PRODUCT REVIEW- Motoport Difi II Cordura Jacket and Pants (published Motorcycle Tour and Travel Magazine Mar. 1997) For six weeks this past summer I was provided a Motorport Difi Ultra II Cordura jacket and pants for a motorcycle camping trip to Alaska. I put the suit through a stiff product test, hitting it with rain, mud, thousands of bugs, dirt, and even a high-impact crash. The suit consists of separate shelled jacket and pants with separate removable liners. Motorport has been in business for 36 years, and is the world's largest motorcycle apparel manufacturer. Product literature states that the suit consists of 1000 Denier Ballistic Cordura, which is more than double the strength of competitors' 500 Denier Cordura. The Cordura is double layered on 65 percent of the jacket in critical impact areas. Stretch Kevlar is used inside the arms and thighs, adding extra strength and ventilation in those areas. Unique to the industry is the the fact that the Cordura is uncoated , allowing the outer jacket to breathe freely, and dry rapidly after being wet. Motorport maintains that by allowing the liner to be removable, the comfort range of the suit is extended. According to product literature, coated/lightly insulated suits are only really comfortable in moderate conditions. When it heats up to over 90 degrees or you encounter humid conditions they become uncomfortable. Construction is Safety Lock Stitching with 7 of the strongest nylon threads available. Sixty-five percent of the suit is reinforced with Tri-Armor, Motorport's patented armor with tri-layer composite pads located in the knee/shin, thigh/leg, chest, shoulders, elbow/forearm, and back. To water proof the system, Motorport offers a Gore-Tex/Thermolite liner, which zips in. Thermolite insulation produces the same insulation benefits that would require a layer of of Thinsulate 4 times as thick. There is a wide band of reflective material across the back and down the side of each leg So, how does it work? The suit is rainproof. I remained dry throughout the trip, including a 550 mile day of terrible wind-driven rain, behind a small fairing with no lowers. But you have to get over the idea of taking your jacket off to put the rainproof layer underneath it . At night, when the thermometer dropped below forty I even wore the liner inside my sleeping bag in the tent. After layering the dust of gravel roads on top of a wet goop of calcium chloride, I appreciated the ability to unzip the grimy suit and step out with clean pants and shirt underneath. That's not going to happen in leathers. I threw the suit into a washing machine with a perfect return to cleanliness without special presoaking. I found the suit to be very warm in cooler conditions when I was wearing the liner, but I rarely zipped and snapped it in. I preferred the ability to quickly remove it as the day warmed up. Most of the time, I wore a t-shirt and jeans underneath , but when it got rainy or cold, an electric vest was enough to keep me comfortable. I can prove the suit withstands impacts. I crashed my motorcycle on a gravel road. The bike survived with minor damage, and the handlebars were severely bent. I landed on my left side and skidded down the road with the motorcycle still on top of me. My knee and thigh were sore, but the Tri-Armor prevented more serious injuries. You cannot detect where the Cordura was abraded. Drawbacks. The collar was not high enough for my liking. The velcro closure and snap worked fine, but I found myself adding a turtleneck shirt to help cut the cold around my neck. The pants are quite bulky off the motorcycle but I found myself wearing them into restaurants and stores rather than zipping them off and draping them over the motorcycle. I was worried about someone stealing them. They are simply too bulky to stuff away in a saddlebag. I felt that the system of securing the pants around the ankle could be improved. What I ended up doing (in hard rain only )was using short nylon/Fastex buckle straps to secure the bottom of the pants. But Motoport can make custom length suits, and mine might have been too short . I also learned the hard way that in rain you must empty your outside pockets or experience a wet wallet, as the pockets are not waterproofed. The suits are made in the USA and are guaranteed against manufacturing defects for 2 years. The liner is guaranteed to be waterproof/windproof/breathable for the life of the garment. If you are not satisfied with your suit, return it within 30 days for a full refund or exchange. The Ultra II is a quality piece of work, with adequate research and support aimed at keeping the customer dry, safe, and seen. I was impressed enought with the product that bought the suit rather than send it back. The Ultra II Cordura Jacket costs $399 and the Gore-Tex Jacket Liner $99. The Ultra II Cordura Pant costs $239, with an additional $79 for the liner. Order through your local motorcycle shop or direct through Motorport, 6110 Yarrow Drive, Carlsbad, California 92009. Tel. (800)777-6499.