I recently went looking for a new pair of summer weight street gloves to supplement my lined road-race style gauntlett gloves and found these at a vendor display (Apparel in Motion, Grand Rapids) up at Grattan Raceway, Grattan Michigan. The Fox gloves are made from what appears to be a very high quality leather, with good strong stitching, a ribbed stretch panel accross the knuckles, and a double layer of leather and kevlar on the palm. What makes these gloves unique for summer use is that the sides of the fingers use a nylon lycra material, which flows a suprising amount of air when the fingers are spread. The gloves are unlined and run snug. I have long fingers, and these are one of the few pairs that fit me perfectly. The gauntlett is approximately 1.5 inches long and has an adjustable velcro cuff. The Fox Racing logo is stitched into the gauntlett. Unfortunately, the only color available is black, and the dye will stain your hands if the gloves get wet. My only concern about the gloves are how well the lycra will hold up in the event of a fall. Overall, I am extremely pleased with the gloves. They are extremely comfortable, fit very well, and not outrageously expensive at $36.95 US. VFRdgz@aol.com (Don Zielke)

The most important things to me at time of purchase were protection and tactile feel. As a new rider, I like to feel everything coming through from the road, and I like to know when I've actuated a control properly. Racing style gloves seem to be all the rage, and I was hesitant to make a "squidly" fashion statement, but after trying on various styles, I actually preferred the racing style as they met my two immediate requirements the best.

The AGV Carbon 7 Pro's are leather and armoured, with a generous Carbon Kevlar mix applied to all digits, across the knuckles, and along the outside of the wrist. There is extra padding around the wrist and on the gauntlet, and the palms have double-stiched leather. Quality of workmanship is very good. The stiching is kevlar based, and the gloves feel pretty tough all around.

They are surprisingly comfortable, and they fit my hands well without bunching up anywhere. The gauntlets extend up well beyond my wrist (maybe 3.5 inches). They fasten tightly via two straps; one on the gauntlet, and the other near the wrist. Try as I might, I cant rip them off of myself, although I doubt I'm applying anything close to crashing forces :-) Still, they are nice and tight, and I've had no problems with the gloves loosening on my hand.

The price was certainly right for me. Simlar gloves run between 50 and 300 bucks. I got them for $76.00 at MAW, but I think they retail for around $100.00. They come in any freaking color you could possbily want:-) I feel at this time that they are an excellent value for the money.

Not that they are perfect. I took a six hour tour in them and the palms of my hands got pretty sore near the end. Now, this could be attributed to any number of other factors (grips, riding position, etc) but I can't help but feel that some extra padding would have been nice. I defnitely see a need for two paris of gloves: one touring oriented and one sport oriented. They are not extremely warm either. While they do a great job down to about 60 degrees, below that they are lacking a little. Hey, its a sport/summer type glove. I can't fault AGV for that; they do exactly what they are supposed to do. Above 60 they are extremely comfortable. Just know the limitations of the gear :-)

Overall, I think the AGV Carbon 7 Pro's represent a very good glove and somewhat of a bargain. I would recommend them to anyone looking for a good sport glove who does not want to throw away a ton of money on the latest "fad" gloves. Of course, if you race/track a lot, buy the best you can afford.

Disclaimer: It will be interesting to see how these gloves hold up over time. I feel comfortable that the Spidi jacket I reviewed here will remain solid for a long time, but gloves are harder to gauge. They feel solid and well built, but I reserve the right to add a "these gloves suck" addendum at a future time :-) (Eric Mitchell - remksm@adelphia.net)

The gloves are made of thin supple leather, so they have very good feel, and are not too hot in the summer, which is primarily what I bought them for. Having said that, I have so far worn them commuting most days, and though we are not yet at the coldest part of the winter, they are cool but not too bad. Compared to my Thinsulate lined gloves (which I find quite bulky in the palms) they are noticeably cooler, but this is mostly due to the single unpadded leather in the underside of the fingers through which the cold of the levers is easily transmitted.

