TRIED & TESTED: RUKKA TREK-R AA ADVENTURE JACKET
PRICE: £1,049.99
TESTED BY: CHARLIE OAKMAN
Enjoy everything More Bikes by reading the monthly newspaper, Read FREE Online.
Rukka, synonymous for producing motorcycling apparel of the highest quality have introduced the TREK-R to their range, a jacket targeting the demands of the most devoted adventure rider with numerous features to meet the needs of the trails at home and abroad.
The Trek-R sits at the top of their off-road adventure range, other products such as the Explore-R has a functionality for trails but is predominantly road focussed – the Trek-R is the opposite, designed to keep the rider comfortable whilst wrestling their adventure bike along rutted trails whilst still being an efficient road going garment.
The first thing to notice when you pick up the jacket is the weight, at 2.8kg its extremely light – made lighter still if like me you remove the Level One back protector (0.4gs) from the zipped back pouch to favour an armoured vest.
Weight has obviously been a consideration in design omitting any unnecessary thermal layers and constructing the garment from an abrasion resistant Cordura 500D stretch shell fabric as opposed to the 600D more commonly used in other jackets, upgrading this material at the most vulnerable areas to 1500D covering the Level Two D30 Air XTR Armour found in the shoulders and elbows.
Surprisingly chest protection does not come as standard with the jacket, though it is designed to accommodate the Rukka D30, CP1 Protectors at £44.99, via two internal napoleon pockets which double up as secure storage if not housing this additional protection.
The Trek R’s is a strong looking jacket which comes in Grey/Orange which works well with the black trim and lighter coloured frontage which is literally dripping with easy pull YKK zips for the plethora of pockets and ventilations systems featured.
Each of the 16 ventilation points have at least one zip with an extensive double ended system down each of the arms which reveal a tough internal mesh to aid airflow, the same applies down the sides from waist belt to hem so you can either widen the base of the jacket or keep it streamlined with a fully opened vent.
Further ventilation points can be found in the shoulders, outer areas of the chest, via the chest pockets and at the waist with a further two exhaust vents in the back – this is extreme ventilation that is crying out for challenging riding in a heatwave whilst remaining fully protected.
Two zip pockets at the base of the jacket are ample with one being water resistant for your phone and any other must not get wet items (as is the map pocket at the rear), the other is breathable with a zip closure and two studs to secure the flap.
The perfect fit can be easily achieved, off the peg sizing ranges from 38” to 56” with three position pop closures on both bicep and forearm areas of the arms, a waist adjuster on each side and two Velcro fasteners at the hem so that you can wear the Trek-R as snugly or loosely as your need, which caters for the need to layer up for colder rides as internally you will only find a mesh lining.
The Trek-R as a standalone jacket will protect against a shower, but comes with the separate Transfo-R, a waterproof jacket with Gore-Tex 3-layer stretch that can either be worn on top of the jacket which keeps you completely dry, or beneath the jacket as an extremely effective wind-stopper for colder rides. I have found this extremely effective in both scenarios, and as a destination jacket when off the bike.
Other features include a crotch strap for both the Trek-R and also the Transfo-R to hold the jackets in place, an additional 270-degree zip will attach the main jacket to any Rukka trouser, though soon to be available will be the Trek-R trouser to match the jacket using the same technology and colour scheme.
Having completed approximately 750 road miles in the Trek-R at no point has it disappointed, though road miles are not what this jacket is really designed for, as the mesh ‘time-card’ pocket on the left hand sleeve suggests, this is a set up designed for competition and off-road riding in the most challenging of conditions.
On cold UK roads you will have to layer up but come the summer this jacket will certainly come into its own offering plenty of protection whilst being fully ventilated pretty much everywhere.
The ‘elephant in the room’ is the cost – at £1,049.99 this would be an extremely well-considered and researched purchase – though Bikerheadz do try to lighten this load by offering to extend the warranty of two years to six via registering your UK purchased garment with them.
For more information see – https://bikerheadz.co.uk/product/rukka-trek-r-jacket-aa
For a video presentation go to –
Advert
Enjoy everything More Bikes by reading the MoreBikes monthly newspaper. Click here to subscribe, or Read FREE Online.
