AeroFan_07
I'll Lock Up
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In the 1980's Creative RiderWare of Upland, California commissioned a pair of purpose-built riding jackets that would turn out to be a short-lived product line but helped prompt a whole wave of similar jackets across the motorcycling community.
The Excalibur (for Sport bikes) and the Traveler (for cruisers and touring bikes) appeared quite similar initially. However, getting into the details of both, it quickly becomes apparent each one has its own design and feature set and is intended for a specific application. I found out about these jackets back in nearly November, while at a local Estate sale, and finding a fellow wearing his recently acquired Vent Tech Excalibur jacket. It looked sharp on him and had a nice set of features for a jacket that is approaching 40 years of age. I had on the Vanson "Ron Peck" jacket which he really wanted to check out. He had never handled a Vanson. So, a quick swap and we both were admiring a new to us jacket with history. This sort of thing, when it happens is a lot of fun and leads to some great conversations.
I wound up ordering a couple of these off ebay, not even realizing when I did so that the only two models of Creative RiderWare jackets that I have found were ever produced were headed my direction. They were both a good deal, and total expenditure on both was under $150.
Here is a 1992 article with a much deeper review, as I have not ridden a motorcycle with either of my jackets to this point:
https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1992/2/1/cool-tech-jackets
And the jackets I received look like this (Excalibur on the RH side, Traveler on the LH side):
As can be observed there are significant differences between these two, yet quite a bit of similarity as well. The Traveler on the Left is an older model. It was made in Korea, and the tag on it states it is a Cool Tech where the Pakistani made Vent Tech Excalibur is newer. Not all of the Cool Tech Traveler jackets had the "ribbed" leather front and rear, honestly it give it a vintage '80's look, sort of like a Hein Gereke.
It is apparent that airflow was considered as top priority on these two jackets. the Traveler especially is deeply ventilated around the underarm areas, with just enough solid portions to allow some heat retention in cooler weather. The Traveler that I purchased does not have any provision for a snap or zip in lining. It's strictly a summer or early fall jacket.
The Excalibur jacket had a full snap-in liner, and I have yet to remove it. I have been wearing it quite a bit as a cold weather jacket this winter, while it does keep you fairly warm, there is still a lot of airflow getting in and around the sleeves and sides of the jacket, so it will not keep you quite as warm as a solid leather jacket with an insulating liner would do. Still, it's really made for the bike and that's where these jackets simply are well thought out.
^^ The Traveler shown above does exhibit a quality control issue - as the two front panels do not quite line up as shown.
Main company tag inside the Cool Tech Traveler jacket - note lack of any snaps or zippers for a lining to be installed:
And the very cool, retro 80's "accordion" panels that still work great on the Excalibur to keep the jacket on you snugly:
This photo also shows the one actual "defect" I have observed on the Excalibur jacket, the "snap-together" side waist adjusters some detached too easily. this would be effectively remedied with some well-placed Velcro. However, with those large accordion panels, are the side straps even needed on this jacket?
Now the best part - Fit. These two jackets are some of the most comfortable, best fitting, do anything in me type jackets I have yet to find. They are not stiff, bulky, ***bersome or overly heavy (or light). It's been said the ideal motorcycling jacket is something you can wear without thinking about it, and that seems to be what these old jackets deliver. Whoever designed them, really knew motorcycling and how it works to be on a bike. Head checks, wind penetration, sitting in traffic, going up a cold mountain pass, these jackets are ready for it, provided you bring along an extra layer or two for the cold mountain pass. Even the placement of the shoulder and elbow pads are surprisingly easy to work with and they do not feel bulky while the jacket is on. The front zipper Velcro patch on the Excalibur is un-needed but would provide for additional ventilation with the main zipper down some. To give and idea how flexible these are, I am planning to try doing a complete leg workout at my local YMCA with it on, just to see how well it actually works for that type of activity.
Having owned quite a few other brands of later "leather + textile" riding jackets with pads in them between 2007 - 2012, I can say with confidence that these two jacket would have been my top choices for any type of ride on my Nighthawk 650, had I actually known of the brand. I MAY have to pick up a bike again this spring, in part to test out these and other jackets.
