The Teknic Chicane glove is a full gauntlet for the aggressive sport rider and is available at a great price point. The glove has pre-curved fingers and palm, is low profile and has an American fit.
Teknic Chicane Glove Review:
These Teknic gloves are supple drum dyed cowhide and goatskin construction materials, the palm and pinkie reinforcement is Kevlar. The knuckle protector is steel threaded and reinforced with multiple areas of reinforcement in the fingers and thumb.
The Teknic Lightning Gloves are the basic race gauntlet that gives the functionality and protective elements needed in a race glove at the lowest price point. External and reinforced double stitching with a safety wrap finger system with palm seams sewn at the sides of the finger give improved strength and comfort. This is the entry-level glove from Teknic that will get you to the track.
These gloves incorporate Knox CE approved protection armor. It combines rubber foam interior with a hard shell polyurethane exterior. Made of super supple drum dyed cowhide, with dual compound knuckle protectors, these racing gloves have pre-curved fingers and palms, are low profile and fully perforated for maximized airflow and breath-ability.
It can be very tough to manufacture a jacket that meets all the demands of an adventure or touring rider. First, the jacket has to be able to take anything mother nature can throw at it. This includes the hot, the cold, and the wet. Next, a good ADV jacket needs to be protective and keep the rider safe in the event of a wreck. Tough abrasion resistant materials are a must as well as having quality armor in high impact areas. A good adventure touring jacket needs to be comfortable, look stylish, and have a ton of technical features. Finally, the price needs to be less then an arm and a leg.
The Teknic Freeway Textile Jacket is made to meet the high demands of many ADV and touring riders while not breaking the bank. Teknic designed this jacket to be able to handle any kind of riding condition, including the summer heat, the winter cold and the heavy rain that can spring up anytime. This is a true all-season all-weather motorcycle jacket designed for the rider that wants to be able to tackle just about any challenge thrown his way.
Starting off, this jacket is completely waterproof and breathable thanks to the Powerskin Z liner system and Labyrinth main zipper entry system. This is a waterproof flap that zips up behind the first main zipper to keep water that penetrates the first zipper from reaching the rider. The Powerskin liner is bonded to the outer shell meaning you'll always be covered without having to fumble with a zip-in liner the weather goes from dry to wet or wet to dry. When ventilation is needed, there are massive YKK zipper vents that run over the chest and biceps and large exhausts at the back of the jacket. This gives the rider a degree of airflow. All the exhaust vents are waterproof so when the wet stuff
starts coming down, zip them closed and you're covered.
The removable Alufoil thermal liner is a full sleeve liner with a smooth shiny texture with 5oz. Polyfil insulation. The reflective material is going to retain heat much better then a standard jacket liner. It is also extremely comfortable against the skin. When the liner is removed, it can be folded inside a compact sack and attached to the outside of the jacket. When the liner is removed there are adjustment straps in the arms and torso to tighten the jacket back up.
Protection in this jacket is very impressive. CE Rated Knox armor is standard in the arms, shoulders, and back. Knox is upgraded over standard CE armor, is comfortable and does a very good job at dispersing impacts. The armor is removable via a zipper enclosure
on the outside of the jacket and velcro slit at the bottom of the back
protector. The Knox TP2 CE Back Protector is generally a $30 upgrade for other jackets.
The Teknic Freeway Jacket is packed with a ton of other features that you don't see on every jacket. An 8" pant connection zipper is incorporated in the back of the jacket, and a ton of storage pockets cover the outside and inside of the jacket. Reflective material sewn into both the black and the Hi-Viz versions of the jacket makes the rider more visible at night when hit with headlights. The soft collar can be put on and taken off very easily for added temperature versatility. A headphone grommet and internal MP3 pocket are thoughtful additions to this jacket from Teknic.
It's hard to find a reason not to love this jacket. Everything on it is simply done the right way. It has everything a ADV or touring rider could want. It's sizing isn't super snug like the european jackets and it's not as generous as a lot of the American stuff. It falls right into the middle and fits true to size. Sizes go from 40-54US. This is just simply a great jacket providing solid bang for the buck.
Teknic has always been able to step up and offer motorcycle gloves for a great value and without skimping on quality, protection, or style. The Teknic SMT Gloves are Teknic's top of the line and most technical short cuff motorcycle gloves. They fit right into the aggressive street and sport riding market and the SMT glove is supposed to be the short cuff alternative to the Teknic Lightning Glove and offer many of the same benefits and features. This is a great choice for the rider looking for a short cuff glove that doesn't break the bank and doesn't making any sacrifices in safety or quality.
