GStwin.com GS500 Message Forum

I posted this on Cycleforums too but I thought I would share here also :)

I picked up a Teknic Spider textile jacket today.  Some of you may have seen the ads in Motorcyclist or Cycle World magazines.  Today the big local gear shop was having a sale so I thought I would check it out.  The size 42/52 happened to fit me perfectly.  I paid 242 plus tax for it because of the sale.

On to the details:
pros:
CE approved Knox armor (hard shell armor in shoulders and arms)
CE approved bad pad
advertised as 100% waterproof and windproof yet still breathable
extremely versitile because the shell zips off to reveal a mesh jacket underneath (much like the JR Alter Ego)
storage for shell in a large pocket in the back of the mesh jacket
tall collar zips off for warmer days
my forearms fit (I have trouble finding jackets where my forearms don't fit unless the size is way too big for my chest and stomach)
has adjustments on bicep and forearm for varying arm size
very comfortable on the road, didn't bunch up or seem invasive
doesn't seem bulky
does cut the wind as advertised
storage pocket next to main zipper (behind wind flaps) had no trouble holding my wallet, cell phone, and house keys.  The pockets at side actually work to put my hands in comfortably

cons:
no zip-out liner (though it didn't really seem necessary because its windproof)
wish Black and Silver was available
would have liked to see a little better back pad (like my Fieldsheer has)

The entire back and sleeves zip off this to turn it into the mesh jacket.  The zippers around the collar when in 'mesh mode' don't look that good but I can forgive that because of its utility.  All armor is retained in mesh mode.

It does cost a little more than the Alter Ego but I think the better armor of the Spider makes it worth it.  The Teknic also fit much better than the JR textile stuff I have tried on or used to own (Meteor 4.0).  

Its tough to take a good pic of black textile jackets so I apologize for the picture quality.  The tall collar is removed in these pictures.

(http://dev.swforums.com/Images/70%20Cam%20Guy/spider%20jacket.jpg)

(http://dev.swforums.com/Images/70%20Cam%20Guy/mesh%20version.jpg)

are those HARD armour???

Quote from: Frostare those HARD armour???

Yes it is the hard armor.  I pulled out the shoulder piece.  Its sitting on the jacket in the second pic

This is Teknic's description of the armor
http://www.teknicgear.com/pages/collections/accessories/kpf1_plastic_armor.html

This is the included back pad
http://www.teknicgear.com/pages/collections/accessories/knox_tp2_ce_armor.html

Good product presentation! I was considering this jacket as well as Fieldsheer's Monza 2, Spidi's R-Series, and Teknic's Stinger. Turns out Alpinestar has a jacket out that is in contention. Did you get your jacket at RoadRider during the sale this weekend?

Quote from: scratchGood product presentation! I was considering this jacket as well as Fieldsheer's Monza 2, Spidi's R-Series, and Teknic's Stinger. Turns out Alpinestar has a jacket out that is in contention. Did you get your jacket at RoadRider during the sale this weekend?

Yeah I went to RoadRider on Sunday and picked up the jacket.  I say go and see which fit you the best.  The brands you listed are all good quality brands.  The Spidi I tried on at RoadRider was really nice but all they had was the blue that looked really strange on me.  Spidi makes some really nice leather from what I saw there too.  I was paying close attention to stitch quality and the general "feel" of the fabric.  Some jackets you can just tell won't do well if something happens.  I was also looking at the First Gear Kilamanjaro but I felt like the Michelin man in it  :lol: (very nice jacket too)

Quote from: 70 Cam Guymy forearms fit (I have trouble finding jackets where my forearms don't fit unless the size is way too big for my chest and stomach)

My uncle Popeye has the same problem. ;)

Quote from: JLKasper

Quote from: 70 Cam Guymy forearms fit (I have trouble finding jackets where my forearms don't fit unless the size is way too big for my chest and stomach)

My uncle Popeye has the same problem. ;)

:lol:  I'm really not that big but I do have that problem with some jacket makers

Since it rained this week I thought I would give an update on the review.  

Honestly I never thought I'd arrive at school with a smile on my face after riding in the rain and wind but I did.  Its so nice getting to your destination and being totally dry.  Scratch knows that this week has been a wet one and definitely windy with big gusts.  I also tried out the big zip-on collar and have fallen in love with it for the chilly mornings or cool nights and it worked perfectly on the wet days.

After living with this jacket for a couple weeks now I can say the only nitpick I have is the wrist cuffs on the mesh jacket can be a bit warm because they are a thick elastic almost like neoprene.  It can make the jacket tough to take off if the cuffs are sticking to my sweaty wrist.  Overall though, I would still recommend this jacket to my friends and I would surely buy it again.

I have also found that there is a GIANT pocket on the back of the waterproof part of the jacket.  It took me a week to notice the zipper under the flap :lol:

This pic is a couple years old but the only thing different is my hair. :)

Quote from: 70 Cam GuyScratch knows that this week has been a wet one and definitely windy with big gusts.

I have also found that there is a GIANT pocket on the back of the waterproof part of the jacket.  It took me a week to notice the zipper under the flap

Oh, yeah, it's been rainin'. And, it's been windy. And cold.

Glad the jacket has been good to you! I'm jealous of that big collar.

I read that the giant pocket is to store all the pieces that zip off when the weather warms up. Kinda neat!