REVIT Women's Zip, Marryl and Allure

It's common practice for manufacturers to cycle out and discontinue certain pieces of gear every 3-5 years, depending on how well that item is selling or how popular it is in the market.  Unfortunately 3 of my favorite women's gear from REV'IT is being discontinued, so you'll find these all on clearance if not completely gone from your local dealer.  I urge you to try and find them if you can!

1)Zip Pants. Unisex, waterproof overpants perfect for commuting. Especially fits a curvy figure up to a Size 16 (XXXL) and can be found in SHORT.  (I found these to fit women far better than men for some reason) Scuderia West has already sold most of them, if not all of them to make room for an updated version called The Axis WR pant. Last I saw there were two size XXL on the clearance rack. Revzilla only has a few sizes on clearance left as well.

2) Axis Pants (Replacement for the Zip). One major difference with the new Axis is that they start an XS, not XXS as before.  The XS will probably fit a women's US 4. I tried on a Small and it fit like a size 6. Another improvement is the addition of a 2-way side zipper, which does make it easier for you to take them on and off without taking off your boots. I have to do that for the Zips and was happy to do so, given how wonderfully they fit.

They also appear to have added additional elastic at the waist to make for a more adjustable fit.  I always thought that the Zip pants fit women better than men, and I still think that's the case, however not for petite women.  The Zips used to come in XXS, which fit down to a Size US 2, perfect for petite frames. But they've pushed the sizing up, and as a result they've made the cut a little more generous for a curvier body. I know that many plus sized women have issue finding gear, but so do super petite women. For many women who are a size 0-4, it can be difficult to find anything affordably priced to fit.  The "sweet spot" so to speak for sizing is size 4-12. If you fall within these numbers, it's pretty easy to find something in your size.

A couple other changes that they've made with the Axis:

• Full Hip to Toe, 2-WAY zippers that allow the pants to Fully open up on the sides
• Adjustable and stretchy snaps on each side of the waist for a better adjustment
• No hip armor or pockets, since the pants are priced below $150

3) Allure Jacket and Marryl Pants.

This is why you spend more tha…

This is why you spend more than a couple hundred bucks on real gear. GoreTex, DDry. #dstoresf http://ow.ly/i/5epQ

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!