revit

When One Door Closes....

Another One Opens! Like Really, Really Wide.

It’s been a crazy Summer so I haven’t had time to update.

I’m excited to announce I’ve been spending it at my new job as Retail Experience Manager for REV’IT! USA. Luckily we are based in Denver, so no, I am not moving back to Philadelphia anytime soon. (No more humidity!)

Since April I’ve been traveling, seeing friends along the way and most importantly, talking to riders! So here’s what I’ve been up to in case you missed my IG feed.

AUSTIN, TX

Right after I started, I headed right to MotoGP in Austin. And bumped into Danilo Petrucci! Ok, he was invited to our party in downtown Austin since he’s one of our sponsored riders in this year’s Moto America Championship. He’s also a former MotoGP rider and has taken the US championship by storm.

PORTLAND, OR

After MotoGP I went to Portland, to the amazing One Show. We also had a booth there and were able to preach the gospel of REV’IT to the masses. It was an incredible experience, with SO MANY PEOPLE! The creativity and overall enthusiasm for bikes was such a wonderful thing to see and experience. And YES, that is the very funny Alonzo Bodden.

NETHERLANDS

Then a few weeks later, it was off to visit our Global HQ just outside Amsterdam. Yep, the company is Dutch! It was such an incredible experience. I was able to ride bicycles in the canals, try stroopwaffle, see the HQ and more. I am definitely not good at the whole jetlag thing. I don’t know how I managed to stay awake the entire time.

Then the first week of June somehow showed up and I headed to Philly for our US Sales Meeting. I got to meet dealers from all over the US and Canada! Wasn’t a whole lot to see there, except meetings.

BROOKLYN, NY

Then came late June, as I headed to Brooklyn to actually help Comoto open the 3rd ever RevZilla Showroom in Brooklyn. Yes, it was surreal but it was also such a great time! Everyone was happy, in a great mood and just all around excited for RevZilla to land in Brooklyn. I was incredibly happy for them and was glad I could be a part of it. Part of my job is conducting training around the US and Canada for dealers / stores that need me. I spent a couple days training almost all of their sales staff on our brand and what we have to offer.

MOTO AMERICA LAGUNA SECA

14 Year Old Kayla Yaakov, Altus Motorsports

The following week, I ended up going to a last minute event called Moto America! It was hosted at Weathertech Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey. The weather was incredibly perfect and the racing was awesome. I was particularly impressed by this young woman named Kayla Yakoff, just a cheerful 14, going on 15 year old girl doing what she loves! She’s racing in the Junior Cup series on her Ninja 400. Last month she made history by winning the first Junior Cup race by a female!

I also got to meet Patricia Fernandez. She was racing in not just 1, but 2 series (my favorites) that weekend: King of the Baggers and Super Hooligans. If you’ve never seen a Harley Bagger leaning over far more than anyone probably thinks it can, going 100+mph down the straightaway, it’s something to witness. There are only two women racing in the Bagger and Hooligan series and it’s Patricia and Shelina Moreda who’s been racing for over a decade. It’s been so great to see her move through various racing classes as well. She also runs women’s dirt training classes in Northern CA and is just an all around talented human.

Right now, we are sponsoring PJ Jacobsen, Tytlers Cycle Racing on a BMW M1000RR and Danilo Petrucci on a Ducati Panigale V4 R, Warhorse HSBK Racing.

We also had a little booth in the vendor area because REV’IT is sponsoring the Twins Cup series this year! Hopefully by next year, you’ll see a little more of our track suit son the podium. :-)

You can catch up on all the races on Moto America’s youtube channel.

STURGIS, SD

Then the following week was RevZilla’s ADVFest in Sturgis. I’ve never been to Sturgis so for this one, I brought the man so he could ride his new to him DRZ400S! Thanks to Rawhyde Adventures for the killer novice adventure class that he took. It was insanely hot, but everyone still had a great time and I got to see a ton of ZLA friends that I hadn’t seen since pre pandemic!

LEADVILLE, CO

Then it was off to Leadville, CO for the first annual Holiday Moto event, which took place at the Leadville MX Track. REV’IT! was the title sponsor and I got to see a lot of new faces. No riding for me at this one, but soon!

CANADA

And finally I had a few weeks until I left for Canada to visit and train a couple of our awesome dealers over the border. I got to spend 2 days in Calgary with Blackfoot Motorsports, (please tell them I sent you!) training their sales team and meeting local riders.

TORONTO

Then it was a couple days in Toronto at GP Bikes. Another team of passionate, excited riders who needed some product training too. It was so busy I didn’t have time to take a lot of photos. I did manage a selfie in the Triumph room!

it’s only August but there are a few months left and a few more fun projects and events coming. Stay tuned for updates. :)

Updates: Broken Bones and Saying Goodbye.....

RevZilla Denver Grand Opening with some of the best people I’ve ever worked with in the motorcycle industry. October 2021

UPDATE #1: IT’S SO HARD TO SAY GOODBYE, REVZILLA

Well, it’s been a wild couple of months.

First things first, after 8 years of dedicating my career to RevZilla / Comoto, I decided to leave at the end of February. For reasons I won’t go into deeply here, I had to make a decision for myself that was extremely difficult to make. But I am 1,000% happy that I did.

