Richa Bonneville jacket Crash Tested !
If you’re looking for a stylish motorbike jacket that keeps you safe and dry out on two wheels then you could do a lot worse than the retro Bonneville jacket from Belgian bike brand Richa.
Although vintage in appearance, the Richa Bonneville jacket has all the modern technical features you would expect from a brand new motorcycle jacket. It is fashioned from high quality waxed cotton from the British Millerain Company, which offers a high level of abrasion resistance as well as the renowned waterproofing qualities – to which I can testify (it’s kept me bone dry in 
a downpour more than once). There 
is also a removable padded inner lining too, which makes this jacket even more versatile, suitable for all-year-round riding.
The jacket features CE approved five-piece armour in the back, shoulders and elbows – and having taking a tumble in the mountains of Italy recently, I can say with confidence that it’ll take care of care of you should the worst happen. Admittedly, I didn’t come off at any great speed – probably about 35mph – having pushed the weighty adventure bike I was riding to the limit of its lean angle, as I attempted to weave my way through a section of tight switchbacks on an Italian mountain road. My misguided confidence and a small patch of gravel caused me to come a cropper, as I dropped the bike and together we slid into the kerb. But, the jacket held up admirably, with the only damage being a small tear on the sleeve as a result of abrasion – but thankfully the fabric lining held strong, and kept my skin intact.
From a styling front, it harks back to the heady days of early motorcycling, and borrows a few features from the iconic Barbour International jacket 
– but comes in at a fraction of the price. It features a waist belt and buckle collar closure, a small Union Flag detail on the chest pocket, a corduroy collar lining, checked cotton inner and plenty of internal and external pockets for storage too. And now it’s got a few small scrapes and 
an embedded layer of fine grit from my Italian incident, it looks the real deal.
Priced at just under £200, it comes in at much lower price than anything you might be able to buy from Barbour, and it’s equipped with certified impact protection and a pretty impressive level of water resistance – so if you’re in the
market for a new bike jacket that you’re able to wear both on and off the bike, you could do a lot worse than the Bonneville from Richa. 
In fact, I’m tempted to get another, as I’ve consigned my damaged jacket to dirt duties in the future.
Review appears courtesy of Motorcycle Monthly www.morebikes.co.uk
If you’re looking for a stylish motorbike jacket that keeps you safe and dry out on two wheels then you could do a lot worse than the retro Bonneville jacket from Belgian bike brand Richa.
Although vintage in appearance, the Richa Bonneville jacket has all the modern technical features you would expect from a brand new motorcycle jacket. It is fashioned from high quality waxed cotton from the British Millerain Company, which offers a high level of abrasion resistance as well as the renowned waterproofing qualities – to which I can testify (it’s kept me bone dry in 
a downpour more than once). There 
is also a removable padded inner lining too, which makes this jacket even more versatile, suitable for all-year-round riding.
The jacket features CE approved five-piece armour in the back, shoulders and elbows – and having taking a tumble in the mountains of Italy recently, I can say with confidence that it’ll take care of care of you should the worst happen. Admittedly, I didn’t come off at any great speed – probably about 35mph – having pushed the weighty adventure bike I was riding to the limit of its lean angle, as I attempted to weave my way through a section of tight switchbacks on an Italian mountain road. My misguided confidence and a small patch of gravel caused me to come a cropper, as I dropped the bike and together we slid into the kerb. But, the jacket held up admirably, with the only damage being a small tear on the sleeve as a result of abrasion – but thankfully the fabric lining held strong, and kept my skin intact.
From a styling front, it harks back to the heady days of early motorcycling, and borrows a few features from the iconic Barbour International jacket 
– but comes in at a fraction of the price. It features a waist belt and buckle collar closure, a small Union Flag detail on the chest pocket, a corduroy collar lining, checked cotton inner and plenty of internal and external pockets for storage too. And now it’s got a few small scrapes and 
an embedded layer of fine grit from my Italian incident, it looks the real deal.
Priced at just under £200, it comes in at much lower price than anything you might be able to buy from Barbour, and it’s equipped with certified impact protection and a pretty impressive level of water resistance – so if you’re in the
market for a new bike jacket that you’re able to wear both on and off the bike, you could do a lot worse than the Bonneville from Richa. 
In fact, I’m tempted to get another, as I’ve consigned my damaged jacket to dirt duties in the future.
Review appears courtesy of Motorcycle Monthly www.morebikes.co.uk