The back of each finger has some synthetic lining/padding, plus an extra layer of leather. There is an extra thick flap across the knuckles and abrasion resistant pads on the palm of the hand, one of which extends as a thick flap on the underside of the wrist. On the back of the hand are two padded pieces of leather. The wrist is elasticated, and the cuff (about 3 inches) has a Velcro closure pad.

Top quality leathers and kevlar thread are used throughout the glove, which is available in 4 different colur schemes. The ones I have are black on the underside, with silvery grey patches, and the top has white patches on three fingers and the thumb and a patch on the back of the hand, while the index finger and rest of the glove are yellow. The knuckle patch is also silvery grey with "SPIDI" embroidered in yellow thread. Very smart looking.

So - what do I think? I wanted a lightweight summer glove with reasonable protection and good fit and fell, and that's what I've got. I would definitely buy another pair. (Ian Cameron - ian.cameron@xtra.co.nz)

Having purchased this suit a couple of weeks ago, I finally had the opportunity to fully test it under 4 days of mostly rainy conditions. This is one excellent rainsuit. It is by far the best rain gear I've owned, or seen. Features: 1pc - If your looking to stay dry, you've got to go with a 1pc suit. The less seams the less chance of a leak. Full length heavy duty zipper that extends from the collar to the left knee. Zip is enveloped in a flap and held with hook and loop material that runs the full length of the zipper. Zips that run from the ankle to the knee work an 'expansion chamber' with elastic cuff. (very easy to get over your boots) 2 large exterior pockets, one over the left chest and one over the right thigh. 2 flaps seal the pockets. An outside flat folds over the inside flap and is held with hook and loop. (very easy to work the pockets with gloves on....I kept my wallet in the thigh pocket for easy access at toll booths and gas stations) Dual wrist cuffs. One INSIDE the sleeve about 4" up and one at the wrist. Cloth covered collar for comfort. (only beef: the high collar when done right up tends to fog the face shield due to heat being directed up from the suit to inside the helmet) (shouldn't be a problem if you use some type of anti-fog spray on the inside of your face shield) Great choice of colors and graphics. I went with a red suit with black and white subtle graphics. This is a great heavy duty rainsuit that never leaked a drop and did an excellent job in keeping the elements out of spots they're not supposed to be! By far the easiest suit to get on or off due to the full length zipper. Highly recommended for $89Can. laavila@vines.hlth.gov.bc.ca (Luis Avila)

I have had this rainsuit for about seven months, and in a word I will describe it an indespensible. Strengths: Packs up into its own integral fanny pack--easy to transport. Not too bulky. Fits generously. Defintely breathable--not too hot. Does not leak, at all (this includes one really good soaking). Low price (MSF instructors get 30% off the $99 price :)) and extremely easy and fast to put on. Very easy to put on over existing clothing. Weakneses: Would like more color options and reflective material. The suit tends to get caught in the calf zipper after putting it on. Would like one or two more outside pockets to complement the single outside pocket. All-in-all: If I were in the market again, knowing what I know now about this suit, I would buy it again. It is dependable, and most of all, it is so easy to transport, put on, and wear that it tends to be there when you need it most! VFRdriver@aol.com (Mark Rose)

I bought this jacket for $400 but you can get it for less via mail order, but make sure you know your size. I don't like the HD biker look, so I was looking for a quality motorcycle riding jacket with bomber jacket looks. I can't say enough good things about it. The sleeves are extra long, allowing a comfortable reach to the handlebars (I tried it on a Triumph Daytona 1200, one of the longest bikes around) and the back has a horizontal seam that allows it to bend comfortably. The seams, hardware, and construction are typical for Hein Gericke/First Gear, that is, excellent. It comes with a snap-in liner for extra cold temps. Attached to the liner is a neck protector that velcros tight around your neck, or tucks into a pocket in the liner when not needed. Even without the neck protector on, little wind gets inside; with the protector on it is damn near windproof. It is not as good of a summertime jacket as the products offered by Vent-Tech, its only ventilation being via large underarm zippers that open to let air in. Basically you get a quality motorcycle/bomber jacket that can be worn comfortably even when you are not riding. The color is dark brown, and I think you can get it in black. I have to say that jackets without waist belts (like this one) might ride up in a slide to expose your midsection to the asphalt, the tighter the fit, and the thicker the leather, the less chance of this happening. ricm@iastate.edu (Ricardo G. Menendez)

