Today I’m reviewing the NORU Tabi
Mesh Jacket, which is similar to the current model Kuki jacket and Kaze
jacket from Noru. All 3 are mostly-mesh street jackets made for a wide
variety of riders who will encounter hot summer temps. These are good
looking and inexpensive options with a good feature set. Standard
shoulder and elbow armor is included along with a foam back pad. An
upgrade for the back pad is available at a very reasonable cost.
I’m combining the reviews on these jacket styles because of their
similarities, and because I’m sure many of you will be wondering about
the differences between the two (take the link below to view the other
options). First of all, all of these jackets are built with a
largely-mesh material shell and a nylon mesh inside liner which means
they’ll flow a lot of air and will comfortable in the hottest temps.
None of the options are waterproof nor do any offer any sort of
removable waterproof liner. One key point where they differ is that the
Kuki jacket includes a removable full-sleeve thermal liner while the
Kaze and Tabi do not. You can use the liner to help you out in cooler
weather by adding a wind barrier and also a bit of insulation (although
don’t get too excited as its relatively thin overall). The Kaze and
Tabi would be only for mild to hot weather use while the Kuki will get
you through some cooler temps. But there’s nothing to prevent you from
layering under the Kaze and Tabi with your own garments if you own
something suitable. Basically the inclusion of the liner adds about $30
retail to Kuki as compared to the Kaze and Tabi which seems fair to me.
So how are they similar? Well, they both include a set of CE1
molded/rubberized armor for the shoulders and elbows. The armor isn’t a
brand name, but it is just like “standard” armor we’ve seen in many
brands over the last several years. It feels good to me and I’m sure it
is functional. NORU gives you a thin foam
back pad in a fabric pocket, but it’s only really a place-holder for a
“real” back protector. If you want to upgrade, we recommend the
Viscoflex back protector listed below. It is a very low cost upgrade
and well worth it.
You’ll get a standard pocket arrangement on all 3 jackets and night
reflectives. The Kuki and Kaze both have a short rear zipper for
connecting to NORU pants and you also get a
small snap-close tab to tie the jacket to your own belt or belt loops.
The Tabi does not have the short zipper, but it does feature 2 of the
snap-close belt loop hoops. All 3 jackets have a nice set of fit
adjusters too; two on each arm and standard Velcro based adjusters at
the waist. The sleeve ends have Velcro adjusters also. The biggest
difference here is on the Tabi Jacket, which features zippered gussets
on each side at the waist that open the waist up about 2.5” on each side
and taper up the 8” zippered opening back to the standard waist
measurement which is fairly boxy and just about the same as the chest
measurements. The collar on the Tabi is also shorter than either of the
other two jackets. The styling of each jacket differs only slightly. I
think the Kuki and Tabi are a bit more “street” and will appeal to
touring or street rides. Those with a bit more of a sport style might
like the raised padding on the shoulders and arms of the Kaze, but
really any of these jackets could easily appeal to any kind of rider.
All 3 could could be mated with the Kiryu mesh pants to make a great
summer riding outfit.
I like all of these styles. They are easy to fit, have all the basic
features of a good summer jacket and the prices are certainly
reasonable. :: Mike, 08-08-22
About NORU: The NORU
line of riding gear that debuted in 2021. It comes to us through one
of our very long-time distributors of riding gear and apparel, Helmet
House of California. Helmet House is the owner of the Cortech and Tour
Master brands and is a distributor of other well known brands such as
Shoei helmets and Alpinestars apparel. NORU
is designed with value in mind… in fact, exceptional value and will
serve those well who want decent riding gear on a minimal budget. NORU says: Inspired by Japan’s culture of careful refinement, NORU is the Japanese word that means “To Ride”. Founded by lifelong motorcycle enthusiasts, NORU is the performance champion of motorcycle apparel that you can afford.
Today I’m reviewing the NORU Tabi Mesh Jacket, which is similar to the current model Kuki jacket and Kaze jacket from Noru. All 3 are mostly-mesh street jackets made for a wide variety of riders who will encounter hot summer temps. These are good looking and inexpensive options with a good feature set. Standard shoulder and elbow armor is included along with a foam back pad. An upgrade for the back pad is available at a very reasonable cost.
