Our next segment in our 2011 Warm Weather Motorcycle Gear Guides focuses exclusively on mesh gear. For these six outfits, the criteria were pretty straightforward. They all needed to be a primarily mesh construction, and anything else that would define their application came second. For this reason, you'll see a variety of gear aimed at different segments; there is sport touring gear, an ADV outfit, basic everyday riding gear, and more. The point is, all of this will flow a ton of air and keep you as cool as possible in the dead heat of the summer. It will also keep you protected from impacts and abrasion.
First up in our Mesh Gear Guide is a combo brand new from REV'IT! for Spring 2011. The sport and ADV touring REV'IT! Tornado Jacket and REV'IT! Tornado Pants is included here because it features more mesh than anything REV'IT! has ever offered. PWRShell mesh panels are strategically placed in non-impact areas throughout both the jacket and pants while 600D polyester protects in all abrasion zones. The versatility of this outfit is huge as both the jacket and pants feature a removable Hydratex G-liner, which combines waterproof breathability and thermal elements. They can also be worn standalone as destination layers. With these liners out, you'll be flowing immense quantities of air, but pop them in and you can get through foul rides as well.
The Alpinestars Verona Air Jacket and Alpinestars Air Flo Textile Pants are a solid sport and casual riding combo for hot weather. The Verona Air is essentially the Verona WP chassis with the addition of huge mesh inserts at the front and back for excellent ventilation in hot weather. The Verona Air features dual 450D polyester in all potential abrasion areas. The pants are also a mesh construction with ballistic nylon reinforcements in impact areas. The Verona has CE rated armor in the shoulders and elbows, while the pants only have foam padding and we recommend upgraded to CE rated protection. The subtle style of this combination allows for applications across a range of riding styles, sure to please riders of every ilk.
Next is the Dainese Air 2 Textile Jacket and bestselling Dainese Drake Air Pants. The jacket, with its enormous mesh paneling down the front coupled with nearly a full back construction of mesh, is going to keep the air flowing at full tilt in the hot weather. The mesh is complemented by a high denier fabric in abrasion zones along with CE rated shoulder and elbow armor. The Drake Airs are an extremely durable 750D Cordura construction with two zip-open leg vents that will pull air into the pants and work with the mesh in the jacket to keep you nice and cool when the temperature is peaking in the summer. CE rated armor protects the knee and shin area in the Drakes. Simply put, this is an extremely stylish and functional sport riding mesh option.
At RevZilla.com, we have sold more REV'IT! Air Jackets than almost anything else we carry. Combined with the REV'IT! Rotor Pants, you have a protective and high-airflow jacket and pants whose effective performance is complemented by REV'IT!'s constant attention to style. The jacket features large mesh panels with high-denier polyamide in impact areas along with CE rated shoulder and elbow armor. The pants are a 500D PWRShell construction with 1200D in impact areas alongside PWRShell mesh panels along the thighs for airflow. CE rated armor protects the knees while EVA foam provides added safety at the hips. This combo is popular across the gamut of riders, particularly within the sport touring segment.
Next is our price point selection for Mesh Gear 2011. The AGV Sport Solare Jacket and AGV Sport Solare Pants is a combo that can be had all-in for under 200 bones. Available in a multitude of colors including a hi-viz option, the Solare is packed with features and functionality for this price level. Featuring an aggressive sport style, this gear is loaded with mesh paneling alongside abrasion-resistant textile fabric (600D in the pants). Protection comes from CE rated shoulder, elbow and knee armor while creature comforts like the moisture-wicking collar, full mesh lining, and multiple zones of adjustability really make this a solid choice for the everyday rider and sport rider in the hottest of hot weather.
Last but certainly not least is the immensely popular Olympia Airglide 3 Jacket and Olympia Airglide 3 Pants. Built for the long-distance rider, the Airglide 3 features the same high quality construction found across the board in the Olympia collection. Jacket and pants are a 500D Cordura construction with abrasion-resistant ballistic nylon mesh panels for high airflow. The jacket features a standalone waterproof breathable liner and a removable Thermolite liner for extended seasonality while the pants have a standalone waterproof breathable liner pant. CE armor protects in shoulders, elbows and knees and this jacket is also available in hi-viz versions. A versatile choice for multiple applications from Olympia.
