Akito Desert Jacket and Pants

On the day I bought the KLR I realized I needed a jacket to ride it home, being Spring and monsoon season in this area. Having had a wardrobe of gear when riding the CBR 1100XX or the Valkyrie Interstate, I thought I had a sense of what would work for me. Plus, I’m cheap. I stopped by our Rocky Mountain ATV/MC shop in Southern Utah and found an Akito Desert Dual Sport Jacket for the surprising price of $179. Sold. This XL fit my 5’11”, 240 pound frame well, had all the versatility needed for my rides, along with safety and protection features important for adventure riding.

Anthracite is the color, with orange tag and label highlights. Features include:

• Outer shell constructed from 600D Nylon.
• Interior liner constructed from 100% Polyamide.
• Reinforcements at all impact zones using abrasion resistant Airtena®.
• Knox® CE approved protectors at shoulders and elbows.
• Protector pocket provided to retrofit Knox® Part 65 back protector.
• Windproof, waterproof and breathable 3 in 1 Modular Skin System separate detachable waterproof membrane and thermo-lining (80% Polyamide/20% Polyester).
• ARD Airvent – ventilation system on arms, chest and back.
• Adjustable arm straps using tunnel system.
• Adjustable waist belt.
• Waterproof external pockets.
• Lumidex® inserts for improved visibility.
• Comfort collar, document pocket and waterproof front zippers.
• 3M daylight reflective insert on back.
• Long and short connection zipper.

It might be noted that leather perforated panels make up flex and high wear areas as well. I’ve written before that the claim “All-Weather” is hyperbole, but this jacket, paired with Akito Desert pants comes close.

Look for reviews on this product and you’ll find a mixed bag – terrible stitching, poor quality textiles, and fragile zippers – but for the price, Akito’s first stock run on this design sold out quickly. I must have a suit from the second run, because I’ve had none of these issues on the road, now over five thousand miles of use in temps ranging from 32 degrees  (zero celsius) to 118 (almost 48 degrees celsius). The orange mesh liner in the jacket and pants wears easily, though, especially when irritated by hook and loop stuff.

In one day I rode from 48 degrees to 109, all liners in with a cotton turtle neck layer underneath and a cotton balaclava at the start, and then stripped down to a cotton undershirt and the shell in the heat of the day. To say I was comfortable in the extremes isn’t accurate, but I wasn’t miserable.

I’ve been saturated by mountain pass rain and hail at freeway speeds and stayed dry underneath. The jacket vents well, circulating air around my torso, over my shoulders and up my sleeves.

The pants have the same construction as the jacket, same textiles, water-proof zippers, large pockets and double-liners. These are XXL and are a little big, but when I wear them as over-pants when the weather turns, I’ll appreciate the space. For Summer riding, I wear shorts made from a wicking material under the pants and stay relatively comfortable.

Specs on the pants include:

• Outer shell constructed from 100% 600D Nylon.
• Lining from 100% Polyamide.
• Reinforcements at all impact zones using abrasion resistant Airtena®.
• Knox® CE approved protectors at knees.
• Wind, waterproof and breathable due to 3 in 1 Modular Skin System – separate detachable waterproof membrane and thermo-lining (80% Polyamide/20% Polyester).
• ARD Airvent ventilation system on the thighs.
• Ergonomic cut due to lack of side seam.
• Heat shield inserts on inside leg.
• Waterproof front zipper.
• Two waterproof front pockets and two waterproof cargo pockets.
• Long and short connecting zip.

All for $169. Now, you get what you pay for, but for my first set of ADV outer wear, I’m satisfied on all levels with this.

Helmet

My brain-bucket is a GMax GM11D Dual Sport full face helmet. It’s a XXL to fit my 8″ head and it fits well, right up to that 60MPH headwind that when combined with the windspeed of freeway driving, drills anything through your skull. And that’s usually after eight hours of continuous riding. I’ve never had a helmet that I couldn’t get out of fast enough after long stretches.

Despite its huge visor, it’s been engineered to handle freeway speed winds rather well. I don’t ride with an elevated wind screen so I’m getting blasted at anything over 70MPH, but this helmet holds its own. Until a crosswind. Then a twist-top BudLight in the hands of a thirsty Harley rider has a better chance of not twisting around than my head does.

Sena Comm System

The best part of my kit is this Sena 10S-01 Bluetooth Communication System. The headphone speakers fit like were made for the GMax helmet liner and have an amazing dynamic range that punches through wind noise until around 60MPH. After that, most of what I’m picking up are mid-tones, but still audible. It interfaces with my iPhone seamlessly (a lesson that could be learned by GoPro), and the in-helmet mic provides outstanding clarity with Sena’s noise canceling technology.

The 10S-01’s interface is intuitive and easily controllable with gloves on. For my 350-mile commutes, this makes the passing of miles and time much more enjoyable.