I’d rather update my bike than my closet any day, but I needed a new riding suit for the media launch of the Moto Guzzi Breva V1100 in Italy. The suit had to be comfortable and good for both touring and spirited street duty. I found what I was looking for in the Motophoria line.

First, the jacket: the Axial Vintage has some flair, but doesn’t shout “racer boy.” It comes in a wide variety of two-tone and three-tone combinations — 10 versions, to be exact. I chose the graphite/black/cream scheme, which goes with virtually any bike. The quality is excellent, with double Kevlar thread stitching, brass YKK zippers, and removable CE armor in the shoulders and elbow/forearm area. Other creature comforts include a wind flap at the front zipper, a Kevlar panel insert on the length of the sleeve, three pockets, and a padded collar with a snap closure. The jacket also has two zippers that attach it to pants.

For pants, I chose the Tensor sport/track style to back up the jacket — again, not exactly race apparel, but suitable for a track day or two. I really like these pants as a do-it-all protective skin. They’re super comfortable and have a wide elastic waistband that doesn’t dig into me. They close with two metal hooks, and the suspenders keep them from drooping under their own weight. There’s stretchy Kevlar material in the flexible part of the body (ahem, the groin), and double Kevlar stitching to hold it all together. A unique snap system at the calves helps the pants slip snugly into shin-high riding boots.

When looking for gloves, I tend to stay on the conservative side. No carbon fiber this or that, no wild colors, please. I need tough gloves that are comfortable for long rides and give a sensitive feel on the controls. I found just that in the Axion Street/Sport glove. The graphite-and-black design gives a subtle, classy look, while the double Kevlar stitching is tough as nails. I like knowing that a glove isn’t going to shred apart at the seams, should I need it to do its job against pavement. This one has a soft fleece lining, and the exterior foam padding features something called Schoeller Reflex Material, with silver reflective dots for nighttime visibility. These are my new all-around riding gloves.

My only concern about the suit is the material used in the jacket pockets. While it’s comfortable to the touch with a silky satin texture, it doesn’t impress me as being tough in the long run. Other than that, this suit “suits” me just fine. RB

SOURCES

Axial Vintage Jacket $329.99
Tensor Riding/Sport Pant $239.99
Axion Gloves $64.99

Motophoria
13 Mudgett Hill Rd. Dept. RB
Loudon, NH 03307
603/783-0515

www.motophoria.com