This jacket is definitely of the quality we expect from Firstgear. Stitching is superb, the flexibility is like wearing a lightweight windbreaker, there are pockets inside of pockets, there is full soft armor including spinepad, and the zip-out fleece liner allows you to forgo packing a jacket to wear at your destination. The jacket is very warm. I rarely need to wear my electric vest even in 30 degree weather. The problems start when the temp climb above 70. The jacketgets very warm. All those neat vents dont stay open . they are supposed to stay open via velcro stripsholding the waterproofing flaps back. The flaps dont stay back and they block the vents. Secondly, when you remove the liner the padding shifts around alot and the pads are no longer in position to give much protection. This a great cold and cold/wet weather jacket(It is COMPLETELY waterproof) with many useable features at a discounted price from your friendly dealer of $250. (Pjgvfr@aol.com)

This past summer I picked up the Kilimanjaro Jacket at the Honda Hoot Expo in Asheville, NC (~$250). After riding there from New Jersey in a cheap leather jacket, the Kilimanjaro was a major upgrade. The fleeced liner provides great comfort in 40 degree weather. With the liner out, the jacket was still comfortable in the upper 90's. Vents are placed in both chest pockets, both upper arms and across the back. The drawback is that when you aren't moving, it is still a black jacket in the summer sun. Even slow traffic is enough to keep a breeze through the jacket. Some care must be taken to assure that the flaps cover the velcro tabs, if not, the vents will close up promptly. Reflective material is on each shoulder and across the back vent flap makes you stand out in night time traffic. The front zippers from the top and bottom for comfort in all riding positions. The elastic waist band keeps drafts from running up your back. The buttons on the front storm flap are rubber covered to protect you tank's finish. The pockets are absolutely huge, I have comfortably carried a cell phone, walk-man, maps, wallet, and battery pack for my helmet communicator with room to spare. This jacket is also totally water-proof. I have also been stuck in two hours of rain riding with no leakage, and the rear vent was still open to get a little heat/sweat exhaust. The elbows, shoulders and spine pads are soft and removable through zippered pouches in the shell, First Gear offers hard replacement pads if desired. If you are looking for a comfortable and flexible "field" jacket, call your local First Gear dealer and get rid of you rain shell, and heated vest. (Pat Kroouze - pkroouze@erols.com)

I puchased an Aerostich roadcrafter two piece suit a few years ago, and can highly recommend it. They are certainly not cheap (mine came to $1300 canadian with some major alterations for my 6'-3" slim frame, duty and shipping), but well worth it. I got it in grey with red "armor" which matches nicely my 90 VFR 750. It fits easily over street clothes and takes only seconds to put on (without even taking off my boots). The craftsmanship is superb (not a flaw) and the customer service second to none.

The suit has plenty of pockets and optional pieces to fill many needs, and venting is adequate (but could be better). My main gripe is with the collar. It is GREAT in cool to cold weather, but doesn't fold down very well for when it warms up. It's also a bit too high, which is only a problem while not on the bike (don't try looking at your feet when standing up...it'll choke ya). I suppose some think it looks "bulky" as well...but I like the look very much.

I have of course not tested it's crashworthiness...and hopefully never will, but it's great to know I am protected to a much greater extent than the jeans and leather jacket I used to wear. (Frank - drambuie@blvl.igs.net)

There are so many motorcycle garments that are better looking than the Roadcrafter but few that do everything so well. The safety features of the suit outweigh the lack of stylish designs. The 3M reflective stripe across the back, chest, and legs of the suit can "be seen in the dark by the blind" as Aerostitch puts it. The padding in shoulders, elbows, and knees is flexible but becomes more rigid under shock distributing the impact. I'll have to trust them on that. On the top of those areas is heavy ballistic nylon. The gore-tex fabric of the suit is cooler to wear in the heat, warmer to wear in the cold, and waterproof. There are zippered vents under both arms and across the back which do a very good job of keeping the air flowing in hot weather. The placement of pockets and zippers are very well thought out.

