John Doe Riding Gear in Practical Use

At the center is the JD/One Helmet: quiet, stable and with an unusually large field of view, plus a Multi-Lock System that makes one helmet suitable for multiple uses. Whether the jeans, hoodie and mesh shirt keep up is shown by the everyday test further below.

John Doe is one of those brands that thinks about motorcycle gear consistently differently. While classic motorcycle gear often looks uncompromisingly functional, John Doe has pursued a different approach since 2001: maximum protection combined with an urban streetwear look. Because that sounds like a marketing phrase, we wanted to find out whether the products actually deliver in real motorcycling everyday use.

At the last EICMA we were already able to form a first impression of the new JD/One Helmet and the current AAA-certified gear pieces. But motorcycle gear only really gets interesting not at a trade show, but during long days in the saddle, rain spells, motorway connecting stages and high summer temperatures.

We had perfect conditions for that during the European Spring Rally. Around 2,000 kilometers through very different terrain, temperatures between 5 and 30 degrees, Italian city traffic, drizzle, heavy rain and dusty coastal roads. That's exactly where our John Doe outfit could show what it's made of.

The JD/One Helmet follows a fairly unique concept: maximum customization combined with classic 70s design and modern safety equipment.

Even when unboxing it, the extremely high-quality build stands out. The helmet feels compact, cleanly made and has excellent haptics. The paint quality of the "Frozen Titanium" finish in particular leaves a very premium impression.

But the decisive factor with any helmet remains fit. And this is exactly where the JD/One positively surprised us. The fit is relatively snug, especially around the forehead and cheeks; despite that, no uncomfortable pressure develops. The fit should suit many European head shapes well. Even with my tendentially long-oval skull, the helmet worked surprisingly well.

Particularly impressive: despite the classic retro design, the JD/One rides remarkably modern.

Retro helmets often struggle with the same problems: noise level, wind turbulence, limited fields of view. This is exactly where the JD/One clearly sets itself apart from many competitors.

With the full visor mounted, hardly any disturbing air turbulence enters the helmet. Even fast motorway stretches stay pleasantly quiet – a real comfort gain especially on long connecting stages.

On top of that comes an enormously large field of view. Shoulder checks work extremely comfortably without having to twist your head like something out of an exorcism. Especially in dense traffic or during fast overtaking maneuvers, this makes a noticeable difference in everyday riding.

The lightly tinted visor also proved to be a good compromise – pleasant in normal daylight, without appearing too dark in poorer light conditions. Only with a low-lying sun does the tint reach its limits somewhat. Here, black or mirrored visors would shield even better. In return, you keep a safe view even at night.

The anti-fog effect also stood out positively. Even in rain, the visor fogged up surprisingly little.

The real special feature of the JD/One, however, is its Multi-Lock System. This allows the helmet to be converted depending on the intended use. Visors, sun shields or cover caps can be mounted without hassle.

Particularly practical: the full visor can be completely removed, after which the mounts are sealed with matching covers. This visually transforms the JD/One almost into a classic motocross or retro enduro helmet. In combination with the optional JD/One Goggle, a completely different character emerges. The goggle seals cleanly against the face, has an extremely wide field of view and prevents disturbing airflow at the eyes.

This becomes particularly interesting at low speeds or in stop-and-go traffic. Because although the ventilation of the JD/One generally works well and is cleanly engineered, it eventually reaches its physical limits in summery city traffic. Converting to the open variant provides a remedy here.

The Taylor Mono Black Used is aimed at riders who want to combine maximum protection with as little fabric buildup as possible. As the name already suggests, the jeans consist of only one layer of fabric. This is made possible by a special weaving process in which the denim is directly combined with XTM Fiber. On warm days especially, this brings noticeable advantages, because the pants remain significantly airier and more pleasant to wear than classic multi-layer motorcycle jeans.

The Taylor Mono meets protection class AAA per EN17092-2:2020 and thus falls into the highest protection category for motorcycle gear. According to the standard, gear in this class must withstand abrasion loads at speeds of at least 120 km/h.

