Summer Jackets for Tall Women Riders

Longtime reader Fiona needs help finding an outfit for an incredible adventure! Lucky Girl. Check out her story and gear story:

Height and Weight: 5'11", 155 lbs

Chest, Waist, Hip Measurements: 36, 30, 39 (over clothing), 32" inseam (need about 33-34" when I get on the bike)

Message:

Hi Joann,

I've read your blog since probably the beginning of my riding career way back in 2007. Thanks for being such a great resource for all these years.

I am getting ready to buy some new mesh gear for a sweet 6-week adventure on my KLR, around the Southwest and on to the East Coast. My problem has always been finding women's gear that is long enough for me, as I'm tall with broad shoulders and a 32" inseam. For years I've dealt with my Fieldsheer gear being a couple of inches too short in the sleeves and pant legs, because if I went up in size to get enough length, the whole kit would be falling off my body.

I want my new gear to fit well, and I'm looking for a light-colored jacket and pant set (but will take any color if something actually fits!). I love the look of the Rev'it Airwave jacket and pants that you've reviewed, but will they be long enough for me? Are there other mesh or textile jackets and pants that us tall girls should consider?

I live in a very remote area of the US, where few retailers even ship, so there's no chance of trying anything on before I order. Although it seems there are manufacturers that make "tall" sizes, I don't see any way to order these online -- do I have to contact the manufacturer directly, or can I place a special order with the retailer?

I'm hoping to minimize the amount of back-and-forth and $ wasted on return shipping as I try to get the best fit. I appreciate any recommendations you can offer; thank you!

Fiona

Airwave

I think the Revit Airwave jacket in size 38 (above) is a great option for you, I would mostly be concerned with sleeve length, not so much body length. The nice thing about this jacket is the longer torso and arm length.

As far as pants, Airwaves do run a bit long but aren't offered in long sizes. The standard inseam might be too short for you.

Sand

If you're open to a multiseason pant, I would actually recommend the Revit Sand Pants in 38 Tall (available in silver). These pants are the newest version of the old Ventura which I found to breathe very very well in hot weather.  There are two liners, one waterproof and one thermal; each is removable to really adapt to changing temperatures. The fit on these is tailored, slimmish through the legs but definitely not skinny. There's a vent on each thigh for a little airflow as well.

The armor in these are substantial, CE and EN Rated Tryonic Seesoft. If you have a curvy hip, then order a size 40 Tall instead. If you have fairly straight hips, you will be fine in 38. If you like a tailored, tapered fit, then I would go with these or the Airwaves.

You most definitely do not have to contact the manufacturers to order the tall size in these! They're available at Revzilla. :)

Another option is the Olympia Airglide for a generous, curvy fit through the butt/hips/thighs. These run 3-4 inches long, and are too long for most of us shorties. You will have plenty of inseam on these for sure. They also fit true to women's size (US 6, 8, etc). I would recommend a size 6 since they're curvy and forgiving through the thighs. If you think you need extra room in the thighs/butt/hips then order these instead of the Rev'it above. The legs are also a bit roomier, so if you prefer a more relaxed fit you will love these.

Airglide

Sport Touring, Gore-Tex Motorcycle Pants

What do you wear when you ride a Street Triple, SV650, Shiver, Monster or other sport tourer and want to spend 3-4 days riding the twisties roads possible in a variety of weather conditions? 

You know it's going to rain, or be chilly, or be warm. You're up against a few different temperature differences and don't want to pack extra rain gear. These are one of the few riding pants on the market for those of us who choose to tour on a sporty bike. I'm not laying down like on a Daytona 675. But my pegs are a little higher and I'm riding a little aggressively. I need to stay dry, and I don't want to wear a dual sport, adventure style pant with wide legs and a fitment that's designed for fully upright riding position.

Women riders don't have many options when it comes to Gore-Tex, it's expensive and the market is rather small. But Dainese continues to give us many pants to choose from. Because these have a removable thermal liner, they relax the fit through the legs and hips to accommodate the extra liner, unlike the New Drake Airs which have a slimmer fit. The inseams tend to be average, but don't run long like Rev'it. When you need a shorter pant, I like Dainese because the leg fit is slim enough to wear the pants won't fall down.

If you've never experienced the power of Gore-Tex, it's an amazing fabric with the most breathability for a waterproof membrane. I appreciate the flexibility that this material gives me when I know I'll be up against wet weather, hot weather and the cold weather.

Keep in mind all Dainese pants have a slimmer fit through the calves because of the knee guards, and offer the only fully tapered textile riding pants available for men and women.

MSRP $399.95, Euro 40-52 (~US 2-14) Revzilla.com

My New-To-Me 2012 Triumph Street Triple R

IMG_7122

On Monday I picked up a bike that I've been lusting after for over 5 years. A gently used 2012 Street Triple R! Oh boy. 

A couple weeks ago I sold my SV650 to my coworker. She was looking for an upgrade, and I happened to have exactly what she was looking for at the right price.

2006 Suzuki SV650

So I started my hunt and got very lucky with this gently used, 2012 Street Triple R with 5,000 miles on it. Pretty much in perfect shape, with a few minor scuffs.  Meet Goldie!

Yep, those are gold wheels. I couldn't say no. It was the perfect price and I just couldn't pass it up.

2012 Triumph Street Triple R

I cannot wait to shave off those chicken strips!

2012 Triumph Street Triple R

I picked her up yesterday and had a very, very cold ride home. But it was an awesome 45 minute ride home. It's exactly what I imagined and felt better than I remembered. I think it's been 5-6 years since the test ride I had back in San Francisco. I remember thinking how much I wanted one, but definitely couldn't afford one. I knew I would get one someday, just didn't know how long it would take!

It's been worth the wait. Having ridden my husband's Speed Triple many times, I knew I had to have one. But a smaller, lighter version of his. And that's exactly what I ended up with. I've never ridden on Pirelli Diablo Corsa tires, but they felt fantastic. Since I had a rather straight ride home, I didn't have much of an opportunity to lean her over much but I'm looking forward to the weekend.

It was missing some turn signals, but I reinstalled the rear and need to order some aftermarket options for the front. My plan is to install handguards with integrated turn signals. Before I rode home I installed my heated liner harness real quick. Then when I got home I installed Oxford Heated Grips.

This install took forever, much longer than the SVs took. I had to shave the entire throttle tube down, because the ridges were making the handgrips too thick to slide the Oxfords over. But now I have glorious heat! Is that considered a farkle? If so, then I guess that would be farkle #1. The next set of farkles include:

• Techspec Gripster Tank Pads

• CRG Shorty Levers!!! I couldn't help it and had to order the matching gold ones. :D

• Battery Tender Harness

• Coax adapter for my WarmnSafe

New Article in Motorcyclist Magazine

Thanks to twitter follower @eimken for snapping this pic of my very first article in Motorcyclist Magazine this month!

Just my $0.02 on how to shop for gear and why it's so damn hard for women to find what they're looking for. It's available on the digital edition for your iPad or iPhone, as well as newsstands of course.