I just got my Teknic Chicane jacket and thought I would do a little review for those who might be interested.
(http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j22/nascarkeith/GS500F/red.jpg)
Jacket Specs
Waist length jacket, 15º forward arm rotation
600 Denier Cordura® outer shell construction with second layer of Cordura® in elbows and shoulders
Powerskin II™ waterproof/breathable Z liner system
Labyrinth waterproof entry system™
Taffeta lining (part of Powerskin II™ system)
Underarm zipper vents and 1 rear exhaust vent
Zip-out 5 oz. polyfil quilted vest liner
Knox® CE approved KFP1 elbow armor in exterior Advanced Armor Pockets™
Knox® CE approved KFP1 shoulder armor in lining pockets
Knox® CE approved TP2 spine guard in lining pocket
8" zipper and snap belt loop connectors
TASC stitching system provides maximum seam strength
YKK Japanese nylon zippers
Airmesh lined collar with soft neoprene edge
Reflective 3M™ anthracite piping
Snap adjustable upper and lower arm synch straps
Hook-and-loop adjustment waist belts
2 large cotton lined pockets with waterproof tri-fold entry
1 baseball cap pocket
1 interior mesh pocket
I got the blue/black/white version from newenough.com for $91 and change shipped. Shipping was fast I ordered it Sunday and recieved it Thursday. I am 6'4 275 lbs. so the fit is not perfect on me. For my shoulders I need a 46 according to the sizing chart but for my belly I need a 54. I tried on a few 52's and they were too small so I ordered the 54. It fits well in the belly and waist. The length of the torso and sleeves are really good. No riding up or pulling tight across the shoulders when I move. The shoulders are a little big but all the pads are in the correct place. Since I am oddly shaped it is about the best fit I can get and its better than no protection at all.
The first impression when I took it out of the box was wow this is nice. The jacket looks great and the colors match my helmet and bike well. I didn't realize that it was waterproof when I ordered it and I really like the triple closure in the front. It has two zippers and a button flap to keep wind and water out when the liner is in. With the liner out the flap and second zipper button back out of the way. There are lots of pockets on the inside and the liner is super easy to remove. It also has velcro wrist and waist and adjustable snaps on the arms to allow better fitment to your build.
I rode to work for the first time with it this morning. When I left the temp was 69 degrees F. I had removed the liner and opened the vents. There is a vent on each arm and across the shoulders. The jacket is a lot warmer than expected. Trying it on last night with the liner in inside a 70 degree house was hot! Even with the liner out and the vents open it was almost too warm this morning at low speeds. On the interstate it felt nice. Here in about a month or so when that temp. really drops in the morning I bet that liner is going to feel nice. To me this seems like a great fall jacket but there is no way I could wear it in summer. I guess that's why they invented mesh. The pads are comfortable inside the jacket and don't make it look or feel to bulky. I was suprised at how much area the back pad actually covered.
So what's the verdict? No its not leather. No its not Joe Rocket or Alpine Stars. It would be way too hot for summer. But I was looking for a fall jacket to wear on cool mornings that would offer protection and match my bike at an affordable price. For that the Teknic Chicane gets an A+. It matches great. It has enough racer boy flair to look cool and not be plain but doesn't go overboard and say poser. It has pads in all the places you would want them. The jacket fits comfortably and offers adjustments to fit different body types. The liner and vents offer options to accomodate varied temperatures. The price is hard to beat. $91 and change shipped compared to similar jackets of other brands that start around $159 before shipping. I am well pleased with my purchase and hope others find this review helpful.
20 people read this post and no one even said thanks....
come on people, be nice!
Thanks for review Mate!! it's valuable piece of information for those who may be interested in buying this piece of gear!!
cheers
Kamel
Thanks for the review! Unfortunately (or fortunately? I'm not sure) I'm in the market for a new jacket, so this will definitely help me out.
good review, i have a teknic mesh jacket, gloves, and some mesh pants (that i am selling). I have found the teknic brand very well made with nice features and I have been looking for a jacket for the cooler weather, i will keep this one in mind.
I just ordered one too, I just hope it fits, I'm tall and thin so usually when I try and get one that is the right size it is either too baggy or too short.
Thanks for the great review :thumb:
I wish I had know about this jacket sooner, I bought a Scorpion Sting, which is a nice jacket, but it's also cost twice as much :o