The northern hemisphere riding season is in full swing now, and the shelves are flooded with new gear. For our latest round up, we’re including both urban and ADV gear—with a very ‘technical’ jacket from Icon’s new Raiden range and stylish new motorcycle jeans from Canada.
AGV AX-8 Evo Naked Carbon The name is a mouthful, but AGV have nailed the look. This is a sleek new version of the acclaimed AX-8 dual sport helmet, minus the peak and upper air intake.
The styling pitches it straight against the sinister-looking Shark Raw lid from France—but the AGV is undoubtedly safer, with a full rather than cosmetic chin bar. It also comes in three rather than two shell sizes, and it’s light: the medium size weighs just 1.16 kilos—just over 2½ pounds. [Buy]
Icon Raiden DKR jacket Icon’s entry into the dual sport market has been worth the wait. The gear is well made and practical, and the graphics and styling are up there with the best.
Prototypes of the DKR jacket were tested in the Alcan 5000 and Baja 1000 races, and subsequently tweaked before production. So it’s no show pony. You get a waterproof yet breathable chassis, coated with DuPont Teflon and completely seam-sealed. There are ventilation zippers to avoid moisture buildup, and a magnetic storm flap protects the Hydrolock main zipper.
The DKR sports no less than twelve pockets, a full suite of D3O impact armor, and routing for your water pack. There are five different colors to choose from, plus a women’s-fit version. We love the understated Tan color, but if you want to stand out in the mud or sand—or have ADD tendencies—Icon has got you covered. [Buy]
Aether Loop jacket Aether Apparel has gained a cult following for its beautifully crafted, minimalist riding gear. Thanks to small production runs and exotic materials, it’s unavoidably expensive—but at $450, the Loop is relatively affordable.
It’s a new commuter jacket with an ultra-clean silhouette. The outer is heavy canvas, available in Graphite (shown) and Overland Brown colors. Underneath are CE-certified D3O elbow, shoulder and back pads. Neat touches include extensive venting zippers from the waist to the cuffs—which are adjustable to suit short or gauntlet gloves.
The old cliché about looking good ‘on and off the bike’ applies here—but the Loop is one of the few jackets that delivers the goods. [Buy]
Resurgence Gear Vintage Brown jeans There’s a problem with most motorcycle jeans: if they look good, they generally aren’t as safe as they could be. But Canada-based Resurgence Gear has hit the sweet spot with its Vintage Brown range. Made from 13oz selvedge denim, they’re a classic straight cut with enough room to fit over most boots.
They’re also lined with Pekev™, an aramid-based material that is reportedly the world’s toughest polymer—being twice as strong as Kevlar. It gave an abrasion resistance of just over ten seconds during CE Level 2 testing. Even better, this CE rating applies to the whole garment, and not just the included Knox Flexiform removable hip and knee armor. [Buy]
Forma Adventure Boots The vintage enduro look is hugely popular at the moment, and these $250 boots from the Italian company fit the bill perfectly. There’s no compromise on the technology: you get a Drytex waterproof lining, an anti-shock midsole, an anti-bacterial replaceable footbed, and reinforcements in all the right places.
The outer is oiled leather, treated to give a slightly worn finish. There’s an anti-slip rubber sole and closure is via Velcro and adjustable buckles, giving a comfortable fit. Not surprisingly, customer reviews are excellent. [Buy]