KLIM Motorcycle Clothing

KLIM motorcycle gear is aimed at riders who think a few hundred miles, a weather warning and a questionable mountain road sound like the beginnings of a decent weekend.

It is premium kit, and the prices are not shy. Let’s get that out of the way.

What you are paying for is technical construction, proper weather protection, carefully positioned armour, effective ventilation and clothing designed around spending long days on a motorcycle.

At RaceLeathers, our KLIM range includes adventure and touring jackets, motorcycle trousers, Krios Pro helmets, gloves, base layers, mid-layers, visibility gear and other useful bits for riders who prefer carrying on when the weather becomes unpleasant.

KLIM Adventure Motorcycle Clothing

KLIM is particularly well known for adventure motorcycle clothing.

The range covers everything from lighter, less cluttered adventure shells to heavily specified suits intended for long-distance riding in difficult conditions.

Some riders need substantial weather protection, plenty of ventilation, large pockets and armour suitable for long days on and off the road. Others simply want a dependable waterproof jacket without enough compartments to lose half the contents of the garage.

That is why the different KLIM ranges need explaining rather than treating every black and grey jacket as roughly the same thing.

KLIM Badlands Pro: The Serious Adventure Option

The KLIM Badlands Pro sits towards the top of the adventure range.

Current versions use highly specified waterproof construction, substantial abrasion-resistant materials and extensive impact protection. Depending on the generation, that can include GORE-TEX® Pro shells, D3O® Level 2 armour, CORDURA® panels, ceramic-print reinforcement, multiple vents and more storage than some people have in their kitchen.

It is aimed at serious adventure and long-distance riders who want a suit capable of dealing with rough conditions, changing climates and extended time in the saddle.

All those materials, pockets and protectors naturally add weight and bulk. The Badlands Pro is not intended to feel like a lightweight summer jacket.

If you genuinely need what it offers, that substantial construction makes sense. If most of your riding involves a short Sunday run followed by a bacon sandwich, it may be rather more jacket than the occasion requires.

KLIM Carlsbad: Less Bulk, Still Properly Equipped

The KLIM Carlsbad range takes a slightly simpler approach.

It is designed to provide waterproof adventure performance, protection and useful ventilation without carrying quite as much weight, storage or general expedition equipment as the Badlands Pro.

Selected Carlsbad jackets and trousers use GORE-TEX® waterproof shells, abrasion-resistant reinforcement and integrated armour, but the design is generally cleaner and lighter.

That can make the Carlsbad a strong option for riders who travel long distances, ride adventure bikes and occasionally venture away from perfect tarmac, but do not need their jacket to contain everything required for crossing a continent unsupported.

It is still premium gear. It has simply left a few of the kitchen cupboards at home.

KLIM Latitude & Kodiak Touring Gear

The KLIM Latitude and Kodiak ranges are more road-touring focused.

Latitude clothing is designed around all-day comfort, waterproofing, ventilation and ease of movement during long road journeys. It offers a useful balance for touring riders who want premium performance without moving into the heaviest adventure equipment.

Kodiak clothing sits further towards the premium road-touring end of the range, with selected jackets and trousers available in alternative arm or leg lengths.

That choice matters because motorcycle clothing does not become protective simply because the label says KLIM.

The elbow armour still needs to sit over your elbows. The knee armour still needs to sit over your knees. Positioning it somewhere in the general area and hoping for the best is not quite the same thing.

The exact materials, armour and ventilation arrangements vary between generations, so check the individual product description rather than assuming every Latitude or Kodiak suit has precisely the same specification.

KLIM Motorcycle Trousers & Leg Lengths

KLIM motorcycle trousers include road-touring, adventure and waterproof overshell designs.

Selected models are available in short, regular and long leg lengths, while others use different numerical sizing systems depending on the range and production year.

The correct waist size is only half the job.

Motorcycle trousers should also be checked with your knees bent in something resembling a riding position. The knee armour may appear slightly low while standing but move into the correct place once you sit on the bike.

Alternatively, it may remain halfway down your shin, in which case a different leg length or model would be a considerably better idea.

