Got to love a good warranty. Some new gear reviews.
I will be traveling to Japan this May to visit family. While there I plan on renting a bike and seeing a side of the country I haven't yet explored. The riding in Japan from all reports is excellent. The roads from my experience are well maintained and curvy thanks to the numerous mountains. My wife gave me the wonderful idea of getting some gear to leave in Japan with the family. That way I can always have riding gear ready to go whenever I visit. In the past, I have tried to find motorcycle gear in Japan, but being 6'1" and weighing 208 pounds precludes me from finding much in the way of well fitting goods. Her idea sounded like a winner so off to Cycle Gear for some shopping.
This is the Cycle Gear Bilt Race Mesh jacket in Hi-Viz yellow. I wanted something basic and comfortable with good protection and that is exactly what this jacket is. The humidity is going to be a bear in Japan. The summers in the Tokyo area are a lot like central Florida. I got a mesh jacket to help with air flow. Since I would be new to riding the mean streets of Japan, I decided that being seen was more prudent than being fashionable, hence the Hi-Viz. I actually like it as I am a fan of the Kenny Roberts Yamaha Bumble Bee color scheme.
The jacket is really as basic as it gets. CE rated armor in the elbows and shoulders. A foam back pad that is pretty much useless in an accident. Basic hook and loop closures for the neck and wrists. It has a zip in quilted warm liner. The warm liners in these type of jackets actually get used by me, but here in SoCal the rain liners rarely do. I will probably need some rain protection in Japan though. I will combine this jacket with my Icon Stryker Vest and Scorpion Covert Jeans to be well covered and adequately ATTGATT for my trip.
It is typical Bilt quality. There are plenty of hanging threads from the stitching. Since I have been in the military for 14 years I know how to deal with that. Military uniforms are made by the lowest bidder and every service person has spent hours during their career trimming these threads. This jacket would last one decent accident and would need replacement. It is stiff and will need to be broken in so that the armor stays in place around my joints. It flows air very well and the warm liner reduces airflow enough for this jacket to be a good late spring, summer, early fall jacket. Perfect for Southern California riding, but not the best choice for the rainy season or winter in Japan. I don't plan on spending that much time riding in Japan, but just want to have a jacket available for a quick ride during a normal visit. For $110 it will do the intended job.
I wore the jacket for a few rides including a nice day trip to Lompoc to break it in. One of the inner armor pockets for the shoulder armor ripped. I walked into Cycle Gear today, found a new one the right size and got it switched out in about 5 minutes using the Bilt 5 year warranty.
Since I was at Cycle Gear, I took some boots I bought from them a couple of years ago. I got the old ones on sale for about $40. I wanted to exchange them for new ones using the Cycle Gear Bilt 5 year warranty since the zippers were starting to come apart after 2 years and 11,000 miles of riding. Here is what I got. They are the Bilt Trident Waterproof Boot.
These boots have double zippers for easy removal and an adjustable hook and loop panel in the rear for different calf sizes and shapes. Like my last set of boots, I put in some decent insoles and the boots fit great. They have grippy soles that flex enough to wear the boots to walk in after a ride. They say they are waterproof, but I probably won't test that. They have an inner liner between the tongue and outer shell that will contribute to preventing water from getting too far into the boot. They have some reflective piping on the sides which I appreciate. All in all a comfortable tour quality boot that is an upgrade from my last set.
The best part was that I took my old boots to the store and walked out with a new pair, no questions asked. The Bilt gear may be budget and basic with varying quality, but I have had a low speed crash in Bilt pants and boots. They held up fine and I sustained no injuries. If the quality is bad, they honor the 5 year warranty on a walk in basis. You just take the old stuff in and swap it out. The Cycle Gear Sedici line is a step above in quality and comes with a lifetime warranty. For me, being able to try on the gear before I buy is very important.
This post took way too long to get done. I am trying to get back to the shop to get the Yamaha engine going, but have been busy with life. I may have an opportunity to get out and get some race training all while track testing the Ninja so come back soon for that ride report. I also have a couple of videos to edit. If I could quit my day job, I'd still be busy. Thanks for stopping by.
Blue
This is the Cycle Gear Bilt Race Mesh jacket in Hi-Viz yellow. I wanted something basic and comfortable with good protection and that is exactly what this jacket is. The humidity is going to be a bear in Japan. The summers in the Tokyo area are a lot like central Florida. I got a mesh jacket to help with air flow. Since I would be new to riding the mean streets of Japan, I decided that being seen was more prudent than being fashionable, hence the Hi-Viz. I actually like it as I am a fan of the Kenny Roberts Yamaha Bumble Bee color scheme.
The jacket is really as basic as it gets. CE rated armor in the elbows and shoulders. A foam back pad that is pretty much useless in an accident. Basic hook and loop closures for the neck and wrists. It has a zip in quilted warm liner. The warm liners in these type of jackets actually get used by me, but here in SoCal the rain liners rarely do. I will probably need some rain protection in Japan though. I will combine this jacket with my Icon Stryker Vest and Scorpion Covert Jeans to be well covered and adequately ATTGATT for my trip.
It is typical Bilt quality. There are plenty of hanging threads from the stitching. Since I have been in the military for 14 years I know how to deal with that. Military uniforms are made by the lowest bidder and every service person has spent hours during their career trimming these threads. This jacket would last one decent accident and would need replacement. It is stiff and will need to be broken in so that the armor stays in place around my joints. It flows air very well and the warm liner reduces airflow enough for this jacket to be a good late spring, summer, early fall jacket. Perfect for Southern California riding, but not the best choice for the rainy season or winter in Japan. I don't plan on spending that much time riding in Japan, but just want to have a jacket available for a quick ride during a normal visit. For $110 it will do the intended job.
I wore the jacket for a few rides including a nice day trip to Lompoc to break it in. One of the inner armor pockets for the shoulder armor ripped. I walked into Cycle Gear today, found a new one the right size and got it switched out in about 5 minutes using the Bilt 5 year warranty.
Since I was at Cycle Gear, I took some boots I bought from them a couple of years ago. I got the old ones on sale for about $40. I wanted to exchange them for new ones using the Cycle Gear Bilt 5 year warranty since the zippers were starting to come apart after 2 years and 11,000 miles of riding. Here is what I got. They are the Bilt Trident Waterproof Boot.
The best part was that I took my old boots to the store and walked out with a new pair, no questions asked. The Bilt gear may be budget and basic with varying quality, but I have had a low speed crash in Bilt pants and boots. They held up fine and I sustained no injuries. If the quality is bad, they honor the 5 year warranty on a walk in basis. You just take the old stuff in and swap it out. The Cycle Gear Sedici line is a step above in quality and comes with a lifetime warranty. For me, being able to try on the gear before I buy is very important.
This post took way too long to get done. I am trying to get back to the shop to get the Yamaha engine going, but have been busy with life. I may have an opportunity to get out and get some race training all while track testing the Ninja so come back soon for that ride report. I also have a couple of videos to edit. If I could quit my day job, I'd still be busy. Thanks for stopping by.
Blue
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