Modern Vespa

Hey Guys
We got back from the UK Dealer Expo in January, and while we were there had a good look at their gear and armor.
Style and fit is great, nice people too.

A few concerns from riding perspective:

No abrasion resistance built in, armor does not work if it falls out of torn fabric.

No reflective.

The armor claim for 3DO armor is that it passes CE at 40joules. CE passing # is 50. Our armor manufacturer, Knox, the world's best, tested it at 50 joules, and it split. I have photos I will post later.

http://www.armadilloscooterwear.com/serve.php?page=d3o
Their armor is also cast flat, so there is no cupping of your joints. A lack of back armor options also concern me. Their chart for how it gets harder the harder the impact graphically describes exactly what you do not want in armor.
1) They say it completely conforms to your body - well clearly it
doesn't because the image show someone having to force it into that
shape. I know several ski brands that have used d3o, it
sticks out in the jacket because it's not 3 dimensional and it heavy so
it sags.

2) They claim it's CE approved but the information appears totally
misleading.
A) They show a 9mm pad, but when we've tested their 9mm pad it does not pass.

B) They show a min - max of 0-2 to 3-4, what the hell does that mean?
It has nothing to do with EN1621-1.

c) the protection value shown is a result taken from a 40J impact.
EN1621-1 (CE Rating) requires a 50J impact so the result is meaningless. The 9mm pad
may just pass at 40J but it could not get approval. The test is at 50J
and to pass at 50J they need a 12mm pad.

The information is deliberately misleading and totally incorrect in
respect of EN1621-1.

They are nice guys, I welcome them to the market, and wish them best. But because they advertise as Scooter wear, does not mean that they have a knowledge of good impact protection, abrasion resistance, and a visibility component for nighttime riding, three pillars of Corazzo's design that we think are very important when selling technical riding gear.

Caveat Emptor.

Warm Regard
Bradford
Corazzo

I've looked into it and I'm steamed

Looks like lots of folks are promoting Armadillo Scooter Wear (among other brands)
based on how they look,
without ever testing their items for protection on impact or abrasion-resistance

And it looks like Armadillo was very selective in mentioning what components of their items have been tested

My opinion:
There should be standard tests that all the protective motorcycle/scooter ware manufacturers
should be required to use to rate how protective their fully-assembled items are

It's easy for the consumer to figure out how fashionable and how comfortable these things are
But we're not going to crash in them, just to test how safe they are!

For the first time in my life, I've written to complain and ask for an explanation from Armadillo - there is no way that these gloves are suitable for purpose if they melt with on brief contact with an exhaust.

For the cost of these gloves is £48, and that is a lot of money for something that doesn't do the job.

On the other hand, trying to get some scooter riders to even consider buying protective gear is almost impossible because of the way much motorcycle and scooter gear looks bulky.

Anything that offer some protection whilst still making these naive riders look a bit stylish is OK in my book.

Remember the story I told you about the girl in a baby doll dress, and her BF in a builders hat that came riding in?

No way I could get them to buy a Corazzo, but they'll like the Armadillo.

Andrea

A local shop recently started carrying Armadillo and I was hoping to check it out, especially after reading what Bradford had to say about the gear in the quoted post above.

If only Corazzo would come out with a parka this year... Bradford?

They are. I've seen the prototype and it's great. Definitely a winner.

Shhh, it's a secret!

Bradford or Chad had hinted about it many months ago. I'll be ready for one soon.

Err, it hasn't been a secret for quite awhile.

Bugger. I've just ordered an Armadillo parka. Although if the order remains unfilled (it's been more than a fortnight so far and the order is still processing) maybe I might cancel.

Further news - my dealer is dropping all Armadillo clothing. Says there are no end of complaints about quality and protectiveness.

Yikes, well that's certainly not good.

I've had similar concerns (though no first-hand accounts) about Tucano Urbano. Anyone have experience with those? Of course, there's no US distributor for Tucano but people are willing to pay out the nose for stuff based on their crummy web pics.

i don't imagine my tucano mesh jacket would withstand a high-speed slide down the pavement ...

Shhh, it's a secret!

Bradford or Chad had hinted about it many months ago. I'll be ready for one soon.

Great! now if only they'd make them to fit talls!

Yes, please! The riding gear market for tall women is completely underserved. With the general population getting taller on average, you'd think someone out there would come up with a line for women at or over, say, 5'9"/5'10". Not only are the jackets all too short, but most riding pants are a joke when a "long" inseam is 32", which for me at least is already too short when I'm standing and becomes ridiculous once I get on the scooter.

What I would like to know is if that Mac jacket of theirs would function well as a warm coat in the wintertime. It has some armor there, so I would imagine it would give me more protection than a jacket and a parka over it that is lacking armor. And it is longer, so it will cover my legs far better than a short short corazzo jacket ever could, so I can keep my butt dry in the rain at least. It looks very functional from a cold weather standpoint, even if the armor inside of it isn't the best in the world.

But for those of us in the U.S., Tucano is...pretty much the impossible dream!

Or you could get a FirstGear Denali Textile Jacket, on closeout now from NewEnough
at: http://www.newenough.com/closeouts/textile_jackets_and_pants/first_gear/denali_textile_motorcycle_jacket.html


Not as stylish, but far better designed to keep you warm, dry and safe while you're riding

And if you aren't worried about armor, over-sized rain pants over your regular ones will work far better on your legs than a floppy long jacket

Yeah I have thought about the oversized rain pants. I wear blazers a lot, so having a true outercoat that will go on over the blazer is what really appeals to me about that mac jacket.

I don't know if you've done the winter commuting thing before,
but my experience is that a blazer under my winter commuting outfit is far more likely to get wrinkled, etc.
than a blazer that's been folded and placed in a plastic grocery bag inside my topcase

My blazers never get wrinkled underneath my winter commuting outfits. they will get bunched up, but i have never had a wrinkle stay because of it.

Sounds like you have a good system there,
so I'll stop embarrassing myself by trying to give (well-meaning) advice those with more experience

I have a system, but I don't think it is that good of a system or else I wouldn't be asking questions about the Armadillio Mac Jacket. I am always looking for improvements. I generally don't have the space in my pet carrier (no topcase for me) to put one of my blazers in when it is loaded with everything else i would generally need to carry in it. And the less extra specific add-ons such as a full on riding suit that I would have to wear and find a place to store, the more that allows me to wear what I would normally wear around riding, the better. A Corazzo jacket doesn't really go well with a nice suit, y'know.

Sounds like you have a good system there,
so I'll stop embarrassing myself by trying to give (well-meaning) advice to those with more experience