Aether Expedition Jacket & Pants: New to the Game

• Tony
  Content Coordinator
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New to the RevZilla landscape, and quite possibly new to many of you, is the top-tier, world-class motorcycle gear coming from Aether. As a truly premium outfitter of some of the most robust motorcycle gear in the game, the California-based company has been built upon an ardent attention to quality and uncompromising focus. At the same time, they have evolved the standard of technical adventure motorcycling gear and incorporated contemporary style seamlessly into the mix. With their line of motorcycle jackets and pants, Aether has introduced a feel of modernity into high-end motorcycle apparel.

Sitting at the top end of this lineup is the Aether Expedition Jacket. Designed to be the epitome of all-weather moto without the technical look of other items on the market, the Expedition jacket from Aether truly delivers. Built for long hours in the saddle, yet to still look the part once the kickstand is down and you are walking around your destination, the waterproof, breathable, and well-moving outer shell is the definition of multi-functional. From the seam sealed construction to the D3O EVO XT armor at the elbows, shoulders, back and chest, the Expedition has not forgotten its primary role as a motorcycle jacket. Put through the arduous rigors of backcountry British Columbia by the very people who design it from the drawing board, the Aether Expedition jacket comes to the table with a well-developed sense of what it is, what it is designed for, and where it is ready to go… which is just about anywhere.

To compliment the Expedition jacket, the new Aether Expedition Pants have been designed with the same level of multi-functionality and specificity of purpose. With a construction that seamlessly brings together the rugged nature of 3-layer field nylon with the wonderful ergonomics afforded by 3-layer power spandex stretch weave, the Expedition pants from Aether are able to be both durable and highly comfortable at the same time. Additional features include D3O pads at the hips and knees, adjustability throughout, and reflective piping to make you more visible in low-light scenarios.

While Aether itself might be a relatively new addition to the collective gear consciousness, the concepts upon which they guide themselves and their gear are ones that resonate with us all. Style, simplicity, open roads, and the gear to help us get there right. Simple concept. Aether gets it and puts it on full display with the Expedition jacket and pants.

Have fun out there, be safe, and as always…

Enjoy the ride,

Juice

Roland Sands Ronin Reserve: The Next Chapter

Roland Sands, a staple in the stylish and ever popular ‘cafe racer’ market, is unveiling two jackets true to their namesake's passion and design.  The Roland Sands Ronin Reserve and Ronin Reserve Textile Jacket place style and grace above all else.  These two jackets are designed more towards having style at your destination, as opposed to protection from the ever-impending high speed gravel embrace.  This makes them ideal for riding around Chinatown and inner city neighborhoods right out of the box, or possibly even higher speed riding with the addition of chest, shoulder, and back protectors.

The Roland Sands Ronin Reserve Textile Jacket utilizes a great breathable alternative to the hot leather counterparts, allowing a rider to enjoy the ride without requiring a cold swim or shower at every stoplight.  The Waxed Cotton will weigh as much as a high quality carbon fiber helmet (roughly 3 - 3.5 lbs) creating less fatigue on the rider’s shoulders and arms, while still offering a great aggressive fit.  Roland Sands designed this jacket as an extremely versatile, water repellant, entry-level jacket (coming in at $350.00) for all types of riders.

Roland Sands Ronin Reserve Waxed Cotton Jacket Review

Refining the Ronin lineup even further, the Roland Sands Ronin Reserve Jacket sheds unnecessary weight (over 1 lb) as compared to the original Ronin.  Roland Sands was able to drop pounds by slimming down the sleeves of the jacket, while miraculously maintaining the same fitment and sizing as the original jacket.  The weight reduction will also come from a swap from the standard Ronin’s 1.1 MM “Airbourne” leather, to the .8-.9 MM “Blackstone” cowhide.  Due to the change in the leather material being used, as well as the limited production of these jackets, the priced has increased to $650.00.  For the increased price, this jacket would see its ideal rider as those looking for a less bulky/heavy, refined version of the Ronin.

Roland Sands Ronin Reserve Leather Jacket Review:

Every season, we see Roland Sands stand out as one of the very few manufacturers taking advice from their consumers, and this year is no exception.  Listening to customers who thought the Ronin was just a bit bulky, the Reserve will offer a fine tuned Ronin version (for those lucky enough to grab one of the few being made).  At the other end of the spectrum, the Waxed Reserve will offer an entry-level rider the opportunity to wear the coveted RS button logo, without taking out a second mortgage.  This features also allows any Roland Sands die-hards the ability to wear their jacket without breaking the bank (or making their significant others mad when rent is due).