The suit feels good to me and I wear it whenever I ride. It literally takes seconds to put on or take off. I can wear shorts and a tank top or my uniform underneath and have the same resistance to road rash. I've found it to be almost completely waterproof only leaking a little around the zippers on the legs. I believe if I had purchased the two piece Roadcrafter I might be inclined to wear only the jacket in warmer weather, missing out on half the available protection. More than a few times I've ridden to work in warm 70 degree weather only to ride home in the cool, damp, 45 degree night air. I've ridden a lot more knowing I'm protected from the sudden climate changes here in Wisconsin. (P. Doyle - pdoyle64@dotnet.com)

I purchased a Vanson Leathers Cordura Avenger jacket at one of their open house days. It came with removable elbow and shoulder armor, and is extremely comfortable, even with the armor in the jacket. It has leather reinforcements in the elbows and shoulders for protection in the case of a get-off. While it's made to be comfortable while riding, it is still quite comfortable while walking around. The front panels unzip for ventilation, and are very effective on hot days.

Combined with the optional thermal vest, the jacket is very warm, even in forty degree weather. The only exception is on the arms, which tend to be cold from wind chill (not drafts). A sweatshirt helps, but is a little tight with the armor in the jacket. Another bonus is reflective piping across the shoulders and down the back, as well as big reflective patches on the shoulders. I would recommend this jacket to anyone looking for a lightweight alternative to traditional "sport" leathers. (Timothy Brosnan - SKYLIN@prodigy.net)

My old leather jacket just didn't cut it when it was raining, cold, or hot, so I was looking for something I could just wear without worrying about which of the seasons was going to be thrown at me while out riding. I think this jacket's probably as close as I could get to meeting all my needs.

The jacket is made from red Cordura with black highlights, and the sleeves are black and red with white reflective piping. There are kevlar patches on the shoulders and elbows in a (natural?) gold colour which forms a nice (if somewhat squidly) contrast. There are four external patch pockets closed by Velcro, as is the one internal pocket. The jacket itself is closed by a combination of rubber covered snaps, and Velcro patches on a flap over the main zip. There are tabs on the sides of the jacket to cinch it in if necessary (I've never needed to), and two short Velcroed belts at the bottom of the jacket, which is also elasticated. The sleeves are closed by Velcro tabs, and have nylon webbing straps to cinch them in if need be. The collar has a corduroy lining, fastens with a Velcro tab, and is nice and high especially at the back, to keep draughts out.

The jacket is treated with a waterproof breathable coating on the inside, which I have only tested in a severe downpour one time, for about twenty minutes. While I didn't get wet, there was one wet patch on each arm where the zips are (more on them later), which may have been due to the zips not being fully closed, as the zips are supposed to be 100% waterproof, and have a rubber closure on the teeth to ensure this. Also the pockets were a little damp inside. I reported this to the vendor, and they siad I could return the jacket any time within the first 12 months and it would be replaced if not 100% waterproof, so I am monitoring this. The jacket is supposed to work by allowing water to wick down through the fabric and out the bottom, rather than being completely impervious, as this is how it breathes as well as keeping the water out.

Warmth is ensured by a zip-out quilted lining (including sleeves), and a removable soft-lined Cordura neck warmer, which works well. I have found that on really cold days I get a cold front where the zip is, as the lining stops short of each side of the zip, so I need to wear a sweater or something underneath. The lining can be stored in a pocket in the back when not needed.

In summer, the jacket lining may be removed, leaving the sewn-in perforated lining. Also there are two zips in each sleeve as well as larger ones in the chest and back which may be unzipped to let air flow through. I haven't tested these yet, so I don't know how well they work, but I'd imagine they would be superior to my non-ventilated leather jacket.

There are padded plastic armour inserts in the shoulders and elbows/forearm pockets, and a sewn-in high-density foam back protector. These felt a little strange after the sewn-in soft foam in my leather jacket, but offer far superior crash protection in my opinion, and are CE approved.