What really makes this glove stand out is the amount of protection you're getting for less then 60 bucks. The SMT has a full premium grade drum dyed cowhide construction with the same dual impact stitching that you see on the Teknic race gloves. There's a large hard PVC knuckle that sits comfortably on the front of the hand. On lesser gloves the knuckle protector is stitched behind the glove making movement much more restricting but on the SMT it gets its own flap to make motion feel freer. Each digit except for the pinky has a set of PVC protectors which really give the glove a very aggressive style. Teknic knows the outside of the hand is a very vulnerable area in a low side crash. The pinky gets soft padding inserts that run all the way down the outside of the hand to the wrist and palm. There's also padding wrapping around the thumb and an extra piece of leather to hold the high impact areas together. The only possible way you can get more protection out of a glove is if you look at a full gauntlet glove to cover more of the wrist and forearm.
It's also worth mentioning that the SMT is very well styled and feels very comfortable. The stitching is very cleanly done and looks almost like they ran this glove through the same machine as their high-end Teknic Speedstar Gloves. There is a good amount of precurve on the glove and movement feels very free and natural. The palm feels very comfortable and durable thanks to the Kevlar panel. For 54 bucks you're really getting one slick looking glove.
The only complaint I can possibly have against this glove is that the only color available is Black on Black. Other then that, This really is a great bang for the buck. Fit is fairly generous so if you're in between sizes you can normally get away going a size down. Sizes go from SM to double XXXL.
The Teknic Chicane Street Gloves has to be one of our best street and sport riding gloves for the guy looking for a short cuff motorcycle glove below the 50 dollar price point. The lineup of Teknic gear has some excellent motorcycle gloves to go along with their jackets and race suits and the Chicane glove is no exception. The Chicane was built for the sport and street riding crowd looking for a glove that offers a lot more technical features found on a full gauntlet glove but with a shorty style. There's a ton of stuff that we like about this glove, especially the amount of protection and the build quality that you get at an entry model price.
The Chicane has a full premium goatskin leather construction. Goatskin is one of the most supple, comfortable, and durable materials to make a glove out of; it is a great sign of quality when shopping for a leather glove. The stitching and details on the glove are very well done especially around some of the more technical parts such as the armor and the elasticated stretch panels. The protection of the Chicane consists of a thermoplastic, dual compound knuckle protector and thermoplastic rubber inserts going down the fingers, including the pinky which is normally neglected. My favorite part of this glove is that Teknic actually put a good amount of effort in protecting the outside of the palm and pinky. In the event of a low side crash and slide the outside of the hand is most likely to take damage. Teknic put an extra piece of Kevlar with padding on the outside of the hand. Few gloves in this price range have this side protection and it's an area that many manufacturers ignore.
The amount of detail in the styling of the glove is also great to see in the Chicane. The glove has stretch panels in all four fingers and the thumb, this is one more thing that few manufacturers put on their entry model gloves. The silicone Teknic logo on the palm adds grip and "Teknic Racing" written across the index finger and just adds to the style and the appeal of the Chicane. Both the black and the white versions are very well styled.
The Chicane is definitely one of my favorite gloves under 50 dollars. This glove comes in a white and black version and an all black version. Sizes go from a small to a 3xl and the fit is definitely a bit more casual and relaxed than some of the tighter, more aggressive fitting Teknic race gloves. For 45 bucks the Teknic Chicane is definitely one of the best values you can get in the shorty glove market.
With nearly 50 motorcycle race gloves to choose from at RevZilla, finding the exact choice for your application and level of technicality can be an arduous task. In the hopes of taking the guess work out of this equation, we developed our 2011 Motorcycle Race Gauntlet Glove Guide as part of our 2011 Warm Weather Motorcycle Gear Guides. We broke this down into three tiers, mid-range, hardcore and pro-level and selected our top three picks for each of these echelons of functionality. We don't consider any of these to be entry-level gloves; rather, the first tier is what we think is the minimum degree of performance and protection to get you on the track. Going up from there, as price increases, so does safety, overall functionality, and innovative technologies used in the gloves.
