There’s a continuing tug of battle in motorcycling between wanting cool and staying protected. Not too way back, you had to decide on: both you go full race-spec astronaut, otherwise you gamble on style items that look good however really feel sketchy the second you twist the throttle.
Fortunately, nowadays, numerous safety-certified gear takes styling cues from the world of style, particularly within the neo-retro section. One model that does this exceptionally nicely is Pando Moto. Notably, with the M65 jacket and Robby Slim Black denims, two items of substances I have been utilizing commonly for the previous few months. On paper, the outfit seems retro and really old skool. However out in the true world, it is clear that Pando Moto has managed to construct one thing that feels intentional, cohesive, and correctly protecting all whereas wanting the half.
Let’s begin with the M65 jacket, as a result of this factor units the tone instantly. The silhouette is basic navy area jacket. Straight reduce, clear traces, no loud branding, no pointless graphics. It seems like one thing pulled from a Nineteen Sixties military surplus rack, besides it’s constructed for contemporary using. The match is what actually sells it. It’s slim with out being tight, tailor-made with out proscribing motion. On the bike, the form is sensible. The arms fall naturally into using place and the jacket doesn’t bunch awkwardly on the shoulders. Off the bike, it simply seems like a well-fitted black jacket that occurs to have a little bit of edge.
Plus, it seems completely spot-on on neo-retro bikes like my Yamaha XSR900.
The styling particulars are refined however considerate. The flap pockets give it that unmistakable M65 vibe, they usually aren’t ornamental both. They’re deep, usable, and really sensible. You possibly can stash your cellphone, pockets, small digicam, or no matter each day carry nonsense you refuse to depart at dwelling. There are inside pockets too, which suggests you may depart the backpack behind for brief metropolis runs. It looks like a commuter’s jacket that simply occurs to appear like a classic icon.
Then there’s the climate angle, which issues so much when you journey in unpredictable climates. The M65 is waterproof, and never in that “we hope it holds up” type of manner. It’s constructed with a correct membrane that retains rain out when issues get ugly. In case you’ve ever been caught in a sudden downpour in Manila site visitors, you know the way rapidly issues go from sunny to biblical. Having that safety in-built adjustments how assured you are feeling heading out the door.
On the similar time, it doesn’t flip right into a suffocating sauna the second the solar comes again out. It’s not a mesh summer season jacket, clearly, however for a water-resistant textile piece, it breathes nicely sufficient to remain wearable in sizzling, humid situations. You’ll nonetheless sweat in site visitors. That’s unavoidable. Nevertheless it’s manageable, and that stability between climate safety and luxury is more durable to realize than it sounds.
Picture by: Enrico Punsalang
Safety-wise, this isn’t simply aesthetic cosplay. The jacket comes with CE-rated armor within the shoulders and elbows, and there’s a devoted pocket for a again protector. Add a CE Stage 2 backbone insert, and also you’ve obtained a correctly armored higher half that doesn’t appear like it’s making an attempt too laborious. That’s the trick right here. Nothing about it screams “technical gear,” however every thing about it really is.
Now pair that with the Robby Slim Black jeans, and the entire thing clicks. If the jacket is retro navy cool, the denims are pure stealth mode. At a look, they appear like clear, slim black denim. No seen reinforcement panels, no loud stitching, no exaggerated stretch zones. You might stroll right into a café or an informal assembly, and no person would assume you’re sporting totally protecting using denims. That’s the fantastic thing about them.
Picture by: Enrico Punsalang
The match is trendy and sharp. Slim, however not painted-on skinny. They taper properly with out feeling restrictive if you swing a leg over the bike. There’s sufficient stretch within the Cordura denim you can transfer naturally, whether or not you’re tucked in barely on a unadorned bike or simply sitting upright on a commuter. They don’t flap at pace, they usually don’t bunch awkwardly on the knees if you’re stopped. They only behave like well-cut denims that occur to be constructed for impression and abrasion.
Beneath that clear exterior, although, they’re critical. The Robby Slim Black carries a CE Stage AA score, which suggests it’s not entry-level when it comes to abrasion resistance. They arrive outfitted with armor that’s versatile and low-profile, so that you don’t really feel such as you’re strolling round with plastic plates strapped to your legs. The armor molds nicely sufficient that you just neglect it’s there till you bear in mind why it’s. That’s what good protecting gear ought to do. It ought to disappear till you want it. Knock on wooden, you ever do.
Plenty of using gear looks like it’s worthwhile to peel it off the second you arrive someplace. It’s both too cumbersome, too loud, or too clearly technical. With the M65 and Robby Slim combo, you don’t really feel that urgency. You possibly can park, take your helmet off, and simply exist. The outfit works as an outfit. In case you’re into retro-themed seems like I’m, it really feels intentional. Black jacket, slim black denims, boots, possibly a easy tee beneath. It’s cohesive. It seems styled, not hipster for the sake of being hipster.
And that’s the place the worth dialog will get attention-grabbing. Sure, there are cheaper jackets on the market. Sure, there are cheaper using denims. However a whole lot of these choices both compromise on security certification or are manner too specialised that they give the impression of being completely off if you’re not on the bike. On the opposite finish of the spectrum, there are high-end boutique manufacturers that completely crush the aesthetic, however they’ll cost you significantly premium cash for it. Pando Moto sits within the premium section, however you’re paying for actual supplies, actual CE rankings, masterful tailoring, and a design language that doesn’t really feel trend-chasing.
You’re not shopping for hype. You’re shopping for one thing you may put on each day, journey laborious in, and never really feel ridiculous if you step off the bike. That stability is uncommon. Most manufacturers nail both the protection or the model. Only a few persistently nail each with out making one really feel like an afterthought.
After spending time with this setup, what sticks with me most is how simple it’s to reside with. You don’t really feel such as you’re dressing up as a rider. You simply really feel like your self, besides protected. The jacket matches proper, the denims sit proper, the armor stays in place, and the entire thing strikes naturally with you. There’s a refined, underrated confidence to that. No flash, no theatrics, simply well-designed gear doing its job.
In a world stuffed with loud graphics, overbuilt race replicas, and fashion-forward items that neglect they’re supposed to save lots of your pores and skin, this retro-inspired combo feels refreshingly grounded. It proves you don’t must appear like a track-day further to journey secure. You possibly can care about model. You possibly can care about match. You possibly can construct a wardrobe that displays your character. And you’ll nonetheless take security significantly.
That’s the win right here. Not simply that it seems good. Not simply that it’s protecting. Nevertheless it refuses to make you select between the 2.
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