Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1396232
VOLUME 58 ISSUE 30 JULY 27, 2021 P115 S TANDOUT FEATURE Full riding protection in slim-cut, ca- sual style with comfortable four-way stretch fit. READER AN ALYSIS The Klim Marrakesh Women's Jacket looks like everyday activewear; only a few reflective bits give it away as a motorcycle jacket. And that's exactly the idea. It's a casual jacket with a slim cut and comfortable stretchy fit that also offers enough protection for the ride. For a world of women who wear yoga gear 60 percent of the time (or is that just me?) Klim hit this one on the head. They also seem to know how much we spend at Lululemon, because this jacket is priced in that realm, at $369.99. That price tag comes with premi- um-level materials, including Karbo- nite Micromesh, a moisture-wicking liner, and D3O's latest, IP Ghost protective inserts. These flexible, ultra-thin pads offer a barely-there feel, keeping with the comfortable fit of the jacket—I had to feel around at first to make sure they were in there. Unlike other jackets that maintain their form after you remove your arm from the sleeve, these floppy-waffle pads flex and move nearly as much as the fabric itself. It's nice to have the protection and not feel like a hockey player when I'm on the bike. Klim calls the Marrakesh jacket "highly breathable," which it is, for the most part. Imagine a heavy sweatshirt was handy in the winter. But if you're between sizes, you might want to go down a size. Keep in mind, also, the stretchy material is pretty forgiving, and a snug fit would also allow you to run a layer over it, rather than under it. The Klim Marrakesh Women's Jacket is a premium riding garment (as all Klim's offerings are), with excellent pro- tection, the look of casual clothing and the fit of athletic wear. Yes, it's a bit spendy, but the price is reflected in the quality and the versatility of the jacket. Jean Turner •OUTSTANDING COMFORT AND VERSATILITY •STYLISH ON AND OFF THE BIKE •DESIGNED BY WOMEN, FOR WOMEN •SPENDY •NARROWER CUFFS, PLEASE •OUTSTANDING COMFORT •SPENDY and how much air moves through it. It's a little like that. The air keeps moving when you're riding, but that changes when you slow down or stop at a light. Moving temperatures are okay up to about 90 degrees or so, but as soon as you come to a stop, the heat switches on full blast. I'd say the comfortable up- per limit is probably around mid-80s. I also found the lower limit back in March on a Utah trip, and I'd estimate that to be around 45 degrees, with the help of a thermal layer. Below that, things got pretty unfavorable pretty quick. Part of the challenge in colder temps was the wide cuffs. Without any ability to taper the wrists closed, I couldn't keep the air from wooshing up my sleeves. So yeah, imagine that in 30-degree temps. I resorted to put- ting hair ties on my wrists to hold the cuffs closed, which helped a lot. Still, though, when temps are approaching freezing, it's time for a heavier jacket. The Marrakesh runs a little big, so the medium I ordered was a touch on the roomy side and a little long in the torso (I'm 5'8"). This left ample room for a base layer or two, which LOWDOWN MARRAKESH JAC KET List Price: $369.99 Website: https://www.klim.com/