Kane
One of the Regulars
- Messages
- 120
- Location
- Southern California
Hello good people,
I hope everyone is well and happy and doing OK.
I’m looking for a little input on a jacket purchase that I about to place with Vanson.
I am ordering a pair of SportRider pants and I want to pair them with a jacket. Both jacket and pants will require a special order to add length to the legs and sleeves.
I am getting these for motorcycle riding. I currently do not own armored riding gear, and Vanson seems like the highest quality and value for what I will be getting. I have tried on an off-the-rack SportRider pant and Mk2 CSRX SportRider jacket, so I know what they’re like, but they need to be custom fitted for me.
So here’s my quandary: The SportRider jacket I have tried seems really well made and designed, definitely a focused serious riding jacket. A few things that I am on the fence about: The cut may be a bit short. I know that it is cut for sitting on a bike in a riding crouch. I can zip the jacket to the pants for a quasi two-piece suit and have very good coverage. However, if I am using the jacket without the zipped-on pants I am wondering if it’s going to be a little short in the back (riding up above my belt line). And also if I am riding in a more upright position perhaps the front may seems a little short and not affford as much coverage over the waist. So, I am feeling that while the SportRider jacket is a super sport riding designed jacket, its short cut, tight chest when standing, lack of outside pockets, may render it too focused for an everyday general purpose riding jacket that I would also be wearing off the bike. Also, how well does the Velcro waist closure hold up over the years? I don’t understand the design behind this. Why not do a more traditional full length zipper, or a simpler snap closer at the waist. Why the Velcro waist closure? Is this a race design thing?
Which leads me to ponder the Vanson AR3 jacket: I have not actually seen this jacket in person, but this seems more of the classic CR style but with added armor. From the description on the Vanson site it sounds like it has a longer cut, more of a skirt. Pockets, too. I am feeling that if I were to have only one of these two jackets, while the AR3 is not so much of focused sport riding design it may serve better as an everyday ride-and-wear-around jacket. It has armor. How much bulk does the armor add the CR style and fit? Does the armor interfere with a classic CR fit and feel? The one downside that I see with going with the AR3 is that I can’t zip the jacket and pants together, but I would probably not be doing that all of the time anyway, and the AR3 looks like its longer cut may make this a non-issue, whereas I wonder if the shorter cut of the SportRider jacket could be a problem if it is not zipped down on the pants.
I am a recreational sport, sport/touring type of rider. I ride in the canyons but don’t need a track suit. I think either jacket would be great and plenty of jacket for me. For those of you who know both jackets, please chime in with your thoughts. Much appreciated!
Cheers and best wishes!
Kane
I hope everyone is well and happy and doing OK.
I’m looking for a little input on a jacket purchase that I about to place with Vanson.
I am ordering a pair of SportRider pants and I want to pair them with a jacket. Both jacket and pants will require a special order to add length to the legs and sleeves.
I am getting these for motorcycle riding. I currently do not own armored riding gear, and Vanson seems like the highest quality and value for what I will be getting. I have tried on an off-the-rack SportRider pant and Mk2 CSRX SportRider jacket, so I know what they’re like, but they need to be custom fitted for me.
So here’s my quandary: The SportRider jacket I have tried seems really well made and designed, definitely a focused serious riding jacket. A few things that I am on the fence about: The cut may be a bit short. I know that it is cut for sitting on a bike in a riding crouch. I can zip the jacket to the pants for a quasi two-piece suit and have very good coverage. However, if I am using the jacket without the zipped-on pants I am wondering if it’s going to be a little short in the back (riding up above my belt line). And also if I am riding in a more upright position perhaps the front may seems a little short and not affford as much coverage over the waist. So, I am feeling that while the SportRider jacket is a super sport riding designed jacket, its short cut, tight chest when standing, lack of outside pockets, may render it too focused for an everyday general purpose riding jacket that I would also be wearing off the bike. Also, how well does the Velcro waist closure hold up over the years? I don’t understand the design behind this. Why not do a more traditional full length zipper, or a simpler snap closer at the waist. Why the Velcro waist closure? Is this a race design thing?
Which leads me to ponder the Vanson AR3 jacket: I have not actually seen this jacket in person, but this seems more of the classic CR style but with added armor. From the description on the Vanson site it sounds like it has a longer cut, more of a skirt. Pockets, too. I am feeling that if I were to have only one of these two jackets, while the AR3 is not so much of focused sport riding design it may serve better as an everyday ride-and-wear-around jacket. It has armor. How much bulk does the armor add the CR style and fit? Does the armor interfere with a classic CR fit and feel? The one downside that I see with going with the AR3 is that I can’t zip the jacket and pants together, but I would probably not be doing that all of the time anyway, and the AR3 looks like its longer cut may make this a non-issue, whereas I wonder if the shorter cut of the SportRider jacket could be a problem if it is not zipped down on the pants.
I am a recreational sport, sport/touring type of rider. I ride in the canyons but don’t need a track suit. I think either jacket would be great and plenty of jacket for me. For those of you who know both jackets, please chime in with your thoughts. Much appreciated!
Cheers and best wishes!
Kane