A very, very wise woman I know recently said:

Just don’t drain your well filling everyone else’s glass. Your well being is important too.

I poured my heart & soul into the RevZilla brand but after 8 years, I needed to do this to regain my mental health and passion for this industry. I appreciate everyone’s support and love over the years and have not lost my love of two wheels. And in case you’re wondering, yes, staying in Denver for the time being and hoping to enjoy the mountains around here very soon.

So after I decided to leave, I flew home to visit my family in CA for some down time including riding on two wheels. First, I went for a lovely day ride through Marin County, just north of the Golden Gate Bridge with my wonderful friend, Kurt of Transformative Journeys.

On my friend’s Royal Enfield Classic. Such a lovely bike.

He led me on a beautiful ride through Muir Woods, around Mount Tamalpais and up to Point Reyes Station. It was a gorgeous day and a really wonderful re introduction to street riding after taking all of Winter off. As a shorty, the RE is an easy, classic bike to ride. Of course, you may not flat foot if you’re short like me but as you move up your way from 250-300cc bike, this 650cc twin is an easy upgrade. Remember, us shorties must put in more time to learn how to ride before we ride our dream bikes.

UPDATE #2: BREAKING THINGS

Later in the week, I decided to go off roading with my friend Joe, and he took me to the beautiful Carnegie SVRA Off Road Park out in Tracy. Well, things didn’t go quite as planned and I bit it going up a hill with some small whoopdies (bumps) that I didn’t see until I was halfway up. I also looked down at the bumps since I wasn’t really expecting them. And then boom, hit the ground and broke my humerus.

The good news is that my dirt gear saved the rest of my body parts and albeit severe, this break was the only injury I walked away with. I decided to have surgery a week and a half later near my parent’s house and then I flew home the end of March. The upside was spending time with my parents and eating everything in sight that my mom was making for me and taking some much needed time off. I highly recommend it.

No worrying, stressing or thinking about my job. I simply wasn’t happy anymore, and I finally got a chance to just relax and be happy.

Even though I was in some pain and recovering from surgery it was much better than the mental stress I was carrying from my job. I truly was able to relax and enjoy some down time.

Recovery is going well, my wound is healing and I’ve started physical therapy.

I’m hoping to have full use of my arm (bearing full weight, lifting, driving, riding, etc.) in month and a half or so.

UPDATE #3: POLARIS EMPOWERSPORTS COUNCIL

All 16 members of the Polaris Empowersports Council, March 2022

When Polaris asked me to join a unique group of individuals in the Powersports industry to increase the visibility, inclusion and participation of riders how could I say no?

This group is comprised of talented, passionate and unique riders who come from all over the Powersports industry including snowmobiles, side by sides, offroad and on road motorcycles. I’m excited to volunteer my time to contribute to the efforts that Polaris is making to make our industry a more inclusive one.

I hardly see anyone who looks like me in my industry, as it’s dominated by mostly white, male men. Those numbers changing slowly, but I am thrilled to do what I can to move that needle a bit further, faster. The council was just formed in March so I’m sure there will be exciting events and announcements this year as I’m asked to work on various initiatives set forth by the Council.

Stay Tuned for more Updates!

New Women's Gear from Rev'it Spring 2020

Revit is pulling out all the heavy hitters for Spring this season. I’ve always appreciated the completely different fit style and shape that Revit offers women and that’s why they maintain such a high favorites status in my book.

Aside from a few revisions and improvements on what I call staples in the collection (3rd versions of their popular outfits) as well as a few entirely new options, like a 1 PIECE TRACK SUIT!

Since these are brand new I haven’t seen any of these in person, so I’m giving my opinions and observations simply based on what I see in the photos. As well as what I do know about the men’s versions and/or the previous models. 

For those of you that do love pink, you’re going to love the options this season because almost every new piece is offered with a pink colorway for you! 

There’s a little something for everyone this time around, so keep scrolling if sportbike gear isn’t your thing.

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Revit Xena 3 1 Piece Race Suit

One Piece Race Suit, WHAT?!  Up until now, the brands making women’s 1 Piece Track Suits were Alpinestars, Dainese, Spidi. Done. Now we have (4)!

Women who ride track days are few and far between, and the fact that Revit continues to make us incredible gear, no matter how many of us ride is truly wonderful.

If this suit follows the fit profile of the popular Xena 3 separates option, it’s going to be a great addition to its competitors.  

Let’s look at some of these features: 

  • Dual knee sliders

  • Shoulder sliders

  • Elbow sliders

  • Stretch panels along the underbust (YES!)

  • Stretch panels along the inner thighs, up to the hips

Underbust stretch is so important! Women have busts. We need stretch. It’s awesome to see the brands understand this and incorporate it into their designs. Only 2 other suits have an accordion style stretch panel along the outside of the bust: 

Any features that a brand can build into its gear to accommodate multiple body types are gold. Because then you can sell that jacket or pant or suit to more than just 1 kind of woman. MSRP $999.99

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Revit Xena 3 Jacket and Pants 

I loooooove white leather. Especially perforated white leather in the summer. I don’t wear mesh, even in 90F weather so relying on my white mesh leather has been my goto for the past 6 years or so.