It's so close you can almost reach out and touch it. Every year at this time, the riding season beckons here in the Northeast and we get extremely antsy. All the new gear has been released, most of it is shipping, so really the only thing left is for Mother Nature to figure it out and let the weather be consistently nice. In the meantime, while we're waiting not-so-patiently, we decided to bookend our March 2011 New Gear and Deals video with some kooky footage. Don't worry, once you get through the ridiculous intro (which we hope makes you chuckle), you'll find out about all the new gear, deals, and 2011 programs we're doing here at RevZilla.com.
First up is the announcement of our March Gear Giveaway. This month we'll be giving away a full ADV Touring setup with the Firstgear TPG Rainier Jacket and Firstgear TPG Escape Pants- a value of $830! All you have to do is visit our March Contest Page, create a rider profile, and you're automatically qualified to win the gear!
Next we've got the breakdown of our 2011 RevZilla Race Suit Program which is a couple of really exciting promotions this season. Carrying over from our 2010 promotions, we've got our complimentary track day partnership with Team Pro-Motion. With the purchase of any non-sale and non-closeout motorcycle race suit over $799, we will include a free East Coast track day with Team Pro-Motion. With six locations on the East Coast, there will be a ton of opportunities to get out and ride this season, and this is our way of saying thanks and offering a way to get out there at no expense to you. For the full details, instructions, and fine print, visit our Free Team Pro-Motion Track Day 2011 page.
We've also got a pretty serious AGV Sport promotion going on right now. With the purchase of ANY jacket or race suit from AGV Sport, we're giving away a pair of AGV Sport Gloves. With any race suit, you'll get a free pair of AGV Sport Dragon Gloves, a track-legal gauntlet that'll get you out there racing. With any textile jacket purchase, we're giving away AGV Sport Aeromesh Gloves, and with any leather jacket purchase, you'll get a free pair of AGV Sport Mayhem Gloves. You can check out all the details of this program by visiting our AGV Sport gear page at RevZilla.
We've also got the Alpinestars SMX-2 Air Carbon Gloves, a huge value at 21% off down to $54 from $70 as they make room for the new 2011 version of these bestselling Alpinestars gloves.
A lot of new gear is finally in stock and finally shipping after an extended waiting period. The Schuberth C3 Hi-Viz Helmet is here for all you riders seeking to be seen by other motorists. The Schuberth C3W Helmet is finally here, a woman's specific version of arguably the greatest modular helmet of all time. The Arai Vector 2 Helmet, providing an improved fit over its predecessor and representing the entry-level functionality from Arai, is now in our warehouse and shipping. And lastly on the new helmets front, the extraordinarily impressive run of Bell Helmets is now here and shipping, including the game-changing Bell RS-1 Helmet that will compete neck-and-neck with the Shoei RF1100.
For the apparel side of things, new Alpinestars, Dainese, and REV'IT! gear is starting to trickle in and begin shipping from our warehouse. Some of the highlights include the Alpinestars GP-R Leather Jacket, a fully perf'd summer option, the REV'IT! Energy HV Jacket, a hi-viz multi-season commuter and touring option, and the Dainese Racing Leather Jacket, a piece we saw as early as Spring 2010, that simply never got a full size/color run until now. The Klim Adventure Rally Jacket and Pants also got a full makeover, including a new colorway and seriously improved fitment. Don't miss all of the new gear by visiting those individual pages. We've also got full video reviews for every new product from the major brands, so check those out and inform yourself!
AGV Sport doesn't just do racing, sport and street gear. They also produce high-quality multi-season all-weather waterproof gear designed for long-distance touring and adventure at very reasonable prices. The AGV Sport Telluride Jacket and AGV Sport Telluride Pants represent the pinnacle of their achievements in this realm. If you don't know the AGV Sport story yet, the long and short of it is that they're a company who has been producing high-performance yet affordable motorcycle gear built by riders for riders for over a quarter of a century. The quality in design and construction speaks for itself as they consistently go head-to-head with much higher-priced brands and perform at the same level as those brands in third-party tests.
