iXS Tourster-GTX 1.0: motorcycle jacket and trousers in a real-world test

As part of the 1000PS crossover test, I spent a week riding around Wiener Neustadt and the surrounding area in the jacket and trousers. Temperatures ranged from a refreshing 20 to a sweltering 35 degrees. There was sun, cloud and even a bit of rain. That gave the week plenty of opportunity to assess the fit, usability, weather protection and, above all, the ventilation of the jacket and trousers. Of course, this stint isn't enough to say anything about durability after several seasons or weather protection in hours of heavy rain. I'll happily deliver that verdict at some point in the distant future.

For the Tourster-GTX 1.0, iXS uses three-layer laminated Gore-Tex fabric with so-called X-Stretch. On top of that come SuperFabric reinforcements and a 3D mesh lining called E.C.I. The jacket's extra-long features list includes an integrated waterproof storm hood, a two-way front zip and adjusters at the waist, hem and sleeves. According to the manufacturer, two of the four front pockets are waterproof. The trousers add to this setup with, among other things, removable braces, likewise two waterproof pockets, adjustable cuffs and anti-slip material on the seat. Heat-resistant material sits on the inner legs. Jacket and trousers can be connected magnetically at the front and via a short zip at the back.

For me, the Tourster's biggest advantage is definitely how genuinely comfortable it is to wear. The jacket and trousers feel somewhat lighter and, above all, more flexible than most of the AAA-category textile suits I've worn so far. That said, this is a subjective impression, not an actual weight measurement. On the bike, though, this freedom of movement is clearly noticeable!

At 184 centimetres tall and 75 kilograms, the long-fit size M fitted me perfectly. The combination of the right cut and stretchy material accounts for a large part of my positive overall impression. The Tourster looks premium and feels the part too. Put a little less soberly: wrapped in the Tourster, I like the look of myself extraordinarily well, which, incidentally, doesn't happen all that often. My proportions resemble those of a slim, less hairy orangutan, so finding clothes that fit well is genuinely tricky for me. The iXS suit, however, actually fills me with a bit of pride in front of the mirror!

Unfortunately, there is one downside regarding the materials used, and it's on the arms: without long underwear, the inner material chafed a little in the crook of the elbow. Especially in high temperatures, when you want to wear as little as possible underneath, this contact with the skin becomes somewhat unpleasant. Naturally, this takes nothing away from the otherwise excellent feel of the materials and the fit, but it remains a point of criticism when it comes to comfort.

Jacket and trousers are certified to EN standard in the highest protection class, AAA. According to iXS, the jacket has Level 2 protectors at the shoulders, elbows and back; it is prepared for a split chest protector, and airbag vests can also be worn with it. The trousers come with Level 2 protectors at the knees and hips. Fortunately, during my test week the only protective function I had to check was the one against the elements. I successfully refrained from crash tests, whether voluntary or involuntary.

In summer temperatures the jacket, like all waterproof suits incidentally, definitely got too warm for me, especially on days when the mercury climbed past the 30-degree mark. So the Tourster can't resolve the eternal conflict between sealed weather protection and comfort on truly hot days either. As soon as the bike was rolling, however, the opened vents worked very well. Even at low speeds there was a distinct draught that genuinely cooled things down. Incidentally, the E.C.I. technology mentioned above is responsible for this pleasant effect. With the vents open, the 3D mesh acts like a ventilation system with multiple channels (3mm thick), letting air flow freely and thus reach parts of the body that aren't directly behind the vent opening. In the test, then, the ventilation system was by no means just a feature on paper.

Less convincing was the stowage of the opened vent covers in the chest area. The rolled-up flaps repeatedly worked loose from their designated pocket and then flapped around in front of my chest in the wind. The only way I could prevent this was by folding the zip flaps into the recesses with the utmost care. That's a task that is extremely hard to manage on the move or with thicker gloves. So the cooling effect itself is convincing, but the handling of the flaps left something to be desired in my use.

Pleasingly, though, the manufacturer responded immediately to my ventilation feedback and acknowledged this small shortcoming on their part too. According to iXS, the new delivery for spring 2027 has been modified accordingly and will no longer have this minor issue.

For the remaining closures, the verdict was unreservedly positive. The zips were easy to operate and gave no cause for criticism during the test week. I found the outer pockets with magnetic closures particularly well done. They close snugly, are easy to handle and remain visually discreet. It's a small detail that contributes a lot to the good impression in daily use: you use it regularly without having to fiddle with it every time.

During the rainy spells, neither the jacket nor the trousers let any water through. Under the conditions of this test week, the wet-weather protection therefore worked as expected. To put my verdict in context, though, it should be said that on this half day of rain it neither rained continuously nor particularly heavily. So you can't call it a passed prolonged-rain test. For the rain sections I actually rode, the result was nonetheless clear: under the iXS gear I stayed completely dry.