Aside from the color change, the main feature update that I like is the localized perforation on the front and back of the jacket and front of the pants. For the pants, they took away the flashy white stripe and made them completely black. If you’re all about the black/black/black then you’ll love the two pieces together. I think I’m going to have to clean out my gear closet for Spring to justify buying another jacket. (sorry honey). 

With the Xena suit, they’ve always been a little bustier in the chest than the Italian options so I hope they kept that fit profile with the updated styling. MSRP $439.99-$479.99

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Revit Xena 3 Gloves

These are a tremendous improvement from the 2s, with improved wrist protection (more track level), and a double closure around the wrist.

The 2s were definitely more street-oriented with lighter protection than comparable track gloves. I’m excited to see these improvements. 

With the extra stretch along each finger, you can also count on a slightly longer finger length as with all track level gloves. Because the fingers are precurved out as much as possible.

If you struggle with finding gloves that are long enough, always look for Euro brands like Rev’it, as well as many stretch points along the fingers. This will give you a little bit more room as you squeeze your hands around your handgrips. MSRP $159.99

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REVIT FLY 3 GLOVES

Don’t worry, there’s a black version too.

But having non black versions for those of you who do want lighter colors and more casual colors is awesome, right?

The Flys have been a great summer glove for awhile now and adding a light brown/tan colorway is fantastic. Boatloads of perforation and wrist protection (which most casual style gloves seem to forget).

These are great no matter what you ride, although they certainly have touring / cruising / cafe bobber lifestyles in mind.

All the perforation you could want/need and of course a smart finger to navigate on your smartphone on the fly.  The only thing I’d like to see in the future (even for $5more) is a hard palm slider. #glovegoals #LoveIt. 

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REVIT MERIDIAN JACKET

I’m conflicted about this colorway. (There’s a black/white version too). But given how funky it is, I thought it was worth sharing.

Being that it’s buffalo leather I think it would make a decent highway jacket, it also features a 6 inch connection zipper so it would work really with the Luna leather pants. MSRP $449.99

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REVIT VICTORIA JEANS

Riding jeans are SO hard. For so many reasons. Because we’re all particular about how we like them to fit, because they never feel like our normal jeans. You must accept that going in.

But, as far as riding jeans go, Rev’it delivers a straight fit that usually has a little more room in the waist than other brands. So if you typically buy a 29 at Lucky Brands Jeans, you can probably size down to a 28. Unless you’re a powerlifting queen and need more room in the thighs. But as far as waist sizes go, Revit seems to run a size roomy. 

I am definitely adding some Revit jeans to my closet this Spring because I like the fit for my weird small body type (larger calves and thighs for someone 5’2”). These are constructed of Cordura Denim (https://www.cordura.com/Fabrics/denim-fabric) backed up by Revit’s own PWRShield fabric as an alternative to Kevlar or Aramid fabrics. MSRP $249.99

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REVIT TORQUE JACKET

The Torque is a sporty mesh jacket with a removable waterproof jacket liner. What I think is pretty awesome is this camo colorway. I’m not a huge camo person but I’m drawn to the subtle camo design. I think some women riders who are also in the military will appreciate this design as well. (Women in the Military, please chime in below!)

If it follows the men’s version as far as fitment, I imagine this will be a slightly looser version of the sporty Arc Air which I bought last Summer. I had to size up in that one because it ran so tight. Generally, if something has a removable long sleeve liner it’ll have a slightly looser fit to fit the liner. 

The mesh differences between this and the Arc Air is none along the side of the torso from the armpit down to the waist. Given that this is probably supposed to work between Spring and Summer it makes sense.  Unfortunately, the only lighter colorway is white and light pink camo. 

Fortunately, the lighter colorway is white and light pink camo.

Just depends on how you look at it :-) 

If you’re a fan of pink, then you’ll love the camo. If not, then you’ll want to stick with black, the Arc Air or Airwave. I’d still categorize this jacket as more of a sport / sport touring fit since the mesh moves all the way to the neckline. When you ride an aggressive sportbike, mesh that reaches the neckline means you’ll feel more of it while hunched forward.  MSRP $239.99

Revit Airwave 3 Jacket and Pants

The popular Airwave summer suit is getting another facelift. For those of you who want the lightest colors you can get during the summer (knowing how dirty they will also get) then here you go. But don’t worry, there is almost always a black version hiding behind the corner! 

Silver jacket and pants, for toasty hot weather riding. Keep in mind the Airwave does have more of a touring / sport touring fitment. So bootcut pant legs, and tighter shoulders when leaning forward on your super sporty bike. Not impossible, just something to think about when you’re trying things on. That’s why it’s vital to follow my Shopping Rules! MSRP $199.99-$229.99

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Revit Tornado 3 Jacket and Pants

The popular Tornado suit also gets some badly needed improvements as well. My main gripe about the 1st 2 versions of the jacket were the lack of adjustment around the forearms.

Don’t worry, there’s always black in the Tornado 3 suit.

Don’t worry, there’s always black in the Tornado 3 suit.

It was so loose there without the liner that it wouldn’t fit right after taking the liner out. Now you can tighten that part down! I think almost every jacket should have adjustments in these two spots to increase the range of fitment for every size. 

The pants also got a nice little update with the calf adjustment to tighten things down again, after taking the liner out.

