Here at CMG, we like dual sport motorcycles, probably because even the best asphalt near our secret base on the east coast needs long-travel suspension. And when you’re riding a versatile motorcycle, you generally want versatile gear to go with it.
That’s why I went with Scott’s Dual Raid jacket and pants for my 2014 test gear. Along with the jacket and pants, they also sent me a rain suit and gloves from Scott; I’ll publish those reviews in the future on CMG.
The specs
The Dual Raid jacket and pants have the same general features you’ll find in most decent dual sport gear. There’s a tough 500D textile outer shell, with removable armour (SAS-TEC protectors in shoulders and elbows are standard). There’s an assortment of handy pockets, including a large compartment on the back of the jacket for a Camelbak-type water bladder and a map pocket over your derriere.
The exterior of the jacket and pant isn’t waterproof; zip-in liners (provided with the suit) keep out wind and water.
Now some users might like the zip-in rain protection, but experiences on my trip to Arizona in 2013 leave me convinced zip-ins are a poor solution to one of motorcycling’s biggest problems. They require you to strip off your gear, insert the liners and then redress. As a result, I never use zip-in liners, opting instead for an external rainsuit, which is far more convenient.
The Dual Raid gear isn’t the only set of equipment that uses this system though – it’s fairly standard, for reasons I cannot fathom, and Scott is hardly to blame for using it when much pricier gear uses the same basic design.
Now that that’s out of the way, onto some of the fancier aspects of the suit. For starters, if the weather is hot, you can unzip the sleeves of the jacket and run it as a vest. That would allow you to still ride with your Camelbak, shoulder pads and optional back pad, but with your arms free to cool off in hot weather.
The jacket has snap adjustability on the arms, and hook/loop adjustability in the cuffs, which work fairly well. Although it isn’t quite as adjustable as some of the competition, I found it fit well to start with, so it wasn’t an issue. Anyone with a normal body shape should be fine. The jacket also has two vents on the chest that snap shut, along with full-length zippered vents on the sleeves, and two vents in back.
The pants have adjustment tabs in the waist, leaving you a little wiggle room should you decide to lay a thumping on a Chinese buffet mid-ride. The pants have zippered vents that flow air very well at speed.
How it worked
After using some pricy dual sport gear in 2013, I wondered how the Scott equipment would hold up. Through the season, I had no problem with broken zippers, fraying fabric, fuzzy Velcro, or … anything.
The jacket and pants appear to be made of top-quality material, if somewhat beefy, meaning that if you get a bike bogged down on the trail, you’ll have to remove some gear before you commence the extraction procedure, or you’ll overheat quickly. Of course, I found this out the hard way when I got the Beta 498 RR stuck in a washout on top of a mountaintop somewhere in Cape Breton.
However, once up to speed, the chest vents do pass cooling air very well. Almost too well. Even with the vents snapped shut, a little bit of breeze would sneak in, something rather annoying on a chilly day. This might be a good reason to keep the zip-in jacket liner, which would prevent this draftiness, though an external rain jacket also worked just as well.
Pockets aren’t something many people think much about when they buy gear, but it’s my observation on the road that since you’re constantly in and out of your pockets for money, receipts, etc., it pays to have good ones.
Overall, the jacket’s pockets worked very well; the waterproof ones actually keep water out, and the flaps stay closed. There’s also a fantastic pocket on the left arm with a clear cover; you can store a small map in here, or a paper with turn-by-turn directions, or even (in theory) a small GPS. This was actually one of my favourite features of the jacket.
However, the jacket does lack handwarmer pockets. This might not sound like a big deal, but those are pretty standard on motorcycle jackets, and if you want to … well, warm your hands at a stop, then you’ll miss them. I know I did.
Conclusion
Scott is a company best-known for helmets and goggles, but if this jacket and pants are sign of things to come, I think they’ll make a sizable dent in the adventure riding/dual sport marketplace.
I was very impressed with the quality of the gear; I never crashed in it, but it handled all sorts of other rough use without popping so much as a stitch. I even liked the asymmetrical styling, which might be a turn-off for some.
With only two complaints about the jacket (neither of them major), and none about the pants. On the whole, I was very happy with this outfit and I plan on continuing to use it in the coming season, as I see no reason to replace it.
At around $440 for the jacket and $390 for the pants from Canadian retailers, it represents good value. It’s a little cheaper than the really high-end enduro gear, but as far as I can see, it offers the same functionality and durability.
Give the company a few more years, and they’ll likely have fine-tuned their design a bit further to offer a product that’s truly on par with the bigger brand names.
GALLERY
Check out all the pics that go with this story! Click on the main sized pic to transition to the next or just press play to show in a slideshow.
I am looking at this jacket right now and since I am in the States I am trying to make sure I order the right size. Does this jacket run true to size? I am a female and I have had mixed luck buying male jackets.
Thanks!
So, with tax youre pushin $1000 for the outfit? Seriously? Are you friggin insane?Thats 20% of the cost of my CRF!!
Goto Walmart and youll walk out atleast $900 richer…and yes, it will hold up just fine.
I completely disagree. I have ridden with cheap gear and with good gear, and I’d rather buy good gear and a cheap bike than vice versa. If you’re really broke, you can get by with cheap jacket/pants/etc, and I did so for many years, but there is no substitute for high-end gear if you can save up for it. Watch for sales, etc.
I haven’t seen textile touring gear at WalMart with room for back protector, with proven shoulder and elbow protection, with hydration pocket and any of the other features you can get from Scott or most of the other gear in this range (Tourmaster, Fieldsheer, Olympia, etc.). I toured for many years with a cheap set of leathers and textiles, so I do know a little bit about what I’m talking about.
You’d rather have good gear and a cheap bike than visa versa…seriously?
Spending $1000 on gear is all relative to your income, but me, personally, dont think any outfit is worth that kinda money.
I’d rather have a $3000 bike and $1000 gear than a $5000 bike and $100 gear. No question.
You will ride further, on more days of the year, and in more comfort, with good gear. It is an extension of your motorcycle, the most important accessory you can buy.
If someones got a $3000 bike, i can guarantee you they will not be purchasing a $1000 outfit.
This product is for riders with alot of disposable income.
And that’s their choice.
I’ve been there, done that. Sure, you need a reliable bike. But you will ride it more, and further, if you’re comfortable, and you will survive a crash with far less damage to yourself in good gear.
[…] week we posted my test on the Scott riding gear (see test here), and it did very well, but it came with internal waterproofs. Since I don’t really like the […]
I don’t get the zip-in liners either. I believe Rev-it still uses that. I’ll stick with “the stich”
Rev’It still uses the zip-ins, as does Joe Rocket, I think, and several others (Spidi, Fieldsheer, Alpinestars, etc). To be fair, some of these manufacturers also make jackets with wateproof exteriors, and sometimes (particularly if you live in the desert), a waterproof liner might be helpful if it keeps the weight of your jacket down – but we rarely encounter those dry, hot conditions here!