Used: Alpinestars T-GP R Air jacket review

WE'VE had a glorious summer and I'm sat here now thinking - hoping - I made the most of it. Dusk at 4pm isn't anything any of us look forward to.

I've spent most of the summer wearing this Alpinestars T-GP Air-Flo jacket. The top half of the jacket (all the white bits) is a thick mesh, which means air can flow through the jacket, keeping you cool.

I don't want to sound like a sanctimonious old twat but during one ride back into London on one of our sunny summer days, I didn't see one biker wearing anything but a T-Shirt, shorts and trainers and most of them didn't have gloves on either. I must have seen 30 bikers in total. Maybe I'm getting old but I was taken aback by this.

For short rides in summer, I wear jeans, sure, I don't always wear full-length boots, so I'm not saying I'm the gospel when it comes to safety but it struck me that perhaps these bikers weren't thinking 'fuck it, I'm going out in a T-Shirt and no-one can stop me', they may have been thinking 'fuck it, I'm not sweating my knackers off in all my gear, again'.

If they knew jackets like this Air Flo from Alpinestars existed, then perhaps they'd grab one. Or perhaps I'm wrong and it's not about keeping cool, it's about looking cool.

For me, this jacket offers most of the benefits of riding in a T-Shirt with most of the benefits of a full-on textile jacket. It features CE-approved armour in the shoulders and elbows, multiple pockets and a removable liner which, while it won't keep out a thunderstorm, will keep the wind and light rain out. Sure, in the sweltering heat it gets a bit hot but you don't feel like you're going to arrive medium/well-done.

For what it is, I don't think it's expensive and having worn it for 6 months, I can't think of a reason to go out in just a T.

Model: Alpinestars T-GP R Air jacket

Price: £159.99 RRP found online for £132

Contact: www.alpinestars.com