The one feature I miss from the first Tornados is the inner leg zipper! That made it an incredibly versatile pant as both pant and overpant. I wonder if it would’ve been a significant cost increase because these pants are already over $300.

The liner in both pieces are still the same, 2-in-1; waterproof and warm at the same time.

This means for those of us in the NorthEast/ East/ South, it won’t work to wear the liner in the summer time.

So if you like to ride in the summer when it’s raining you’ll need to buy a light rainjacket that you can throw on top in a pinch. 

But for those of you in the West/Northwest, it’s the perfect outfit. It’s never humid and wet, so you’ll need a warm liner when it’s raining anyhow. 

With a mesh outer though, keep in mind that it still won’t serve your 40-50F (before windchill) riding conditions in winter temps that low. 

MSRP $319.99-$349.99

That’s all the new stuff from Rev’it this season, happy shopping!

Post your comments/questions/feedback below and let me know what you think.

Taller Motorcycle Boots for Women

An internal life is far more effective than an external one

An internal life is far more effective than an external one

It’s been too long since I updated my last post on tall boots, so here’s an updated list of taller women’s motorcycle boots that will give you an additional 2-2.5” of heel height that I hope increases your confidence, stability and traction. 

Before you look at this list, keep in mind that none of these will options will make up for a mistake in judgment by riding a motorcycle completely out of your experience like a 1,000cc sportbike when you’ve just barely gotten your permit or only have a few hundred miles of experience on a beginner bike. 

Learning to ride well is crucial in the short riders’ experience, because we all know that the best riders in the world are often the shortest

But if you aren’t in that bucket, and you’re simply looking for a boost in confidence and traction like I was years ago when I bought my first pair of Daytonas, then you’ve come to the right place!

But if you aren’t in that bucket, and you’re simply looking for a boost in confidence and traction like I was years ago when I bought my first pair of Daytonas, then you’ve come to the right place!

1/ Daytona Lady Star GTX $449

The boot that started it all. These were my second pair of riding boots after I upgraded my bike from a 250cc to a 750cc.

At the time, they were incredible and I like to compare them to training wheels.

After I really learned to ride, I simply didn’t need them anymore. Read my review here. 

They’re now just my cold winter riding boots, and I only use them sparingly when it’s freezing.

Daytona Lady Pilot GTX

Daytona Lady Pilot GTX

2/ Daytona Lady Pilot GTX $349

Due to the popularity of the Lady Star, the Lady Pilot was released about a year ago.

Basically the same boot with a simpler style, slightly tighter calf and streamlined look. Same internal lift and fitment. 

3/ Daytona Lady SL Pilot GTX $329

For those of you looking for a shorter shafted boot, this will cover your ankles but not as high as the Pilot or Stars.

Also expect a similar, wide fit just like the other two Daytonas. 

These are the shorter versions of the Lady Pilot. Same fitment and everything.

Daytona Lady SL Pilot GTX (why can’t they come up with more creative names?)

Daytona Lady SL Pilot GTX (why can’t they come up with more creative names?)

4/ TCX Tourer GTX $279

Other brands have finally caught on including TCX. The Tourer GTX is a similar, internally shafted boot. The major difference is the outer material.

It isn’t mesh fabric for ventilation, it’s mesh for breathability so that the GoreTex membrane can pull as much as moisture away from your feet as possible.

They will absolutely keep you dry, promise.

The overall shaft height is not as tall as the Lady Pilots. The red circles are from something else I wrote to demonstrate all the impact areas that boots like these will offer. I like the way TCX boots fit, great width and comfort and quality for the price.

I also like how lightweight these boots are. Since they’re mostly synthetic, I don’t think they’re going to stretch very much unfortunately.

TCX Tourer GTX

TCX Tourer GTX

Revit Quest H2O

Revit Quest H2O

5/ REVIT Quest H2O $299

The Quest isn’t shafted as high as Daytonas, but they’re still pretty thick in the heel.

What is pretty interesting about them is how wide they are, especially in the ankles. For this reason, I have found them challenging to fit because they’re usually quite loose on most women that try them on.

These are also waterproof, just not GoreTex.

I do like the Vibram soles though.

Dainese Aurora D-Dry

Dainese Aurora D-Dry

6/ Dainese Aurora D-Dry $239

These will be the narrowest of all of them.

It has a substantial lift and low profile. I like how these look the best (vanity is okay!).

Dainese always wins for design, don’t they?

These are also fully waterproof, just not GoreTex.


I hope these options help you, don’t hesitate to contact me directly if you ever need anything!

Gently Used Plus Size Women’s Motorcycle Gear from Revit and Klim

My good friend Alisa Clickenger, is selling her gently used Revit Levante and Airwave Suit

My good friend Alisa Clickenger, is selling her gently used Revit Levante and Airwave Suit

My good friend Alisa is selling two awesome, gently used adventure suits that need a new home!

She’s about 5’10”, so both of these suits are great if you need a taller, plus size option. You can find her on Facebook through Women’s Motorcycle Tours and through her personal Facebook Profile.

If you have questions about sizing, just comment below or message her directly through the facebook links above.

Happy Shopping!

Rev’it Levante and Airwave 1 Pants, Size 46 (Location: Southern CA):

The Levante is now discontinued :( If you google you can find old reviews for them online. It was a fantastic jacket that I could fit 80% of the women who walked in the door. You’ll especially love these suits if you’re taller and need longer sleeves, waists and legs.

