Motoport vs. Aerostich Comparison - A WebBikeWorld Review

I just received Motorport Airmesh jacket and pants. Will post a review when I have more details. I got the waist jacket and not the 3/4. I have decided I do not like 3/4 jackets. I think I am probably going to return the jacket for a slightly larger size. The fit is too tight when I try to wear my heated vest and the two part insulated liner. If I were not trying to layer so much then the fit is an absolute dream. Since I want max versatility I probably need it a little roomier. The pant are the only pants that have fit me well... period.

I will say the construction quality is as good and it gets. I do have aerostich Darien jacket and pants and Firstgear products. The Cycleport and the 'stitch absolutely shame the Firstgear stuff.
 
That is true of all other mesh garments I know of. They are typically made of polyester and probably coated.

The kevlar mesh Cycleport uses is a whole different animal... and very expensive. The same Cycleport garment is 1000D cordura is typically more than $100 less.

Some numbers Cycleport quotes.
pounds to tear cycles to failure
Mesh kevlar 1260 970
stretch kevlar 420 1800
500 denier cordura 22 710
620 denier cordura 35 1200
1000 denier cordura 110 1780
500 denier polyester 8 180
new comp grade leather 80-110 1200-1700

Leather weakens as it goes through wet/dry cycles. So don't sweat much.
 
I have the Motorport (Cycleport) air mesh pants and air mesh 3/4 jacket. I have now worn the gear in very cold conditions, rain and hot weather. Adding or removing the liners make the gear 4 season gear. This stuff is far better than the Belstaff 3 season 2 piece and Joe Rocket summer mesh gear they replaced. I'd give a 2 thumbs up recommendation for anyone thinking of buying the gear.
 
What about rain, is there a rain liner that comes with the motoport?
 
The Motoport gear comes with removable breathable liners. I've ridden with the Ultra- pants/jacket for about 4 years and also have the thermal liners to go with them. I thought that the Motoport protective clothing was made with exceptional quality in craftsmanship and materials. I purchased my set because my riding buddy had some & convinced me to get a set. He lost a bunch of weight and sent the gear back to Motoport and they resized it for him for a nominal fee (don't recall how much). It's pricey stuff, but with it IMHO.
 
Cool!.. I thought those were extra.. I see they have gore-tex liners that are 130-190 extra..

I'm starting to gravitate towards these... anyone have the waist-length jacket?
 
NormanPCN said:
I just received Motorport Airmesh jacket and pants. Will post a review when I have more details. I got the waist jacket and not the 3/4. I have decided I do not like 3/4 jackets.
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I do. Not much riding since my sprained wrist is still tender. I did do a 400 miler yesterday. I will post a full review when I have ridden more miles and more temps .

I went with wait cut since you can get some airflow around rear end area to help stay cool. Hard enough to get your hip area to stay cool in the summer heat on a full fairing bike. Easier to keep warm than cool down. Also no place for the length of a 3/4 to go in front so they tend to bend/fold and tent up. So long as there is a good overlap between pant and jacket I think a waist cut is the way for me. I have been doing this since last summer and winter with my FG mesh jacket which is waist cut.

First impressions.

The mesh pants are the way to go on a full fairing bike I think. What got cold on me on the ST was my thighs. The thigh pads on the Cycleport pants really insulate your things well. 90+ I may want to remove them. I have ridden around in the mesh at mid 60's with just underwear and no goretex liner and was suprised how comfy I stayed. One thing to remember is that the airflow on your lower body is parallel to the fabric except your shins. The airflow does not really go through the mesh as if it were perpindicular like a mesh jacket. So mesh pants will not be as "breezy" as a mesh jacket on a full fairing bike. I am convinced that I can wear the mesh (with thigh pads) with no liner in 60's for long periods and 50's for chilly morning situations. I did not expect this, but it seems to be true. When I first put the pants on a walked to the bike I felt the air. I figured that at 80 on the freeway it would be breezy. Not so. Perpendicular verses parallel airflow, IMO.

