Product review: DriRider Scrambler jacket

This DriRider Scrambler jacket has achieved something in my riding wardrobe precious few other items have: it's usurped my regular winter riding suit…

I don't chop and change much when it comes to riding gear – I tend to use something until it falls to pieces, or at least loses its usefulness. Case in point: my 15-year-old Aerostitch Roadcrafter one-piece suit.

I got it when I was editing a motorcycle magazine in Britain, many moons ago, and have worn it through every winter since – until this one.

Just before this winter, DriRider kindly provided me with its Scrambler jacket – something which, at the time, I wanted as it was a little more suited to the Husqvarna 701 Vitpilen I was about to ride, at that model's world press launch in Spain.

It's retro looks and colour suited the Vitpilen nicely, I thought, but over the months since the Scrambler has become my standard jacket for my 100-kilometre daily commute.

Click here for the full list of features for the DriRider Scrambler.

Whether or not you think it looks the business is entirely up to you, but I can report it does a top job in terms of comfort and practicality.

The jacket comes with a windproof, waterproof and breathable inner liner, which can be removed entirely in warmer weather. It was a toasty 30-plus degrees in Spain for that Vitpilen launch and I found this jacket to be a very pleasant thing to wear in the heat. That's largely down to perforations in the armpits and arms and below the shoulders, along the breathable 'MAXTEX' outer shell.

For winter, however, I've had that waterproof liner in, along with the Scrambler's quilted thermal liner. We've had a cold one this winter down here in southern Victoria, and while this jacket hasn't been quite warm enough just to wear over a t-shirt, it's been perfect when combined with a light puffer jacket underneath.

The downside of having a removable waterproof liner is that when it rains, the jacket's oil-coated shell still gets a bit damp and that reduces warmth. However, rain largely seems to have gone out of fashion in these parts lately, so this hasn't been a big issue. On the few occasions I have copped a downpour, the liner hasn't let me down.

All the various zippers seem to be of a decent quality and there are three outer pockets and a couple of internal ones (including one for your phone). No complaints there, and there are press-stud closures to snugly secure the arms around my bulging biceps. Okay, so only half that statement might be true…

And there are two belt-style adjustors at the back of the waist, to get it looking just right and eliminate drafts.

Protection? It comes with CE-approved armour in the shoulders and elbows plus an EVA back pad, in addition to the 700-denier outer shell. There's a connecting zipper at the base of the back to zip it into a pair of matching pants, if you want to go the whole hog.

In any case, I haven't thrown myself down the road in this jacket to test its protective qualities, nor do I intend to…

And I've saved the best bit until last: the price. The DriRider Scrambler jacket has a recommended retail price of just $299.95 or, as I like to outfox these sly marketing ploys, let's call it 300 bucks. That, dear readers, is not a lot of cash for what is a well-made, practical, protective and stylish bit of kit.

The DriRider Scrambler jacket is distributed throughout Australia by McLeod Accessories. Click here to find your nearest stockist.