Wuhoo!!! My HiViz Ultra II kevlar jacket and pants arrived today, about 10 days after ordered. Put in on and noticed an immediate difference from my last set-up (Joe Rocket, half a dozen years ago). It felt ok. I could move. It fit. Walked around a bit and decided what the heck, I wasn't going to get any more work done, so I dashed out without inserting the waterproof lining. So it started raining, which it has looked like it would all day & I got a little wet. With less than 200 miles under my belt since I started riding again, I headed home. A short ride is better than none, but so far, here's what I noticed:
- The stretch kevlar is amazing. It really stretches, moves with me, and accommodates those little bulges I've added over time. Feels pretty soft. Hard to imagine it is 4X tougher than leather. Hope I never find out.
- I could feel the wind throught the pants with only jeans under. It is about 46 gegrees, and I wouldn't want to go far dressed as I was in this weather, even absent the rain. They might actually be cool enough in the summer to wear regularly.
-The kevlar offers a little less friction than jeans on a stock saddle. I suspect with time it will be less slippery, and I'll get used to it. It's not like I've got a strong base of recent habit or familiarity to over come.
- The armor, advertised to take 30 minutes to adapt to the rider, seemed fine right out of the box.
Options -
2-part waterproof jacket liner
Water proof pant liner (should have taken the time to put both in. I might still be out there, even with dark descending, and the rain).
Sacrum tri-armor - Wayne said it wouldn't be annoying, and he's right.
Hip pads - Not Tri-Armor, but not obtrusive either. Didn't notice them on the bike.
I don't know enough to know what pockets I want, or how much extra reflective tape I wanted.
Wayne spent some time explaining the benefits of the Quad-Armor, but I balked at the extra cost & weight. It's my understanding that the Quad-Armor upcharge is the same (except for shipping) whether its installed on construction or later. It is a layer of orange mesh about a quarter inch thick sewn to the Tri-Armor, (three layers of white foam about 7/16ths thick). I asked and someone threw a sample in the box.
I still haven't tried to put the liners in, or put it on with the liners. Letting the pants and jacket dry a bit. All told, and I'm generally full of buyer's regret, I am happy with my purchase. Maybe it's my new serenity since I got the K-bike. May I never need it or test its protective capability. But, since it is comfy, it's more likely I'll have it on if I need it. Although, I feel pretty cool in my Goodwill leather jacket. Maybe just for around town. Ah, the inconsistency of it all.
What I did to order: I measured everything, twice, with the help of my spouse, following the directions on the website. I provided some of the measurements that were for the woman's jacket, estimated the distance between my belly button waist and where my pants end up, took pictures of the tape I put on my jeans for the knee pads, took pictures of me on the bike, and sent the whole mess to Motoport by e-mail. Wayne looked at my thigh measurement and asked if I rode a bicycle (pretty much every day is the answer). We discussed the differing inseam lengths depending on where the pants ride, and split the difference. For that kind of money, I'm willing to spend the time to get it right, both mine and theirs.
More when I've ridden more.
