Jumbo Kevlar Gp-1 And Gp-2 Riding Suits
JUMBO KEVLAR GP-1 AND GP-2 RIDING SUITS
CW EVALUATION
High-profile, high-tech unleathers
SURE, THE MARCH OF TECHNICAL progress over the past few years has wrought significant change in motorcycle performance, but for the most part, we riders are still wearing what Geoff Duke wore in the l940s and '50s: Leather. Though it has touched nearly every other aspect of our lives, technology, it seems, has sidestepped riding apparel.
Or has it? Not according to the folks at Motoport (7720-B El Camino Real, Suite 504. Rancho La Costa. CA., 92009: 619/591-4209), who sell the Jumbo Kevlar GP-1 and Kevlar GP-2 riding suits, garments unlike any piece of riding gear you have seen.
I he one-piece GP-1 and two-piece GP-2 suits are high-tech, high-profile outfits made from a four-waystretch, multi-layer fabric. The top layer is woven from Kevlar and Lycra, with interior foam padding at the shoulders, elbows, hips and knees. The GP-l, which Motoport claims is approved for competition use by the FIM and AMA, has additional exterior patches of straight, textured Kevlar, as well as plastic knee scrapers. Both suits are lined, and offer left-inside breast pockets, though neither feature outside pockets. The GP-l has velcro wrist closures, the GP-2 uses zips. Both suits have zippered calves, and the GP-2 jacket and pants are joined by an around-the-waist zipper.
Each suit is claimed to be waterproof. and though Southern California's sunny clime didn't present us with a wet-riding opportunity during the test period, we did subject the two-piece suit to a garden-hose drenching, which it passed with flying colors. We can't verify the maker's claim that the suits' material has the same abrasion resistance as leather, though, because we haven't fallen down in either garment.
We've done a number of long rides in both the oneand two-piece suits, and we did a day of back-to-back testing with the GP-l and a full set of unventilated racing leathers. We found the Kevlar outfits to be incredibly comfortable, feeling for ali the world like skiers' stretch garments. Because the suits enhance body mobility, it is easier to move around on the bike than when wearing full leathers. But, like leather, the suits do not breathe particularly well and they’re rather warm, though no hotter than unventilated leathers. Still, that's hot enough to completely soak a T-shirt during a spirited, hour-long ride on a hot day. The flip side is that with a good set of long-johns underneath, the suits are comfortable into the high 40s/low 50s. And a big plus is that when the suits get sweatysmelly and covered with bug-splatters, they’re washable. We tried it: gentle cycle, Woolite, drip dry. It works. Suit looks new. Try that with leather.
Both suits are available in men's sizes S through XXL, with the GP-l priced at $799. the GP-2 at $849. Not bad, we think, for suits that will fit you as well as any custom-built set of leathers—maybe even better—be more comfortable, and offer waterresistance and washability. We predict the Jumbo Kevlar suits, available in a variety of hot colors, will become
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the garment of choice for more than a few riders who want riding gear that's as up to date as their motorcycles.B3
