The Best Klim Motorcycling Gear for Fall Rides

In many parts of the country (and the world), fall is a prime motorcycling season. The temperatures have cooled enough that you won’t cook under your leathers, the summer tourist crowds have dispersed, and beautiful fall foliage takes over the trees.

At the same time, autumnal weather can be volatile with wild temperature swings and sudden downpours. You need the right set of gear to make your fall ride as comfortable as possible.

Klim offers a complete set of riding gear to make the most of the end-of-year tours. Here’s a quick glimpse into some must-have gear pieces from the Klim catalog.

Aggressor -1.0 Cooling Short Sleeve

Although temperatures start dropping in the fall, it can still get hot during the day. The Klim Aggressor -1.0 shirt creates an efficient cooling base layer for those warm fall rides.

The short-sleeved shirt uses cooling methods that don’t use chemicals, relying on effective moisture-wicking materials. Its stretchy mesh fabric breathes well and allows sweat to evaporate quickly, consequently cooling your skin down. 

With an athletic cut, the shirt stays close to your skin, maximizing the cooling performance. It holds a shockingly large amount of moisture, and you likely can’t sweat enough to oversaturate it. This does lead to one of its downsides: once wet, the shirt clings to your body so much that removing it feels a little unpleasant.

Unlike some of its direct competitors, the Aggressor -1.0 is machine-washable, making cleaning it fast and easy. The fabric can’t handle a tumble dryer, though, so you’ll have to rely on air drying. Some riders have also said the shirt may develop a synthetic odor over time, simply because of the materials it’s made of.

While we’re recommending it for fall riding, the Aggressor -1.0 is efficient enough that it’ll serve you well in summer, too.

Teton Merino Wool Short Sleeve

As a base layer for cooler fall rides, merino wool is a popular material due to its softness and good heat retention while remaining breathable. These are all features you’ll find in the Klim Teton short-sleeved shirt.

The Teton shirt offers efficient insulation against both cold and warm air. It keeps you comfortable in varying weather, which you’re likely to encounter during autumnal tours.

With what Klim calls an “open” cut, the shirt sits close to your body but doesn’t hug it like the Aggressor -1.0 does. While many shirts are marketed as “odor-resistant,” the Teton shrugs off the post-ride funk surprisingly well. With its neutral look, you can stroll into a restaurant without changing shirts.

Having a wool shirt does mean that you’ll have to handwash it to avoid shrinking. The Teton is admittedly pricey for a T-shirt, but it will help keep you warm and/or cool in all conditions.

Maverick Down Jacket

When the cold fall wind starts blowing, the Klim Maverick down jacket helps dull its bite. Its 800-fill-power down stuffing is warm and highly insulating, preventing your body heat from leaking out while keeping cold air outside. 

The down makes the jacket appropriately puffy, but not so much that you couldn’t wear it as a midlayer under your riding jacket.

As a welcome touch, Klim has used direct bonding technology to create the down pockets. What this means in practice is that there are no sewing holes through which fine down could escape. The end result is a longer-lasting jacket that resists the inevitable down jacket entropy.

The surface is made of wind- and water-resistant (not waterproof) nylon. The jacket’s looks are neutral, which makes it work well as a stand-alone jacket as well. When you’re not using it, you can pack the Maverick down into a small bundle and stuff it in a saddlebag for convenient storage.

It’s a shame there’s no tuck-away hood on the collar, but the Maverick is nonetheless a strong contender for one of the warmest midlayer down jackets for motorcyclists.

Zephyr Wind Shirt

Klim calls the Zephyr Wind a “shirt,” but it’s actually an ultra-lightweight windshell jacket. It’s an ideal gear piece to slip under your main riding jacket when the bitter winds start blowing.

Yet, although the Zephyr stands up against fall weather, it’s a versatile jacket that can serve you throughout the year. In the summer, you can wear it over your armored undershirt on the trail. If it’s a bit chilly after the ride, the Zephyr’s modern style won’t look out of place when you stroll into a restaurant still donning it.

The Zephyr’s wind-stopping performance is excellent, and it cuts down the breeze efficiently even at highway speeds. Even in sub-freezing temperatures, the jacket can keep you comfortable with proper layering.

Its shell material is treated to be water resistant, so it can withstand a brief shower. However, the seams aren’t taped, so a deluge will likely seep through.

Despite its windblocking features, the Zephyr’s stretchable and breathable materials make it comfortable to wear. If there’s wind in the forecast, just throw on this jacket and forget about it.

Psst! Are you wondering where to put your new Klim gear to the test? Check out our 10 best fall motorcycle riding destinations!