Different strokes for different folks, the saying goes, but if you ask any of us at the Bike EXIF HQ, the best riding gear is the stuff that doesn’t immediately look like riding gear. Of course, it has to be comfortable and safe and all that, but we’re just not the type of guys to hop off at the local spot in a snazzy sport bike jacket without developing some serious social anxiety.
The explosion of riding hoodies, flannels and jeans on the market proves that we’re not alone in this belief, and there’s never been a better time to cop some understated riding gear if your brain’s wired like ours. With my old threads looking tired after several summers of leaky old Harleys and dusty dual-sport adventuring, I couldn’t have been happier to receive a package from Klim containing smart and subtle new gear.
Klim Marrakesh Jacket Designed in the U.S. and made in Vietnam, there’s a lot to like about the Klim Marrakesh jacket right out of the package. The chassis feels sturdy, the armor is seamlessly integrated and the jacket could easily pass for everyday street wear. It’s relatively lightweight, and the fit and cut are right on the money (even for a spare-parts assembly like me).
You shouldn’t believe everything (or maybe anything) you read on the internet, but I’m here to tell you that it wasn’t marketing hyperbole when Klim said the Marrakesh “may be the most comfortable motorcycle jacket you ever wear.” The chassis is a tightly woven, four-way-stretch 1000D Karbonite Micromesh Cordura textile, which is a mouthful, but the point is that this jacket has a huge amount of stretch.
That may be a foreign concept in an armored riding jacket, but I’m telling you, it’s a game-changer. The chassis stretches in all the right ways when you move, meaning there’s no awkward pulling from the armored areas, and the jacket tail and sleeve cuffs stay right where you want them to be.
Another standout feature of the Marrakesh comes down to airflow. The woven fabric and perforated inner liner keep you cool and comfortable on warm days, and should the temperature drop, the cut of the Marrakesh easily allows you to toss on an additional layer without adding too much bulk. The dropped tail protects you from any indecent exposure and an adjustable cinch strap along the bottom allows you to tighten things up if need be.
But of course, protection is the name of the game, and the Klim Marrakesh makes use of some of the best armor in the business. Mesh hook-and-loop pockets in the shoulders and elbows are fit with D3O Ghost vented armor, and the back pad is D3O Viper. Some of the smartest armor on the market, these D3O products are exceptionally slim, breathable and flexible, and the non-sacrificial material is proven to stiffen on impact to mitigate injury.
Klim hasn’t gone as far as incorporating Kevlar zone reinforcements or similar features, but the Karbonite Cordura textile does offer exceptional abrasion resistance. Both the D3O Ghost and Viper armor are CE Level 1 rated, and the jacket receives an overall CE AA rating certified to EN 17092-3. Put simply, this is stellar performance for an everyday riding jacket.
It seems they’ve thought of all the right supporting features as well. The Marrakesh has one inside zippered pocket on the chest, an external chest pocket (equipped with a strap for key fobs), two external zippered hand pockets and a forearm ID/stat card sleeve.
That’s the perfect amount for retaining your everyday-carry items with room to spare, and they’re all fit with YKK zippers with sensible pulls for riding with gloves. They’ve also done an exceptional job integrating 3M Scotchlite Carbon-Black reflective material along the arms and shoulders to increase visibility at night.
All that may read a bit like a spec sheet, but it’s these smart features that make the Klim Marrakesh work so well. It’s a spectacular grab-and-go option that fits the bill for cruisers, dual-sports and street riders, and I struggled to come up with anything to gripe about, other than the exposed zipper, which could lead to scratches on sport bike tanks.
It’s best to remain as impartial as possible in these instances, but credit where credit is due—the Klim Marrakesh is probably the best riding jacket I’ve worn.
Klim Outrider Pant In my corner of the globe, Klim became a household name for their technical snowmobiling gear, but they started making massive inroads in the motorcycle gear scene in the mid-2000s. Klim’s moto-focused gear catalog keeps you covered from head to toe these days, and their selection of riding pants is exceptional (including riding jeans, moto pants and full-on adventure gear). Like the Marrakesh, I opted for something with everyday usability, landing on the Outrider pant in a casual brown duck color.
Fans of Carhartt, Dickies and so on will find themselves right at home in the Outrider. They’re made in Mexico with a regular canvas construction, double-layered on the cuffs and knees. You won’t find any fancy abrasion-resistant textiles in the single-layer construction, but I wouldn’t expect to for the price, and the Outrider is somewhat breathable with a slight amount of stretch. Branding is perfectly subtle, consisting only of a leather tag on the beltline and a custom button.
They feel a whole lot like regular duck canvas work pants, but the fit runs big in my experience. They’re longer and baggier than my standard fit, and I’d probably suggest sizing down if you don’t typically ride with a base layer. The fit is an important consideration with riding pants because it affects the way the knee protection sits relative to your body.
On the topic of armor, Klim equips the Outrider with sewn-in mesh pockets at the hips and knees, loaded with D3O Ghost armor. The flexible armor measures just 0.65 cm in thickness, making it effectively invisible. The hip armor is integrated so well, you don’t feel it at all, but you do notice the extra layers at the knee. As equipped, the Outrider has a pending Level A CE rating (EN 17092-4), which we feel is fitting for the price and casual cruising.
While the hip armor loads like a standard riding jacket, the hook-and-loop pocket for the knee armor is nestled between the double layers and is accessed from the outside. That means you could easily ditch the knee armor without undressing after the ride is through.
Other mindful features of the Outrider include reflective strips on the cuffs that are revealed only when you roll them up, increasing visibility after dark. In addition to your standard pockets, Klim built in a cellphone pocket on the right thigh and a coin pocket within the right pocket for keys or other small items.
This might be going out on a limb, but I also suspect that the riveted hand pockets are cut a bit higher and tighter on the Outrider, which would do a better job holding onto any items left inside during the ride. Another smart addition is a stretch zone in the crotch, and I appreciated that there are no metal features in the entire lap and inseam area that could lead to scratches.
Available in black, desert sand and brown duck, the Outrider is a stylish option for cruisers, standards and more, all at a great price point—just make sure you double-check the sizing guide. And one more tidbit: if your rides frequently get messy like mine, I’d opt for the black. Bonus points awarded if you can spot the fresh stain from the oil bag on my mid-’70s XL Sporty.
Klim | Images by Jeff Bruss