Klim Artemis Jacket, 2X and Pants, Size 14

This is Klim’s flagship adventure suit for women who are riding everywhere and anywhere from the pouring rain to the dry deserts.



Need "Bad Fit" Women's Gear Photos

To my fabulous female readers. I'm contributing to an article about women's gear fitment and need photos to illustrate "bad fit" for women's gear, especially jacket and pant photos.

Please <EMAIL> them to me.

For example, here's a pic of my saggy butt showing the worst pant fit ever. I have a very flat butt.

This was about 6-7 years ago when I lost a lot of weight (almost 20lbs) so when I tried on my pants after ~6 months this was the result.

(For reference, these were Revit Gear 2 Pants, now discontinued but the current version is called the Ignition 3)

Before they are used, I will email you and let you know.

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Trip Planning for a Multi Day Solo Ride

One of the maps I created from my last solo trip several years ago down to NC

One of the maps I created from my last solo trip several years ago down to NC

I’m going to be riding this week somewhere. Initially I was thinking of going back South, towards the Carolinas, Virginias and Tennessee. I really love the riding down there, so I guess I just am drawn to going back there. I’m open to going North instead, but I don’t honestly know much about the riding in that direction.

Unfortunately the weather this week has hampered my leaving on time because if I don’t absolutely have to, I would rather NOT ride in the rain all day for 2 days. So I will leave as soon as the weather lets up tomorrow, or Tuesday morning if need be.

Someone asked me about my trip planning and what / how I am going to plan for something like this. Well, for me, it’s not going to be too much work, but I will be thinking about the following things.

But I won’t know exactly what I’m doing until I sort out all the people that i want to meet up with first. I know people have lives, so I certainly don’t expect everyone to meet me on my schedule. I will likely play a lot of my day to day destinations by ear.

Me and my friend Tamela meeting up 4 years ago in West Virginia. That was a fantastic trip!

Me and my friend Tamela meeting up 4 years ago in West Virginia. That was a fantastic trip!

Who Do I Want to Visit? Who Wants to Meet Up, and Where?

I’ll be looking a routes and using an online planning tool, Furkot.com. It’s my favorite tool for long distance planning because it takes in to consideration your mileage per day, hours you want to travel, breaks, gas stops and hotel stops. I can also take the route and import it into my iPhone app, InRoute. It’s freaking amazing.

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How Many Points Do I Have for Free Hotel Nights?

(I’m NOT a moto camper, this queen needs a real bed and shower)

Who can say no to free hotel rooms? I have some points with Holiday Inn Express so I will likely route some nights onto those if I’m not staying with a friend. We’ll see.

What’s My Daily Budget?

Of course, doing a trip like this costs money! Hopefully between the free hotel nights and 1 or 2 friend’s couches, I will only have to pay for my food and gas. Not too bad. I’m a huge Waffle House Fan so i will be looking for those as much as possible. :D

Am I the only one who LOVES Waffle House while traveling? #smothered #covered

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What Gear?

For this trip, I’ll have to take my trusty Revit Neptune GTX Suit. It’s a full multiseason suit with two removable liners; one is waterproof and the other one is thermal. So since the temperatures are going to be cooler from the high 40s/low 50s at night to mid 70s in the afternoon, depending how high the elevation is I’ll need something very versatile. I know that it’s going to rain on my way out of Philly and possibly coming back in next Monday. #firstworldproblems

I also will be taking my cool weather, waterproof Rukka Gloves, and my Dainese Torque Out boots. I do have Daytonas for when there’s heavy rain riding but if I’m only going to be in light to moderate rain, I don’t mind my Dainese because they’re water resistant and that’s good enough. The majority of this trip is dry and cool, so I can easily make those work. Daytonas are so bulky and heavy, it’s hard to go back to that kind of touring boot when you wear lightweight sport boots so much .

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I’ll also be wearing my Shoei RF-1200 because I need a quieter helmet, and my Bell is SO LOUD (even with earplugs). It’s also so tight, that for 8 hours a day it’s just too much. That’s really my summer, light riding helmet. I decided not to spend money right now on the Cardo Freecom 4+ headset that I’ve been drooling over. I will probably wait until Summer.

The reason I want to convert is because of the JBL speakers and the jogdial! Oooooohhhh. It has a very low profile, just like my current Sena 10R. But with these two vastly different features, I think it’ll jut be a much better headset overall. And the fact that it’s waterproof is a HUGE bonus.

What Luggage?

With my Triumph, I always use my Kriegas. They’re simply the best traveling luggage for low profile, waterproof, non saddlebag-hanging luggage with maximum volume. For trips like these, I have 40 Liters of packable space which doesn’t include my little Cortech tankbag.

Emergencies?

For emergencies, I’ll have my AAA membership and my AMA membership handy. I’ll also find the closest Triumph dealers and metric line dealers that might be able to help me if I have to get something fixed or serviced. My bike is in pretty good shape, so I don’t anticipate any issues but if I do, these will be my main lifelines.

