe-to-toe with the top-end ADV Touring gear from most motorcycle gear manufacturers. Alpinestars started making off-road gear when the company was founded and have been making road/racing gear since the 1970s. It only follows that the marriage of both of these technologies would fuse together and create highly technical and innovative adventure touring gear. The new Durban outfit is designed to pair perfectly with the brand new Alpinestars Arctic Drystar Gloves.

We have a full 15-minute HD video review of this coming out very soon, in addition to video reviews of all the brand-new Fall 2010 Alpinestars Gear.

Stay tuned.

In the meantime, you can visit our Alpinestars Touring Gear page to check out some of the new gear.

-RetroZilla

Related:

Alpinestars Ridge Waterproof Boot

Alpinestars Scout Waterproof Boot

Alpinestars Spring 2010 Gear

New Fall 2010 Icon Airframe Helmets

As part of the wealth of new product Icon is releasing in Fall 2010, the already mega-popular Icon Airframe Helmet is coming out in three new designs. Already known for flowing enormous quantities of air and providing an aerodynamic and comfortable ride, the aggressively-styled Fall 2010 Icon Airframes are sure to turn heads in the street.

First up, the Icon Airframe Construct Helmet offers a great balance of performance and visual design. The 'Naked' finish utilized by Icon is an amber weave, soaked in a rich gloss coat, all sitting atop a Fiberglass-Dyneema-Carbon Fiber chassis. It's incredibly light, resilient and strong, and ships with a dark smoke shield to add to the already maxed-out sleekness of this helmet. Like the rest of the Airframes, the Construct is All World Standard, meeting DOT, ECE, SAI & SG certifications.

The fans wanted a helmet that represented the day of reckoning, and Icon delivered to a T. With a sword-wielding skeletal cavalryman riding on the back of a half-decayed horse, the Icon Airframe Apocalypse Helmet exists for all those armageddon-obsessed riders out there. Icon rounds this helmet out with flames flying out and around the horseman and his chariot of destruction with a sword slicing behind the 'Apocalypse Airframe' logo on the back of the helmet. Of course, it offers all the great features of the other Airframes, but the hellish graphics set it apart from its brethren.

Those riders looking to be slightly more subtle but still let the rest of the road know they're fast will be happy with the Icon Airframe Lifeform Helmet. Building on the graphics scheme of the Icon Airframe Carbon Lifeform Helmet, the design of the Lifeform is all aggressive lines and sharply-pointed flames. Available in black, bright blue and blazing red, the Icon Airframe Lifeform looks like pure speed and aggression. The "winged crest of defiance" and "tangential lines of attack" will let everybody know what you're doing when you hit the streets. And you'll be cool, comfortable and protected while you're ripping around with this lid on.

Icon continues to construct gear that delivers the performance and style that aggressive street riders desire. The advanced designs and technologies utilized are setting Icon apart from the competition. They take standout products and make them better. Time after time. And the new Icon Airframe Helmets are no stray.

Check out the full collection of Fall 2010 Icon Gear and our entire selection of motorcycle helmets at RevZilla.com.

-RetroZilla

Related Icon Posts:

Icon Airframe Helmet Review

Fall 2010 Icon Motorcycle Jackets

Fall 2010 Icon Alliance Helmets

Fall 2010 Icon Waterproof Gear Guide

Forcefield Back Protector HD Vid Review

A recent addition to the RevZilla lineup, Forcefield armor has received a warm welcome from the motorcycle community. Their back protectors, the Forcefield Pro Sub 4 and the Forcefield Pro L2, cut the necessary rating of the CE 2 certification scale in half (or nearly in half with the Pro L2). That's some serious impact protection.

The qualification for CE Level 2 Back Protector Certification is very simple: the armor must allow less than 9 kiloNewtons of force to be transmitted to the body. The Forcefield Pro Sub 4 gets its name for a very simple reason. On average it transmits less than 4kN of energy to the body, generally around 3.38kN, less than the medically-defined average level where injury can occur. That's absolutely astonishing.

