Motorcycle News - Road tested: Gear from uglyBROS, Velomacchi and 1Self
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The chassis is 1.0 – 1.2 mm full grain kangaroo leather, with sections of additional abrasion resistant fabric, Kevlar-backed stretch panels, and a full complement of Knox armor. (Like several other high-end apparel makers, 1Self reckon that kangaroo offers the best mix of light weight and good protection.)
It’s also drop dead gorgeous, with an aesthetic that lands somewhere between sporty and stealthy. Details include tough YKK zippers, a small zipper latch at the top, accordion panels for mobility, and a white leather 1Self logo stitched onto the arm. You also get a moisture wicking liner, with two internal and two external pockets, and waist adjusters to fine-tune fit.
On feel “It feels soft and super comfy out the box, and didn’t need too much wearing in to be comfortable. The leather’s already softened more since the beginning, and I think it’ll just get better. Weight wise, I like the fact that it feels substantial, but it’s not overly heavy.”
On design “I love the simplistic yet practical design. Function was obviously the driving force here, but none of the form has been lost. There’s a lot of great detail too, if you look closely—like the soft fabric panel on the back of the neck, which adds some comfort.”
1Self ships anywhere in the world for free, but it’ll take about four weeks for the Genesys to reach you, because each jacket is made to order. And if you want to spend a little less, you can get the US$695 Genesys V2, which substitutes kangaroo for Nappa leather. [Buy]
The CE-rated padding at the hips worked without giving me an hourglass shape. And the ability to slide the armor out of the external knee pockets made them an easy option for casual days at the office, or running errands around town. On top of that, flexible fabric made them as comfortable as all that “athleisure” stuff that’s on fleek with the kids these days.
To their credit, uglyBROS stepped up immediately and couriered out a fresh panel to be sewn in, and my Motorpools were as good as new. But if you’d rather not suffer the indignity of naked flesh on your ride back to camp—or worse, having that Koi fish tattoo on your leg erased by asphalt—check out the new Kevlar-lined Motorpools.
With that skin-saving fabric in place, the slim fit of the Motorpool-K’s gets a touch cozier but there’s no need to size up. The flexibility of the originals remains intact, so any initial snugness fades after the first couple of miles. In fact, now they feel the same on my lowers as the originals, whether out riding or not.
Other changes to the Motorpool-K include the swapping of buttons for metal snaps on the cargo and rear pockets. This makes getting into and closing the flaps infinitely easier, especially with a gloved hand, and is worth the $30 surcharge alone, IMHO. Sure, the metal will turn into a branding iron during any extended slides but the snaps all fall well within the Kevlar’s coverage range. If you’ve been on the fence about the Motorpools because of concerns about abrasion resistance, the Motorpool-K’s are the model for you. They’re an incredibly comfortable set of strides that blend into the urban aesthetic and now, tick all of the protection boxes too. [Buy]
Velomacchi Speedway Backpack 40L Matt: If you don’t need the capaciousness of Velomacchi’s big 50L duffel but find the 28L a smidge cramped, this new 40L version should be on your radar. Like everything else in the ‘Speedway’ line, the 40L duffel is constructed from rugged and weather resistant 1000D Cordura fabric—and encapsulates your vital belongings in a completely watertight cocoon.
But this time around, you get a highly usable secondary, watertight front pocket. And elasticized panels integrated into this pocket make it easy to secure smaller items like phone cables, portable charging stations or a set of tools for a trailside repair.
It’s made from the same 1000D fabric as the rest of their bags, with a fully waterproof main compartment. (I’ve tested it, and it really is waterproof.) The main zip is heavy duty, with a chunky anchor on the end to get your fingers around, and stretch panels to help you close it when you’ve over-packed.
The side pockets fasten with elasticated toggle closures, which I find a bit fiddly. To be honest, I would have loved this pack without the side pockets, as they tend to billow when empty and take up precious space when you’re loading the bike.
That’s mostly because those straps have the same rotating clavicle hinges as their bona fide backpacks. And Velomacchi also include size markings on the straps—so if you know what works for you, setting the pack up second time around is quicker. There’s also a sternum strap with a magnetic closure.
The nylon loops are tough, so you can tie it down tight. And even though it felt like I could shift it around a bit with of force, it seemed to stay put on the road—provided I packed and mounted it in a balanced way. My biggest gripe? With all these carry options, I would have liked a shoulder strap too. But I’ve already used the Speedway Duffle on the back of a bike through the Bavarian alps, on family weekends, and as a backpack on a small local airline with lenient carry on restrictions. Recommended. [Buy] Images by Wesley Reyneke and Tom Jeffries. Motorcycles via Bike EXIF http://www.bikeexif.com July 1, 2018 at 12:09PM Leave a Reply. |
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7/1/2018
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