Fuel Rally 2 jacket in white
(FUL017)
£460.00
Finance available with Omni Capital Retail Finance from £ per month
More Info
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Fuel Rally 2 jacket in white
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(FUL017)
£460.00
Finance available with Omni Capital Retail Finance from £ per month
More Info
Fuel Rally 2 jacket in white Product Information
The Fuel Rally 2 jacket's construction means you can potentially enjoy best of both worlds. The warmth and comfort of a drop-liner product, with the waterproofing qualities of a laminated one. There's nothing quite like it, so before we get into all the details on the jacket, let's talk about about the technical spec., because it's interesting.
We sell lots of laminated jackets and pants from the likes of Rukka, Klim, Halvarssons and so on. And we sell as much laminated gear as we do because that's what lots of people have convinced themselves they need. Now it is true that laminated garments don't wet out, but for those who ride, say, less than 10,000 miles a year the benefits of laminated gear will very rarely manifest themselves. But in our view drop-liner garments are more than sufficiently waterproof for 95% of motorcyclists. They are more comfortable. They are warmer. They are better value. And in most cases they are a lot more reliable.
The Rally 2, though, is a bit of a hybrid. It's a drop-liner garment. But it can also be a laminated one. Let's look at the jacket, and I'll explain.
The outer jacket has a PU coating. Now every waterproof jacket has what is known as a Durable Water Repellent coating. A PU coating is much more robust and effective than a traditional DWR, but it's never going to be as effective as a proper membrane.
But what you also get with the Rally 2 jacket is a fixed, drop-liner, waterproof membrane. Now it has to be acknowledged that the waterproofing score for the Rally 2's membrane is not massively impressive; just 5,000 mm. That's considered to be barely water resistant. Of course, the PU coating will help, but the truth is that, as it stands, the Rally 2 jacket is not massively waterproof. Fine in a light shower, but not really up to a prolonged downpour.
But what the Rally 2 has up its sleeves, quite literally, is a laminated, softshell, thermal layer that is also waterproof. In fact, with a 10,000 mm rating the removable inner jacket is much more waterproof than the outer jacket. And because it's a laminated garment it will never wet out.
So here's the thing, with the softshell lining in place, the Rally 2 becomes a particularly waterproof and windproof jacket, as you get to enjoy the benefit of two waterproof membranes; a drop-liner one, and a laminated one.
Anyway, let's talk about the jacket itself in terms of its detailing and features.
The jacket's outer material is a 500 denier Nylon. That's not the strongest ever outer fabric on a motorcycle jacket, but with the aid of the suede leather patches on the elbows, perhaps, the Rally 2 manages to earn itself a respectable AA rating under EN 17092. The jacket also comes equipped with Level 1 D3O armour in the elbows, shoulders and back.
The Rally 2 jacket is what one might term a mid-length jacket; what some would call an adventure-style jacket, although in truth it's the same length of jacket that has always been popular for touring and commuting.
As is befitting of such a jacket you get an adjuster at the waist to allow the jacket to be cinched in a little. To stop the jacket from flapping if you're wearing nothing beneath it. Or to create more room if you are wearing layers. You also get Velcro adjusters on the forearm and at the sleeve ends.
The neck is lined with Neoprene for comfort. Somewhat strangely, the main zip is an antique brass one. This won't be in the slightest bit waterproof, but in front of the zip there's a double storm-flap, so the chances are that no water is going to get through to the body.
In terms of venting, you get zipped vents that start on the biceps and run all the way down the forearms. There are a couple of vents on the shoulders. And you get an exhaust vent on the back.
There are two, lower flap pockets on the jacket. Now Fuel suggests these pockets are waterproof, but we would say that they are shower-proof at best. If you really want to keep stuff dry, you'd be better off using one of the two, internal pockets. There's a large pocket on the back of the jacket, but again don't put anything into it that you want to keep dry.
Finally, you get a couple of zipped gussets on the hem of the jacket to allow the jacket to splay a little when you're sat on the bike. All I would say is that the gussets are not very generous. They actually won't do a lot to increase comfort, unfortunately.
Which brings us to the Rally 2's secret ingredient; its softshell, thermal liner. And as a thermal liner it will work well, especially as the membrane will increase its insulating capabilities, and serve as an additional windproof layer to combat wind chill.
The jacket is what we would term a destination jacket, meaning that it's perfectly wearable off the bike. It's quite stretchy, so it's going to be comfortable as well. It can be attached to the outer jacket, but we don't really see why you would do this. Wear it when it's cold and, of course, wet. Don't wear it when it's warm and dry. There's no need to ever attach it, the way we see it.
This is a jacket that is more than the sum of its parts. Without its separate liner, the Rally 2 jacket is not going to be particularly waterproof, but it will be very breathable. Not in the same league as a jacket like the Marrakesh with no membrane, but far more so than, say, a laminated, Gore-Tex jacket from someone like Klim.
Truth be told, if you were crossing the Sahara in 30 degree plus temperatures, you wouldn't want to be wearing a Gore-Tex, laminated jacket. You would find it difficult to sweat effectively, and the oncoming air would not be able to pass through the membrane to cool you down. But because the Fuel jacket's membrane is not a great one, it's going to be pretty darned breathable. So you will stay cooler. Of course, if it rains, you will be less protected. But then just wear the inner lining. Do this and you'll stay warmer and dryer.
And thinking about it, this is what the Rally jacket is all about. The outer jacket will work well in hot conditions or when you're working hard off road. It will keep the chill off in cooler conditions. And will keep you dry in a shower. But in the real cold, or when it rains hard, you just put the inner jacket on.
Now that's clever. So clever that I am surprised that nobody has come up with the idea before.
The Fuel Rally 2 is different to any other jacket. But the concept is very clever. We like the thinking behind it. But, as ever, it won't be for everybody.
Specification
- Made from 500 denier Nylon
- PU coating to outer fabric
- Waterproof drop-liner membrane with 5000mm score
- Removable thermal, softshell liner
- That incorporates laminated, 10,000mm waterproof membrane
- Fitted with level 1 D3O armour in elbows, shoulders and back
- AA certified under EN17092
- Adjustable straps at waist and on forearms
- Two flap pockets on front
- Map pocket to rear
- Two inner pockets
- Vents that run down sleeves
- Vents in shoulders and across back
- Neoprene in collar for comfort
- Zip to attach jacket to pant
Warranty
Fuel jackets have a two year warranty
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