As for the heat of the ST and your shins. The knee/shin pad is very long. It goes down just past the top of my boot. This is well below the hot zone on the ST. I have not yet had a chance to do 90+ so we will have to see. One thing I have noticed. You feel warm air, you feel cool air. Depends on the leg position, direction of the wind and if you point your toes down slightly. As a backup, before I ordered, I asked Cycleport that if push comes to shive I I felt I needed a more solid air barrier if they could sew something on the shin area. They said yes. Remember that something "heavy" will keep the heat in better than it keeps the heat out.

Have not worn the jacket much since I think I want a bigger size to layer my heated gear underneath. The waist just jacket is cut very trim. The collar basically sucks. It is very short. Cycleport has gone from taller to short collars. The body armor is extensive. The shoulder armor goes from your collar and wraps around your shoulder. The arm wraps around your elbow and goes down to your wrist. The chest armor covers your ribcage on the sides and front. The back armor is full length and is wider at the bottom to provide kidney coverage. The back and chest armor is perforated slightly. The armor is in pockets inside the mesh liner of the jacket. Do to the extensize armor the Cycleport jacket is not quite as breezy as a FG mesh jacket. The pockets are not lined with mesh material so they will black the air a little.

The two part insulated liner zips into the jacket on the torso and via two snap straps in the sleeve. This is just like the FG mesh jacket. However the snaps are 4 timers bigger and since the sleeve has a zippered gusset the attaching the liner is a ton easier than with the FG mesh jacket. The ourter part of the liner provides windblack and rain protection as it is goretex. The insulation zips into the outer liner and uses velcro at the sleeve. This later part sucks IMO.
 
Motoport delivery time?

Norman,

How long did it take to get your Motoport Air Mesh delivered?

I just ordered the Air Mesh Kevlar jacket (short) and pants last week.

Was told it would be around 6 to 8 weeks.:(

I have seen the "regular" kevlar pants and jackets up close, but not the mesh. As I live in Central Texas - I need the airflow from the mesh!

It looked really well made with great materials.
I hope I can empty the rest of my closet!


:03biker:
 
Daryl said:
Norman,
How long did it take to get your Motoport Air Mesh delivered?
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10 weeks. I ordered at the worst time of the year. Understand that mesh pants will not be breezy like a mesh jacket since the airflow is parallel to the material, except for the shins of course. With a jacket the airflow is perpendicular.

Thus far I have found them quite comfy and temperature range versatile without the liner (have not used it yet). So far I have done an 8 hour day (60-80F) and a 10.5 hour day (65-91F).
 
Does the short jacket have inside pockets and, if it's raining, will that stuff get wet? That's how most are, just curious.
 
Mellow said:
Does the short jacket have inside pockets and, if it's raining, will that stuff get wet? That's how most are, just curious.
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There are 2 side pockets both are solid material.
There is one inside pocket and it is solid as well.
I can't tell you if they are waterproof as I haven't ever been in a rain that was heavy enough for long enough to get my upper torso wet on the ST. :)

Chris and I both have the Motoport Air Mesh tops/bottoms and paid extra for the waterproof liners. We didn't get the liners with insulation because I figured it would be more likely to rain here and be warm than it would be to be cold and wet (so far I have been correct).
We use extra layers underneath the suit when we are riding in cold weather. I like 'expedition' weight breathable underthings for cold conditions.

On the ride home with the ST1300 I was caught in a mist near Allenreed Texas that turned to 'almost' rain, the drops were forming on the windshield and then dropping into my lap until I raised the windshield. When it got heavy I stopped and put on the liner and was fine after that.
I wore the liner through the rest of Texas, took it off when I got gas in Tucumcari NM, tops and bottom of the suit were totally dry by then.

Mark
 
Mellow said:
Does the short jacket have inside pockets and, if it's raining, will that stuff get wet? That's how most are, just curious.
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The jacket has four outside pockets. Two chest and two waist. It has an inside chest pocket. The pockets are obviously outside the optional goretex liner. The pockets are mode a solid nylon material which could be sprayed with water proof stuff. The goretex liner has an inside chest pocket. The optional insulation which zips into the goretex liner also sports an inside chest pocket.

The above is true of any Cycleport jacket since they use zip in liners for waterproofing. Their fabrics breathe better as a result of not laminating with a waterproof membrane in the shell fabric. This is not without it consequences as you pointed out. Even their 1000 denier Cordura is a soft loose weave which breathes. It is very unlike any Cordura I have ever felt.
 
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