In everyday use, the Taylor Mono feels considerably more robust than normal denim jeans. The material is noticeably thicker and initially somewhat stiffer. After a few hours in the saddle, however, the pants become more comfortable and adapt well. The fit turns out pleasantly neutral. Anyone who wears Levi's in everyday life, for example, will quickly find their bearings size-wise.

Particularly well done: the integrated protectors work extremely unobtrusively. Neither knee nor hip protectors caused any issues even on long riding days. The rear pockets also remain usable without any problems, without causing uncomfortable pressure.

Of course, the Taylor Mono is no substitute for waterproof textile pants. In rain, the fabric soaks up relatively quickly, and underneath it predictably cools down fast.

The behavior afterward was interesting, though. As soon as the rain stopped, the pants dried surprisingly quickly in the airflow. Arriving at the hotel, only a bit of dust needed to be knocked off and the Taylor Mono was ready for dinner. With classic leather gear, that would hardly have been possible.

For cruiser-style riding positions we would rather opt for slightly longer leg lengths, since the pants ride up slightly around the ankles and calves.

The Hoodie V3 Softshell Rip Stop almost unintentionally developed into the secret star of the entire Performance Check during the rally. Visually it initially looks fairly unspectacular, but functionally it proved to be a real Swiss Army knife for changeable conditions.

Between 5 and 20 degrees, the climate under the hoodie worked excellently. Particularly impressive, however, was the performance in rain. During a brief heavy downpour, water ran off in liters across the front and back. The sleeves were completely soaked on the outside and full of road grime – yet underneath it remained astonishingly dry.

The combination of softshell ripstop material, Waterstop function and the YKK AquaGuard zippers actually works surprisingly well in practice.

Particularly well done are the many small details. The extended back significantly increases comfort in riding position. The hood, together with the helmet, forms a high seal at the neck, so hardly any wind gets under the helmet. A separate neck warmer was hardly necessary even at cool temperatures.

Additionally, the hood can be fixed with a snap button at the back. This way it doesn't flap around unpleasantly even at motorway speed.

The pockets are sensibly positioned and large enough for modern smartphones. After rain rides, the hoodie dried extremely quickly. Here too, briefly knocking off the dried dirt was usually enough and the piece looked tidy again.

Sure: visually the hoodie looks less sporty or slim than some other motorcycle jackets. In return, it covers an enormous range of use cases.

The Aero Mesh Motoshirt is clearly aimed at riders who don't want to forgo protective gear even at high temperatures.

The big advantage is immediately obvious – ventilation is enormous. The perforated Aero Mesh construction delivers extremely high airflow even in great heat. Especially in city traffic or on summery country roads, the shirt stays pleasantly airy, plus it has a very cool, urban look.

However, the concept inevitably brings compromises. Weather protection plays practically no role, cool headwind or rain accordingly penetrates easily. The protection class is also AA, below that of the AAA products.

In return, the shirt convinces with everyday usability. Many pockets, a continuous zipper under the buttons and variable sleeve cuffs ensure high functionality.

For hot summer days, city rides or relaxed evening outings, the Aero Mesh Motoshirt is the right choice.

The Neo XTM belongs to that category of motorcycle shoes that are barely recognizable as motorcycle shoes anymore. The sneaker look works excellently. At the same time, XTM Fiber and ankle, heel and forefoot reinforcements provide noticeably more protection than ordinary casual shoes.

Particularly practical in everyday use: the side zipper. Getting in and out works extremely quickly as a result.

The Neo also convinces while riding itself. Gear shifting works cleanly and without pressure points on the forefoot, and the vibration-absorbing sole also offers excellent grip. Especially on the often extremely slippery Italian roads with smooth asphalt, blossom dust and sand, this proved to be a real advantage.

The Neo did not remain perfect, however. The rough leather on the forefoot showed visible wear marks from the shifting motions. The overall look suffered especially from the rain rides: although the shoes dried again quickly, weather and mileage didn't pass them by entirely without a trace.

The laces also pick up dirt relatively quickly. Anyone who wants to keep enjoying the look for a long time will need to clean the shoe regularly. Nevertheless, what remains at the end of the day is a very well-executed motorcycle sneaker that convincingly combines protection, comfort and a casual look.