Depending on the product, features may include:

• GORE-TEX® waterproof construction
• Short, regular or long leg options
• Adjustable knee armour positioning
• Hip and knee impact protection
• Reinforced seat, knee and lower-leg areas
• Intake and exhaust ventilation
• Jacket-to-trouser connection zips
• Adjustment for use with touring or adventure boots

The exact equipment varies, so always check what is included with the particular trousers you are considering.

GORE-TEX® Waterproof Construction

GORE-TEX® waterproofing is used throughout much of the KLIM motorcycle range.

Some garments use a two-layer GORE-TEX® Performance Shell, while more heavily specified products may use three-layer GORE-TEX® Pro construction.

Both are intended to keep water out while allowing moisture vapour to escape, but they differ in construction, feel, durability, weight and price.

A laminated waterproof shell also helps prevent the outer garment from soaking up large amounts of water. That can reduce the heavy, cold and generally miserable feeling associated with a jacket that remains technically waterproof while carrying half a reservoir around in its outer material.

Waterproof clothing still needs looking after.

Vents must be closed properly before riding into heavy rain, pockets need fastening and the outer fabric will eventually need cleaning and its water-repellent treatment refreshing.

No membrane can compensate for leaving a chest vent open in a downpour and then looking surprised when your shirt becomes damp.

Many KLIM Jackets Are Designed as Shells

One important thing to understand is that many KLIM motorcycle jackets are designed primarily as protective waterproof shells.

They may not include a thick removable thermal lining.

This is deliberate. Rather than building one heavy insulated jacket that becomes unbearable whenever the temperature rises, the rider can add or remove suitable base and mid-layers underneath.

That gives you greater control across different weather conditions:

• A moisture-managing base layer in warmer weather
• A light insulating mid-layer when temperatures fall
• A warmer fleece or technical layer for cold conditions
• The outer motorcycle shell providing weather protection and armour

It is a flexible system, but it means you need to allow enough room for the layers you intend to wear.

Do not buy the jacket painfully tight in a T-shirt and then expect to squeeze a winter wardrobe underneath it in January.

Ventilation for Changing Conditions

KLIM jackets and trousers are generally designed with riding-specific ventilation rather than one decorative zip placed somewhere near your armpit.

Depending on the model, you may find chest, arm, wrist, thigh, back and exhaust vents arranged to move air through the garment.

Ventilation performance will depend on the motorcycle, screen, riding position and speed.

A large touring screen may keep the rain and wind off your chest but also reduce the amount of air reaching the jacket vents. An upright adventure bike may behave differently from a sports tourer.

That is why no honest person should promise that opening two zips will create an arctic blast through your clothing at thirty miles an hour.

The vents help, but physics still likes to be involved.

KLIM Armour & Protective Ratings

KLIM uses several armour systems across its motorcycle clothing, including products developed with D3O® and newer KLIM-specific protectors.

Armour levels vary between models and generations.

Some garments include CE Level 1 shoulder, elbow, back, knee or hip protection. Others include Level 2 armour, while certain items allow individual protectors to be upgraded.

The overall garment may also carry a CE classification such as A, AA or AAA under EN 17092.

Those garment ratings and armour levels are not the same thing. A jacket can carry an AA garment classification while containing Level 1 or Level 2 impact protectors.

Check both parts of the specification rather than assuming that the most expensive jacket automatically contains the highest level of every possible protector.

We also stock compatible replacement and upgrade motorcycle body armour where available.

KLIM Krios Pro Adventure Helmets

The KLIM range at RaceLeathers also includes selected Krios Pro adventure motorcycle helmets.

Current ECE 22.06 versions use a carbon-fibre shell with KOROYD® impact-management material and can be configured for different types of road and off-road riding.

Selected versions are supplied with useful equipment such as a clear visor, photochromic visor and Pinlock® anti-fog insert, but always check the exact product listing and box contents before ordering.

The Krios Pro is a premium helmet and has an impressive specification.

It still has to fit your head.

A carbon shell, clever impact technology and a visor that reacts to sunlight are all marvellous, but none of them will remove a painful pressure point from your forehead.

At RaceLeathers, we can check the helmet size, internal shape, movement and chin-strap position before you buy.

KLIM Motorcycle Gloves

KLIM motorcycle gloves cover waterproof touring, adventure and warmer-weather riding.

The range includes products using materials such as GORE-TEX®, leather, protective knuckle structures and impact-absorbing foams.

