The first review of a Cortech product published in Rider was in the April 1998 issue. The late, great Larry Grodsky reviewed the Tourmaster Cortech Jacket, a three-quarter length textile touring jacket. Tourmaster is a house brand of motorcycle apparel and luggage sold exclusively by Helmet House, a major distributor that’s been around since 1969. When doing archival research for Rider’s 50th anniversary issue (Dec. 2024), I ran across the first Tourmaster ad in the Dec. 1980 issue!
After being a sub-brand of Tourmaster, Cortech became a standalone brand around 2005, with a focus on sport and sport-touring apparel. I share this history because it speaks to the brand’s long-term experience in the motorcycle world.
I’ve recently reviewed the Cortech Apex RR Waterproof Boots ($149.99), which pair well with the Cortech Chicane Leather Jacket you see here (and in my Husqvarna Vitpilen 801 review). The exterior is made of premium full-grain 1.2-1.3mm buffalo leather with heavy-duty four-way stretch panels in key areas: back of the shoulder, armpit to inner forearm, and above the elbow. To beat the heat, the leather at the upper chest and on the entire back is perforated to allow airflow, and the interior is lined with cool, stretchy athletic mesh. To beat the cold, there’s a zip-out quilted vest (it’s pretty thin, so I occasionally supplement with a fleece pullover).
Leather provides the utmost in abrasion resistance as well as style, especially with the Chicane’s sporty cut and a few color accents. Extra crash protection comes in the form of removable CE Level 1 elbow and shoulder armor plus an EVA foam back pad (which I removed so I can wear an airbag vest inside the jacket). Pre-curved sleeves and an extended tail are helpful for riding in a crouched position.
The Chicane was comfortable and supple right off the rack. Useful features include high-quality YKK zippers for the front (two-way), handwarmer pockets, cuffs, and the jacket-to-pants connector; hook-and-loop fit adjusters at the waist and wrists; a neoprene-lined collar; reflective accents; and six pockets (two exterior handwarmers, two inner chest pockets, and two interior pockets – one of which is made of neoprene and has a hook-and-loop closure to keep a smartphone safe and secure).
I’ve been wearing this jacket for months now, and its protection, style, and versatility have made it my go-to jacket when going out for a ride. In addition to the Cortech Apex RR Waterproof Boots, it also pairs well with Cortech AA Dyneema Jeans ($129.99).
The Cortech Chicane Leather Motorcycle Jacket comes in sizes S-3XL with white accents, red accents, or all black for $229.99 – a very reasonable price for a high-quality, full-featured leather jacket. Like all Cortech products, the jacket is covered by a four-year warranty.
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