Distributor: Forbes & Davies | Tester: Paul | Price: $1,699.00 | Check It: www.forbesanddavies.co.nz
French motorcycle apparel company IXON has come a long way since it was founded by a mad-keen motorcyclist in 1996. Thierry Maniguet is still a passionate motorcyclist and is still at the helm of IXON, seeing the brand grow and become distributed in over 70 countries.
Reading the PR blurb on the Vortex suit and the fact it’s got the best of their MotoGP know-how invested in its design had me sold that this should be the next slab of leather I was going to trust to keep me safe when circulating on race tracks. Oh, and I reckon it looks pretty cool. Oh, yeah, and the fact it comes in 2XL… Yep, some of us need more leather than others!
IXON’s flagship suit has been developed using the knowledge gained from supporting riders like Aleix Espargaró, Brad Binder and Taka Nakagami, who know a thing or two about falling off motorcycles at high speed. So, from the hump to the sliders, nothing has been left to chance, with the Vortex 3 simply feeling well-made and protective in every area.
While there are plenty of protection features throughout the suit, which has seen it achieving a CE certification AAA class, it’s things like the BETAC type B level 2 elbow and knee protectors that are suitable for MotoGP that let you know this is a suit that’s designed to protect.
There are shoulder and hip protectors that also reach GP level, while touches like the use of highly wear-resistant polymer materials and 3D mesh reinforcements in areas of likely high impact or the double layer seat and additional leather reinforcements on the inner/outer thigh all add extra protection. Even the large Velcro tab over the top of the zipper should mean there won’t be any embarrassing Fabio Quartararo moments of riding with my chest exposed. To be honest, I’d pull over and do it up rather than carry on like the ballsy Frenchman.
With my first outing in the new suit at Hampton Downs at the end of what has been a summer for the record books, it was still warm as I did the usual wiggle to get the suit up and over my shoulders. The soft removable lycra liner certainly makes the suit comfortable when it’s on and easier to slide on and off, while the fit was also snug without being restrictive thanks to the 4-way nylon stretch panels on the torso/sleeves/shoulders/inseam/legs. And then there’s the neoprene collar that meant the suit wasn’t chaffing around my neck.
I usually struggle a bit with race suits as I’ve got a long body, giving it the usual squeeze from top and bottom, but the Vortex seems to be a bit friendlier in that area, probably due to all the stretch panels. The actual overall fit is nice and aerodynamic, without any feeling of flapping while I was tucked in trying to sneak out the last kph of speed from our long-term Yamaha MT-09 on Hampton’s uphill start/finish straight. There are elbow sliders which I hope never to use as that will mean I’ve probably crashed, and even the ability to fit a 0.5l drink system into the hump! And finally, the system is compatible with an airbag vest.
IXON states that the Vortex has been ‘designed down to the smallest detail’ to provide maximum protection. As I’m often riding an unknown bike on a new racetrack with other testers, it’s great to know that I’ve got a suit that should offer me the best available protection should the worst happen. And, most importantly, it looks good in the pictures…!
The Details
- Outer material: Leather + Lycra-lined 4-way stretch nylon
- Interior material: Fixed soft mesh with removable soft mesh vest
- Adjustments: Zipped calf comfort gusset
- Pockets: 2 inside pockets on the removable vest
- Accessories: New bi-density polymer ODAs on shoulders and knees – New removable, replaceable ELBOW 2.0 elbow sliders, derived from MotoGP® – Removable, replaceable, position-adjustable RACE 2.0 knee sliders, used in MotoGP® – New aerodynamic hump used in MotoGP® – Special system to hold 0.5L hydration bladder – Anti-slip panels on the shins for better grip in the boots – Removable mesh vest – Ankle straps for hanging the legs on the hanger
- Fit and Comfort:
- Fit – Close to the body
- 4-way stretch Nylon panels on the torso / sleeves + shoulders / crotch + legs for adjustability and ease of movement – Fully lined in lycra for a comfortable touch
- Seamless double-layer 4-way inserts on the wrists / ankles / rear collar for optimised comfort in the flex zones in the racing position
- Flex accordion ribs / shoulder blades / lower back / knees for flexibility and to allow the airbag to deploy
- New forearm construction with zip in the back position for improved comfort in the racing position
- Neoprene comfort lining on the collar
- 3D Mesh reinforcement on thighs and back for optimised air circulation and increased protection in sensitive areas
- Localised micro-perforations from knees to shoulders for optimal ventilation
- Airflow pocket in 3D Mesh in the SEKH protectors for better air circulation between body and protector
- Safety:
- CE-certified model, class AAA, complies with standard EN 17092-2:2020
- BETAC type B level 1 shoulder/elbow/knee protectors, used in MotoGP®
- YF C30 type B level 2 ventilated hip protectors
- Fanom® chest protector pockets (available as an option)
- Localised micro-perforations for seam protection
- Forearm assembly protection and wrist zip protection in polymer materials with high abrasion resistance
- 3D Mesh reinforcement with 600D strengthening on thighs and back
- Double layer of leather on the seat
- Leather reinforcement outside/inside thighs
- Coccyx foam protection
- YKK nylon #8 zip with self-locking slider for the main closure
- Semi-self-locking slider on wrist and calf zip
- Double turned seams, fully secured for all assemblies
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