Richa (pronounced “Risha”) is not a name most American riders are acquainted with. Yet, the Belgium-based company produces a broad lineup of motorcycle apparel from neck to toe for most facets of motorcycling.
Starting as a glove manufacturer in 1952, Richa expanded into moto gear in earnest in 1977. The company has manufacturing facilities throughout the world, exports to 50 countries, and is an outstanding moto apparel company no one in the US has ever heard of.
That ends now, as I’ve gotten my hands on the Richa Armada 1.1 Gore-Tex Pro jacket and trousers for adventure touring. It’s what I call a “full battle suit”, ready for just about anything the weather can throw at you.
Looking at and wearing the Armada duo, I was initially impressed by the sheer number of features designed into these garments and the quality of the materials and assembly. Befitting the Armada gear’s premium pricing—$1117 for the jacket and $764 for the trousers—Richa has skimped on nothing. This combo is as good or better than any apparel I have tested over all these years.
Richa Armada 1.1 Gore-Tex Pro Jacket
Starting with a chassis composed of pure polyamide in what appears to be about 800-denier, although Richa’s does not state actual numbers, the Richa Armada 1.1 jacket incorporates water-repellent Gore-Tex. The lining is polyester and polyamide.
Throughout the exterior construction are panels of varying patterns. There are sharkskin-like patches for additional protection in wear spots, including the forearms, elbows, pocket flap edges, vent edges, and shoulders.
Construction and finish are of the highest quality, including YKK zippers. Adjustable hook-and-look strap arm gathers allow proper fitting at the biceps and forearms. There are slide buckle-type waist gathers and five-inch zippered hip gussets to allow more room and venting at the hips. They are backed by hook-and-look gathers should the wearer want to snug up the jacket at the hips. The sleeve-end gussets also have small hook-and-loop gathers at the wrist for a tighter fit, if desired.
At the neck is a full wraparound zippered and removable poly neck gaiter that seals with hook-and-loop and affixes at its bottom with a strategically placed magnet within the jacket. I’ve not seen one like this before. Several magnets are utilized throughout the garment, requiring a label stating Richa Armada 1.1 Gore-Tex Pro jacket is “pacemaker unfriendly.”
The collar is lined and very soft. It seals the neck tab with hook-and-loop, allowing adjustment to any size and there is a loop at the end of the tab attachable to a hook along the neck to hold the tab open on hot days.
There are decorative and reflective silver elements on the forearms, shoulders, back, and chest to aid visibility.
The jacket arrives standard with D3O armor with a CE Level 2 rating. The back protector is the Viper Pro, while the shoulders and elbows are Evo Pro X—good stuff.
Richa does not include a removable liner with the Armada 1.1, as is becoming more common with high-end jackets. It’s now “bring your own base layer.” I like this trend as it allows for a more consistent fit across the seasons.
The main front zipper is backed by a one-inch-wide mesh draft flap with its own zipper. The wearer can seal up the front with the main zipper, or use the draft flap zipper to allow this full-length vent to aid cooling—highly effective. This main zipper allows zipping up from the bottom to give more ventilation or leg room.
The upper chest vents, typical of an adventure touring jacket, are held closed by a vertical zipper, horizontal hook-and-loop, and a magnet on the lower/inner corners. Fully opened, the lower corner has a stud that mates with a receiver. Folded up and opened, hooking the stud in the receiver is easy. Should it get chilly, one hand can unhook the stud, and the flap will be held closed by the magnet in the corner—no need to stop to zip up. This allows secure sealing when desired, yet it is easy to open and close during riding when conditions change.
On both sides of the main zipper, mid-chest, reside a pair of four-inch vertical vents backed by the mesh liner—the more the merrier when summer hits hard.
The sleeve-end gussets are mesh-backed, unzipping from both ends to give the wearer adjustment flexibility. The sleeve ends have elastic gaiters to keep out drafts and are non-removable.
A nine-inch-wide horizontal zippered vent is located about five inches below the collar. Additionally, two seven-inch-wide vertical zippered exhaust vents are placed down from the height of the horizontal vent along the back ribs.
There are two main hip pockets typical of this type of jacket. They appear to be waterproof or rainproof. The flap closure is edged with the sharkskin-type material I mentioned earlier. They seal with an inner zipper, a snap at each corner and hook-and-loop—these babies are not going to open by accident.
On the lower back of the jacket is a “duck hunter” style 8-by-12-inch pocket secured by hook and loop across and a snap in each upper corner.
Construction consists of various layers of poly mesh to create the chassis, pockets, and protector pockets. Two breast pockets are designed to accommodate optional D3O CP1 Level 1 divided chest protectors for enhanced torso protection. If you pass on the chest protection or decide to go with an airbag, the pockets could be used for cargo.
On the left side is a smartphone-ready pocket, plus a smaller lower pocket—both zippered. On the right side is a small hook-and-loop sealed pocket and another zippered lower pocket that matches the one on the lower left.
A six-inch zippered Napoleon pocket resides between the main zipper and the hook-and-loop flap that covers the main zipper.
There is an included, adjustable, and removable wide mesh support belt affixed through the mesh liner and an almost full-circumference zipper that attaches to the matching trousers.
Richa Armada 1.1 Gore-Tex Pro Trousers
Like the jacket, the Richa Armada 1.1 Gore-Tex Pro trousers are constructed of matching polyamide material and Gore-Tex with shark skin-like material at the knees. There are two patches of anti-skid material where the butt cheeks meet the motorcycle’s seat, plus a different patch of anti-skid material on the inner side of each knee and the inner side of each lower pant leg. The full-length interior lining is poly mesh, with no removable liner.
For flexibility, there are accordion gussets above each knee and along the back below the beltline.
The trousers are fitted with D3O Level 2 (EN 1621-1:2012) Evo Pro X hip and knee protectors. There is a zipper around the waist to attach to the jacket for added security.
The two-inch-wide waistband is slightly elastic, and a bit wider along the back for comfort. Hook-and-loop belts on both sides allow for waist adjustments. Closure is by one metal hook and two snaps. The short fly zipper is backed by a standard waterproof fly gusset. A robust and removable set of suspenders helps you avoid droopy drawers.
The pant leg bottoms include a 12-inch zipper and wide gusset, which allows removal of the pants if your boots are not too bulky. Wide hook-and-loop strips along the zipper area enable the wearer to secure them closely around the boot tops.
There is a western-style front pocket on each side and two vertical seven-inch vents on the side of each thigh. Like the Armada 1.1 jacket, there are reflective design elements tastefully added.
As with all Euro apparel, Americans must check the size chart carefully.
Summary
The Richa Armada GTX 1.1 Gore-Tex Pro jacket and trousers are as good as it gets. I’ve worn this a few times in poor weather and it was protective and comfortable, and there’s no sign of wear (other than my cat’s hair). It is not an inexpensive adventure touring combo, yet I can recommend this without reservation.
Richa Armada GTX 1.1 Gore-Tex Pro Jacket Fast Facts
- Sizes: S – 6XL
- Colors: Black; Grey
- CE Certification: AA (EN 17092:3:2020)
- Armor: Back, shoulders, elbow; D3O; CE Level 2
- Richa Armada GTX 1.1 Gore-Tex Pro Jacket Price: $1117 MSRP
Richa Armada GTX 1.1 Gore-Tex Pro Trousers Fast Facts
- Sizes: M – 6XL
- Colors: Black; Grey
- CE Certification: AA (EN 17092:3:2020)
- Armor: Knees; hips; D3O; CE Level 2
- Richa Armada GTX 1.1 Gore-Tex Pro Trousers Price: $764 MSRP