The Forcefield Pro L2, on the other hand, delivers only 4.93kN to the body, an equally amazing number for a consumer-level day-to-day rider's back protection. RIDE Magazine, a popular motorcycle gear and bike reviewing outfit, designated the Pro L2 a "Best Buy" in 2008. At the point, the protector was still up around 5.6kN of force transmitted to the body. Improvements over the last couple years have brought that number down even further which is impressive to say the least.

Forcefield's impact protection comes from a material they refer to as Armourflex, which is essentially a combination of two materials: a triangular next-generation shock absorbing material fused with a base layer of soft Nitrex foam. This design allows force to evenly spread across the surface reducing direct impact to any one area. It is also super flexible and comfortable. Any part of the back protectors that come in contact with skin are wrapped in BeCool fabric, a polyamide fiber that pulls hot air away from your body and allows cool air to circulate through. Pretty high-tech stuff.

Lastly, and possibly most importantly, is the fact that every piece used to construct Forcefield back protectors is CE approved. That means from the armor itself to the straps all the way down to the rivets; all CE certified. This gear will withstand the test of time and perform tremendously. We think you'll be pleased.

You can compare it to other back protectors by visiting the back protectors page at RevZilla.com.

-RetroZilla

Don't miss our full overview of the Forcefield lineup:

Forcefield Armor Overview

Scorpion EXO-900 Transformer Helmet- True Modular

The Scorpion EXO-900 Transformer Helmet truly offers the versatility of full-face protection and open-face riding. Most other modular helmets are not designed to be worn with the chin bar up since it is a safety hazard while other modulars that actually pull all the way to the back of the helmet end up being way too heavy on the neck. Not the case with the Scorpion EXO900. With a fully removable chin bar, an easy-to-install peak visor, and a retractable sun visor, you go from full-face riding to open-face feeling the breeze in minutes.

A relative newcomer to the motorcycle gear world in the last five years, Scorpion gear has come in red hot with some killer motorcycle helmets and jackets. Reasonably priced, the Scorpion EXO-900 Helmet is a great option for the rider who seeks flexibility in his gear. The shell is constructed from a polycarbonate composite and the interior features the AirFit helmet pump system for a snug fit. The AirFit system basically operates the way Reebok Pumps did (remember those?) by filling the liner with air until the fit is just right. It has a release valve for when you're done riding to allow you to easily deflate the interior and remove the helmet. That's pretty advanced. This helmet is also available in hi-vis yellow option for all the commuters out there.

The Scorpion EXO900 Transformer's shield is EverClear, which translates to a fog-free ride. The KwikWick moisture-wicking liner is removable and washable and, as I said before, inflatable to your desired level for comfort and safety. The helmet is DOT and ECE approved. Check out the video above for the full demonstration on how to transform this helmet from full face to open face very quickly.

You can find our full lineup of modular motorcycle helmets at RevZilla.com.

Keep it versatile.

-RetroZilla

Here are some related modular helmet blog posts:

Scorpion Helmet Buying Guide

Shoei Multitec Helmet Review

Shark Evoline Helmet Review

Scorpion EXO-1000 Helmet Review

Scorpion Motorcycle Helmet Buying Guide

In this video, we detail the five models of motorcycle helmets produced by Scorpion. We've seen some great products come from Scorpion in the last few years and judging by the reviews on our site, fellow riders are loving Scorpion helmets as well. Check out the HD video below.

Let me dive in to what really jumps out at us about these five Scorpion helmets. I'll start with the universal features of each of the helmets:

• SpeedShift system (except the modular EXO-900)- this quick-change shield system allows you to easily pop the shield on and off by turning a mechanism on each side of the helmet. No tools! It is one of the easiest shield-change systems we've seen.
• EverClear faceshield- this shield is optically correct and utilizes a fog-free technology and anti-scratch coating. It's also one of the strongest shields we've seen, made of strong polycarbonate.
• KwikWick liner- the cheek pads and helmet liner and made from a moisture-wicking material that pulls perspiration away from your face. These interiors breathe extremely well and are easy to remove and completely washable
• With the exception of the EXO-400 which is a slightly round oval shape, every Scorpion helmet is an intermediate oval shape

Individual features on each Scorpion Motorcycle Helmet:

