Textile Overpants and Magnetic Tank Bag

Join me on the Two Wheel Power Hour at 3:25pm PT / 6:25pm ET. I'm going to give some updates regarding the Progressive Motorcycle Show, as well as a couple of products I've been spending time with recently:

Givi Silver T470 Tank Bag MSRP $80 I'll be posting a full review later this week. But I just wanted to briefly mention how much I love this bag. It's about the same size as my Cortech magnetic tank bag, but less square shaped and tapered in front. The one thing I really like is the sealed zipper around the top of the bag. This means no additional waterproof covers needed! It expands and comes with straps in case you don't have a magnetic tank, or you want to strap it to your scooter! Givi makes very friendly scooter luggage. If you're searching for options for your scooter, I'd make Givi's website your first stop.

Revit Zip Overpants $139.99, XXS - 4XL, Standard, Short and Long sizing available Revzilla.com These are unisex overpants starting at size XXS for the ladies, going all the way to 4XL for the men. I have to say that these pants fit women better than men in some cases, due to the slightly tapered waist. I have fit these pants in more curvy, plus size women than I can count. If you have hips and have trouble finding pants, you have to try these out.

What I really love about these pants is how fitted it is in the waist, hips and thighs. They are still overpants, so they do flare a bit at the bottom so you can wear them over your boots. But compared to the Olympia Pro's I used to wear, they're far less bulky. Unfortunately they're less warm as well. But I wanted something lighter for San Francisco winters and so far, these are doing pretty well. I'll update you once we hit our actual wet winter. I'll be posting a full review this week as well as more photos. Stay tuned!

Plus Size Gear

Real Curves.Real Women. Real Gear.™ I've been neglecting the 'Real Curves' aspect of my website and hope that this post gives women who are looking for something beyond a size 8-10 when it comes to the real protective motorcycle gear that you need.

So on my final day at Long Beach, I decided to swing by the British Motorcycle Gear booth.  I found a couple of great options for women that I think would benefit my plus sized readers:.

1. British Motorcycle Gear - Mercury Jacket $249.00 XS-4XL I've always been curious about the fit of BMG motorcycle gear.  I know they make an amazing textile jacket, but I wasn't sure who I could recommend their jackets to. Now I know.  The Mercury is ideal for those of you who have short torsos and broader arms/shoulders.  Although I found the fit (XS) to be decent in the waist/body, the arms/shoulders were too large for me, as I'm a little narrower than this jacket wants me to be.  It's also one of the warmest jackets you'll ever find.  If you've ever shopped for a ski or snowboarding jacket, you'll notice that many of them have a 'skirt' that sits at the waist, to keep snow and wind out should you fall or crash on the slopes.  They've incorporated this wonderful feature into the Mercury (as well as most of their jackets), and it definitely makes for a snug fit around the hips.  Which would definitely come in handy on those cold winter commutes.  The silver piping is reflective around the front and back of the jacket.  At this price point, you can't beat the features that the Mercury offers you.

2. British Motorcycle Gear - Discovery Jacket $379.00 XS-4XL I tried on an XS in this model as well. It was a little too big for me, but if you're looking for a 3/4 length winter jacket, this is another great option.  The cut is generous across the shoulders and through the arms.  The lining is ridiculously warm and will provide you a really comfortable fit.

3. Tourmaster Trinity 2 $157.49 (From Revzilla.  MSRP is $174.99) XS-LPL (See the size charts on Revzilla) The sizing on the Trinity 2 is one of the most generous in all of women's gear.  Beyond an XL, it goes even higher to Sizes 16-20. The XL is ~14, and seems true to size, at least with the women that I helped in the women's center.  The fit is generous for those of you who need a little more room in the chest, shoulders and arms.  I highly recommend this jacket as a 4 season option (removable insulated liner), with the venting up the arms and on the back.

4. Cortech LRX2 $159.99 MSRP, $143.99, Revzilla XS-LPL (See the size charts on Revzilla) The LRX is another great 4 season jacket.  But this one has a fully ventilated, mesh outer shell. If you need something that will work in the hottest of summers, this would be a better option than the Trinity.  There are two full sleeve, removable liners; waterproof/windproof liner and an insulated liner. The arms are also adjustable, with adjustable snaps at the bicep and the forearm.

And if you haven't downloaded  a copy of my GearChic Guide filled with shopping tips, make sure you download it here. Happy Shopping!

For the Boys.

Men always ask me why I don't do review for men. Well, ALL the sites are for men! That's why I started mine. But, most of the fitment articles I write do apply to men and women, so for that kind of gender neutral advice I hope you'll find it useful. But, seeing as how many of my readers are men (thank you!), I felt that a quick review was in order.

I will make a gear recommendation for the boys based on the outfit that my husband just got for the long ride we did yesterday to SoCal. The jacket is also a top seller at Scuderia West as well. For reference, here he is, Mr.GearChic.

My husband is 5'11", ~190lbs, has broad shoulders, a long torso and a 33" inseam. These fit him him perfectly. The pants do come in short and long, depending on the size. But he was fine with a standard 52 for the pants and a 52 for the jacket. These are pants, not overpants. They also come with a windproof/waterproof liner which he didn't need to wear for this ride, since the weather was mostly 70s along Hwy 1. Before acquiring these 2 items, he was wearing a Dainese leather jacket and Olympia Pro Textile Pants. He definitely prefers this outfit and finds the cut on the REV'IT gear to be perfectly suited to his body type.

Because he has broad shoulders, he thought the 52 would be a little too small, but after sitting on the bike (of course!), it felt fine in riding position (on a Standard). It was just a little uncomfortable standing up straight with the jacket zipped up (as it should, since it's cut for riding not standing!) And he had no problems breaking it in on the ride down, since we got it for him the day before we left. The arms are nice and long, which is definitely a problem for him when shopping for regular clothes and jackets.

Since it's a combination of textile and leather, it wasn't so bad wearing for the first time on a long ride. If he wear in a one piece or two piece leathers, he probably would've been a little uncomfortable after the first hundred miles. Overall, he is very happy with this combination and would recommend it to anyone looking for a good all around 2 piece for city, urban and long distance riding. So get thee to Scuderia West, or if you can't drive to San Francisco, order a set from Revzilla and try it out for yourself!

1) REV'IT Ignition Jacket.
$429.99

2) REV'IT Gear Pants
$379.99

3) Dainese Torque In Boots
$299.00

Revit Mistral Ladies Pants

Revit Mistral Ladies Pants MSRP $239.99 I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of these pants. I just ordered them from Scuderia last week. I've been searching for the perfect pant that I can wear as pants, instead of jeans. My Olympias are a little too bulky and warm for San Fran.

They also fit like a glove. One thing I don't like about my Olympias are the way they hang on me. I'm fairly petite and the leg is cut rather wide as well as the hips. (which is great if you have hip, waist or thigh issues as the cut is fairly generous)

I can't wait to post a review of these next month.