BILT Explorer Jacket

[troy]

Believe it or not, I've never owned a real motorcycle jacket other than my mesh summer jacket with armor. I also have that big Fieldsheer riding suit. But for normal dualsport/adventure riding in non-extreme temps, I've not owned an appropriate jacket.

So I thought about the $1,299 Klim jacket....right.

CycleGear used to carry a lot of decent brand closeout items. Now they primarily carry their own BILT brand stuff, and for the most part, it's crap. Sorry to say---the stuff looks decent and the prices are great, but when I try stuff on it doesn't fit right and components feel way too cheap to hold up under the abuse.

I went to CycleGear yesterday hoping to try on a Tourmaster jacket they show online but it was not in the local store. I was about to leave when I noticed a new BILT adventure jacket



The jacket fits nice and has tons of great features that I think I'll actually use. The venting options look fantastic. (Not sure if I'll use the built-in hydration pack pocket--but it looks well designed. I don't think it holds enough water, though.) Decent armor for dualsporting. My primary concern is the cheap zippers. I'm counting on BILT's 5 year guarantee and CycleGear's promise to stand behind it to protect me from component failure.

It is only $199 -- not $399. For $399, you get a "free" helmet, gloves, and pants. The pants match the jacket and they zip together. They look nice on the rack but once I tried them on, in classic BILT fashion, they did not fit right. The 34W were way too loose (I wear 35W jeans.) The 32W were way too tight. Both did not fit right in the crotch--although I'm extremely well endowed. (I have to have most of my pants tailored to add room for the package. )

For $200, I'm hoping this jacket serves me well....and I'll get a free warranty replacement every 6 months or so when the zippers break. I'll follow up after a ride and again after a season to let you know how the jacket is performing.

[jasoomian]

Keep in mind that if the zippers do break, any respectable tailor can fix or replace them with better ones.

Might cost you a few bucks, but, you could get real zippers put in the jacket while it's a bit chilly out and not have to worry about it when the time comes to wear it every day.

[stimmer6253472]

I own a bunch of Fieldsheer stuff because it is usually cheap. They are notorious for bad zippers. I have found if once I year I put a drop of oil (I use thread cutting oil) on each zipper and work it in they have kept working. Of course you got to do it before it gets all kinked up.

i paid $149 for the Fieldsheer adventure jacket. Nice jacket for the price but definitely not waterproof.

[Savage]

I asked about this a couple months ago and didnt get any info. I was thinking about the package deal. Decided i didnt need it all. Ordered a new Tourmaster jacket for $79. Its freaken nice!
Did you get the all weather or air?

[troy]

Did you get the all weather or air?

This one:
http://www.cyclegear.com/CycleGear/Stre ... 59409_1936

$79 for your Tourmaster?! Heck of a deal!

I wore my BILT jacket with all the vents open in the office for a couple hours this morning. I got some strange looks. I am a software developer, so I explained I was doing some "Extreme Programming".

[Savage]

Looks nice, I couldn't decide on that one or the air. Have you heard of New Enough site? Look in his Last chance bargains. You can get some great deals - especially for you smaller feminine shaped guys (Troy).

I don't believe you wore your jacket around the office, but then again, I believe you would.

[troy]

I'm back from 2 days of forest and logging road riding--my first adventure with my new BILT jacket. Surprisingly, I really like this jacket!

Our mornings started off around 40 degrees and warmed up to just over 60. The jacket kept me comfortable at 40 and when we got hot working the big bikes through the abandoned logging roads in the afternoons, the venting kept me cool. I'm sure it will be hot in 80+ weather, but it should cool at least as well as any protective dualsport jacket with it's excellent, large venting options.

I crashed pretty good on my right side. My arm ended up a little bloody despite the jacket's protection. The jacket shows zero damage from the abuse! It actually held up.

A big surprise to me is that the built-in hydration bladder pocket worked great! It held my 3.0 liter CamelBak bladder, but it worked best if I only filled it about 90% and made sure to remove the extra air. Obviously a full bladder of water makes the jacket really heavy. It's slightly annoying to have the jacket pulled back by the bladder--a separate hydration backpack does not pull on your jacket. However, I quickly got comfortable with it and after a couple hours I had consumed enough water to make the weight a non issue. It was nice not having a backpack to mess with.

[kendall_smith]

I found this picture of the jacket being tested by some random squid. He even rides an F800 GS too and kind of looks like Troy too!

[troy]

My ribs are still bruised and the skin is starting to grow back on my right arm. Yup. Jacket worked. I failed, though. You are a real pal, Kendall.

[Bob Morgan]

I found this picture of the jacket being tested by some random squid. He even rides an F800 GS too and kind of looks like Troy too!

Wow! More people have seen the bottom of Troy's GS than Paris Hilton's junk!!

[troy]

I see Kendall wised up and deleted that obviously photo-shopped photo that made it look like I actually crashed my F800GS in deep gravel. Of course none of you would believe that. It's just ludicrous.

[kendall_smith]

I see Kendall wised up and deleted that obviously photo-shopped photo that made it look like I actually crashed my F800GS in deep gravel. Of course none of you would believe that. It's just ludicrous.

Stupid photobucket! I'm not sure what happened, but here is the photo for everyone to enjoy:

[Savage]

Dang you were doin some plowin

[ne14Yah]

I bought the package deal last summer and so far I am loving the system for the money! Haven't had any zipper failures yet and they seem fairly durable. I tell you what . . . I am thinking this is the best bang for the buck!

[troy]

So it's been a little over a year with the BiLT Explorer jacket. I've used it on a few adventures, so figured I'd follow up.

About the durability and warranty
First, I did end up ripping the seam on the left upper arm and shoulder. I don't remember the exact impact now, but the jacket definitely should have held up. So it failed. BUT...here is the good news--in my original post, I said:

I'm counting on BILT's 5 year guarantee and CycleGear's promise to stand behind it to protect me from component failure.

Yesterday, I took my broken jacket into CycleGear, and without hassle, they said, "We still have them in the store. Go pick out a new one. Get a different color if you want." Cool! (I still wanted the light gray.)

About the venting
I rode 508 miles this past Sunday in weather that went from 60 to a muggy 84 and included some slow forest navigation for a bit. I definitely got hot in the jacket when not moving--as you would in any jacket. What I've come to realize, though, is that the huge vent panels on the front of this jacket seem almost worthless. I'm not sure what they are supposed to do considering behind them is a waterproof liner built into the jacket! Seriously, with those panels open and moving, I can't feel air going through. I end up simply unzipping the jacket a bit to feel the breeze. I do realize that when not fully zipped, protection is compromised. I'm throwing caution to the wind, baby! Safety 3rd!


I have zero doubts that I'd love a nice BMW jacket or Klim jacket a lot more, but, I do like how this jacket fits and the protection seems adequate.

ALSO note that the price is down to only $99, which I think is a steal IF the jacket fits your body and need.