Tested & Written by: Bryan Bosch |
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If you ride, you're going to crash. Because of this, it only makes sense to wear the best safety equipment possible. Of course, this is where it gets complicated, as there are lots of brands/products to choose from and even more opinions as to what works. I met Steve Brand (Owner of Tekrider) a little while back at a dealer trade show in Las Vegas and he took the time to show me their latest offering for the off-road motorcycle enthusiasts. Steve is very passionate about off-roading and even more passionate about his products and the protection they offer. After learning about Tekrider's approach to safety and trying on a Tekvest Rally Sport, I had to give it a try. Unlike a plastic roost deflector that lays on more loosely your body, the TekVest Rally Sport wears, well... like a vest. It fits more snugly against your body with a zippered front and adjustable straps, both in the chest and lower torso areas. Sizes run from XS to 3XL, so finding a Tekvest to fit comfortably shouldn't be too difficult. The inside of the vest is lined with a soft, perforated cloth material, so it can be worn both under and over a jersey. I've logged plenty of hours with my Tekvest and its been comfortable, supportive and it does not limit your range of motion. The question everyone asks is "is it hot?" Compared to just a jersey, yes. Compared to a jersey and full plastic chest protector, still warmer. To each his own for sure, but I'm comfortable wearing the Tekvest until it hits the mid 80. But, having grown up in the Pacific NW, even after 4 years in So Cal, I'm still not used to riding in the summer heat. However, everything in life has both a give and take, so for hot conditions you will sacrifice a bit of comfort, but the primary purpose of the Tekvest is protection. My helmet is hot, but I wouldn't think about riding without it. So, let's talk about protection. Most roost deflectors are made from High Density Polyethylene (HDPE). This material is fairly rigid and offers decent impact protection. In contrast,Tekrider uses Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMW-PE) in its vests. The key difference is that UHMW-PE is 8X more impact resistant the HDPE, yet it is flexible. UHMW-PE also offers outstanding abraision resistance and it's resistant to both chemicals and stress cracking. In addition to the use of UHMW-PE, the vest has a layer of high density padding (but not thick & bulky), to further increase impact protection. The Tekvest also provides protection where traditional roost deflectors leave off, including your flanks and lower lumbar area. The Tekvest also includes some useful features, including a built-in hydration bladder holder with over the shoulder hose guide (holds my 100oz Callback bladder no problem or whatever else you'd like to stow) and an integrated key holder strap with ring that keeps your keys securely inside the pocket when riding and can be easily detached from the vest (male/female clip) when needed. Pros Cons Bottom-line |
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