Triumph Patrol Motorcycle Jacket Test
Triumph literature says its Patrol leather jacket is inspired by the patrol jackets of the 1960s, and the lineage is apparent. But the Patrol jacket of the 21st century has features that would not have been available back then.
For example, that 60s vintage item wouldn’t have come with removable CE approved Knox impact protectors in the shoulders and elbows — nor a pocket in the mesh nylon inner liner for an optional back protector. Airflow Tech zipper ventilation panels at the chest, biceps and back wouldn’t have been available, either. Perforated leather flexibility panels at the back of the shoulders probably wouldn’t have been an option.
Built with 1.2-1.4 mm cowhide, the Patrol features four exterior pockets, two chest pockets with flap closures, two slash pockets with YKK zipper closures, and two internal chest pockets, also with zipper closures.
The removable liner has an additional gadget pocket with hook and loop closure. The closable air vents all have YKK zippers and the main zipper is one of the heaviest-duty YKK zippers I’ve seen.
The sleeves have zippers at the cuff ends and there are snap flaps at the waist for fit adjustment. All the snaps have caps with the traditional (pre-Hinckley) Triumph logo on them and a reminder that the company started in 1902 — one year earlier than Harley-Davidson.
When the going gets cold, the Patrol has a zip-out quilted polyester vest liner. At the bottom of the back lining is a heavy zipper that allows the jacket to be zipped together with riding pants — and below that is a mysterious finer toothed zipper that provides access to the inside of the back between nylon lining and the leather body.
In that space is an elastic band stretching laterally across the back to the shoulder stretch panels for improved fit.
Completing the vintage style are shoulder epaulets, a very cool vintage-style metal badge on the left arm and a non-lined Henley style collar.
Inside both the zip-out lining and the jacket itself is one of the largest and wordiest product labels you’ll ever see with the Union flag as a background. None of the narrative on the labels has the usual care and maintenance or material information on it; and I won’t spoil it for you by telling you what it says.
At the risk of a little less fidelity to the original patrol style jackets, addition of some bits of reflective piping to improve low-light safety would be good, but beyond that, as a basic, tough piece of riding gear, the Patrol jacket hits all the marks.
Fit is relaxed and roomy enough for full range of motion, but snug enough to cheat the wind and not look sloppy.
Sizes available are S, M, L, XL, XXL, and XXXL. The sizing matches expected values for fit and even the sleeves, which sometimes are too long are just right.
The Triumph Patrol motorcycle jacket retails at $495.
For additional information, log onto Triumph Motorcycle’s website.
