Best Motorcycle Jacket Reviews UK

I LIKE a jacket that looks okay off the bike as well as on but that usually seems to involve compromise. If it doesn't look like a bike jacket, it often also lacks a bit of the functionality of one, be it pockets, warmth or protection.

This Furygan Scala jacket is one of the best I've ever found at offering the full functionality of a motorcycle jacket without looking too much like one.

It's possibly the warmest jacket I've ever had, with a thick removable thermal lining. It’s got four big (non-waterproof) external pockets and three internal ones. It’s made of thick cotton with CE-approved armour at the elbow and shoulder and there’s a pocket for an optional back protector.

It’s comfortable, with a snug collar, and the zips and poppers are all easy to fasten.

There is one respect in which it lacks functionality though: the cuffs do not expand enough to go over the gauntlets of winter gloves. On a bike like my SV650S, with a sporty riding position, this means water will run down my sleeves and soak the insides of my gloves in heavy rain, a problem on long winter rides.

I’ve done a couple of thousand miles in the jacket but, as chance would have it, it hasn’t been subjected to a persistent downpour, so I can’t yet vouch for Furygan’s claim that it’s 100% waterproof. I’ll bring you an update when I know.

Overall I’m impressed with a smart casual jacket at a not altogether unaffordable price.

Product tested: Furygan Scala textile jacket

Price: £219.99

• Sign up for Visordown's weekly newsletter, Bugsplat, to get the best motorcycle news, road tests and features plus exclusive competitions and offers direct to your inbox. Register as a Visordown member here and tick the box for Bugsplat in your newsletter settings here.