The AGV Sport Telluride Jacket is a 3/4 length touring and adventure jacket designed to get you through every sort of weather condition during the Fall, Winter and Spring seasons. The exterior shell is an abrasion resistant 600D ballistic nylon with a waterproof breathable membrane sandwiched between the shell and the liner. In addition, there is a removable washable quilted thermal liner that will keep you warm in the cold, but can be taken out and extend this jacket into the hotter temperature ranges. The zip open vents at the chest provide air intake and the rear exhaust vents suck the hot air through and away from your body. The Telluride features CE rated dual density armor in the shoulders and elbows with an 8mm foam back bad that can
be upgraded to a CE rated back protector. As with all AGV Sport gear, the main seams are multiple stitched for the highest degree of tear resistance and all zippers used are YKK. To protect the main connection and maintain waterproofing, there is a double storm flap that channels water away from the garment. The moisture wicking microfleece comfort collar also features a spring-loaded snap at the collar to lock it down when riding with the neck open. Pockets abound in this jacket, with four waterproof front cargo pockets, two chest pockets, a pocket on the left sleeve, and a large game pouch that can house the quilted liner when not in use. The jacket also features loads of adjustability to make sure you're cinched down properly: the wrist, forearm, bicep and waist all feature adjusters for the perfect fit. Finally, reflective piping keeps you visible and the waist connection zipper allows for attachment to all-weather pants. Simply put, a feature-loaded all-weather jacket at an extraordinarily reasonable price point.
A true four-season all-weather pant option to complement any AGV Sport textile jacket, the AGV Sport Telluride Pants are a 600D exterior shell with a removable double liner system offering loads of versatility. The removable waterproof breathable liner and removable quilted thermal liner can both be used independently of one another, so for the hot days, they're both out and the intake/exhaust vents zip open for solid airflow, but on cold wet rides, they stay in and protect you from both the temperature and precipitation. The pants feature ballistic nylon reinforcements in impact areas with CE rated knee armor and memory foam hip and lower back padding. Again, as with the entire AGV Sport
line, heavy duty stitching is used in all seams to resist tearing and protect from abrasion. Elasticated stretch panels are utilized above the knees and at the small of the back to allow for unrestricted movement. YKK zippers are used throughout this pant with a double reinforced metal slide closure at the waist. The adjustable velcro and zippered cuff closure is backed by a gaiter to maintain waterproofing. Finally, adjustable velcro at the hips allows for the most snug and proper fit while reflective piping in strategic locations lets you be seen for safety during night time rides.
AGV Sport has been manufacturing high quality track, race and sport riding gear since 1985. In these past 25 years, AGV Sport has developed a reputation as a high-quality gear producer that provides a high level of bang for the buck while utilizing premium materials and innovative design. Designed by riders for riders, all AGV Sport gear is developed in-house and maintains a close adherence to the marriage between performance on the bike and visual aesthetics. AGV Sport race suits use materials and technologies that are rarely seen at their price points and consistently perform at the level of much higher-costing gear when third party tests are conducted.
The AGV Sport Laguna Race Suit is their top end suit that packs in loads of features right at the $999 price point. It is a premium 1.2-1.4mm top-grain leather construction with dual-density CE Rated shoulder, elbow/forearm and knee/shin armor. Atop that, there are titanium shoulder sliders (something never seen at this price point) in addition to replaceable knee pucks. The entire suit is safety stitched with multiple stitching in high-use/impact areas. Perforation, critical to a race suit, is seen in bounds, at the chest, belly, upper and lower legs and upper arms. This perf scheme is complemented by intake scoops at the shoulders and side of the torso plus the vented qualities of the aerodynamic speed hump that create excellent venturi effect airflow.
Creature comforts include the teramid kevlar inside the arms and at the crotch for comfort and airflow, the added protection of injected foam padding, the moisture wicking neoprene comfort collar and cuffs, aggressive race pre-curving, accordion stretch panels for ease of movement, YKK zippers with extra long zipper pulls, and the completely removable and washable mesh liner. Taking a look at other race suits coming in at this price point makes it clear that this is an excellent choice for the money.
The AGV Sport Monza Race Suit might just be the best value of the three AGV Sport one-piece race suits. Featuring external titanium shoulder sliders, replaceable knee pucks, dual density CE rated shoulder, elbow/forearm and knee/shin armor, and premium 1.2-1.4mm top-grain cowhide, the Monza is a lot of suit for $799. The Monza has strategic accordion stretch panels, perforation in the chest, belly and upper legs, air intake through the aerodynamic speed hump with zippered exhaust vents at the back, and tactical injected foam padding for added safety and style. The moisture wicking neoprene comfort collar keeps the neck from chafing while the teramid kevlar panels in the crotch and inner arms allow for airflow and comfort.