Scorpion EXO-400 Helmet

• Entry-level offering from Scorpion
• Polycarbonate composite shell
• Very quiet ride; wind-tunnel tested for aerodynamics
• Adjustable indexed ventilation for max airflow
• Custom liners and cheek pad kits available
• Snell & DOT Certified

Scorpion EXO-700 Helmet

• Fiberglass/Kevlar Matrix Shell
• Tested in the lab and the streets
• Wind-tunnel testing for aerodynamics
• Superior adjustable ventilation configuration
• Feature set that rivals much more expensive helmets
• Snell & DOT certified

Scorpion EXO-750 Helmet

• Same as EXO-700 with addition of AirFit pump system
• ECE & DOT certified

Scorpion EXO-900 Helmet

• Modular helmet
• Can be transformed and ridden open-face
• Detachable peak visor
• Retractable internal sun visor
• AirFit helmet pump system
• Polycarbonate composite shell
• DOT & ECE certified

Scorpion EXO-1000 Helmet

• Long-distance touring helmet
• Fiberglass/Kevlar Matrix Shell
• HelmetPump liner inflation system
• Adjustable ventilation designed for upright riding
• Retractable internal sun visor
• EPS-lined chin bar
• Snell & DOT certified

Check out more options by visiting our modular helmets page or or general motorcycle helmets page. We're really impressed with the 2010 Scorpion lineup and look forward to their next wave of innovation.

-RetroZilla

Related:

Scorpion EXO-1000 Helmet Review

Scorpion EXO-900 Helmet

Touring Motorcycle Helmet Buying Guide

Touring Motorcycle Helmet Buying Guide

We consider a touring motorcycle helmet to be a helmet that is designed to be worn for long distances while riding mostly in the upright position. Typically, some well-known bikes that require this position are the Honda Goldwing, various Harley-Davidsons, BMW R1200GS, KTM 990 Adventure and so on. Any ADV or Touring bike where you're going to be sitting upright for the majority of your ride. In this video, we highlight eight of our top picks for touring helmets, and discuss the various feature sets of each helmet.

In this video, we tried to isolate what we think are the best-in-class for ADV touring helmets based on several criteria: excellent ventilation when in the upright riding position, very lightweight, ergonomic and comfortable, along with being able to combat multiple weather variables. The following helmets are the eight that we selected as top of the food chain with a few highlights of each one:

Arai RX-Q Helmet: $490.45 & up

• Medium Oval Head Shape
• Helmet design modeled directly from Arai Corsair V
• Same wider-eyeport face shield as the Corsair V
• Lightweight & Ergonomic with Aerodynamic Shell
• Cheek pads cradle head for balance & comfort
• Even weight distribution through helmet
• Snell 2010 Certification
• 5 Unique Shell Sizes for more accurate fitment

Arai Profile Helmet: $481.46 & up

• Long Oval Head Shape - very long & narrow
• Dual Intake/Exhaust ventilation for superior airflow
• FreeFlow System that reduces wind turbulence while encouraging hot air exhaust
• Fiberglass Composite shell is strong and lightweight
• Multiple-density foam interior for comfort
• 2010 Models are Snell 2010 Certified

Scorpion EXO-1000 Helmet: $289.95 & up

• Medium Oval Head Shape
• Fiberglass/Kevlar Matrix is quiet, light & aerodynamic
• HelmetPump system for customizable perfect fit
• SpeedView internal retractable sun visor
• SpeedShift quick-change tool-less shield change
• EverClear no-fog anti-scratch faceshield
• KwikWick removable washable moisture-wicking liner
• Excellent ventilation configuration

Shoei RF-1100 Helmet: $359.99 & up

• Medium Oval Head Shape
• Successor to massively popular RF1000
• AIM+ Shell is rigid, lightweight and resilient
• Multiple shell sizes & EPS sizes for comfort
• Shell-integrated spoiler reduces drag and lift
• Variable ventilation for maximum airflow & de-fogging
• Removable washable antimicrobial wicking interior
• Tool-less shield changes & spring-loaded shield
• Snell 2010 Certification