- Pat Mc.

REV'IT! Dominator GTX Jacket & Pants: Sheer Dominance

• Tony
  Content Coordinator
• Follow Me on G+

Does anybody watch the TV show Storm Chasers? I don’t. I learned all I need to know about tornadoes from Twister in 1996. Anyway, Storm Chasers is pretty much the same deal, and only slightly more scripted. However, they do have one cool character… The Dominator. Basically it is a modified Chevy Tahoe that looks as if it were a prop on the set of a Batman movie. The concept is simple: any weather, any time. While nobody in their right mind would ever recommend riding your motorcycle in a tornado (though Almira Gulch would have been way cooler if she was on a 1200GS), the REV’IT Dominator series has what you need for all-weather, year-round trekking.

Our team has looked over the new REV’IT! Dominator GTX Jacket Jacket and unanimously confirmed it as an absolute beast. With features based on a massive amount of feedback from off-road specialists around the world, this is the most functionally rich jacket that they have ever produced. By utilizing the Engineered skin® design philosophy, which has allowed them to make some of the best fitting gear on the market in recent years, REV’IT! has created an absolutely stunning jacket that allows for advanced mobility in almost every functional direction. From the incorporation of the 100 percent waterproof Gore-Tex lifetime guarantee, to the ability to take an Adventure neck brace as well as the Challenger Cooling Vest, and even a detachable kidney belt that affords even better fitment, this is a jacket calibrated for the most ardent of motorcyclists.

To round out the outfit, the REV’IT! Dominator GTX Pants are the second half of one of the best all-around motorcycling gear sets on the planet. These pants are one layer that does it all. No more worrying about multiple layers with multiple functions. Consider that hindrance gone. The 3L Gore-Tex membrane is laminated to the outer shell so that you don’t have to be concerned with the random sprinkle (or downpour). You will always be ready and waterproof. At the same time, the jacket remains highly breathable. Nobody likes that swampy mess that can be created by lesser quality rainguards. Ew. From specialized aqua-defense zippers for ventilation when needed, to seat grip panels, and reflective materials on the outer leg and waterproof stash pockets, these pants have everything an adventurous motorcyclist could want.

So while nobody in their right mind would recommend riding your motorcycle through any F5/EF5 tornadoes (or any tornadoes at all, for that matter), when it comes to all-weather, year-round functionality, the REV’IT! Dominator GTX series will be an absolute juggernaut.

Have fun out there, be safe, and as always...

Enjoy the ride,

Juice

Shoei Hornet X2 Helmet: To Unpathed Trails

• Tony
  Content Coordinator
• Follow Me on G+

As we reported back in October 2014, Shoei is on the verge of releasing the hottest new ADV helmet on the market. Originally named the Shoei Hornet ADV, the newest name iteration has changed the final title, and it shall henceforth be known to the world as the Shoei Hornet X2 Adventure Helmet.

In addition to releasing a new promotional video (that can be seen below), Shoei has made the push to announce this lid to the masses of ardent Adventure riders. What you are going to get with the Shoei Hornet X2 Helmet, is a lid that has been prodigiously designed throughout its Advanced Integrated Matrix Plus Multi Fiber shell, its 3D Max-Dry II interior comfort system, and the wind-tunnel-tested aerodynamics that have been meticulously crafted for optimum performance. From the optimized face shield construction to the newly minted Snell 2015 standard that it surpasses, the Shoei Hornet X-2 is a beast of the off-road.

Shoei Hornet X2 Helmet:

Constraints bother us. We are free-spirited, wild-eyed, and rambunctious moto-travelers. So break free from the tether, sail away from the safe harbor, and explore with the new Shoei Hornet X 2 Helmet.

Have fun out there, be safe, and as always…

Enjoy the ride,

Juice

Olympia Expedition Jacket: Four Seasons of Adventure

After we ride a motorcycle for awhile, it always seems as though we are looking for gear that can do more!  Most riders that call or e-mail us here at RevZilla want more than just a cold weather jacket. They also want more than just a warm weather jacket. That question can go a number of directions, however, and Olympia is here to give an answer.