Some are designed to sit beneath the jacket cuff, while others provide longer coverage over it.

Glove fit matters more than people sometimes realise.

Too loose and the material can bunch around the grips and controls. Too tight and your hands can become uncomfortable or cold because the insulation and blood circulation are being compressed into submission.

Try them with the jacket you intend to wear and make sure the cuff arrangement works properly.

Base Layers, Mid-Layers & Accessories

Alongside the main motorcycle suits, the KLIM range includes technical base layers, insulating mid-layers, visibility products, braces, armour and casual clothing.

These items are not as exciting to look at as a thousand-pound adventure jacket, but they can make a substantial difference to comfort.

A good base layer helps manage moisture. A suitable mid-layer provides warmth without adding unnecessary bulk. A poor combination can leave you damp, cold and wondering why your expensive outer clothing is not performing miracles.

The layers need to work as a system rather than fighting each other beneath the jacket.

Who Is KLIM Motorcycle Gear For?

KLIM gear makes the most sense for riders who:

• Cover long distances regularly
• Tour in changing weather
• Ride adventure or touring motorcycles
• Commute throughout the year
• Want laminated waterproof clothing
• Value ventilation, storage and adjustability
• Prefer buying one serious suit rather than replacing cheaper kit repeatedly

That does not mean everybody needs it.

If your motorcycle only appears on warm, dry Sundays for a short run to the cafe, a top-level Badlands Pro suit may be complete overkill.

If you regularly spend ten hours on the bike while Britain throws rain, cold, wind and occasional sunshine at you during the same journey, premium technical gear begins to make considerably more sense.

Choosing the Right KLIM Gear

The most expensive KLIM product is not automatically the correct one.

A Badlands Pro, Carlsbad, Latitude and Kodiak all have different priorities. The right choice depends on where you ride, how often you ride, the weather you face and how much equipment you actually want built into the garment.

Before recommending anything, it helps to know:

• What motorcycle you ride
• How many miles you normally cover
• Whether you ride throughout winter
• How much off-road riding you genuinely do
• Whether you feel the heat or cold particularly badly
• What layers, boots and gloves you already own
• Whether you prefer a lighter suit or maximum equipment

There is little point paying for expedition-level storage and protection if you mostly ride locally and hate bulky clothing.

Equally, saving money on a basic garment may prove less clever when you are standing beside the bike in Scotland, soaked through and still five hours from home.

Proper Fit Still Matters

Premium motorcycle clothing only works properly when it fits properly.

The garment should hold the armour over the relevant joints without being so tight that movement becomes difficult. It also needs enough room for the layers you intend to wear.

At RaceLeathers, we can help check:

• The overall jacket and trouser fit
• Shoulder, elbow, back, hip and knee armour positioning
• Short, regular and long leg options
• Selected short-arm jacket options
• Movement in a realistic riding position
• How the jacket and trousers connect
• How the cuffs work with your gloves
• How the trouser legs work with your boots
• How much room is available for base and mid-layers
• Whether the more expensive model genuinely suits your riding

Sometimes the top-of-the-range option is absolutely the right one.

Sometimes the lighter and less expensive suit fits better and does everything you need.

There is no prize for leaving the shop with the largest receipt.

Found KLIM Gear Cheaper? Tell Us

We always price match like for like.

What we do not have is an all-seeing piece of software watching every motorcycle shop in Britain and setting off an alarm whenever somebody changes a KLIM price by a tenner.

If you find the same current KLIM product cheaper from a genuine UK retailer, tell us.

That means the same product, colour and size, genuinely available to buy.

We cannot react to a price we do not know about. Once you show us, we can do something about it.

Read our RaceLeathers Price Promise, call us on 01254 704000 or contact RaceLeathers.

You can still get the competitive price, together with proper fitting advice from people who actually know the gear.

Browse KLIM Online or Visit RaceLeathers in Darwen

Browse our current KLIM motorcycle jackets, trousers, helmets, gloves, layers and accessories below.

You can order online for UK delivery or visit RaceLeathers in Darwen to try the gear on properly.

For sizing, price matching or product advice, call us on 01254 704000.

KLIM gear is an investment. Our job is to help make sure you spend that money on the right model, in the right size, for the riding you actually do.

You can also browse our complete range of motorcycle clothing from KLIM and other leading brands.