We begin our guide with the mid-range level of race gauntlets. First up is the Shift Vertex Glove, which at the sub-$130 price point is our value pick for the first tier. A full cowhide leather construction with a kevlar inner liner for abrasion resistance, the Vertex provides an excellent amount of protection ventilation and overall comfort. Next up is the Dainese Pro Carbon Glove, brand new for 2011, which made the cut thanks to its upgraded protective elements. A full cowhide shell, the knuckle armor is a composite steel and carbon fiber protector with carbon finger sliders and TPU outer-pinky armor that protects in a low-side situation. Soft inserts in the fingers coupled with excellent ventilation round out the Pro Carbon.
Our top pick for this price range is the Icon Overlord Long Glove, which at the $145 price point offers a ton of bang for the buck. This glove uses the most premium materials of anything in the category, with a premium grade goatskin backhand, a Kangaroo palm, and Pittards Keratan goatskin reinforcements in abrasion areas at the palm. The split knuckle protection is injected TPU with additional vented hard part finger protectors. This is also the only glove in this range that utilizes Kevlar aramid stitching for exceptional tear resistance, in addition to TPU wrist protection and an injection molded wrist plate. Extreme comfort, protection, performance and ventilation from the Icon Overlord.
Next is our hardcore group of gloves, built for the track aficionado who you can't find anywhere but the track on weekends in the season. First up is the Teknic Xcelerator Glove, a standout right around the $160 price point. The backhand is abrasion resistant cowhide while the palm offers tremendous tactility via the Kangaroo leather construction. Kevlar lining at the palm and pinky for abrasion resistance, vented PU finger protectors with a vented PU replaceable Airblade main knuckle protector. The biggest deal with the Xcelerators is the Knox Scaphoid Protection System, which is a dual slider palm system that prevents any injury to the scaphoid bones, something extremely common on the track.
Our next pick in this mix is the brand new for 2011 REV'IT! Tarmac Glove, which boasts a lot of the protective elements seen in the pro-level Jerez glove. A cowhide backhand with a tactile goatskin palm, the Tarmacs use Gütermann yarn which is a German thread known for its supreme strength. The knuckle and backhand is a dual comp aluminum shell for abrasion nestled in a honeycomb impact protector. Similar protection is found at the base of the palm, while TPU hard part sliders can be found at the middle two fingers in addition to the outside of the pinky for sliding. External stitching, EVA foam reinforcements, and Schoeller-Keprotec anti-wear zones round out the features of this standout new product.
Last in our hardcore range of race gauntlets is the Alpinestars GP Pro Glove which is one of RevZilla's bestselling race gloves. It features a premium full-grain cowhide construction with abrasion resistant Pittards Armor Tan in all crucial zones. PU protectors are found at the main knuckle and across the finger knuckles, while the PU injected wrist panel wraps 180º for a high degree of protection from both abrasion and impact. This is also the first glove we see with the 3rd-4th finger bridge protection that keeps the pinky safe from torsion in any get off scenarios. This is one of our top picks and a favorite from the Alpinestars glove lineup.
Moving in to our top level of gloves, we start off with the REV'IT! Jerez Glove, currently worn by Randy De Puniet in MotoGP. Kangaroo leather, Pittards ArmorTan goatskin, Superfabric panels, 3D air mesh for comfort, dual comp protectors throughout, with strong Kevlar stitching; and that's only some of the features. This is one of our favorite gloves in the lineup. Next is the Held Phantom Glove, a full Kangaroo leather glove that touts GFC shell armor with a Kevlar ceramic polymer matrix coating that protects the knuckles and side of the hand. Stingray skin inserts at the palm are backed by shock-absorbing shell for additional protection. This is our favorite Held race glove.
Last in the mix for 2011 is the Dainese Full Metal Pro Glove, currently being worn by The Doctor himself on the MotoGP circuit. If it's good enough for a nine-time champion like Valentino Rossi, it's probably safe to say that it will adequately protect the most aggressive track day enthusiast and racer. This is the most high tech of anything you've seen in this guide, including titanium and carbon fiber protectors and premium Italian cowhide, Distortion Control on the pinky that seriously reduces the risk of serious injury therein. Kevlar fiber stitching for tear resistance, a PU protector at the palm, solid ventilation, and extreme attention to comfort round out this top-end glove from Dainese.
A brand new redesign for the Teknic 2011 Collection, the Teknic Chicane Race Boots are another example of a Teknic product whose value greatly exceeds its price point. The Chicanes are loaded with track-level protection and provide a great value to the casual trackday rider who doesn't need all of the futuristic technological elements found in a pro-level boot.
