RJAYS Adventure Suit

This entry is part 3 of 17 in the series Adventure Rider Issue #43

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The brand’s been around a while, but the new RJays Adventure apparel has had a big boost for 2020. Mathew ‘Secret Squirrel’ Potts has been trying a suit for Adventure Rider Magazine and shares his thoughts so far.

What’s to say about an adventure-riding outfit?

A lot when you think about it.

The designers have a huge task. Their product has very wide design criteria. At one end of the scale is a hardcore enduro pilot, and at the other someone on an around-the-world adventure. In the middle are commuters and weekend riders. The gear will be expected to cope with temperatures and conditions from Arctic blizzards to tropical humidity, and from monsoonal downpours to dry desert heat.

All this while still looking good, being comfortable on long rides and lasting for years with minimal care or maintenance.

That’s not an easy job.

From the top

To start with, the RJays Adventure jacket has nice contemporary styling and colours. It doesn’t look like it’s come from the local op-shop bargain bin, nor does it present like some-thing that wouldn’t be of place on a mardi gras float. It’s a nice-looking outfit and fits well. It even made Squirrel look good riding the new 1050 V-Strom, and that was a big ask for any outfit.

To cover the heat side of things, both the jacket and pants have neat, almost-hidden panels that simply zip open and fold down out of the way letting air in. It’s a simple and reliable system that keeps the rider cool while maintaining protection.

The cold?

Well, I ride to work and it’s a 100km round trip. Most mornings and evenings have been below 10 degrees – cold enough to freeze a squirrel’s nuts. But I’ve only been wearing shorts and T-shirt under-neath the RJays suit, and I’ve not been cold. Not even once.

A feature I really like is the zip-off neck warmer/windbreaker. It doesn’t sound like much, but it works a treat and it saves having to use a thermal sock-type neck warmer. I also think it’ll keep the hot wind at bay and help prevent wind burn which can be a problem on long summer days in the saddle.

There are plenty of pockets for phones, wallets and so forth, both inside and out-side the jacket.

The RJays Adventure suit even made Squirrel look good riding the new 1050 V-Strom.

Below the waist

The pants do their job and cover the bits they should. They have inbuilt knee guards adjustable for height, useful pockets and big zips on the legs to let the pants fit over motocross-type boots.

For me the winner was the clip-on, over-the-shoulder braces.

That might not sound like a big deal, but it keeps them up where they should be, on and off the bike. They’re especially good when transitioning between sitting and standing while riding, or during a stop when going for a walk around. The pants stay up where they’re comfortable and you don’t end up looking like a broken plumber with a big crack at the back every time you bend over.

The waterproof and thermal liners go in and out easily and are stowed in a pocket in the back of the jacket when not in use.

But they have a really cool feature.

The button tabs at the ends of the legs and arms that hold them in place are colour coded, so it makes putting them in very easy. There’s no getting twisted top-to-bottom with everything out by 180 degrees. It’s so annoying trying to fit liners in the middle of a ride in the cold or rain, only to find you can’t put your arm or leg through because the liner’s twisted.

Or is it just me who always gets that wrong?

The colour coding on the RJays is a clever, simple idea, obviously designed by someone who actually rides and has had to fit liners more than once before.

RJAYS Dune glove

Features

• Four-way stretch and microfibre
• VISCOLAB CE knuckle protection
• Tricot lining on back of hand
• Double-layer palm with Air-Gel antivibration padding
• Carbon palm slider
• Neoprene cuff for comfort
• Finger gussets enhance mobility and wick away moisture
• Silicone print on fingers for lever grip
• Touch-screen compatible tip on thumb
• TPR wrist closure with velcro
• Available in sizes S – XXL
• RRP $89.95

Hands down

The Dune glove, while looking like a motocross glove, is actually a bit different.

All the materials are thicker and reinforced in areas where my normal motocross-type gloves usually fail. They’re super comfortable to ride with all day, and although I’ve only had them a few months I’m confident these gloves will easily outlast several normal moto-cross-type gloves while offering just as much comfort and feel.

Yet to get wet

The only thing I haven’t been able to test is the waterproofing.

I haven’t been caught out in the rain yet, but the way the liners zip in and out is very smooth, and with the rest of the suit so well thought out, I’m pretty sure this will be up to the same high standard and work great.

I’m fairly confident the RJays gear will be as good or better than other clobber I’ve tried in the rain.

So far it’s a great set of riding gear. It’s built tough, should last for years, and is very versatile in that it saves having to buy a winter and a summer outfit. That makes it easy. You only have to take one set of gear on a ride.

And the suit’s available at a great price.

I like it. It gets Squirrel’s five-out-of-five nuts rating of approval.

An all-season, high-spec suit for touring or adventure.

A strong comfortable outer shell is overlaid with nylon in key impact areas. Large ventilation points allow a high level of air flow, while removable waterproof and thermal liners allow adjustability for any weather or season. With multiple stretch panels for dexterity the Adventure suit offers good comfort.

RJAYS Adventure Jacket

Features

• Outer Shell: CH3532 and nylon 1000D on shoulders and elbows
• CE armour in the shoulders and elbows
• Elbow protectors are height-adjustable
• EVA rubber back pad
• Waterproof and breathable liner (15,000mm/10,000mm)
• Removable, 100g thermal liner
• Detachable all-weather collar
• Air-Ventilation System (AVS) for cooling
• Multipanel mesh comfort lining
• Stretch comfort panels
• Four outer pockets including hand-warmer pockets and four inner pockets
• Arm and waist adjusters for a customised fit
• Reflective print
• Connection zips for matching Adventure pants.
• Available in men’s S – 8XL and ladies’ 10-18
• RRP $499.95

RJAYS Adventure pant

Features

• Outer Shell: CH3532 and nylon 1000D reinforcement
• CE armour in the knees (height-adjustable)
• Waterproof and breathable liner (15,000mm/10,000mm)
• Removable 100g thermal liner
• Air-Ventilation System (AVS) for cooling
• Detachable braces
• Multipanel mesh comfort lining
• Stretch comfort panels
• Two outer pockets.
• Waist adjusters for a customised fit
• Reflective print
• Connection zips for jacket
• Available in men’s S – 6XL and ladies’ 10-18
• RRP $369.95