Sleeping Dog
Adventurer
Around the time Jonathan Hanson reviewed the International and other motorcycle jackets in Overland Journal, I stopped at the Barbour store at the outlet mall and low and behold there was an International in my size for $150. I'd long wanted a Barbour or Belstaff wax cotton riding jacket but the cost and lack of armor dissuaded me. Figuring the price and that I could put Bohn or similar body armor on under the jacket the International came home. But I had another thought for armor.
On a shelf in the garage was a set of soft armor from an old BMW riding suit so I took the jacket and the armor to a local tailor to see if she could make pockets for the pads and attach them to the jacket using velcor strips. She could and did so the jacket now has attached padding at the shoulders and elbows. Shoulder pads below;
The Barbour has become my favorite riding jacket in temperature ranges of 50-85 degrees (F). It's lighter and less bulky than both the Kilimanjaro and Darien jackets I have. The fabric doesn't block the wind completely which makes it cold on nippy days but comfortable in all but the hottest conditions.
With regard to being waterproof, I found that after 2+ hours of riding at highway speeds in a heavy rain the lining felt a bit damp but my clothes weren't wet. With Kilimanjaro, I'd have been wet on the shoulders and arms, though I'd likely have been dry with the Darien.
Jim
On a shelf in the garage was a set of soft armor from an old BMW riding suit so I took the jacket and the armor to a local tailor to see if she could make pockets for the pads and attach them to the jacket using velcor strips. She could and did so the jacket now has attached padding at the shoulders and elbows. Shoulder pads below;
The Barbour has become my favorite riding jacket in temperature ranges of 50-85 degrees (F). It's lighter and less bulky than both the Kilimanjaro and Darien jackets I have. The fabric doesn't block the wind completely which makes it cold on nippy days but comfortable in all but the hottest conditions.
With regard to being waterproof, I found that after 2+ hours of riding at highway speeds in a heavy rain the lining felt a bit damp but my clothes weren't wet. With Kilimanjaro, I'd have been wet on the shoulders and arms, though I'd likely have been dry with the Darien.
Jim
