‘Good on and off the bike’
Tested by Ali Silcox for two years /
2000 miles
Founded in 1988, the RST brand, was originally known as Rhino and they only manufactured motorcycle gloves. Fast forward almost 35 years and they now develop and make a full range of motorcycle gear, from gloves to boots, onepiece race leathers to textile two-piece suits. They also have a full range of gear, tailored specifically for, the female market including the Ripley leather jacket you see here.
Made from cowhide, the jacket has a soft finish, is pleasingly supple, well-made and looks good, both on and off the bike. There are quilted panels on both the shoulders and forearms, which give it a retro feel and the embossed RST logo on the hem is discreet.
All the zips including those on the pockets and waist adjusters, are substantial, chunky and have sturdy pull-tags. The two zipped pockets at the waist are large enough to carry keys or keyless ignition fobs, while the zipped chest pocket is purely for decoration. My smart phone and credit cards fit in the internal breast pocket.
Minimal adjustment at the hips comes in the form of two zipped flaps, I’m not overly curvy in the hip department, so haven’t needed to use them. There’s a rolled collar, which is soft and prevents any rubbing at the neck. When zipped shut the cuffs fit well and are slim enough for gloves to fit over them.
I opted for the black version, it also comes in a dark brown, both options are available from sizes 8-20 and they come up true to size. I’m 5ft10in and long in both body and arms but find everything fits perfectly.
Competitively priced at just under £200 the jacket has a quality feel that you’d expect from biking gear that cost more.
It’s CE approved to the Class A rating and has Level 1 CE approved armour at the elbows and shoulders. There’s also a pocket for a back protector, which can be retro fitted.
What I do like about this jacket is it doesn’t look too ‘bikey’ if it’s worn with riding jeans or leggings. My only criticism is it doesn’t have a connecting zip to join it to your jeans.
Quality ★★★★★
Value ★★★★★ www.rst-moto.com