{"id":8992,"date":"2015-11-03T19:50:47","date_gmt":"2015-11-03T18:50:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mbike.com\/news\/?p=8992"},"modified":"2015-11-03T19:52:24","modified_gmt":"2015-11-03T18:52:24","slug":"air-conditioned-motorcycling-clothing-a-new-era","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.mbike.com\/news\/2015\/11\/air-conditioned-motorcycling-clothing-a-new-era\/","title":{"rendered":"Air-conditioned Motorcycling Clothing: A New Era?"},"content":{"rendered":"

First liquid cooled motorcycles, now liquid cooled motorcycle riders. Whatever next? Since the dawn of motorcycling, bikers have been famed and revered for \u201cbraving the elements\u201d. But is all that about to change, with the advent, and now ever-increasing range, of air-conditioned clothing for riders?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"The

The Veskimo Cool Vest<\/p><\/div>\n

Is this really the dawn of a new era? Or is air-conditioned motorcycle clothing one of those \u201cinventions\u201d destined to be swiftly buried by the course of time? The kind we\u2019ll look back on with nothing but derisive laughter?<\/p>\n

We\u2019re only half way in and already this is proving to be the decade of air-conditioned clothing. In Japan, former Sony technician and president of Kuchofuku, Hiroshi Ichigaya, invented an air-con jacket that uses AA batteries \u2013 or a USB cable \u2013 to power a couple of built-in fans. By effectively creating a \u201cmicro climate\u201d within your own clothes, air-conditioned clothing is obviously much more economical \u2013 and eco-friendly \u2013 than traditional, large scale air-con. But there\u2019s another obvious group who could benefit from air-conditioned clothing: motorcyclists, because, for bikers, there\u2019s no other alternative.<\/p>\n

\"EntroSys

EntroSys BikeAir A\/C<\/p><\/div>\n

It didn\u2019t take motorcycle clothing manufacturers long to jump on the air-con band wagon, so let\u2019s take a look at the options.<\/p>\n

EntroSys BikeAir Motorcycle Air Conditioner<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"BMW

BMW Airflow 4 suit<\/p><\/div>\n

The idea behind the EntroSys BikeAir motorcycle air-conditioning system \u2013 named \u201cMost Ridiculous Motorcycle Product Of The Year\u201d by Cyril Huze<\/a> \u2013 is that you are safer if you\u2019re at an ambient temperature. Their system promises to reduce rider fatigue brought about by conditions that are too hot or too cold. Yes, that\u2019s right, it also has a heating setting \u2013 or three to be exact \u2013 and is made up of a special vest that goes under your usual riding gear, connected, via an insulated air hose, to a unit on the back. The whole piece of kit is massive and only really recommended for big bikes.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh let me just assemble up my air-conditioning unit before we hit the road,\u201d is not something I ever dreamed I would hear from a motorcyclist, and carrying around an air-conditioner isn\u2019t exactly most people\u2019s idea of a good time either.<\/p>\n

While it looks like a big burden, it is actually incredibly compact for what it is. Rather than using typical compressor based technology, the BikeAir system utilises the same \u201csolid-state\u201d thermoelectric technology employed by the likes of NASA.<\/p>\n

The system is operated by a remote control that fits on your key ring, handlebars, tank, and so on with equal ease, conjuring up a vision of the future: a motorcyclist surrounded by buttons and dials \u2013 volume controls and air-con remotes and his very own portable, tank-mounted deep-fat fryer.<\/p>\n

So if you don\u2019t mind riding around town looking like you\u2019re wearing a catheter and you\u2019re damn proud of it, this is the gismo for you. It will set you back about a thousand pounds though, which is more than this reviewer would spend on a motorcycle, let alone a piece of motorcycle clothing.<\/p>\n

Make sure you get it wired up to shut off automatically when you cut the engine. Otherwise, remember to switch it off or unplug the power cable before you switch off the bike. Unless you want a flat battery as well as tripping arse over head over the hose.<\/p>\n

\"EntroSys

EntroSys BikeAir Motorcycle Air Conditioner<\/p><\/div>\n

Hog Cooler<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hog Cooler is a similar contraption that\u2019s been around for a few years now. It\u2019s an air-conditioned leather vest that keeps you at a constant 65 degrees. (That\u2019s Fahrenheit, we hope!) I\u2019ve never been exactly sure what the point is in a leather motorcycling vest anyway, though. It\u2019s certainly not ideal protective clothing.<\/p>\n

The air-conditioning unit \u2013 which in this case is essentially just a bag of ice in a cool-bag \u2013 is more discreet than the EntroSys and can sit tucked away in one of your panniers. The on and off switch is located on the connecting cable, which is apparently easily disconnected to avoid the aforementioned arse over head trip. You can also get the \u201cStingray\u201d helmet cooler.<\/p>\n

More Air-con Clothing for Motorcyclists?<\/strong><\/p>\n

As well as \u201ctraditional\u201d vented motorcycle clothing such as the BMW Airflow 4<\/strong> suit, and the Ventz<\/strong> gismo, also look out for the following products:<\/p>\n