Teknic Violator Motorcycle Gloves

by Rick K. for webBikeWorld.com

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I seemed to have a much better feel for the throttle; I felt that I could ride much more smoothly because I could really tell what each little throttle increment was doing.  I also had a much better feel for what the front end of the bike was doing.  

Now I know why most of the fancy and expensive racing gloves use kangaroo skin on the palm; besides its claimed superiority over cowhide regarding its resistance to abrasion and tearing, it also seems to transmit tons of feel to your hand.  I guess it's because a thinner grade of kangaroo hide can be used to equal the same amount of protection you'd get from cowhide, and less thickness means better feel.

Anyway, that's the very first thing I noticed when I started using these gloves, compared to the cheap old cowhide jobs I was using before.  Some of my friends laughed when they heard I paid over $120 for gloves, but my feeling is that they're worth it for the improvement in feel alone.  

Whether or not they will protect me in a fall better than anything else, well... who knows?  That's a very interesting question, actually -- whenever someone says "these (fill in the blank: helmet, gloves, jacket, etc.) are the best because I fell off and I walked away" -- the question is "compared to what?"  Maybe if you were wearing el cheapo brand "X", the outcome would have still been the same.  

Anyway, back to the gloves; they're nice and comfortable, the size large fits each finger perfectly (unlike other brands of gloves I've tried), and they have a nice gauntlet that fits over all of my jackets, including the Aerostich Darien, which has a lot of material at the wrist that can be pretty hard to stuff under a glove.

There are two closures, one big wide hook-and-loop (we're not allowed to say Velcro....ooops!) that closes the gauntlet, and another, smaller hook-and-loop that closes over the top of the wrist (see photos above). 

They have the cool (or ugly, depending upon your point of view) carbon fiber knuckle guards and some extra padding on the palms and along the pinky finger.  There's also some extra kangaroo hide that runs down along the index finger and up the thumb; I guess this is to help improve wear in that area that gets the most pressure. 

There seem to be two schools of thought on glove seams; external and internal.  Some gloves have external seams and with other brands, including these, the seams are internal.  I'm not sure if one is better than the other, but the external seamed gloves always seem to look untidy to me, and the stitching and the edges of the leather always seems to quickly fray.  

The Violators are internally seamed, but the downside is that you can feel some of the seams rubbing against your fingers.  About the only place this sort of bothers me is on the tip of my index and second finger.  I can feel the seams, and they sometimes get caught right under my fingernails as I twist the throttle.  It's not really a nuisance, it just sometimes takes a bit of your concentration away because you can feel it catching under your nails.  My fingertips come right up to the end of the gloves, so maybe they will fit you differently and you won't have this problem.

It's not a big deal, and I guess I'm really reaching to find something I don't like about them.  Oh yes -- they can also be a bit hot in the summer, but I guess any glove of this type would be.

One other thing -- they've stretched just a tiny bit, but they seem to be wearing very well after about 5,000 miles.  They are very comfortable and felt great right from the start, and I haven't noticed any difference over time.

The Violators have been enormously popular sellers, and this year Teknic wants to keep up the momentum by improving them and lowering the list price.  When I bought mine in 2001, the list price was $149.99, I got them for what at the time was a good deal at $119.99, but I've seen them since for as low as $99.99.  If you see them at that price or lower, definitely grab them, as I think it would be a steal.

The newer model Violators come in two flavors (see the wBW review of the revised Violator Pro gloves); the Violator and the Violator Pro; here are some of the new features:

• Pre-curved racer cut fingers and palm;

• Rubber grip leather, in palm for added grip;

• "Little finger Safety Wrap System"; a second layer of Kevlar covering the little finger seam, which supposedly improves tear and abrasion resistance;

• "Safety Wrap Cuff System"; supposedly improves tear and abrasion resistance, and allows cuff adjustment (not sure how this is  different than the older models, as it looks the same to me):

• Updated wrist strap, which supposedly creates a more secure fit while providing more wrist movement;

• Nylon armor plates in cuff padding, for added impact and abrasion resistance;
  
  Other features which seem to have been retained:

• Japanese drum-dyed cowhide upper;

• Kangaroo un-dyed leather palm;

• Available with Chrome knuckle and finger molds, for abrasion and impact protection;

• Improved tunnel system, less restriction, with more protection;

• Kevlar layers in palm, little finger and thumb, increases abrasion and heat resistance.

Many online dealers sell Teknic products, but I've had very good luck with Holly and Paul Thompson at NewEnough Leathers.  The prices aren't always the cheapest, but you can count on great service with a personal touch, and its one of the few places you can return clothing with no "restocking fee".  

If you're in the market for a nice set of race-style gloves, but don't want to pay a fortune, check out the Violators -- I think you'll agree they're well worth the money.

Product Review:  Teknic Violator Motorcycle Gloves
Available From:  Teknic	Suggested Retail Price:  $129.95.  I've seen them as low as $99.99; the 2002 Violator Pro Gloves run around $130
Colors:  Black with red, yellow, blue and black accents	Made in:  China
Product Comments:   Kangaroo skin palms give great feel; seem to be well made; have held up well.  Can be a bit hot in the summer time; the inside folds of the fabric can rub against your fingers.
More:  wBW Motorcycle Clothing Page  |  Review Index  |  Update:  See the wBW review of the updated Violator Pro gloves

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