I’ll carry just a few things might come in handy as far as tools and supplies:

  • Antigravity Microstart Power Supply with me in case I need a jump

  • a tire gauge

  • zip ties

  • folded duct tape

  • folding leatherman

  • allen key tool because pretty much everything on my bike can be tightened/loosended with 4 metric sizes

And that’s it! I can’t prepare for everything, so I’ll do my best and know that I can call for help if I need it. I’m mostly going to stick to paved, highway roads and will let my husband know what I’ll be doing every day so if I’m alone, someone knows where I’m headed.

3 Awesome Jackets for less than $200

Rev’it Tornado Women’s Jacket (v1); Slim Fit

Rev’it Tornado Women’s Jacket (v1); Slim Fit

These women’s motorcycle jackets are on crazy sale at RevZilla right now. I’ve added a few notes for you to see if they’ll fit you the woman rider in your life. If they do, then you’ve just scored a really great deal!

As always, drop me a line if you have questions about sizing or fitment.

1/ Rev’it Tornado Jacket, Euro 40 and 42, now $197.

This jacket is a great 3 season (spring, summer, warm) coat for your sportyish bike, your adv/touring bike and even your cruiser.

My Recommended sizing:

Euro 40 - Chest 42-43”, Waist 41-42”, Hips 43-44

Euro 42 - Chest 44-45”, Waist 42-43”, Hips 44-45

Keep in mind that these numbers are based on measuring your real waist. If you’re not sure how to do this, please watch this video. I know what you’re thinking, the Rev’it Size Chart says otherwise. Let’s just say it’s not perfect. But then again, what is? (okay, Cheesecake. Cheesecake is always perfect).

The Tornado is ideal for slimmer body types and those of you looking for a longer waist and sleeve length. Keep in mind that the liner is removable so always try your linered jackets on with and without the liners to see all the different combos and fitments you might be riding in.

If you’re not sure what to order, think about how snug you like your gear. If you want a very fitted fit and your Chest is 43.75, then order a Euro 42. If you have questions, just let me know!

My friend Sarah in a size small with a 43” Chest, 37.5” Waist, 43” hips. She’s also ~5’2”. Perfect Apple Fit.

My friend Sarah in a size small with a 43” Chest, 37.5” Waist, 43” hips. She’s also ~5’2”. Perfect Apple Fit.

2/ OLYMPIA SWITCHBACK 2 now $149

This is another great 2-3 season jacket, but without a thermal liner I’d say that it’s best as a Spring/Summer jacket. Keep in mind that with Olympia your rain liner can be worn outside or over the jacket when it’s raining.

Photo: wikihow.com

The fitment is very, very very generous and I would say that the alpha sizing is oversized. If you generally buy a small, you’ll find it to be a looser small. Especially in the bust, shoulders and hips.

The Switchback is ideal for a very short waist, and generous hips. Think Apple Shape.

For reference, a small fits a woman with a 38” Chest, 34” Waist and 43” Hip. It flares so much at the hips that anyone who needs a very large hip space will fit this jacket (assuming you don’t need a smaller waist as well).

Another great deal right now for the same body type: Cortech for $109. But upgrade the armor with D3O, please!

3/ REV’IT LEVANTE 42 $199.99

My gorgeous friend Alisa (~5’10”) in her Levante (46) Taller Fit.

My gorgeous friend Alisa (~5’10”) in her Levante (46) Taller Fit.

Another 3 season favorite, like the Tornado above. This one has a slightly different fit in that it has extra long sleeves and torso. Also more cinching and adjustments at the waist, forearms and bicep to make it fit tighter without the liner.

Since only 42 is available, you’ll need at least a 41” chest up to 44”. I’d recommend anywhere from a 42” - 45” waist given the adjustability that it has on each side.

The liner is thermal and waterproof so keep in mind that when it’s out the jacket will fit a half size larger. Given how long the sleeves run, this is ideal for someone who is taller and needs as much length as possible in the torso and sleeves.

I hope these help. If you need specific recommendations, please let me know!

Plus Size Jackets for Women

How do you find jackets that fit you when you don’t know where to begin?

Well, I’m here to give you some shortcuts. I wish this was easy. It’s impossible to know what’s going to fit me if I have a 45” chest, a 43” waist and a 48” hip?

I’ve been doing some research where I work lately, and fortunately I have the luxury of doing this for a living at RevZilla. We have a wonderful store in Philadelphia and if you’re a woman who needs help getting geared up I hope you’ll reach out and drop me a line so I can help.

Tourmaster Sonora Air - 3 Season Versatility!

Tourmaster Sonora Air - 3 Season Versatility!

Recently I’ve been looking at a series of plus size, larger jackets. Because I know that the majority of American women out there are larger. So I’ve made a list for you and I can tell you that these all have fitments and sizing that mean those of you looking for jackets to fit anywhere from a 40” to 55” chest have options.

There are European Brands that I know can fit larger women as well but I haven’t had a chance to research the sizing yet. For now, this is my list of recommendations but I promise to add and update it when I have enough information to add them to this list.

Olympia Airglide 5

multiseason, waterproof, mesh, summer, spring, fall, 3 season warm, mild winter

The Airglide is a 3 season (Spring, Summer, Fall and California/Florida winters) mesh jackt with 2 removable liners; one thermal and one waterproof. The waterproof liner is actually a standalone jacket which can be worn on the OUTSIDE of the jacket. Yes, OVER the jacket itself to keep you dry. Remember to deliner this one completely when you try it on so you can try it in hot weather and cold weather arrangements.

