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- Meridian Touring Jacket
MSRP: $399.99
With its Meridian Touring jacket, Motophoria throws down the gauntlet to all foul-weather gear manufacturers, and provides riders with an exceptional piece of elemental armor in the process. The Mt. Everest of motorcycling jackets, the only thing this piece of precipitation-proof apparel doesn’t do is convert into a pup tent for roadside shelter. Although I had already performed a mock “riding in the rain” water-resistance test in the shower (don’t ask), by (un)fortunate coincidence, later that same week I was stuck riding through intermittent downpours and showers for five straight hours, thanks in part to Hurricane Katrina. In the real world, the jacket held up beyond expectation; while wearing it and a full-face helmet, I was almost invincible to the elements, despite the fact that I wasn’t wearing the removable neck gaiter that seals the gap between the top of the jacket’s neck and the bottom of a helmet. With six air vents – two on the front of the upper arm, two on the back shoulders, and two right above the waist cinch – the inside of the jacket stayed cool while moving, despite sweltering temperatures outside. Admittedly, however, even without the quilted and additionally-weatherproofed removable liner, the jacket does get warm at a stop when it’s 70+ degrees outside, but it’s been my experience that this happens with any jacket in such warm weather. A breast pocket has an additional external cell phone pouch, which will accommodate a slim unit, but if you have a PDA/cell phone combo, it will have to reside within. Despite the rain, my phone stayed dry and completely functional. For those less willing to risk losing all their stored contact info, an internal pocket in the mesh lining will suffice. Two cargo pockets on the front easily accommodate a pair of gloves, a pack of gum, sunblock, and other incidentals, while the Velcro-ed side-slit pockets behind them are the perfect place for instant-access items such as keys and toll money. There is also a zippered, across-the-back pouch. Cargo pocket flaps are leather-covered to withstand repeated abrasion, and all openings have overlapping covers to prevent unwanted intrusion. Reflective piping, leather-covered contact points, and removable, upgradeable armor are the finishing touches of this incredibly well engineered jacket. Swaddled within its heavy-duty Cordura shell, you’ll be ready to take on anything the road throws your way.
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- Zenith Perfed Touring Gloves
MSRP: $39.99
Although not designed to do so – they’re perforated, after all – Motophoria’s Zenith Perfed Touring Gloves provided excellent warmth and comfort, and kept my hands dry, even after riding for five hours through intermittent rain. That said, I’ll certainly be trading them in for gauntlets come colder weather, but the fleece lining and ample ventilation provided excellent comfort despite the elements’ best efforts to make me a soggy, miserable rider. Grippy palm leather aided hanging onto wet bars, and the index finger-backing “windshield wiper” strip did the job every time, despite repeated use. Excellent for the cool, early-morning commute to work as well as the warmer ride home, these gloves withstood worse weather than expected.
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