Visordown’s Harry McKenzie has been putting some miles on Richa’s new street jacket. Here’s what he’s found out so far
Price: £269.99 | Availability: now | www.nevis.uk.com
I CHOSE the Toulon 2 jacket because of its neo-retro urban style and high level of protection and have been wearing it for about two months now, clocking up over 1000 miles with it. I’ve worn it on the Ducati Diavel 1260S launch and also while buzzing around London on my Honda Fireblade. But what's really cool about the Toulon 2 is how good it is on a night out, with its sleek armour making me look muscular and buff – it’s almost impossible to tell it’s a bike jacket at all!
Vainness out of the way, the Toulon's vintage urban construction is enough to get anyone excited, whether you're a hipster or not, this jacket looks cool as heck - even my bloody mum agrees.
Construction
The exterior of the jacket is full grain buffalo hide, definitely not vegan-friendly, and the leather looks and feels awesome. Right off the peg, the jacket looks nicely aged - without being over the top thrift vintage i.e. dragged behind a car down the M25.
The interior lining has a Burberry like pattern which, if you’re a bit of a flash git, is very cool looking. The lining is a good thickness and feels nice to the touch, so nice that I prefer wearing the jacket without a jumper. The hood of the jacket can also be removed, thanks to a hidden zip in the neoprene collar.
Fastening
Every zip on the Toulon 2 is YKK, and each external zip has a vintage tarnish effect, but despite the tarnish, the zips themselves are ultra-smooth. And the main zip stays put with no need to fully do it up and there is press stud and flap at the top collar - which is nice when you want some air.
The cuff zips are about 5 inches long with a press stud to secure each end. The cuffs are plenty slim enough to tuck your gloves over the top of, or you can leave it popped open if you're lazy like me. As this is quite a slim fitting jacket you do have to unzip the cuffs slightly to slip your hand through, but it’s easy enough.
Comfort and Fit
The sizes for the Toulon 2 range from 36 to 56 UK. So, being 6ft4 and 13.5 stone I went for size 44, which was a snug fit at first but stretched within a week or so. Granted, the first few rides were a little stiff around my shoulders, but this is always the way with brand new leathers. And I prefer them to feel like an extra skin, not a flappy air brake.
Protection
The jacket comes with a full complement of CE approved D3O protection, including shoulder pads, elbow pads, and a level 1 back protector, which you can upgrade to level 2 viper back protector if you fancy. The shoulder and elbow pads feel soft and natural due to the memory foam like properties of the D30 armour, but the elbow pads are a little tricky to remove/install (probably due to my embarrassingly large hands). However, the design of the velcro pocket which holds the back protector makes up for this, as fitting/swapping out the protector is quick and painless. Nice one Richa!
Pockets
The Toulon 2 has a grand total of five pockets, three on the outside and two internal. I found myself using the two outside waist pockets most, which are more than roomy enough for a smartphone and wallet. The Napoleon chest pocket could fit some keys or loose change, and although I’m not Gok Wan I think it's more form over function.
On the inside, there’s a small zipped side pocket, and another deeper chest pocket integrated into the vintage lining, secured with velcro. The chest pocket is great for chucking my smartphone in when I need earphones for Google maps. And it has a stylish leather lining to top it off, I must say, all around the jacket there are subtle quality touches like this.
Colours and Designs
Both of the Toulon 2’s designs are black, but one has white stripes (not the band), and the other which I tested, has red and white stripes. Both look cool, but I've always gone for gear with red on it for some strange reason, call it my good luck charm.
Verdict
The Toulon 2 had a lot to live up to, especially with the success of the Toulon 1, and it has certainly lived up to those expectations. The urban vintage styling of this jacket, combined with its comfort and versatility on and off the bike, makes me glad it’s on my coat hook. And the fact that my old dear approves of my new threads is quite remarkable.
Whether you’re hopping on your Ducati Scrambler, popping to the pub, or in true hipster fashion sourcing the finest Nicaraguan bean at your local coffee shop, this jacket is perfect for almost every journey.
