Our take : One of the best designed mesh jackets available in India.
Features: Well Ventilated, detachable thermal and water proof liners, metal
inserts on shoulders, Removable CE certified armors.
Also see : LS2 three season
Sunday evening I am lazing around at my office along with few of my best
buddies, a half finished chai and few crumbs of maska pav are left on the table.
There is tremendous amount of noise and it feels no different than being inside
a Virar local train. Everyone present is pouring over and giving their opinion about the newly arrived jacket.
The X1 made by Xtreme Dynamics Inc. (quite a mouthful eh.) dubbed as XDI is
quiet a beauty. With a sleek finish and tastefully done up exteriors, the jacket oozes style. The print along the reflective panels along with the metal inserts shouts premium with all letters in capitals.
Build quality is top notch, made from 600D cordura and high quality boomerang mesh, the jacket feels sturdy to take on the asphalt in event of a crash. Cordura being relatively more abrasion resistant as compared to polyester, cotton or nylon (as per modified wyzenbek abrasion test) is the major component used in making this jacket. Strategically placed mesh panels above the chest and sides as well as at the back promotes high air flow.
Build quality is top notch, made from 600D cordura and high quality boomerang mesh, the jacket feels sturdy to take on the asphalt in event of a crash. Cordura being relatively more abrasion resistant as compared to polyester, cotton or nylon (as per modified wyzenbek abrasion test) is the major component used in making this jacket. Strategically placed mesh panels above the chest and sides as well as at the back promotes high air flow.
The X1 also adapts well to different riding styles thanks to the stretch
panels placed at the elbow and below the shoulder blades. The panels give
enough room in case you want to ride in a more upright stance like on a
street/cruiser bikes or in a more aggressive stance on a sports bike. The Velcro based adjustable straps at the waist and cuff makes sure that the jackets
fits you well. Though we would have appreciated adjustable straps at the elbow
as well, we are not complaining as the jacket fits perfectly and we really do
not miss the elbow straps owing to the pre-curved sleeves which wraps around your arms.
The X1 has you covered for everything that mother nature can throw at you,
a thermal liner keeps you warm during those cold rides and a 100% waterproof
liner AKA Hydra-seal liner as XDI calls it, keeps you dry during those heavy down
pours. The icing on the cake is that both these liners are detachable and hence
you can wear just the outermost mesh and cordura shell during those hot
summers. Hence, this is a ideal jacket for the Indian climate.
The X1 comes with CE certified removable armours in elbow and shoulders
which comprises of a custom molded external ABS shell and polyethylene foam on
the inside.
The jacket is also equipped with a removable pre-curved dual density foam armor in the back certified to
EN 1621 standards.
Obviously the top
brasses at XDI were not happy with just the basic armours and hence have added
re-inforced metal inserts on the shoulder area for greater protection in event
of a nasty spill.
Visibility is often something that is sacrificed for looks and hence we are
happy with the way the X1 has been designed with reflective prints and panels
placed on the chest and back. This is a boon for people who ride during late
evenings, as poor visibility often results in higher number of accidents.
The XDI X1 gets two external pockets and one internal waterproof pocket for
storing things like wallets phones etc. The zippers used on the jackets are
made by YKK which are renowned for their strength and durability.
The Ride :
We were lucky enough to get an Ideal climate to test the jacket as it was
quite sunny in the afternoon and it started raining in the evening and became
quite chilly once the rains subsided.
We rode for around 180 Kms and the ventilation works well with the cold air
being sucked in from the front mesh panels and the heat getting pushed out from
the rear. We halted for a quick tea around 5pm and it started pouring by the
time we finished. As we had another 70 kms to go before we could reach the warm
confines of our office we attached both the liners as it had become quite
chilly.
The thermal and the Hydra-seal liners work as a charm, it kept us quite
warm and dry except for few dribbles from the neck which managed to find its
way behind the collar of the jacket. An extremely smart thinking on the part of
the people who designed the hydra-seal liners is that they have given a extra
flap on these liners which sits behind the main zipper of the jacket (if you align it properly) and hence even though water penetrates through the zipper the extra flap forms a barrier and keeps you dry.
The X1 is currently available in two colours i.e. stealth black and black white orange combo in sizes ranging from medium to 3XL.
Final Verdict :
The X1 is a well designed and well thought out product. We believe when it
comes to quality style and affordability none of the current brands come
close to the X1. The detachable liners
makes it a true all season jacket. To sum it up the XDI X1 is where form meets
functionality and affordability and if you are thinking of getting a motorcycle
jacket the X1 definitely makes it among the list of top
contenders.
Russel J
Prostreet Motorcycle Gear
www.prostreetstore.com