Wearing a size MEDIUM, Chest 46 / Waist 43.5 / Hips 48. She’s wearing it with ALL the liners zipped in. This is what I call Proper Fit.

Wearing a size MEDIUM, Chest 46 / Waist 43.5 / Hips 48. She’s wearing it with ALL the liners zipped in. This is what I call Proper Fit.

I’ve personally fit hundreds of women in Olympia. I love the quality, fit and versatility that they offer. In a size Small, I can fit someone with up to a 43” hip because it has a perfect cutout over the hips. It’s also slightly shorter waisted so it allows the jacket to sit higher on the hips.

In a 3X, I’ve fit someone with a 53” Bust, 48” Waist and 58” Hip. This is with ALL liners inside the jacket.

Now imagine taking the liners out and how much more room you will have! Please keep in mind that since it’s not a Winter specific jacket, you will not likely wear all the liners inside. Since the rain jacket can be worn inside or out, you will likely wear one liner but not the other.

I also want to share this photo of how you might need to zip the jacket up because riding jackets are sewn and designed for you to wear them in the riding position.

My friend and coworker Chrissy is zipping up two different jackets below, one is the older Olympia Airglide 4 Jacket (as opposed to the 5th version above) and the Rev’it Ladies Ignition 2 Jacket. See? It just takes a little bend forward. :)

Granted, the Ignition is a much more relaxed fit across the chest, so depending on your personal comfort (and riding position) you may prefer the Olympia fit over the Rev’it and that’s totally up to you!

Rev’it Ignition 3 Jacket

leather, mesh, hybrid, sport, sport touring, summer, waterproof

In the 3 photos above, next to the Silver Airglide, she’s wearing a Rev’it Ignition 2 Jacket. The fitment has not changed from 2 to 3, and sizing is the same. I will say that the shoulders run tighter so this is ideal if you have a REALLY generous bust in relation to your shoulders. This also runs closer to the sport/sport touring fit too. Keep in mind the torso can run long so if you are really short waisted AND busty, then this may not work well for you because the sleeves and torso might run too long. When that happens, the collar tends to ride up towards the bottom of your helmet.

Here are a few more on the list that I want to recommend for the bustier gals out there:

Tourmaster Sonora Air Jacket

mesh, waterproof, 3season warm, spring, summer

This is a photo of my friend and coworker, Stephanie. She’s wearing a size MD Plus, and her measurements are: 50 Chest, 45 Waist, 45 Hips. The Sonora has a shorter waist and sleeve overall compared to Rev’it, but it tends to be slightly longer in both areas than the Olympia Airglide above.

Klim Artemis Jacket

goretex, waterproof, multiseason, adventure, dual sport, spring, summer, fall, winter

The same person wearing the Sonora above also fits this jacket in a 2XL. The Sonora runs even longer than the others in the sleeves and waist because it’s a true Adventure Jacket; meant for a woman riding dirtbikes or dual sports. So that when you’re standing on the pegs, getting through a water crossing you’ll have plenty of coverage.

I know there are more options than this, but I wanted to give you a sense of what might fit you depending on your riding lifestyle.

As always, I’m here to help if you need personalized help finding something that fits you regardless of your size.

Riding with CLASS Motorcycle School at Virginia International Raceway

Nope, we didn’t crash and have to get our bikes towed! (Kendon Motorcycle Trailer)

Nope, we didn’t crash and have to get our bikes towed! (Kendon Motorcycle Trailer)

Not Just Your Average Monday.

Earlier this week I had the honor of attending back to back track days with my friends at Reg Pridmore’s CLASS Motorcycle School.

I attended a special, unique event earlier in April just for women riders but this one was one of their regular 2 day events at VIRginia International Raceway in Alton, VA. My husband and I loaded up our bikes on the RevZilla Trailer (#IloveMyJob) and drove out Sunday, October 14th.

Here I am dancing with our bikes?

Here I am dancing with our bikes?

We rented one of the fancy garages at the track and made our home for the next 2 days.

By the way, we didn’t bring half the stuff most people bring with them to the track. Everyone will tell you something different, but I can tell you that you’ll probably use half of what you actually bring. So this is our simplified list in order of importance:

  1. Our track gear (duh!); suits, helmets, gloves, boots, back protectors

  2. Our bikes and keys

  3. Painters tape and duct tape (painters tape goes first, then duct tape. You’ll see why in a minute)

  4. Clean clothes for 3 nights since we left Sunday and got back Wednesday

  5. Chairs (because standing around all the time is tiring)

  6. Tool box (we have this one from Sonic). Of course we didn’t use everything but it does have some nice moto specific tools that can come in handy. I mainly used the tools to remove my mirrors, reinstall them afterwards and tighten up some loose ends.

  7. Cleaners, paper towels:

    1. Mucoff products: dry chain lube & degreaser, protectant, goggle/faceshield cleaner

    2. Simple Green; general, all purpose cleaner

  8. Tire compressor (so you can adjust your tire pressure below street levels. I drop mine to 28 front and rear for a little more stick)

  9. Tie downs to tie the bikes down to the trailer

  10. A few snacks/drinks

Oh and did I mention that because we went to the South Course on Day 1 (not North as planned), we had to leave our cozy paddock behind! So we managed all day without anything with us, and relied on track friends to help us out.

