Classy Rider Review

PRODUCT: Perforated Jacket for Women
MANUFACTURER: Classy Rider

REVIEWER: Petra Lattmann, VTwin Mama
REVIEW DATE: October 24, 2007

Click picture for full view

REVIEW CONCLUSION:
Built-in armor with jacket made for warmer weather riding = style+ road protection. It's a keeper!

REVIEW SPECIFICS:
Kathy McCurry introduced herself and her company, Classy Rider, to the readers of VTwin Mama on October 2, 2007. What I learned is that she started a line of motorcycle jackets for both women and men five years ago, focusing on lighter weights and concealed armor for road protection.

Having given her my basic info on sizing (she offers "reality sizing" for department store sizes 6-20/1X), Kathy sent me both a Large and an XL to see which would be the better fit.

Now, I'm 5'10" and currently 215lbs. I thought, no way is that Large going make it, but lo and behold, it's the Large that fit like a glove, while the XL (4th picture) would have been a great choice had I wanted a jacket that I could then add more layers (think sweatshirt) as the seasons changed. That would extend the use of the jacket, but as I have a good cold weather jacket that morphs into good riding in spring/fall with vents, I opted for the closer fit. By the by, this is the Earth color.

Then it was off for two days of road testing over 200 miles!

Call me a skeptic, but never having ridden with a jacket and armor, I was wondering if the spine and elbow pads were going to detract from my ride in terms of comfort. I could really feel them when I first put on the jacket, but things decidedly changed as I began to ride. Basically, they "disappeared." Sure, if I shifted around enough (!) I could detect the inserts, but I never felt any restrictions to my seating/riding position and after a bunch of miles, was pleased that I could be wearing something that light weight, yet have protection is things went wrong.

While it may not be completely evident in these photos, the women's jacket does have a hip flare, so while seated, there was no binding or squirming trying to get the jacket to "sit" right at the hips. How wonderfully designed is that?!

Let's get a better view of those inserts! First you can see the sleeve inside out, with the zippered pocket where the pad (laying out) slides in to.

Here's the interior of the jacket with the spine pad section still inserted ...

... and here it is out. So, fully detachable (and easy!) so you can throw the jacket into the washer when needed (can we say, double yahoo!). And yes, that's Cordura in the sleeves and spine area.

If you're conscious of how you look while riding and then entering non-riding businesses, etc., a keep removal of the pads and you're in a pretty jacket that will keep you looking fashionable!

Now, what about the styling? I tested the perforated version for maximum air flow ... tiny little perfs, combined with the CoolMesh lining, really moved air around and worked great on the first test day at 85F. The Velcro bands at the bottom of the sleeves made for nice adjustments.

The second day, I deliberately took it out at 65F and could see that that was not the right jacket, but here's the good news ... I was able to easily fold the Classy Rider jacket into my saddlebag, so for that time of year, when temps range by greater margins, it would be easy enough to throw the jacket into the bag and have it ready as the sun warmed up things! Yahoo!

A side note: there are two small zippered side vents, but I didn't really feel a major added air flow, even on the colder test day, but I'm guessing in mid summer in Mobile, AL, when temps are 95+ and I'm still crazy enough to go riding, I'd be happy to have them!

I'll simply add that you can opt for the Solid Shell model and/or a Satin-Lined interior and lots of color choices. I think that really has to do with the regions you're riding in and what this type of jacket could add to your riding comfort.

As we all know, a jacket also has to provide some other features that make it useful, and let's face it, 2 exterior zipped pockets with decent depth, and 4 internal pockets (see below) for money, glasses, keys, and even a longer backside pocket for bigger stuff, really made my day! I don't think I carry as much as all those pockets would hold, but maybe you do!

Now, many of you may know that I always like a jacket that zips up nicely at the neck, and here I have no qualms, as the zipper is heavy duty, the snaps easy to work, and a fabric placket over the zipper in front keeps from scratching the motorcycle tank. While it didn't bother me, the zipper is exposed on the inside, so above my T-shirt neck level, I was aware that I had the metal zipper against my skin if I pressed. Not a biggee, but a point.

A final note ... there's a reflective band stitched on the back (at the neck) for added visibility and you get two Velcro reflective armbands, a nice added touch!

All of this for just 2 lbs. in weight! And you can ride with one for 100 miles and return (in good condition) if it's just not meeting your needs. If you're interested in more reviews, here's the Classy Rider page with links to other sources!

Kudos to Kathy and Classy Rider for offering true styling in beautiful colors, while not forsaking our need to be wearing safety gear on the road. Well done!