Everybody needs a traditional do-it-all fabric riding jacket. This Viking Cycle Ironborn Women’s Textile Motorcycle Jacket in 600D Polyester with Polyurethane coating to protect you from the wind and rain is everything you need at an incredible price. You’ll even be suprised at some of the unique features. Consider it the LBD (Little Black Dress) of your motorcycle gear closet! Read on to learn the details you need and to see how it stacked up for this reviewer.
Viking Cycle Ironborn Women’s Textile Motorcycle Jacket
| Reviewer: | Andrea |
| Review Dates: | July 2018 – August 2018 |
| Price as Tested: | $79.99 USD |
| Tested on: | 2013 Moto Guzzi V7 Stone |
Viking Cycle Ironborn Women’s Textile Motorcycle Jacket Overview
Viking Cycle offers a line of very reasonably priced riding gear that suits the rider’s basic needs in a stylish way with some unique features included. This Viking Cycle Ironborn women’s textile motorcycle jacket maintains a great price point while offering all that you need in a daily use fabric based riding jacket.
First impressions
When picking a jacket from the Viking Cycle line to review, I was drawn to the style of this Viking Cycle Ironborn women’s textile motorcycle jacket. In particular, I appreciate it’s clean and basic approach with the motorcycle inspired back straps detailed with silver metal buckles.
“I was drawn to the style of this jacket; I appreciate it’s clean and basic approach.”
For the MSRP of this jacket I wasn’t expecting it to be the highest quality but was very pleasantly surprised when it arrived. The engineering is simple and effective. The parts of the jacket are put together in a simple way, including the liner, making it clean and crisp. The zippers and fasteners have a quality sense about it, and it has a couple of neat features that I didn’t expect. Overall, first impressions are quite solid!
Comfort & Fitment
When choosing the size, I was quite surprised to see my measurements line up to a Medium, as I am typically a Small. I was a little hesitant at the Medium because I thought I’d be swimming in it, but I trusted the size guide on their website and took the plunge. I am glad that I stuck to their guide, because this Medium fits like a Small, which means it fits me perfectly!
With the liner intact it is cozy, and without the liner there is a good breathability about it. I am not at all concerned that I couldn’t stuff a bulky sweater or fleece underneath it because it is not designed to be a cold-weather jacket; however, the warmth of the jacket and liner together combined with a solid base layer would probably allow it to be my choice jacket right down to a cool spring or autumn day.
Being that I was testing this jacket in the Canadian summer, the temperature sat pretty much at 30°C/90°F throughout my testing period so I was never wearing the liner when riding. But when I was wearing the jacket indoors to test its overall comfort I did wear the liner and I found it to add warmth and a level of coziness that I appreciated. No complaints here.
Features
This Viking Cycle Ironborn women’s textile motorcycle jacket has all the features you would expect for a traditional riding jacket, and even a few more. Starting with the safety aspect, there is standard removable armor in the shoulder, elbow and spine which is C.E. rated, positioned perfectly and does not feel bulky. One knock I have on the safety aspect is that there is only a little reflective material on the jacket (shoulder stripes at the top of the back and seam piping running vertically down both sides of the back). Many fabric based riding jackets, especially those which are black in color, often avoid placing too many reflective parts so as not to detract from the design, but I believe very strongly in safety and would prefer that there was some reflective strips perhaps on the front and at the wrist.
“This Viking Cycle Ironborn women’s textile motorcycle jacket has all the features you would expect for a traditional riding jacket, and even a few more.”
For temperature control, as I mentioned there is a removable warm liner to assist with those cooler riding days. However, when it is warm out and you’ve removed the liner you will find yourself enabling the air flow pockets at the center chest and the two back vents to allow the air to be directed from your front to your back as you ride. You can also expand the wrist opening to allow a greater air flow through the sleeve, but there is no ventilation directly on the sleeves. That being said, riding in the Canadian summer with the air flow vents open and sleeves expanded wide, I felt there was enough air flow to keep me comfortable.
“I reckon you would never fill all of these pockets but it is great to see so many available.”
With respect to pockets, there are more of them on this Viking Cycle Ironborn women’s textile motorcycle jacket than you can shake a stick at! There is a little coin/key/ticket pocket on the left forearm, two standard front pockets, one of which has a key hook in it (this is so handy!), and a plethora of pockets inside the jacket (on the jacket, not the liner) to hold your wallet, insurance, phone, glasses or sunglasses, MP3 player, a pen, knife, or air pressure gauge, and one to hold a 10″ tablet! Viking Cycle has also built in dedicated headphone system to enable you to use your headphones while riding; you can put your phone or MP3 player in one of the inside pockets and then feed your headphones up through the collar and into your ears. Marvelous! This is an incredible attention to detail in the design and engineering which I did not expect. I reckon you would never fill all of these pockets but it is great to see so many available.
Conclusion
This Viking Cycle Ironborn women’s textile motorcycle jacket is a great all-rounder for typical spring, summer and autumn riding. It has the armor you expect mixed in with great style and functionality, including the back “motorcycle style” straps and all those lovely pockets! While I didn’t ride it in the chilliest parts of the spring and autumn season, I reckon it would be good enough to wear down to about 10°C/50°F, and it definitely worked for me without the liner up to 30°C/90°F.
“I do recommend this as a staple in your closet.”
I was actually looking for a new standard fabric based riding jacket to replace a much older, heavier, bulkier jacket I have and this Viking Cycle Ironborn women’s textile motorcycle jacket is doing the trick! I have no complaints and do recommend this as a staple in your closet, just like the LBD (Little Black Dress) concept – everybody needs one! The only thing I am going to do to it is look to add some reflectivity to the front. But really, you cannot beat the price (come on… it’s only $80 USD…!), and that paired with the functionality, comfort, engineering and design makes it a winner!
Viking Cycle Ironborn Women’s Textile Motorcycle Jacket Video by Total Motorcycle
Total Motorcycle Award Level
For the price point, considering this jacket has the expected armor, a decent level of comfort, a clean and simple design, and all those pockets (!) we are pleased to award the Viking Cycle Ironborn Women’s Textile Motorcycle Jacket our Standard Award, which is four out of five stars!
