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Cortech GX Air
Cortech GX Air [Since purchasing my jacket, Cortech has since updated to its Series 2]
As I researched motorcycle gear that can be used year round that actually has some protection and is comfortable enough for long distances, I was continually led to Tourmaster’s site. While Tourmaster makes great gear, it tends to make you look like an old coot who would shoo you out of his yard yelling “I told you kids to stay off my grass” and it’s really designed more for the touring rider than the sport touring rider. Over the last couple years however, Tourmaster seems to have positively responded by allowing it’s Cortech division to release more exciting styles that maintain Tourmaster’s commitment to protecting year round riders while providing good looking protective gear to riders who might just speed on over to the local bike night and need to look cool too.
Last summer, this was my anniversary present. [This is a pic of the Series 2. The only real changes are in the color pattern.]
So what led me to choose this jacket? - I’m not old enough to look old yet (I already ride a VFR so I smell like wee. I can’t look the part, too).
- I wanted a highly visible jacket to negate the need for secondary high visibility/reflective gear (military requirement for me but makes good sense anyway).
- I value my hide and I wanted to make sure that I had better than average protection.
- I needed a jacket that can handle a wide range of temperatures and conditions during my daily commute and sport touring rides.
Technically, there’s a fifth reason: At 6’4, I’m not the tallest guy on the planet but my 250ish pounds and 38” sleeve length tend to narrow down the competition pretty quickly.
I liked the idea of the textile jackets that are on the market but I was still a little leery of them as are many others who’ve tossed their bikes into the wood line before. [As of this writing, that leeriness is gone - ed] Will it hold up? Kevlar and all the other manmade materials are great but they weren't really originally designed for strength with holes, will it be strong enough?
With those requirements in hand, I spent several weeks researching and all roads led to the Cortech GX Air. You can view the full list of features by clicking the link but here are the features I liked most:
- Leather elbow, shoulder and back impact panels.
- External, Brazilian leather padded back panels provide additional protection.
- Reflective piping and Cortech's signature reflective rear triangle increase nighttime visibility.
- Removable, CE approved armor at the elbow and shoulder with an articulated triple density back protector.
- Removable, Two-Stage Aqua-Therm liner. The first stage is a waterproof/windproof liner and the insulated second stage can be easily added for increased warmth.
It has everything I needed and a little extra: mesh for hot weather; leather, padded panels where it made me feel better; bright color with extra reflective bits; multiple removable liners. So I get to be comfortable, seen and protected and I don’t have to look like an old coot doing it. Awesome.
The jacket arrived shortly before I had to leave for a class in Colorado so my only testing prior to leaving was to put it on for fit (almost perfect but the 3XLT only comes in black) then remove the liners and see how it flowed. After pulling the liners out, I put the jacket on. As I walked across my living room towards my garage, I could feel the air flowing through the jacket. I didn’t even bother firing up the bike. I was sold.
I spent several months in Colorado Springs and, as those who live in the area can attest to, it can be 85 in “the Springs” and a short ride can have you in 30-40 degree temperature range. I developed the habit (after one good sweat-freeze-thaw ride) of keeping both liners in my tank bag. As I rode and the temps changed, I could stop, put in the rain liner using it as a wind breaker, ride higher, stop, put in the quilted liner, find my turnaround point and do everything in reverse as the altitude decreased and the temps increased. I rode until the day I left in mid-November and the jacket performed flawlessly. I was never once uncomfortable. And a nice little side effect: the liners kept my water bottles cold in my tankbag. 
After returning to Alabama, I blew the engine in my winter cage and I went back to riding to work every day for a few weeks. To and from work, the temps were usually somewhere in the high 20s/low 30s. Again, I was never uncomfortable. In fact, I felt better than ever which I attribute to being able to ride. I even had one ride in heavy, wet snowfall and I never shivered once even though I pulled into my garage covered in a layer of snow.
These last few weeks, I’ve been riding in our normal oppressive Alabama heat and humidity. While in stop and go traffic and sitting at stop lights, the temperature gauge on the VFR regularly climbs into the 220s, the fan kicks on and off doing it’s best to cool the bike and I stay relatively cool and completely protected.
But will the mesh really protect? Playing the role of thorough reviewer, I took the extra step of conducting a small test in a medium speed lowside a couple weeks ago. I didn’t want to but I have a job to do here. I’ll go into the details in another article but I slid on my left side for approximately 20 feet and the jacket performed way better than I’d ever expected it to. As you can see, the leather protected the parts that typically bear the most force in a slide (shoulder and forearm/elbow area) and the mesh is dirty but unbroken. I expected the leather to stay together but the jacket is almost completely unscathed and the parts of my body it was covering still look as pretty as they always have.
  
I am very happy with this purchase and this jacket will definitely go on my list of recommended items.
So, all that said, what are my opinions of it’s +/-/couldgoeitherway?
- Outstanding airflow. Even at low speeds, this jacket flows air. Makes it easy to want to wear in hot, humid temps.
- Multiple liner system. With a quilted winter liner and a separate waterproof liner, you can adjust to any conditions. Most mesh jackets can keep you warm and dry with their liners but this is the only one I’ve found that can be used in those intermediate cold temps when it’s too warm for the quilted liner but too cold for mesh.
- Ummm, it gets dirty? I really don't have anything bad to say about it. It's been used almost every day for about a year and even the velcro tabs still work.
- It would be nice if the 3XLT was produced in colors other than just black but from what I've encountered, all the manufacturers do that with their XLT sizes.
- There is another mesh/leather jacket currently offered by Joe Rocket which is a few dollars cheaper but offers less options in color and liners. And for someone like me, sizes.
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