I’m combining the reviews on these jacket styles because of their similarities, and because I’m sure many of you will be wondering about the differences between the two (take the link below to view the other options). First of all, all of these jackets are built with a largely-mesh material shell and a nylon mesh inside liner which means they’ll flow a lot of air and will comfortable in the hottest temps. None of the options are waterproof nor do any offer any sort of removable waterproof liner. One key point where they differ is that the Kuki jacket includes a removable full-sleeve thermal liner while the Kaze and Tabi do not. You can use the liner to help you out in cooler weather by adding a wind barrier and also a bit of insulation (although don’t get too excited as its relatively thin overall). The Kaze and Tabi would be only for mild to hot weather use while the Kuki will get you through some cooler temps. But there’s nothing to prevent you from layering under the Kaze and Tabi with your own garments if you own something suitable. Basically the inclusion of the liner adds about $30 retail to Kuki as compared to the Kaze and Tabi which seems fair to me.
So how are they similar? Well, they both include a set of CE1 molded/rubberized armor for the shoulders and elbows. The armor isn’t a brand name, but it is just like “standard” armor we’ve seen in many brands over the last several years. It feels good to me and I’m sure it is functional. NORU gives you a thin foam back pad in a fabric pocket, but it’s only really a place-holder for a “real” back protector. If you want to upgrade, we recommend the Viscoflex back protector listed below. It is a very low cost upgrade and well worth it.
You’ll get a standard pocket arrangement on all 3 jackets and night reflectives. The Kuki and Kaze both have a short rear zipper for connecting to NORU pants and you also get a small snap-close tab to tie the jacket to your own belt or belt loops. The Tabi does not have the short zipper, but it does feature 2 of the snap-close belt loop hoops. All 3 jackets have a nice set of fit adjusters too; two on each arm and standard Velcro based adjusters at the waist. The sleeve ends have Velcro adjusters also. The biggest difference here is on the Tabi Jacket, which features zippered gussets on each side at the waist that open the waist up about 2.5” on each side and taper up the 8” zippered opening back to the standard waist measurement which is fairly boxy and just about the same as the chest measurements. The collar on the Tabi is also shorter than either of the other two jackets. The styling of each jacket differs only slightly. I think the Kuki and Tabi are a bit more “street” and will appeal to touring or street rides. Those with a bit more of a sport style might like the raised padding on the shoulders and arms of the Kaze, but really any of these jackets could easily appeal to any kind of rider. All 3 could could be mated with the Kiryu mesh pants to make a great summer riding outfit.
I like all of these styles. They are easy to fit, have all the basic features of a good summer jacket and the prices are certainly reasonable. :: Mike, 08-08-22
About NORU: The NORU line of riding gear that debuted in 2021. It comes to us through one of our very long-time distributors of riding gear and apparel, Helmet House of California. Helmet House is the owner of the Cortech and Tour Master brands and is a distributor of other well known brands such as Shoei helmets and Alpinestars apparel. NORU is designed with value in mind… in fact, exceptional value and will serve those well who want decent riding gear on a minimal budget. NORU says: Inspired by Japan’s culture of careful refinement, NORU is the Japanese word that means “To Ride”. Founded by lifelong motorcycle enthusiasts, NORU is the performance champion of motorcycle apparel that you can afford.
We checked the sizing of this style with our Fit Check mannequins Huey and Dewey. They are wearing size Medium and XL jackets respectively. These are their “usual” sizes and they work just fine. We also checked the chest and belly of the other sizes and find them to fit OK too. Therefore, we recommend you choose the size you normally wear in men’s clothing. if you are between sizes, choosing down is probably the best move.
The overall fit of this jacket is similar to other US brands, which is to say, roomy through the torso with a relaxed fit. The overall height and sleeve length I’d say is “average” and is very similar to Tour Master products. If you are slim and tall, you may not fit a good fit here, but average or stout built people will probably be happy with the overall cut.
You can also choose a size by measuring your chest and belly and using the chart (below) which lists max chest and max belly sizes for each jacket size. The measurements in the chart are a combination of the manufacturer’s size chart and also the measurements we take on the product samples. After you measure, you can choose a jacket size using the chart. You’ll want to choose a size that will accommodate both your chest and belly. There are waist adjusters to trim the waist down by up to 2.5” per side, and there are also zippered gussets that let the waist out by about 2” per side so you really have a lot of flexibility at the waist. The normal waist with the gussets closed and the adjusters in the fully open setting should be just about the middle of the stated range, 43” for the size Medium for instance.