member tested


PRoductreviews


BMG Zodiac II jacket Beat the heat in style.


By Marven Ewen #150506


WE ALL LOOK FORWARD TO THE riding season and warmer weather. But in those months of summer when it gets really hot, it can be a challenge to stick with our determination to wear all the gear all the time. Where I live it gets both hot and humid. Some days by the time I have gotten on all my gear, I am already sweating before I even start my bike. British Motorcycle Gear has come


up with a solution: The Zodiac II Motorcycle Jacket. Instead of using mesh they have introduced Airdura, a lightweight abrasion- resistant polyester they claim is water- proof, breathable and durable. To provide airflow, the Zodiac II has zippered vents on the chest, upper arms and back. I ordered the jacket


in black with yellow accents to make myself more visible on the bike. A stealth black/gunmetal is also available. It also comes standard with reflective piping sewn into the front and back of the shoulders that also extends down the back on each side for improved night visibility. The jacket is adorned tastefully with BMG logos that also appear to be reflective. When I pulled it out of the box I was impressed. It looks even better in person. When I first put this jacket on, I


was amazed at how light it felt. This is wonderful, but a bit disconcerting to someone used to a heavy jacket. It


28 BMW OWNERS NEWS December 2015


feels more like a windbreaker than the usual weight of a motorcycle jacket. It made me wonder about how effective it would be if I was sliding down the road. BMG has informed me they have positive reports of the jacket’s effectiveness from other riders’ experience in this regard. Knox, a manufacturer of impact protec-


tion equipment for over 30 years, supplies the pads for the jacket that are CE rated. The removable pads are located in pockets sewn into the light polyester lining. Protec- tion is provided for elbows, shoulders and back.


To provide airflow, the British Motorcycle Gear Zodiac II uses zippered vents on the chest, upper arms and back. Instead of using mesh they have introduced Airdura, a lightweight abrasion-resistant polyester they claim is waterproof, breathable and durable.


The vents, pockets, sleeves and main zip


are all closed with YKK zippers with leather pull tabs, a nice feature on a jacket with such a low price point. There is also a zipper attached to connect to riding pants. The pant part of the zipper is included if you want to have it sewn onto your usual riding pants. The two hand pockets on the lower front


of the jacket are easily accessed and are roomy enough hold a glove or cell phone. There is an additional zippered internal


breast pocket on the left side. For increased protection from rain, a


storm channel located behind the main zip- per fastens automatically on closure of the zipper. The vent openings do not have this, of course, in order to vent. The collar is padded and lined for comfort. An unobtru- sive soft cloth tab behind the upper part of the zipper prevents chafing. Located on the collar are two metal snaps for an adjustable secure closure. Adjustable Velcro closure tabs are provided at the wrists.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124