So how do they fit on me?
The Traveler - summer jacket:
And the Excalibur will be shown in the next entry
The Excalibur (for Sport bikes) and the Traveler (for cruisers and touring bikes) appeared quite similar initially. However, getting into the details of both, it quickly becomes apparent each one has its own design and feature set and is intended for a specific application. I found out about these jackets back in nearly November, while at a local Estate sale, and finding a fellow wearing his recently acquired Vent Tech Excalibur jacket. It looked sharp on him and had a nice set of features for a jacket that is approaching 40 years of age. I had on the Vanson "Ron Peck" jacket which he really wanted to check out. He had never handled a Vanson. So, a quick swap and we both were admiring a new to us jacket with history. This sort of thing, when it happens is a lot of fun and leads to some great conversations.
I wound up ordering a couple of these off ebay, not even realizing when I did so that the only two models of Creative RiderWare jackets that I have found were ever produced were headed my direction. They were both a good deal, and total expenditure on both was under $150.
Here is a 1992 article with a much deeper review, as I have not ridden a motorcycle with either of my jackets to this point:
https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1992/2/1/cool-tech-jackets
And the jackets I received look like this (Excalibur on the RH side, Traveler on the LH side):
As can be observed there are significant differences between these two, yet quite a bit of similarity as well. The Traveler on the Left is an older model. It was made in Korea, and the tag on it states it is a Cool Tech where the Pakistani made Vent Tech Excalibur is newer. Not all of the Cool Tech Traveler jackets had the "ribbed" leather front and rear, honestly it give it a vintage '80's look, sort of like a Hein Gereke.
It is apparent that airflow was considered as top priority on these two jackets. the Traveler especially is deeply ventilated around the underarm areas, with just enough solid portions to allow some heat retention in cooler weather. The Traveler that I purchased does not have any provision for a snap or zip in lining. It's strictly a summer or early fall jacket.
The Excalibur jacket had a full snap-in liner, and I have yet to remove it. I have been wearing it quite a bit as a cold weather jacket this winter, while it does keep you fairly warm, there is still a lot of airflow getting in and around the sleeves and sides of the jacket, so it will not keep you quite as warm as a solid leather jacket with an insulating liner would do. Still, it's really made for the bike and that's where these jackets simply are well thought out.
^^ The Traveler shown above does exhibit a quality control issue - as the two front panels do not quite line up as shown.
Main company tag inside the Cool Tech Traveler jacket - note lack of any snaps or zippers for a lining to be installed:
And the very cool, retro 80's "accordion" panels that still work great on the Excalibur to keep the jacket on you snugly:
This photo also shows the one actual "defect" I have observed on the Excalibur jacket, the "snap-together" side waist adjusters some detached too easily. this would be effectively remedied with some well-placed Velcro. However, with those large accordion panels, are the side straps even needed on this jacket?
Now the best part - Fit. These two jackets are some of the most comfortable, best fitting, do anything in me type jackets I have yet to find. They are not stiff, bulky, ***bersome or overly heavy (or light). It's been said the ideal motorcycling jacket is something you can wear without thinking about it, and that seems to be what these old jackets deliver. Whoever designed them, really knew motorcycling and how it works to be on a bike. Head checks, wind penetration, sitting in traffic, going up a cold mountain pass, these jackets are ready for it, provided you bring along an extra layer or two for the cold mountain pass. Even the placement of the shoulder and elbow pads are surprisingly easy to work with and they do not feel bulky while the jacket is on. The front zipper Velcro patch on the Excalibur is un-needed but would provide for additional ventilation with the main zipper down some. To give and idea how flexible these are, I am planning to try doing a complete leg workout at my local YMCA with it on, just to see how well it actually works for that type of activity.
Having owned quite a few other brands of later "leather + textile" riding jackets with pads in them between 2007 - 2012, I can say with confidence that these two jacket would have been my top choices for any type of ride on my Nighthawk 650, had I actually known of the brand. I MAY have to pick up a bike again this spring, in part to test out these and other jackets.
So how do they fit on me?
The Traveler - summer jacket:
And the Excalibur will be shown in the next entry
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