AGV Sport “Venus” Women’s Jacket Review
by “Smalls” for webBikeWorld.com
Summary: AGV Sport has been in the motorcycle apparel business for many years and their gear is very popular with street riders in the U.S.A.
A company doesn’t survive that long without quality products, so for details about one of their women’s high-quality, armored leather jackets, read on…
Background
In the spring, my obsession with motorcycles and engines went to another level — I took a job in parts and accessories at a motorcycle shop.
I resigned after four months (I prefer working for myself) but in that time frame I learned even more about the industry and mechanics of motorcycling.
I thought I had a good working knowledge of motorcycle engines and parts until I pulled up my first parts fiche.
Holy cow! There are more parts in an engine than I realized – I swear, some carburetors had over twenty parts alone!
Concerning accessories, I now understand why many motorcycle shops don’t carry more women’s gear. A store might end up stocking a product that doesn’t sell for whatever reason — do that enough times and it’s very costly.
We women are picky (well, I am) and want a certain look, and it’s impossible for shops to carry a little bit of everything.
It is still frustrating when I want to try something on that isn’t in the store, but now at least I understand the complexities involved.
This is where gear reviews come in handy — a rider can get an idea of the quality and fit of a product before making a purchase. Reviewing motorcycle gear is a dirty job, but someone has to do it and I’m willing to make that sacrifice (yes, all my motorcycling friends hate me)!
Sizing and Construction
In my opinion, the AGV Sport Venus Leather Jacket runs true to size based on their sizing chart and my measurements; I ordered a size small and it fits well.
Designed specifically for women, the Venus Jacket is definitely not a down-sized men’s cut. Princess seams (rounded seams in women’s tops) form a close fit that compliments women’s figures. Velcro waist tabs let the rider make adjustments.
The sleeve length is great and the pre-curved construction means a comfortable fit without bunching when riding. The cuffs stay securely closed with 5.5 inch (14 cm) long zippers and snap closures; replacement snaps are included. On my Venus Jacket, the inside circumference of the cuffs is 7.75 inches (19.7 cm) and the cuffs are narrow enough to fit under many gauntlet gloves.
Zippered chest intake vents and back exhaust vents are well-placed for maximum airflow. The 100% polyester mesh lining has leather pieces sewn into the underarm seams to prevent ripping. The vents and mesh lining will get a rider through warm weather, but this is not a hot weather jacket — although a great deal depends on the rider.
For instance, I get cold easily and in 62 degree (16 Celsius) weather with just a T-shirt underneath, I actually got a little chilled with all the vents closed; others might have been comfortable in those conditions.
The waist on AGV Sport Venus Leather Jacket is slightly longer in the back than the front, but not by much. The back of the jacket is approximately 2 inches (5.1 cm) shorter than other jackets I’ve reviewed. When I wore this jacket with my low-rise riding pants I didn’t have as much back coverage as I’d have liked riding my Ninja 500. A high-waist riding pant may pair better with the Venus Jacket.
A moisture-wicking neck liner at the back of the banded collar adds more comfort. The AGV Sport logo is embroidered on the collar and appliquéd in leather on the sleeves and lower back.
Protection and Visibility
If you’re going to zoom your body along at 75 MPH with only a motorcycle between you and the pavement and other vehicles, you’d be wise to invest in protective gear. The cost of gear is small when compared to medical bills or even worse, the priceless cost of a life.
I’m probably preaching to the choir, since you’re reading this article…so I’ll get to what you’re waiting for: What does the AGV Sport Venus Leather Jacket have to offer?
For starters, the Venus Jacket is made with 1.1 mm to 1.3 mm thick leather, with the thinner leather over the body and thicker leather over impact areas. The main seams are stitched multiple times to help prevent tearing.
Included are removable CE-approved shoulder and elbow armor and a 1 cm thick foam back pad for increased protection.
I’m fanatical about night-time visibility and the AGV Sport Venus Leather Jacket does not disappoint. The back and front of the jacket contain 3M reflective piping which becomes bright under lights.
Rounding out the protective features, there is a waist connection zipper for attachment to riding pants; this helps keep your back covered during rides and in the event of a slide. If the zipper doesn’t connect to your favorite riding pant, simply remove the bottom portion of the jacket’s zipper and sew that piece to any pant below the back waistband.
Zippers and Pockets
There’s no shortage of pockets on the AGV Sport Venus jacket. The two hand-warming pockets are slightly shallow for me — I can’t get my hands all the way inside them, but then again, I have large hands.
However, there are three large pockets on the inside. A vertical zipped pocket is 6 inches (15.2 cm) long and 5.75 inches (14.6 cm) deep. A non-zipped horizontal pocket (sometimes called a map pocket) measures 6.5 inches (16.5 cm) wide and 7 inches (17.8 cm) deep.
Last, but not least, there is a zipped, waterproof media pocket with additional pockets inside it for a cell phone and iPod, including an opening and tab for tangle-free earphone use. All zippers are YKK and the main zip has a custom AGV Sport logo pull.
Conclusion
The AGV Sport Venus Leather Jacket is another fine example of a well-made, armored leather jacket designed specifically for women.
Leather and CE-approved armor offer optimum protection while princess seams and colored panels flatter women’s curves. If you’re looking for an understated yet eye-catching jacket, you may have just found it.
