Motorcycle Gear Review: Alpinestars T-Jaws Air Jacket and Oxygen Air Overpants

For motorcycle riders, it's rarely the perfect temperature. Winter means plugging in to an electric-warming vest. Summer means risking road rash with less gear because it gets too hot. Here's something that might be the perfect compromise – the Alpinestars T-Jaws Air Jacket and Oxygen Air Overpants. The jacket is new for 2014 and based off Alpinestars' best-selling leather jacket from 2013, the Jaws leather. The pants got updated this year, but they were first introduced in 2012.

The jacket is made of 600 Denier poly-fabric for durability. Extended mesh panels on the torso and arms provide substantial airflow when riding for superior comfort in warmer weather conditions. If it gets cool, there's a removable interior Windbreaker jacket lining with pockets. Sturdy protection comes from Lightweight CE certified Bio Armor elbow and shoulder protectors. There's a place to insert a CE certified Bio Armor back protector, too. The sleeves are constructed in pre-curved configuration since you're riding with elbows bent and not straight. It has larger reflective panels this year, too.

The jacket can zip onto Alpinestars riding pants, which, in this case, are the Oxygen Air Overpants. They are also constructed from PU Coated 600 Denier polyester fabric with extended mesh inserts.

Together, this getup offers tons of ventilation, and it's roomy enough that you can wear your fashionable street clothes underneath. The pants are especially cool because they zip open above the knee for easy ingress/egress with or without shoes on.

We tried the stuff on, and the fit was superb and so comfortable. It was like being asleep on the couch at home. We were tempted to forgo other clothes and just wear this stuff 24 hours a day. Instead, we spent a day cruising on a BMW S1000RR, going from hotter inland temps to cool overcast at the beach and felt comfortable in both climates.

While the pants did have ergonomically tapered PE comfort padding on the hips, they didn't have armor hip inserts, which we would have liked. The shoulder and elbow pads moved around a little more than you would get with more snugly fitting leather gear, but the tradeoff in ventilation and adjustability was worth it.

Prices are $269.95 for the jacket and $199.95 for the pantalones. See Alpinestars.com.

By Mark Vaughn