Anyone own a Cortech GX Air 2 Jacket?

(New Questions) Anyone own a Cortech GX Air 2 Jacket?

I am about to make a new jacket purhase, and I really like the Cortech GX Air 2. My local dealer has the previous model, but they haven't gotten the new ones in. The previous model seems extremely nice - a very sturdy mesh outer jacket with 2 liners, making it capable of working in cold and/or wet weather.
Cortech :: Textile Jackets :: GX Air Series 2 Jacket


It seems that the Cortech GX Air pants are not longer available, but the Tourmaster Venture Air pant is very similar (it's the same company after all).
Tour Master :: Textile Pants :: Venture Air Pant


Anyway, does anyone have experience with either of these products? Any reason I should stay away from them??

Thanks!

 

I ride with a Cortech GX Air (Series 1) jacket and really like it. I am down to just the outer mesh layer right now with the warmer temps and have found that 1 layer under this (with a sweater on) is sufficient for riding in the fall and spring. I paid $160 for the series 1 from Motogear Outlet (linked to their website). I checked their website and it looks like they are sold out of the series 1's. The Series 2 doesn't look like it really has any significant benefits but it is a lot more expensive.

 

You're going to be really hard pressed to find a better value for your dollar than Tourmaster/Cortech. There are much better products & much cheaper product but you're not going to beat the combo of quality & price TM/C offers.

While I don't own the product you're looking at, I have the Transition Jacket, Caliber Pants, Scarab RR Winter Gloves & Elite II rain suit & am very satisfied with all 4.

KC-10 FE out...
lane: :usa2:

 

Cortech GX Air

I agree with KC-10 FE about Cortech, and have a medium GX Air for warm weather and a large GX Sport Series 2 for cold and/or wet. They're both great. My son (the passenger) is wearing the GX Air.

I tried the Tourmaster Flex pants, which convert to partial mesh, but sent them back. Too much trouble to change the liners. I went for the Icon Automag leather instead. Big bucks but I can wear them over business pants and ride to work.

 

I'm glad you mentioned that that was your son. We have already discussed the 'two men on a bike' thing. It has been disallowed in the man club.

 

cant beat tourmaster! i picked up a TM intake mesh jacket for wicked cheap. it fits way better than i expected (considering im 6'8). you shuold check out the the closeout sections on all the major gear websites, you might stumble across a deal.

 

Yeah I noticed that there was not much obvious difference between the old model and new, aside from the jacked up price . My dealer doesn't have the old one in my size (XL), and I haven't found any leftovers online.

Thanks to everyone for your input. I have a 10 year old Joe Rocket Ballistic jacket that has held up really well, but I can't ignore the vastly improved armor in the newer gear. From everything I've read, Cortech/Tourmaster will be in my closet soon...

 

I have a Transition too although I haven't worn it yet. It was on sale for $90 so I couldn't resist buying it.

KC-10, do you wear your Transition all year round? Does it get too hot in the summer?

 

After much Googling and Ebaying, I found some awesome prices on the Cortech and Tourmaster gear I was considering. I ended up ordering from Robbie Blaze <-link who had the best price I could find (by far!).

I emailed them through their Ebay store, and Robbie responded in less than 30 minutes. Over the course of a few emails, he quickly answered every question I had and put together my order (through Google Checkout). The Cortech GX Air Series 2 jacket is on backorder, so I just ordered the jacket and pants, and he will ship them together when the jacket arrives (the pants are in stock and will be held for me).

So for those interested, I got the Cortech GX Air Series 2 Jacket for $134.99, the Tourmaster Venture Air Pants for $129.99, and shipping for $20. These prices are the best I have found after searching for 2 days.

I'll update this once I actually receive my order but I have to say that so far Robbie at shoeihelmetsusa.com has really impressed me with his prices and customer service!!

 

There is a series 1? gx air xxl or xxxl for $120 at newenough closeouts but I am struggling at choosing this or the motogp corkscrew jacket for $125 both seem like good deals but I am interested more in protection 1st comfort 2nd so the leather may be best.

Updated: Smallest size in the cortech is 48-50 so the choice is made for me. Probably better since I live in Michigan so the breathable leather is probably the right choice. If they got rid of the arrows pointing at your armpits it would look as good as the cortech..if only.

 

$90??? HOLY CRAP, you got yourself a deal right there. My Transition is primarily my moderate weather jacket. When I need to go somewhere & there is the possibility that I will buy something, I wear the Transition since it has about 64 pockets on it.

My collection:
Icon TiMax II Mesh & TiMax Pants (discontinued in 2005) for play riding above 80f
Olympia Stealth Mesh for commuting to work 65f & up
Tourmaster Transition & Caliber Pants for cold weather play riding & commuting to work 32f to 80f
Joe Rocket Speedmaster leather for play riding 45f to 80f
POLO 2 piece suit from Germany for commuting under 32f (I've only worn this in the USofA twice in 8 years)

KC-10 FE out...
lane: :usa2:

 

Two Men on a Bike

Sorry to hear about the man club phobias... Is riding with women on Harleys forbidden too?

 

Is the woman driving? And why is she on a Harley?

 

Yep, she's driving. Please don't misunderstand, I am definitely not on the back of that bike! As to why she's on a Harley, it might be a fashion statement, or maybe she doesn't like to go fast, or both..

 

Well my new gear showed up, and I discovered that I made a mistake.

When I was shopping, I was looking for the Cortech GX Air 2 jacket. Somehow I ended up purchasing a Cortech GX Sport 2 jacket. I should have noticed, but I didn't.

