Review: Bilt Explorer Air Two Piece Suit and Typhoon Tour Boots
Two years ago I was riding high as the TX750 project was finally coming together after almost six years of being a project bike. To celebrate and to get ready for the year long riding season the we enjoy here in Southern California, I went gear shopping. I'm a big believer in ATGATT, all the gear, all the time. That philosophy combined with the gear requirements imposed on me by the military made me look for an affordable and fully protective set of riding gear. There are literally hundreds of places online that sell a wide variety of gear, but relatively few places where you can try it on to check the true fit. Motorcycle gear needs to fit well. Not just for comfort, but to be able to properly fit you in case of the unfortunate and unforeseen get off. The one place mostly available to the average rider is Cycle Gear.
I headed down to my local shop and started looking. Since it had been a while since I last bought bike gear I was a bit overwhelmed by the selection. Right away I knew that cruiser type gear was not for me. Too much emphasis on style and light on protection. I was leaning toward leather, but the price was prohibitive so textile gear became my focus. I finally found what I was looking for in the Bilt Explorer Air two piece textile suit.
The suit is geared toward the ADV set. Something that mattered more after getting the V-Strom a couple of months later as the combo of the two made me look the part when I rode to the local Starbucks. The features that made it attractive were the zip-in rain and quilted liners that give me the ability to tailor my layers to the weather. It came with CE rated armor in the shoulders, elbows and knees and has a place for a back armor insert. There are literally 14 different pockets on the jacket and another four more on the pants. The jacket even has a pocket on the back for a hydration bladder! The sleeves, chest and legs are mesh and really flow the air well. There are Velcro patches at the cuffs, pant legs and on the high collar and the arms can be adjusted for a better fit with a couple of snaps on the sleeve.s
The price was around $330.00 on "sale" as Cycle Gear routinely offers the Bilt line at reasonable prices, but advertises them with super savings. The suit came with a pair of gloves that were nothing special and a Bilt Discovery full face, adventure style helmet. The helmet is a motocross look, street helmet with a beak and visor that will make a decent spare in case I ever need one or decide to ride 'round the world.
I wear the suit for all of my long distance rides and combine the jacket with my Scorpion riding jeans for riding around town. My boots are also from Cycle Gear and are the Bilt Typhoon boots. They are a leather like tour style boot with a full length side zipper and a Velcro top closure. They aren't armored, but are thickly padded and advertised as water proof. The lack of rain in SoCal and my propensity to avoid riding in the rain has prevented me from testing that. They didn't have any real insoles to speak of, but I added some heat-form ones from a department store making them very comfortable, even when walking in them after the ride. The zippers are very fine tooth, I'm guessing to help with the waterproofing, and are starting to show signs of jamming up on me if I don't take care when closing them up. The good thing with Cycle Gear and their Bilt products is that they offer a 5 year warranty so I can take them back to the store and do a one time exchange if they do break.
Combined with a decent set of gloves and my Bilt boots, I got a complete riding gear set for under four hundred bucks that protects me from the weather and the road.
So how does it all protect? No one wants to test the gear in an actual accident, but a year ago I had that opportunity. While on a three day winter ride in the mountains around Julian, CA I went down. How did they do? See for yourself
I headed down to my local shop and started looking. Since it had been a while since I last bought bike gear I was a bit overwhelmed by the selection. Right away I knew that cruiser type gear was not for me. Too much emphasis on style and light on protection. I was leaning toward leather, but the price was prohibitive so textile gear became my focus. I finally found what I was looking for in the Bilt Explorer Air two piece textile suit.
The suit is geared toward the ADV set. Something that mattered more after getting the V-Strom a couple of months later as the combo of the two made me look the part when I rode to the local Starbucks. The features that made it attractive were the zip-in rain and quilted liners that give me the ability to tailor my layers to the weather. It came with CE rated armor in the shoulders, elbows and knees and has a place for a back armor insert. There are literally 14 different pockets on the jacket and another four more on the pants. The jacket even has a pocket on the back for a hydration bladder! The sleeves, chest and legs are mesh and really flow the air well. There are Velcro patches at the cuffs, pant legs and on the high collar and the arms can be adjusted for a better fit with a couple of snaps on the sleeve.s
The price was around $330.00 on "sale" as Cycle Gear routinely offers the Bilt line at reasonable prices, but advertises them with super savings. The suit came with a pair of gloves that were nothing special and a Bilt Discovery full face, adventure style helmet. The helmet is a motocross look, street helmet with a beak and visor that will make a decent spare in case I ever need one or decide to ride 'round the world.
I wear the suit for all of my long distance rides and combine the jacket with my Scorpion riding jeans for riding around town. My boots are also from Cycle Gear and are the Bilt Typhoon boots. They are a leather like tour style boot with a full length side zipper and a Velcro top closure. They aren't armored, but are thickly padded and advertised as water proof. The lack of rain in SoCal and my propensity to avoid riding in the rain has prevented me from testing that. They didn't have any real insoles to speak of, but I added some heat-form ones from a department store making them very comfortable, even when walking in them after the ride. The zippers are very fine tooth, I'm guessing to help with the waterproofing, and are starting to show signs of jamming up on me if I don't take care when closing them up. The good thing with Cycle Gear and their Bilt products is that they offer a 5 year warranty so I can take them back to the store and do a one time exchange if they do break.
Combined with a decent set of gloves and my Bilt boots, I got a complete riding gear set for under four hundred bucks that protects me from the weather and the road.
So how does it all protect? No one wants to test the gear in an actual accident, but a year ago I had that opportunity. While on a three day winter ride in the mountains around Julian, CA I went down. How did they do? See for yourself
Very dramatic in slow-mo with sparks, right?!
The aftermath was a scratched up V-Strom and a few small holes in the left leg of the pants.
The boots and pants did their job and I rode away with zero injuries so I am convinced that they will do the job. If you are looking for some good, affordable, three season gear for not much cash, then swing by your local Cycle gear and check out what they have to offer.
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