Richa Aimee Ladies Jacket - Review http://www.bikechatter.net/media/reviews/photos/thumbnail/320x320s/d3/b6/86/1002_richa-aimee-jacket-white-591-p-1329935576.jpg Hot

Richas latest range is pretty big and all pretty tasty. It caters for men, children and most importantly us women. The Aimee is a striking, figure hugging feminine leather jacket available in 2 colour variants and UK sizes from 6 - 20 suitable for everyday road riding, Kate decided this was the jacket for her.

Initial Thoughts

Richa Motorcycle gear – finally something else really good that comes from Belgium other than Agatha Cristies fabulously moustached and ever thinking Hercule Poirot:"It is the brain, the little gray cells on which one must rely. One must seek the truth within--not without." I aim to do just that with this review! I do love leather jackets, but from my experience often the protection they need to make them road safe can make them really bulky and heavy.

Ladies motorcycle wear has it seems come a long way in recent years. Companies such as Richa now create not just one but a number of options exclusively cut and sized for women of differing tastes so there is far more choice out there than ever before. The Aimee jacket is far lighter than previous jackets I have ridden in. Previous sports leathers I have had have been great when moving but really stiff and uncomfortable when stationary or off the bike. Sizing wise Richa jackets are better than the trousers. I am a 10-12 and the size 10 jacket had plenty of room in it and fitted my waist and hips perfectly, begging the question why are the trousers so small?

Construction

Usually when I am sent leathers for review its a matching set, this was not the case on this occasion and deliberately so, the Richa Montannah trousers I reviewed were a hipster cut and I wanted to see whether this would then tie you to the matching Montannah jacket, which although also available in the same two colour variants (plain black or black and white) didn't in my opinion have the same striking design as the Aimee.

I prefer to ride in something other road users will really see and the contrasting stripes on this jacket should definitely get you noticed. Happily Richa's current range of ladies jackets all seem to be cut slightly longer than those of some other manufacturers which means they are interchangeable even with the lower cut trousers, again giving you, the buyer, much more freedom of choice if you prefer like me to mix and match.

Everyone who has seen me in this jacket has said its really lovely. It is mainly constructed from cow leather (88%) except for 2 Keprotec stretch panels up the inside of each arm which allow for ease of movement and increased comfort, the Aimee has a few other small details which are textile. The leather it is constructed from is semi-analine, this type of leather is used as its easier to clean than some others and designs can be embossed or in this case laser cut onto it and it sports a natural matt finish. The Aimee comes as all Richa ladies jackets do with a removable polyester thermal lining which keeps you lovely and snug when the sun goes down, and a full fixed polyester mesh lining to allow your body to breathe when its warmer.

There is quite a lot of detail on the jacket as well as the obvious contrasting black and white leather panels, the Richa logo is laser cut into the top white panel on the front left of the jacket just below the collar bone, there is also a small tribal design (smaller and slightly different to the one on the Montannah trousers) laser cut into the black panel on the right of the jacket next to the waist adjuster. There are 3 round Richa emblem reflectors one on the top of either arm, beneath a reflective stripe, and one in the centre on the back and the Richa logo in white on a black stripe below this, these small details add a subtle style to the jacket which keeps a feminine look throughout.

The neck fastens with the obligatory pop stud and has the option of fittings depending on the width of your neck. Below this is a leather covered Velcro fastening for added security and there is a second larger one also at the bottom of the jacket, there is also a band of soft material along the collar so the jacket doesn't scratch or rub your neck.

As you would expect there are YKK® zips throughout including a full length zip to keep the jacket secured when riding and a short connecting zip at the back to allow you to zip together with trousers, the cuffs have both a zip and plastic Velcro fastening and there are adjustable leather waist straps and zipped textile panels on either side to give a couple of extra inches adjustment to those ladies who require it, this is a really nice feature in my opinion. External zipped pockets are located on either side of the jacket which are fully lined and there is also a fairly large inside zipped pocket on the right of the jacket, that can be accessed even when the jacket is fully zipped up which is extremely useful.

Richa claim to be all about safety so naturally this jacket comes with CE shoulder and elbow protectors and with an Approved foam back protector all of which can be swapped out for alternative armour if preferred or required. The stitching is all secure and although I have no crash experience in it (which I'm perfectly happy about) I am confident I would be adequately protected should the event arise.

Features

• Semi-analine Leather/textile for optimal fitting

• Reflective 3M at back and arms

• Laser printing

• Adjustable waist

• Removable thermo lining

• Mesh lining

• CE shoulder and elbow protectors

• Approved backprotector