If you are a motorcycle manufacturer, an obvious direction is to create a range of apparel bearing not only the company logo but also the corporate colours. If such a direction limits the sales of said apparel to owners of the brand, it also creates a company identity that many owners are all-too-ready to invest in.
With the launch of the Norden 901, Husqvarna has entered into a new phase of motorcycle production – the adventure market – and this is a market that, while being similar to off-road and enduro riding, demands its own style of apparel.
Adventure apparel has to perform several different roles: it has to be tough and hard-wearing, have built-in armour, good ventilation, sufficient (waterproof) pockets, be either waterproof or have zip-out waterproof – and thermal – linings and be attractive and comfortable. Not easy, then, and certainly requiring a level of expertise that many motorcycle manufacturers simply do not possess.
For the recently introduced Scalar jacket and trousers, therefore, Husqvarna turned to Rev’It, the renowned Dutch apparel manufacturer. What Rev’It doesn’t know about riding gear isn’t worth knowing and it has put all its expertise in the Scalar range.
Mirroring the Husqvarna corporate colours, the textile jacket and trousers are finished in two shades of practical grey with fluoro yellow highlights on the zips. The outer shells of both garments are waterproof so there is no need for a zip-out waterproof lining and there is a thermal zip-out liner which, in truth, might be a little too effective for South African riding conditions, except for the depths of winter.
The jacket as tested was slightly large for me and, while that is no reflection on the quality of the garment, I find it preferable as it permits several layers to be worn underneath, with the attendant fine-tuning of the temperature inside the jacket.
Ventilation is excellent, the two chest panels fold back to be held in place by a magnetic button which is a neat touch and extremely easy to use.
The sleeves feature full-length zips with a mesh pleat behind and the back of the garment has further zips to create through-flow.
The collar proved to be comfortable and has a handy popper fixing, one piece of which is housed in a sliding mount, enabling it to be adjusted to fit any neck snugly or loosely, according to preference: a nice touch.
Of course, motorcycle apparel’s main function is to protect – against weather, impact and abrasion. The weather test was no problem as I wore it through the wettest week so far this year: it performed perfectly with no unpleasant leaks, while the pockets remained watertight except in the heaviest of downpours I happened to get caught in. Even then, they were damp, not swimming in water.
The impact and abrasion tests are slightly more difficult to perform with conviction as they usually involve actually falling off a moving motorcycle, not something to be undertaken lightly. Not only is there the risk of personal injury but also the prospect of returning a once-pristine set of apparel in noticeably second-hand condition is to be avoided, in the interests of continued cooperation between manufacturer and media outlet.
However, putting all personal considerations aside, I contrived to fall off the Husqvarna Norden 901 that had been kindly lent to ZA Bikers along with the apparel. As the bike skated merrily up the road on its side (suffering remarkably little damage, I might add), I did the same, making sure I tested each and every panel of the jacket as I did so: I’m nothing if not thorough…!
That I am sitting here at my desk writing this is entirely down to the protection offered by the Husqvarna Scalar riding pants and jacket. I suffered nothing more than a few bruises, while the apparel bore the full brunt of the abrasion, without wearing through to my skin. Of course, it didn’t look quite so smart once I had finished my exhaustive test but it had done the precise job it was designed to do and, if a couple of ventilation zips on the back were damaged, the main front zip retained its integrity and didn’t pull apart.
So, full marks to the Scalar range, for appearance, fit, comfort, ventilation, practicality, waterproofing and impact and abrasion resistance. The jacket retails for R8,482 and the trousers for R5,937. Contact your nearest Husqvarna dealer for more details.
My profound thanks to Husqvarna South Africa for the opportunity to properly test the Scalar apparel and emerge in one piece. Also, my profound apologies for returning it in less-than-pristine condition.
SCALAR WP PANTS & JACKET
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