Shoei Multitec Helmet: $434.69 & up

• Medium Oval Head Shape
• One of the Lightest Modular Helmets at RevZilla.com
• Extremely versatile full-face or open-face
• Easy & smooth open/close mechanism
• Upper AirScoop for superior aerodynamics
• Removable washable moisture-wicking interior
• AIM shell is strong, light, and aerodynamic
• QuickRelease Tool-less shield changes

Shark Evoline Series 2 Helmet: $349.50 & up

• Chin bar locks in behind head for open-face riding
• Extremely aerodynamic with great airflow
• Round head shape
• Retractable internal sun visor
• Easy to operate open/close mechanism
• Removable washable moisture-wicking liner
• DOT & ECE 22-05 Certified
• 9-position ratcheting shield
• Scratch-resistant anti-fog shield

Shoei Hornet DS Helmet: $437.39 & up

• Medium Oval Shaped ADV Dual-Sport Helmet
• 3 Modes: Visor + Shield, Shield Only, Visor Only
• Extra-Large Shield; Can Wear Goggles Underneath
• Lightweight AIM+ Shell is Strong & Aerodynamic
• Multiple-density liner is removable, washable, wicking
• Chin vent designed for de-fogging
• Top Intake & Rear Exhaust Ventilation
• DOT & Snell 2005 Certified

Arai XD-3 Helmet: $512.95 & up

• Medium Oval Dual-Sport Helmet
• Fiberglass Composite shell is strong, light, aerodynamic
• Three Modes: Peak & shield, Shield only, Peak only
• Dual Intake/Exhaust ventilation
• Multiple chinbar vents for cooling & de-fogging
• Removable washable antimicrobial wicking liner
• High-flow peak forces air into the top vents
• DOT & Snell 2010 Certified

We hope we demonstrated the various types of long-distance touring helmets to help connect the dots for you, allowing you to make a more informed decision. Of course, you can always visit our modular helmets page, our dual sport helmets page or our general motorcycle helmets page to explore more options. All of these helmets have their own detailed video reviews which you can see on the individual product pages at RevZilla.com or by visiting Youtube.com/RevZillaTV.

-RetroZilla

Related Posts:

Scorpion EXO-1000 Helmet Review

Arai RX-Q Helmet Review

Shoei RF-1100 Helmet Review

Shoei Multitec Helmet Review

Scorpion EXO-1000 Helmet Review

One of the newest motorcycle helmet offerings from Scorpion, the Scorpion EXO-1000 helmet continues their trend of packing a ton of next-level features into a reasonably-priced premium helmet. The EXO1000 is designed to be ridden in the upright position for long distances, and will flow a great deal of air, making it a great premium touring motorcycle helmet option.

As I said, the Scorpion EXO 1000 Helmet is absolutely chocked with features. First and foremost is the long-hyped HelmetPump design that had the buzz for this helmet going well before its release. Everyone remembers those shoes from the 80s and 90s that you could pump up for a perfect custom fit. They've integrated that technology into the helmet and it works spectacularly: the cheek pads and neckroll inflate for a snug fit, and at the end of the ride a release button deflates for easy on/off. The next biggie on this helmet is the retractable internal sun visor system. The SpeedView Visor, as Scorpion calls it, eliminates the need to change shields when the sun comes out or fumble for a pair of sunglasses.

Beyond that, you've got the trio of Scorpion features: the SpeedShift quick-change shield system, allowing you to swap out shields without tools in ten seconds or less; the EverClear fog-free faceshield with a scratch resistant coating; and the KwikWick antimicrobial removable washable moisture-wicking liner. The ventilation system is fully adjustable and will keep your head nice and cool (couple with the moisture-wicking liner) at long distance rides. Easy open/close vents are located at the brow, the chin, and the top of the head with a large open/close exhaust vent at the back of the head for venturi effect airflow. This is without question a premium touring helmet. It's also DOT & Snell certified.

Visit our motorcycle helmets page at RevZilla.com to view this helmet and all its competitors.

-RetroZilla

Related Posts:

Scorpion EXO-900 Hi-Viz Modular Helmet

Shoei RF-1100 Helmet Review

Arai RX-Q Helmet Review