The price difference between the Air and the Sport is about $100. The Sport seems to have a nice ventilation system but the Air is obviously mesh and would flow air much better. I don't live in the desert but here in the Chicago area it can get quite toasty in the summer. And it can be quite cool as well.

So, anyone who has the Sport, can you give me your opinion on its ventilation system?

jeff8478 I saw that you have both, so if you could chime in with your review of how the Sport ventilates, I would appreciate that.

I'm trying to decide if I should send it back and pay for shipping and the $100 for the Air. Or, should I keep it and spend the $100 on a simple mesh jacket with good armor? Or will I wish I skipped mesh if I ever go sliding down the road in it? I know some people say yes.

My jacket history consists of a black Joe Rocket Ballistic v1.0 jacket that I've had for YEARS. I wear it year round, and of course it's very hot in the summer. The ventilation is not good - but it did its job in a highside a few years back. Which is why I'm now looking for protection with good ventilation.

Thanks in advance everyone!

 

Sport 2 Ventillation

Hey Britt,

I had to think about this for a while but the short and simple answer is that the Sport 2 ventillates reasonably well but not great. The longer version is below.

It's a tough question because I wear the GX Air when I need ventillation so I haven't really assessed the Sport 2 for that. When it's cold or wet, or cold and wet, I wear the Sport 2. But I chose the Sport 2 over other warmer jackets because the design of the vents seemed better than the other non-mesh jackets I saw on the web.

The arm vents on the Sport 2 stay open nicely. The chest air scoop is bizarre, so I haven't tried it - there's something about a hole in the front of the chest (like a jet intake) that doesn't seem right, but I expect it works well at speed if it's in the air flow. I think the vent is below the top of the VFR screen, so would not expect it to be very effective on this bike.

Take a look at what's under the mesh of the arm and chest vents - there's an intermediate layer and it reduces flow. The shoulder vents don't have that layer, but then they don't stay open as much.

The result is that GX Air ventillates substantially more. I wore it on a highway ride at 18 C and had to stop after an hour to put in the liner because I was chlled. On that day, the Sport 2 with vents open would have been comfortable. On really hot days, I use a long-sleeve wicking shirt to avoid wet skin on the GX Air textile.

The GX Air has armour and leather in the important places. I wouldn't say the Sport 2 provides better protection just because it has no mesh. It has the same armour but no leather either. I think the two provide essentially equivalent protection and everything depends on what pavement swimming style you chose...

My GX Air is a Medium because I'll never use the quilted liner with it, but the Sport 2 is a Large to let me wear the warm liner when the temperature drops below freezing. I wear size 44.

If you want, I'll put the Sport 2 on and go for a ride with all vents open on a hot day. Problem is the forecast is for rain for the next week and then I'll be away for a week after that. It could be a while but I'd be happy to do the test and report back. Let me know.

Hope this helps.

 

Britt,

I am also interested in the Cortech GX Air II as well, I know you did not get what you wanted but I was wondering how the size is? Is it pretty much sized as usual or did you need to order a size up or down, I am just wondering because I want to order one but have not been able to try one on yet.

Thanks

Mike

 

After reading this thread for a while and checking it all out myself I got a hold of Robbie Blaze and got the Air II and really like it, though I feel like the incredible hulk when all the liners are in. I went up a size due to the liners. GOt it yesterday and wore it today sans quilted liner. I find that it has a lot of adjustability to it in that I can let it out with the liners in or tighten it up with the liners out. Don't really flan to use the Quilted as if it gets that cold I will pull out the First gear cold weather coat. I don't like the heat and was torn between the two coats (Air and Sport) and asked Robbie about it, he suggested going with the Air and so far think it was the right choice. I think this will be for 70 and above riding without the layers as the rain layer is not breathable and seams to stick to you as soon as it gets warm.

Just thowin out my (short) experience with it to give you some perspective.

 

Correction

Britt,

I had another look at the Sport 2 shoulder vents tonight and found there are velcro strips to hold the outer flaps back and away from the vents when the zippers are open.

I take back what I said above and now expect the shoulder openings to work well, particularly since they're in the air flow above the VFR screen and don't have an intermediate layer of material (unless the quilted liner is in).

 

Jeff,

Thanks for the info. I tried the Sport 2 this morning without the liner in it and with all the vents open, and I am impressed with the ventilation. In 90+ degree weather I'll still be hot, but I have decided that I will just keep the Sport, and eventually buy a dedicated mesh jacket for those really hot days when I can't take wearing a textile jacket. Thanks again!

WLVRINE - Thanks for your perspective on the Air. Since the Air is almost $100 more than the sport, I have decided that I will stick with the sport and possibly pick up a mesh jacket for really hot weather. I honestly feel safer in a vented textile jacket than a mesh one - even though the GX Air seems extremely well built.

I am 6'3" tall and about 220 lbs. I ordered both the jacket and pants in XL. The jacket is fine - although I wouldn't complain about an extra inch of length in the sleeves (but that might be bothersome if it bunched up against gloves). As it is, it's about perfect.

The pants are too tight and too short. I wear a size 38X34 pant, and I can barely get the XL Tourmaster pants zipped/snapped over my jeans. The XLG left about 3" of my jeans showing below the cuff. So I am returning them for the same pants in XXLT.


I will say that the quality of the Tourmaster/Cortech products is top notch! I will see how they hold up once I get pants that fit, and start putting some wear into them.