Motorcycle-Intelligence.com

PRIMARY AIR MESH KEVLAR JACKET COMPONENTS

The Cycleport Air Mesh Kevlar Jacket includes a thorough array of impact protective armor, in addition to the abrasion resisting Kevlar. The “Tri-Armor Body Guard System” includes armor not only in the right areas to protect elbows, forearms, shoulders, and back, but it also includes armor for both sides of the chest. In short, if you were ever to become the featured subject of a warm weather, motorcycle mishap, this is what you would want to be wearing.

There are three main parts to the Cycleport Air Mesh Kevlar Jacket:

1. Air Mesh Kevlar Jacket itself for $399.00
2. Waterproof/Windproof/Breathable liner that zips into the Kevlar mesh jacket and also attaches at the jacket wrists with snaps.
3. Thermoloft liner, which zips into the Waterproof/Windproof/Breathable liner

Parts 2 and 3 comprise the dual-liner that is purchased separately for $189.00. You can purchase just the Waterproof/Windproof/Breathable liner for $129.00, without the Thermoloft liner. And of course, you can use the jacket without any liners at all in warm weather.

LIKES

Here are some of the key features I like, although on motoport.com you can find a longer list:

• Best abrasion protection available.
• “It’s 10 times stronger than the best leather and less than half the weight.”
• The whole jacket, with armor, is washable.
• Good customer service. Wayne, the President, is available if you ask for him. I called several times and asked lots of questions and he was responsive.
• Seven year warranty.
• “Cycleport’s Kevlar suits are the only synthetic apparel approved by the F.I.M., the A.M.A., the W.E.R.A. and many other racing organizations.”
• “Breathes better than nylon or leather, the best suit to wear for hot weather.”
• Wrist zipper, which opens along the arm and allows more venting in hot weather
• Pockets: 4 outside pockets (2 front-waist pockets and 2 chest pockets). There is also one pocket inside the jacket and one pocket inside each liner
• “The world’s top rated Tri-Armor in Velcro secured pockets that covers more of your body than any other jacket. Full coverage even in the chest.”

DISLIKES

• The zippers are high-quality and have been trouble free. However, the front waist pockets are routinely prone to opening while riding, so I do not put anything in those pockets for fear of losing them while out on the road. It seems this could be remedied by reversing the direction of the zipper, so they pull “up” to open instead of “down.” In this way, gravity could help to keep the zippers closed, as opposed to continually working to open them.
• The jacket is bulky, which is mostly noticeable when storing or hanging
• You cannot go to your local dealer and try it on. It needs to be ordered and custom made for you.
• Production wait-time after purchase: Over 12 weeks.
• You need to go through motoport.com to see the Cycleport products, and you will not be engaged in an award winning, user-friendly experience. (The website is poory designed).
• At $589.00 for the jacket and dual-liner, one “could” dislike the price, but in my opinion, it is a good value (however, see “gripe” below about the liners).
  

GRIPE

This could simply be listed as a dislike, but in my opinion, it warrants a greater highlight. The greatest departure from reality regarding the information about this jacket is this claim: “The world’s first all season Air Mesh suit that will take you from -20F to 85F with optional zip in two part Aero-Tex liner. Remove the liners and have a fully breathable jacket that will take you from 65f to 120F. You don’t need two or three different riding outfits for different weather. The Air Mesh Kevlar jacket is great for any weather.”

The low-temperature claim for this jacket is absurd.

In fact, since I ride all year long, I called Wayne to challenge that point before and after I purchased the mesh jackets. Wayne not only defended it each time, but before I made my purchase, he emphasized on the phone that I would not even need any heated apparel with the dual liner under my mesh jacket. In my view, his printed claim and verbal claim are such blatant hyperbole that it lowers the repute of Wayne and his company. He did offer to adjust my liner for free, which he said is why it would not seem warm in moderately cool temperatures (the idea being that cool air must be entering at the neck). I took advantage of the free adjustment, but even after that, the jacket and liner performed just as poorly in moderately cooler temperatures. My view is that this waist-length, “mesh” jacket with air freely circulating throughout is not an all-season jacket as claimed, but is really an excellent one-season jacket that “could” be used as a 3-season jacket (with liners) for someone who does not own a non-mesh, regular jacket. My advice is to skip the purchase of the Thermoloft inner liner and use another jacket for cooler weather riding.

CONCLUSION

The Cycleport Air Mesh Kevlar Jacket is an outstanding warm-weather motorcycle jacket with unparalleled rider protection. In my opinion, it is the best mesh jacket available. If I were to make the purchase all over, I would re-endure the long wait to receive it and the only thing I would change is to order it without the Thermoloft inner liner. I not only highly recommend this jacket for summer riding protection, if I ever wear the thing out, I will buy another.