Viking sent us a Viking Cycle Britannica Riding Leather Motorcycle Jacket and I had the pleasure of trying it.
I took the jacket for a ride in the scorching heat of Merida, Yucatan Mexico. Ducati Merida was kind enough to lend me a Ducati Diavel 1260 S and while riding I tried different movements which all worked out fine. Obviously using leather in really hot weather is not the best choice, but this jacket was fresh enough after taking the inner liner out. Under the armpits it has perforated leather panels that you really notice while riding. The Ducati Diavel accelerated and I felt instant freshness.
Pockets
The jacket has 8 inner pockets of which 4 have zippers, two side pockets with zippers and an armpocket for your change or toll ticket. One of the side pockets even has a handy little lock for your wallet so you don’t need to worry while riding with your pocket open.
Safety
What they say is true: dress for the crash; The Britannica has soft black leather with ventilation valves and the brown stripes as well as the brown shoulders are made of thicker leather. Although not tested I think the leather is thick enough for a bit of a slide on the asphalt in case of a crash. The jacket has CE approved back, shoulder and elbow protection which, while thin, feels sturdy.
Water Resistance
With tropical showers being very common here in Mexico I had to test its water resistance and it passed like a charm. It took ages before just a little bit of water came in through the zipper on the front.
Fit
I wore the XL which fit me like a glove. Although a tight fit, it allowed me to move my arms freely, and because of the long sleeves I didn’t have to worry about my wrists being uncovered.
Price
At $159 this is a lot of bang for your buck.
Overall
Pros:
- Nice soft leather, good fit for big guys.
- Very cool look, low profile so good to take to work or to a bar.
- Loads of pockets
- Excellent price/quality ratio
- Easy to remove inner liner
- Protection can easily be removed or changed.
Cons:
- Can be too warm in hot weather
- It has no reflective material so visibility is low
- Single stitches
All in all a very good looking leather jacket that I will wear to work as well as on motorcycle trips. What every motorcycle jacket should be about is safety and Viking managed to combine safety with good looks.
Where to get one
Viking has three stores where you can order, depending on where you are located:
For US: https://www.vikingcycle.com/
For UK: https://uk.vikingcycle.com/
For AU: https://au.vikingcycle.com/