‘Not cheap but it has never, ever leaked’
£1200 for a non-airbag, A-rated textile suit? It better be good...
The claim
“With its unique combination of comfort and performance, it [Atlantic GTX jacket] sets a new standard in laminated motorcycle jackets. It has a sporty touring fit with pre-curved slim-fit sleeves and a detachable thermal liner for cold winter rides. The 2L Gore-tex® laminated fabric keeps you dry and warm at all times. The D3O protection at the shoulders, elbows and back will protect you against any sudden impact.
“The Atlantic pants feature laminated outershell Gore-tex® fabrics to ensure an extreme waterproofness, impact protection fabrics, the extremely durable and abrasion resistant Armacor® and D3O impact protectors.”
reality
£1200 is a LOT of money — especially when the Richa jacket and trousers in our budget suits test cost nearly £900 less with the same Ce-rated protection level. So this suit needs to work well — and work hard — to justify that outlay.
Jacket first. It’s a great fit with a really stylish cut that’s flattering on and off the bike. That’s helped by well-considered adjusters that hold firm and thoughtful detailing for the protective and reflective bits. The little hook on the collar flap means you can pin it back for extra air, which I like because being laminated Gore-tex, you don’t get much in the way of venting. What you do get definitely works though — I was about to write the whole thing off after 15 minutes in the rain saw a torrent of water running down my torso, until I got home and realised I’d left the chest vents open. My
The
DECENT PROTECTORS
Level-1 D30 in shoulders, elbows, back and knees, plus foam hip pads may not offer top-level protection but it’s comfortable to wear and sits in the right place
rucksack straps were blocking them — until they became overwhelmed.
User-error aside, it doesn’t leak (including the pockets) though the thermal liner isn’t the warmest. The fabric might never take on water but that can make it feel a bit stiff and after a couple of years of riding, it still feels like it needs to break in.
The trousers are probably the best I’ve worn. As subtly-styled and well-shaped as the jacket and totally leak-free with actually-usable pockets and generous flare-outs at the bottom so they work with all boots I’ve tried. The D30 armour in the knees never causes any pressure discomfort and, because my waist and inside-leg measurements are at odds with off-the-peg sizes, the braces make sure they stay up when I’m walking around without the jacket on to zip them too as well.
The wear and tear
Absolutely none. No hook-and-loop that doesn’t, no broken zips or fasteners... The reflective patch on the ankle is a bit scuffed, if you want to be fussy.