With specialised bikes comes specialised gear, particularly ADV motorbike gear. Journey-bike helmets mix options of full-face helmets (comparable to a chinbar and a faceshield) and dirtbike helmets (comparable to a peak visor and many air flow). ADV attire is often manufactured from sturdy textile supplies and presents safety from wind, rain, chilly, and laborious objects.

Over the previous 12 months, I’ve examined some Sedici ADV gear: the Viaggio helmet and Garda WP jacket and pants. “Sedici” sounds Italian, and the merchandise have Italian names (viaggio means “voyage”; Garda is the identify of the most important lake in Italy), however Sedici is an in-house model bought solely by Cycle Gear and RevZilla (each are owned by Comoto). The gear is designed within the U.S. and made abroad in China and Pakistan.

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Sedici ADV Motorbike Gear: Viaggio Helmet

The Viaggio helmet has an injection-molded ABS plastic shell, an inner EPS liner, and a detachable, washable consolation liner. It has a detachable peak visor in addition to a drop-down sunshield. The faceshield protrudes out simply above the underside edge, offering a large lip on each side to simply elevate the defend. The faceshield has an anti-scratch coating, however it doesn’t lock when closed, there aren’t any detents for partially open positions, and it doesn’t accommodate a Pinlock anti-fog insert. For many who desire to trip with goggles, the faceshield will be eliminated.

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The Viaggio, which meets each DOT and ECE security requirements, is a snug, fairly mild helmet (the dimensions Medium examined weighs 3 lb, 10 ounces). The inside padding seals nicely sufficient round my cheeks and neck to cut back the worst of wind noise (although I normally put on earplugs), the big eyeport presents good visibility, and a tried-and-true D-ring secures the chinstrap. Due to the clear faceshield paired with the drop-down sunshield, I don’t need to swap out a tinted faceshield when the solar goes down.

My greatest problem with the Viaggio is air flow. There are solely three consumption vents – one within the pointy chinbar (which is backed by metallic mesh) and two small ones on the prime, each of that are closable – and two exhaust vents within the again. With the vents open, the helmet strikes an ample quantity of air for road using on mildly heat days, however I wished extra airflow on sizzling days and in the course of the exertion of off-road using. Driving with the faceshield up and the sunshield down or with the faceshield eliminated and goggles on brings in considerably extra air, however neither of those ways is advisable at freeway speeds.

Regardless of a couple of shortcomings, the Viaggio is a stable journey helmet for an affordable worth. It retails for $179.99 within the Mappa (Italian for “map”) graphic with topographical strains, which is obtainable in sizes XS-2XL in three colorways: Gray/Black/Hello-Viz (proven), Black/Gray, and Sand/Black. It’s additionally accessible in stable colours – Matte Black, Pearl White, and Hello-Viz Yellow – in sizes XS-3XL for $149.99. The Viaggio Parlare (Italian for “communicate”) comes with an built-in Sena DWO-5 Bluetooth v3.0 communication system, and it is available in Matte Black or White in sizes XS-2XL for $289.99.

Sedici ADV Motorbike Gear: Garda WP Jacket and Pants

In case you’re like me, you’ve found the wonders of stretch materials. Denims, pants, shorts, shirts, and even jackets created from materials blended with elastane or different stretchy fibers are extra comfy than plain cotton or polyester and extra forgiving of extensive waistlines, lumpy love handles, and distinguished paunches. Whereas stretch materials at the moment are frequent in informal clothes, you don’t see them as a lot in motorbike attire.

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That’s why I used to be pleased to find that the Sedici Garda WP Jacket and Pants are manufactured from 600D stretch cloth that’s 92% polyester and eight% spandex (enjoyable reality: “spandex” is an anagram for “expands”). The spandex permits the clothes to maneuver simply with the physique, so there’s no binding or restricted motion. There’s a water-proof membrane laminated contained in the outer layer, and the clothes are lined with stretchy athletic mesh.

Whereas I discovered the jacket and pants to be very comfy each on and off the bike, the pants, which have elastic panels alongside the waistband, tended to slip down. They shut securely on the waist with a metallic clasp, a metallic button, and an adjustable hook-and-loop strap, however the strap gives solely a small vary of adjustment. To keep away from having to hitch up my pants all through the day, I wished to have the ability to tighten them extra. As a result of I’ve a 34-inch waist, I ordered a dimension Giant, which covers waist sizes 34-35 inches. I most likely would have been higher off with Medium pants (32-33 waist). If the pants had belt loops, I may have worn a belt, however they don’t.

The Garda jacket and pants have 1200D reinforcement areas, textured rubber panels, and CE Stage 2 armor on the elbows, shoulders, and knees. The jacket has a foam again pad, which will be changed with an non-obligatory Axial CE Stage 2 again protector ($34.99), and the pants have pockets for non-obligatory Axial CE Stage 2 hip armor ($19.99). The jacket additionally has an outer again pocket for an non-obligatory hydration bladder.

Air flow, adjustability, and pockets abound. The jacket has six adjustable vents, and the pants have two, all of which seal with waterproof zippers. Whereas the vents permit some cooling aid, the full-coverage waterproof membrane traps in warmth. The jacket has adjustment on the collar, cuff, forearm, higher arm, hip, and waist, and the pants have adjustment on the waist and decrease leg. The pant legs have zippered gussets coated by a flap secured with hook-and-loop tabs, and there’s enough room to zip the gussets closed over heavy ADV boots.

The jacket has a complete of six pockets, together with two waterproof cargo pockets in entrance and a big cargo pocket throughout the decrease again. The pants have two waist pockets, that are high-quality for keys, earplugs, and different small gadgets, however they power cumbersome gadgets like a telephone or pockets into the crease of the hips when seated. Aspect cargo pockets can be a welcome addition. 

Aside from a couple of nitpicks, the Sedici Garda WP Jacket and Pants present the consolation and flexibility wanted for journey touring in cool to heat circumstances. They don’t present ample air flow for warm climate, and with no thermal lining, you’ll want so as to add your personal baselayers or heated liners in chilly climate. Pricing is $249.99 for the jacket and $219.99 for the pants. Each can be found in sizes S-5XL in Silver/Black (proven), Sand/Black, or Black.