Safety stitching is used throughout the suit with multiple stitching in all impact areas. The Monza utilizes exclusively YKK zippers with ergonomic pulls and we love the fact that the main zipper is two way in the event that you need to use the bathroom in the paddock. The mesh liner of the Monza is completely removable and washable to keep it from getting funky. Race pre-curving and reflective paneling round out the top-notch feature set of the AGV Sport Monza Race Suit.
Coming in at $599, the AGV Sport Willow Race Suit puts comparably priced race suits to shame. Premium 1.2-1.4mm cowhide leather, CE rated shoulder, knee/shin and elbow/forearm armor, safety stitching, replaceable knee pucks, strategic leather reinforcements, and injected foam paneling provides the protection in the Willow. A huge perforated leather scheme in addition to air scoops on the shoulders will ensure that the air is flowing through this suit when it is 140ยบ on the tarmac. For comfort, Teramid Kevlar is used in the crotch through the knee and under the arms for flexibility, expansion, and additional air flow. Moisture wicking neoprene lines the collar and the cuffs and provides maximum levels of comfort. The speed hump is aerodynamic
and protective, the fit is a medium aggressive race fit, and reflective piping is used for safety and visibility. Every zipper is YKK with an ergonomic pull, and the main connection zipper is two-way to allow for using the bathroom in between trackday rides. Accordion stretch paneling is where it needs to be to allow for proper ergonomics and movement and the interior is a fully breathable mesh liner. We're extremely impressed with what they've done at this extremely reasonable price point with the AGV Sport Willow Race Suit.
AGV Sport 2011 Gear is now shipping from RevZilla.com and we're extremely impressed with the new line. AGV Sport is a brand that flies under the radar to a large degree. You don't see their name emblazoned on the back of Moto GP racers' suits, they don't spend millions of dollars sponsoring F1 racers. Instead, they focus on producing extremely high quality sport, street and race gear that comes in at very reasonable price points. From their all-season textile gear to their high-performance leather race suits and everything in between, 2011 AGV Sport gear has us very impressed with the level of quality and detail that goes into their gear.
AGV Sport produces high quality textile gear that is built for both street riding and sport touring. The AGV Sport Solare Jacket is a great example of a hot weather street and sport riding jacket that will flow a ton of air yet be protective for summertime motorcycling. On the sport touring side of things, the AGV Sport Tempest Jacket is a great choice with its all-season all-weather versatility thanks to a removable quilted thermal liner and waterproof breathable membrane. The aggressive street riding focus of the AGV Sport Laguna Textile Jacket mirrors its leather jacket and race suit counterparts in design and offers the highest degree of active street riding performance. For pants, the AGV Sport Telluride Pants match the Tempest's all-season all-weather performance while the AGV Sport Solare Pants are a great hot-weather option with their full mesh and ballistic nylon construction.
AGV Sport Monza Leather Jacket
For leathers, AGV Sport designs gear for the track, the street, and the universal rider. The AGV Sport Laguna Race Suit is the one of two suits we've seen (the other being the AGV Sport Monza Race Suit) that features external titanium shoulder sliders at the $999 or lower price point. The feature set of the Laguna is on par with race suits from other manufacturers that are in the $1500+ price range. For leather jackets, the AGV Sport Laguna Leather Jacket and the AGV Sport Monza Leather Jacket are built for high-level track performance and aggressive street riding. On the more casual side of things, the AGV Sport Pella Leather Jacket is available in perf and non-perf versions and has a universal styling that will work for a Harley guy all the way through to a Ducati rider. The AGV Sport Willow Leather Pants are a great summer sport and track riding option as well. Many third-party tests have been conducted that pit AGV Sport leather and track gear against some of the premium European manufacturers. In those tests, AGV Sport consistently scores as high if not higher in safety and performance than brands that are producing gear that costs nearly double what AGV Sport gear does. Talk about bang for the buck.
We've done a ton of reviews of the AGV Sport Gear in the last week or so, all of which will be available in the very near future on RevZillaTV and at individual AGV Sport product pages at RevZilla.com. Stay tuned for all of these as we are extremely excited to be featuring AGV Sport gear at RevZilla.