VIRtrackMap_4.15.jpg

In retrospect I could’ve used extra fuel, but there was a Sunoco station on site, just on the other side of the parking lot. This was the first track day where my fuel light actually went on at the end of the last session!

We got in Sunday night a little late but stayed up to tape up our headlights and turn signals. You didn’t have to take your mirrors if you didn’t want to but I found them distracting and they were easy enough to remove.

This is why you need duct tape and painters tape, so you can make eyes! Let’s just say my husband’s creativity inspired me. Remember to never directly apply duct tape to your lights and mirrors, you want to use painters tape first and then you can go crazy with funny colors and what not.

Although Hurricane Michael hit the weekend before, we had the privilege of riding both courses at VIR; both the North and South Courses. Originally we were only supposed to ride the North Course but it just worked out that we were able to do South on Day 1 and North on Day 2.

The South Course was a shorter, slower paced track. The upside to this is that I got to do more laps than I normally would have. The schedule for CLASS was a little different than track days I’ve done in the past with other organizations.

As with every track day, the day started first thing (7:30am-8:00am) with Check In and Tech Inspection followed by a safety meeting where rules and information for the day was presented and shared by Reg’s team.

These rules were imposed on both groups, regardless of experience level or training so you know that everyone is on the same page and things will go as safely as possible.

rules.jpg

Reg also impressed upon us a few other thoughts that he truly believed were important to our time at VIR for the next 2 days. I find these messages are important, not only for the track but for the street too:

  1. Slowing down, maintaining control

  2. Courtesy and consideration

  3. Learning not speeding

I can feel the instructor’s (orange shirt) eyes on the back of my head watching my pitiful form.

I can feel the instructor’s (orange shirt) eyes on the back of my head watching my pitiful form.

I found this message to be comforting, empowering and set a positive tone for the riding ahead. One of the many personal rules I have about riding motorcycles is not riding in large groups of strangers (outside the confines of an organized, training ride with a dedicated riding organization e.g. large public rallies and parades. It simply makes me nervous because out on the street, the training and riding environment is vastly different. When a group of riders are at the track together, we’re generally on the same page. We know we’ve come here because we know it’s safer, and our environment is controlled and organized in a way that cannot be matched to a track day. I always feel 100% safer on the track than I do on the street.

As the day went on, I found myself finally figuring out this track and feeling the most confident at of course, the last lap. It took me all morning and afternoon to get my lines just right.

And as much as I wanted to get my knee down, I decided to shift my focus on hitting my apexes just right and keeping my line tight, not wide because on the street that can be a very dangerous outcome. (Imagine going wide on a 2 lane, 2 way road over the double yellows!) I finally started feeling more confident to take my lines tighter and get over my fear of going wide.  

Trying my best to hug those apexes and keep a tight, inside line per the Mantra of Reg Pridmore.

Trying my best to hug those apexes and keep a tight, inside line per the Mantra of Reg Pridmore.

There were only two groups, A and B. A was for Advanced Pace and B was for Relaxed Pace. I started out in A the first day on the South Course. Although I did fine in that group I wasn’t feeling comfortable with the pace of the other rides so halfway through day 2, I opted to ride in Group B. The group was smaller, so more room and more laps! I hardly ran into any traffic and it felt like I had the track to myself. I also had lots of opportunities for coaches to follow me and for me to follow them. Pretty much every session, there was a coach available if I needed help.

There was also a small Triumph contingent, which was also comforting.

triumphs.jpg

You might be able to see in the background, that there were quite a few non traditional sportbikes that attended too!

And yep, they also fully attended both days. SEEE?? Track Days aren’t just for Sportbikes!

It’s for everyone, anyone. It’s all about finding the right one for you, and contacting local track schools to see if their program fits in with your goals and objectives as a rider. I have a list on my website here, of advanced, nontraditional track day training around the country that I highly recommend.

http://www.gearchic.com/beyond-basic-training/

But if you do some searching online I’m sure you’ll find local schools that will be more than happy to provide you advanced street training on the racetrack.

Or, sign up for a class with Reg and Gigi and tell them I sent you!

For more information on CLASS Motorcycle Schools including dates and prices, visit their website: ClassRides.com. You can also find them on Facebook and Instagram.

regandgigi.jpg

Shoutout to Shoei Helmets and Honda for sponsoring CLASS and making sure that the instructors have the best helmets and bikes as well.

My Gear:

  1. Helmet: Bell Race Star, Ace Cafe

  2. Suit: Alpinestars Womens Motegi V1 Race Suit (new version)

  3. Gloves: Racer High Racer Womens Gloves

  4. Boots: Dainese Womens Torque Out D1 Boots

  5. Back Protector: Alpinestars Nucleon KR-1, SM

And in case the men out there are wondering about my husband’s gear:

  1. Helmet: Bell Star Helmet (Pre 2015)

  2. Suit: Revit Venom Suit

  3. Gloves: Held Evo Thrux

  4. Boots: Dainese Torque Out D1 Mens Boots (same as mine)

  5. Back Protector: Alpinestars KR Adventure; he said it was more comfortable than the model I have