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When you think about motorcycles and the culture that surrounds them, an image of freewheeling bikers dressed in leathers, much like Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda in the film Easy Rider, may come to mind.
But as the years have gone by, the world of motorcycling has gotten more sophisticated. That’s especially true when it comes to clothing available to bikers. Leather is no longer the obvious choice. Technical fabrics are being used in innovative ways to provide protection against the elements and injury.
Dainese, a Molvena, Italy-based manufacturer of protective clothing, offers a touring collection that exemplifies how technical fabrics can be used for sporting clothing for style and protection. The line features jackets, pants and gloves. For example, the D-Explorer Gore-Tex® jacket features quick-dry fabrics and elasticized Mugello, a nylon and elastomer fabric that offers superior comfort due to its capacity to extend and return to its original form.
A protective treatment on the fabric, developed through the application of nanotechnology to textile finishing, promotes oil and water repellence. A removable, breathable, waterproof Gore-Tex lining and a removable thermal lining protect against the elements. It also features injury protection from a “Double Chest” chest protector and G1 or G2 back protector.