The jacket cost me $NZ599 (about $US280?), has a twelve-month guarantee, and I'm very pleased with the performance so far. I was initially reluctant to try a fabric jacket after wearing leather for years, as I thought it would billow about and flap in the wind, but this has not been the case, and it offers superior wind and weather protection to the leathers I've worn previously, and should stand up well if (heaven forbid) I come off the VFR. (Ian Cameron - ian.cameron@xtra.co.nz)

Integrated knee/shin, hip pads, three exterior pockets ( left thigh, two front pockets), elastic waste with adjustment, full-length two-way zippers for easy on/off, 3M reflective material on sides of legs.

I am very pleased with the fit and comfort of these pants. They have been tested in a heavy rain just recently. I did get a little wet on the bottom of my jeans, but it was barely noticable. The armor is not bulky, the legs are contoured for the standard riding position. Just for reference, I am 5'9", 170lbs, 32 in. waist. I probably could have ordered the small pants (fit up to 32" waist), but the medium size (32-34") fits just right with jeans on underneath.

Complaints - more reflective material would have been nice, these pants only come in black (does match my black/red jacket). Another complaint is the leg bottoms - I wish the velcro adjustments allowed you to tighten the openings more (ankles are pretty thin I guess). The water did not repel like I expected, so I treated the pants with 3M Scotch Guard (heavy duty stuff), problem solved.

The pants range from 179.00- 199.00 dollars. Check with www.motodepot.com for the best deal on the net (below 179.00). If you have any questions, contact me at rjohnson@solution4u.com. (Randy Johnson)

The Mask jacket is marketted as a "sport" jacket with touring functionality. It fits similar to the Tourmaster Cortech "Sport" jacket, coming down to the waist and no further. The jacket is made out of what appears to be some pretty tough material composed of "70% teflon-treated water-repellent cordura 500, 250 gr/m fabric, 30% teflon-treated water-repellent nylon". Whatever. Bascially, the jacket SHOULD be strong and waterproof, but I have not yet tested either claim :-) There is a removeable lining (zip out) and the sleeves are removable should the urge to protect only PART of your body ever present itself :-) All zippers on the jacket are very well constructed. I would have to say the fit and finish is superb.

The jacket is armoured in all the "proper places" to the European "CE" standard. Shoulders, forearms, and elbow are all protected. There is some back padding, but there is a pocket in the back to allow for "real" back/spine protection if desired. The front flap folds over the zipper and snaps into place securely, so none of the shiney or rough peices ever come in contact with your paint. The neck snaps and velcro's nicely into place; the jacket isn't coming off. There are also straps on the arms to tighten fit and hold the padding in place firmly. There are reflective zones on the jacket in a couple of places, though I would like to have a few more.

Functionally, the jacket has two side pockets, a front pocket that fits a cell phone perfectly (put whatever you want in there, though :-) Inside, there is a large pocket that I use to hold maps and such (no tank bag yet :-( There are two vents in the chest that zip open and shut.

Subjectively, the Mask jacket works very well (IMHO). I have not had the lining out, but have found the jacket extremely comfortable in temperatures as high as 85 and as low as 42. The vents actually work well, even though the appear to be cosmetic.

I got mine at MAW; there are no Spidi dealers in my area that I am aware of. The price was $239.00, but bear in mind that MAW was of little help in determining a proper fit. Fortunately, Spidi has a great web page and you can email them directly with fit questions (or any other questions; they were really quite helpful).

You can get it in Black, Red-Grey-Black, Blue-Grey-Black, Yellow-Grey-Black (nice for you 2000 VFR owners), or Grey-Gunmetal-Black. I got red, and I feel the jacket is stylish to some extent, but whatever your fashion tastes may be, it is BRIGHT (Hey, its all about being seen :-)

So if your into sport touring and don't like the idea of breaking out the leathers (hell, I don't even have leathers... yet...) and want something a little different, check out the Mask. There's tons of other good stuff out there, so shop around. But as an all-around, versatile jacket, I'm impressed.

Disclaimer: I'm an ugly American man who obviously could NEVER work for an Italian garment company if my life depended on it. My fashion sense sucks, and I don't even speak English well. (Eric Mitchell - remksm@adelphia.net)