The Olympia Expedition Jacket is true four season, all weather riding jacket, and has replaced the Nomad Jacket as part of the Transition Gear Line.  The outer shell of the jacket is constructed of 500 and 2000 denier Cordura fabric for maximum abrasion resistance. There are a few really nice upgrades from the Nomad as well, such as a longer drop back tail section for sport / sport touring riders, a helmet hood and neck gaiter to keep you dry and warm, and a single flap on the rear panels for excellent ventilation. The arms, chest and back feature zip down panels that can be folded away into self-storage pockets instead of having to remove them from the jacket and storing them elsewhere.  Once the YKK Zippers are pulled down, the jacket has what Olympia refers to as the Mega Vent Panel System, which, with the liners removed, allows air to flow through the mesh lining and keep you cool on those really hot days.

Olympia Expedition Jacket Review:

The three layer design featured in the Expedition allows the ability to wear the rain layer either over or under the outer shell of the jacket depending on the weather conditions.  Dual sport, touring and street riders all know that getting caught in the rain is inevitable, so this is a great feature.  In addition to the rain layer, the Expedition features a removable full sleeve thermal layer.  Both the rain liner and the thermal liner are easily removed and installed with zippers.

Basically, Olympia has designed this to be a do-all, go-anywhere, trek the world kind of motorcycle jacket. If you are up for the adventure, and have the metal to test yourself at the extreme, check out the Expedition jacket and see where the road takes you.

- Riff Raff

Dainese Black Hawk Leather Jacket: Oozin’ Style for Cruisin’ Awhile

• Eric
  Gear Geek

Whup-whup-whup-whup-whup. That, my friends, is the sound of the Dainese Black Hawk Leather Jacket swooping onto the market. Alright, so that’s more of an onomatopoeia, but you get the idea. While previous Dainese offerings may have appealed to the sport oriented Ducati Monster rider, the Black Hawk screams out to the guy on the Diavel. Your power cruiser just got a new co-pilot.

A closer look at the Black Hawk reveals a lot to like, with only a smidge for Dainese to improve upon. The cowhide shell is soft right off the hanger, so you won’t feel constricted for the first few rides. Liken it to a new baseball glove that doesn’t require you to tie it up and stash it under your mattress. The sleeves have a much less aggressive pre-curve to them when compared to the majority of the Dainese line, which solidifies the Black Hawk as a perfect jacket for cruising. Dainese gives you plenty of options to upgrade the protection as well, with a pocket for a Manis back protector and even a pocket for chest armor. A stand-alone thermal vest liner rounds out the main feature set, although admittedly we would have liked that liner to be that of the full sleeve variety.

Dainese Black Hawk Leather Jacket Review:

To me, the Black Hawk gives guys a truly premium cruiser jacket that was previously a bit scarce. And I do mean premium. At just over the $600 mark, this jacket is no doubt an investment. Although that is downright cheap when you compare it to the $21 million it costs to buy the Black Hawk’s aviary namesake. Really puts things into perspective doesn’t it? Overall, I would say that Dainese nailed the style and functionality that they were going for, and it’s certainly great to see a different look from the masters of sport. If you have the Black Hawk in your sights, I say fire away.

- The Manskies

Dainese Aero EVO C2 Race Suit: Simply The Best

• Tony
  Content Coordinator
• Follow Me on G+

It’s a little known fact that Tina Turner was actually singing to the Dainese Aero EVO C2 Race Suit in here epically fantastic “Simply The Best.” It’s true. Well, as true as something that is totally made up can possibly be. Either way, it is a rad suit for serious track day enthusiasts.

The Aero C2 Race Suit is the top-level option from Dainese and was created with the ardent motorcyclist in mind. From the Aluminum shoulder, elbow, and knee sliders to the elasticated design that ensures the tightest fitment without being uncomfortable, this really is one premium choice. Additionally, the fixed nanofeel lining is designed to keep the insides of the suit from getting all musty and gross after long days pushing yourself and your bike to the limits. This suit makes use of co-injected shoulders, composite protectors throughout, and pockets for both chest/back protectors… as well as a water bag kit!

So, if you are looking for the podium-topper of the Dainese race suit line, check out the Aero EVO C2 Race Suit for the coming season!

Have fun out there, be safe, and as always…

Enjoy the ride,

Juice