This spring, I decided it was time to shed the leather and cool off with a jacket designed for the summer sun. I chose a jacket that lets in the breeze while keeping me protected and looking good — Olympia’s Bonneville.

Constructed from Dupont Cordura performance fabric and featuring large, ballistic-airflow, mesh panels on the front and back, wind flows nicely throughout the jacket. Adjustable straps on the waist and arms keep the fit snug and prevent the fabric from flapping around. CE-approved armor runs standard in all Olympia garments, and this one’s got the back, elbows, and shoulders covered.

Olympia has an extremely thoughtful design process, one that leads me to believe the designers actually ride. An example of this is the collar. Standing at 2" tall with a Velcro flap in front, my neck was protected, and a soft neoprene-like edge kept it from irritating my skin. This may seem like a small detail, but it kept me comfortable and allowed me to stay focused on the road and ride longer.

Once the weather turns, a wind- and waterproofed liner can easily be zipped in, keeping you warm and dry. The liner’s lightweight and packable, so storage is simple and requires little space.

Now that all the safety and comfort is accounted for, style’s got to come into play. Again, good design is apparent here. On the arms and back, reflective piping tastefully keeps me visible at night. Two racing stripes run down the front right side, giving it a sporty, café racer look, and small Olympia logos adorn the side of each shoulder and zipper pull. Subtle is good. Colors vary; I chose the pewter and black option. With four pockets — two side, one left chest, and one inside — my house keys, cellphone, and Pez dispenser are all easily stowed.

Overall, it’s a great jacket, hitting all the points I requested. Come to think of it, the Bonneville’s a lot like me: cool, tough, and stylish. RB

The attention to detail is evident in the collar’s soft edge.

Hard Data

Olympia Moto Sports
Men’s Bonneville Mesh Tech Jacket
$219.99
866/473-4327
www.OlympiaMotoSports.com