Starting out, the Chicanes are a full synthetic leather and microfiber upper construction. Due to the fact that synthetic leather can be manufactured without any flaws, it is actually a more expensive material than cowhide. At the instep of each boot is a suede grip panel to interface and grip the bike without damaging or scratching the metal. There is a stretch microfiber at the entry of the boot to allow for a broad range of fit and overall comfort. Inside, a breathable and moisture-wicking bubble mesh liner is used to ensure maximum comfort in active track riding conditions. The boots also feature a 15º forward slant, ergonomically designed for comfort in the riding position. There is also strategic perforation in the Chicanes to flow air into the boots.
Moving in to the protective elements of the Chicanes, the first you'll notice is the replaceable aluminum/nylon toe slider. At this price point, it is extremely rare to see anything but a basic PU slider and you especially don't see replaceable aluminum parts. The ankle is protected medially and laterally by an injected PU ankle brace system, which wraps around and also provides achilles protection. This brace system limits side to side movement within the boot to prevent some of the more common racing injuries to the ankle. An anti-crush injected PU cup protects at the heel while a double injected rubber sole has an anti-crush shank to keep the bottom of the foot safe. The shins are kept safe by a double injected PU shin protector: an extremely common injury in motorcycling is the foot peg striking and breaking the tibia and this PU protector helps to stop that.
Within the Chicanes, you'll find double stitching in all high-use and high-wear areas for the highest level of resistance to tearing. A PU injected shifter panel at the top of the toe interfaces with the shifter. The anatomic foot-bed in the Chicanes can be removed if you so choose and the zipper-and-velcro closure provides another level of flexibility in fit and comfort. Again, for the price, you won't find many other boots that are ready to hit the tarmac and provide this high of a degree of features and functionality. They are a great match for the Teknic Xcelerator Race Suit or the Teknic Violator Race Suit.
When we first got a look at the brand new Teknic Chicane Waterproof Street Boots, we immediately knew that they were going to quickly climb the ranks of our favorite riding shoes. Teknic pulled out all the stops for the Chicanes, loading them with features and protective elements that are completely unheard of at this price point. Designed for aggressive street and sport riding, the Teknic Chicane Street Boots are certainly going to be in standout in their realm for 2011.
The Chicanes are a synthetic leather and microfiber upper construction. Synthetic leather is actually more expensive than traditional cowhide, due to the fact that it is completely flawless when manufactured. It provides a great deal of abrasion resistance and protection. Inside, the boots are lined with a moisture-wicking polyamide interior that allows the foot to breathe and moisture to evaporate away. Between the liner and the upper is the Powerskin waterproof breathable membrane, keeping all precipitation out, but letting hot air escape from the skin. The anatomical footbed is also completely removable while strategic perforation in the exterior flows air into the boots on hot days.
On to the protective elements of this boot. There is a replaceable aluminum/nylon toe slider, injected PU ankle protectors medially and laterally, an injected anti-crush heel cup that covers an enormous part of the heel providing a ton of protection, and a double injected rubber sole with an anti-crush shank. The sole is also extremely durable, high-grip and anti-slip. At the inner side of each boot is a suede grip panel for interfacing with the bike, and at the top of the toe box is an injected shifter panel. The quick-lacing closure system is protected by a velcro panel that also acts as a tightness adjuster. Available in black and white, we think the new Teknic Chicane Waterproof Street Boots will be a home run in 2011.
Loaded with technical features and boasting a ton of Teknic's proprietary innovations, the Teknic Violator Leather Jacket is an excellent aggressive sport and track riding option. The Violator is loaded with perforation for maximum cooling and features all of the advanced protective elements that a serious trackday rider needs. Also, one of the biggest features of this jacket, it comes standard with a Knox TP2 CE Back Protector. Generally a necessary post-purchase upgrade, the Knox comes stock with the Violator, so you can hit the track the day you buy this jacket.
Let's get in to some of the features of the Violator. Starting with the shell, the Violator is a premium 1.2-1.4mm Brazilian Cowhide construction. On the inside of each arms is 500D Stretch Cordura fabric which provides comfort, flows air, and allows accommodation for a range of arm sizes; Teknic calls this the Full Motion Arm System. In the shoulders and elbows, dual layer leather is used for abrasion resistance. The entirety of the Violator uses the TASC system, Teknic Advanced Seam Construction. This system is multiple rows of safety stitching and provides the maximum resistance to tearing and abrasion in any sort of get-off scenario. Moving on to the armor, as I mentioned, the Violator comes with the Knox protector in the back. It also features the Teknic CE Rated Airblade System in the shoulders, a replaceable hard part that is backed by shock-absorbing foam. In the elbows, CE rated Knox armor is used, and the chest has pockets for CE chest protection. Finally, closed cell foam injections can be found in critical areas of the jacket.
The Violator features an aerodynamic speed hump that is ventilated for airflow and will also protect in a crash. Strategic accordion stretch panels allow for ergonomic movement, working in conjunction with the race precurved fit. The Violator is fully perforated to flow maximum air on days when the tarmac is baking, but also comes with a removable Fiberfill quilted thermal vest liner to stretch the seasonality into the cooler temperatures. There is a 360º zip to connect with track pants, a short zip and a belt loop if you're just riding on the street. The Violator utilizes YKK zippers throughout and features a moisture-wicking neoprene comfort collar. Finally, the mesh liner of the Violator is 3M Scotchgard treated and has moisture-wicking, antibacterial and non-allergenic properties.
The Teknic Violator Leather Jacket is another standout from the 2011 Teknic lineup, as it will easily go toe-to-toe with any similarly-priced leather jacket in terms of features and functionality. To see similar products, visit our Leather Motorcycle Jackets section.
We had the opportunity last week to get our hands on some of the products from the brand new Teknic 2011 Gear lineup. We were extremely impressed by the level of features and functionality that Teknic is able to pack into their gear while keeping it reasonably priced. One standout from the new line is the Teknic Xcelerator Race Suit, loaded with features and constructed from the finest materials with extreme attention to detail. It is the only suit we currently stock under the $1000 price point that features Kangaroo leather construction. Kangaroo is sort of a big deal and has come to prominence recently based on the fact that it provides more strength, abrasion and tear resistance than cowhide yet it is 30% lighter. Check out our full video review below and don't miss the details on the rest of the feature set after the video.
As I mentioned before, the big deal here is the Kangaroo construction, keeping you extremely protected but not weighing you down with the heft of cowhide. In terms of armor, the shoulder is protected using Teknic's proprietary Airblade system, a CE rated, replaceable armor system that features vents for airflow. It is backed by shock-absorbing foam to further the protective elements. In the elbow/forearm and knee/shin, you will find CE rated Knox Flexiform armor. Flexiform is Knox's newest armor construction and provides huge upgrades in comfort over previous iterations of their protection. Also, both the knee and elbow armor is a multi-position system meaning that you can adjust the placement of the armor for proper comfort and protection. The elbows also have external aluminum sliders for abrasion resistance in a get-off scenario. To add more protection to the suit, there are pockets in the chest, back, and hips to accommodate CE rated armor.
Further safety elements can be found in the stitching system and safety wrap system from Teknic. The TASC (Teknic Advanced Seam Construction) is used throughout the suit and is essentially multiple rows of safety stitching moved away from impact areas for maximum strength and tear resistance. The Safety Wrap System can be found in the seat, shoulders, elbows, knees, and behind the accordion stretch panel at the small of the back. These areas are dual layers of protection with cowhide panels added to the kangaroo for extraordinary abrasion resistance. A curtain of cowhide is used behind the lower back stretch panel for the same reason. Rounding out the safety elements are the GP spec Speedstar knee sliders, designed for extended puck life and maximum feel when interfacing with the tarmac.
For mobility, airflow and comfort, Stretch Kevlar is used in the inner arms with Stretch Cordura in the inner legs. This forms the Full Motion Arm and Leg System allowing the rider maximum motion and ergonomics when actively riding on the track. This couples with the strategically-placed accordion stretch panels to form a serious range of motion. Meanwhile, the race precurving in the knees and elbows, and the forward rotation of the arms and hips reduces fatigue and allows the body to naturally be in the race position. The Speed Hump is aerodynamic, flows air, and protects in the event of a crash. The suit features a huge perforation scheme for maximum airflow and YKK zippers are used throughout. Finally, the 3M Scotchgard treated mesh liner is moisture-wicking, antibacterial and non-allergenic.
What you're looking at here is a great deal of suit at a very reasonable price. We do a lot of race suit reviews, and this is one of those standout products that combines feature-rich construction and attention to detail at a price that won't break the bank. We're very impressed with the Teknic Xcelerator Race Suit.
