Raven Rova Falcon Textile Jacket Hands-On Review

Review Summary

The Raven Rova Falcon Textile Jacket is available for a retail price of $271.00 USD

CE-1 back protector and CE-2 elbow protectors included

Main material features a blend of Midnight Blue 500 denier CORDURA® and black Keprotec® DuPont Kevlar® stretch panels

Additional perks include 4 pockets and aesthetically-pleasing double-layer-stitched lines

Ventilation is slightly above typical thanks to the back zippered vents and DuPont Kevlar on the inside of each arm

The penultimate textile number for a fitment that hugs in all the right places – but be sure to factor in chest size when choosing your jacket!

I wish I had sized up – my fault, but something that can be completely avoided by talking withKarleen’s team prior to ordering!

About Raven Rova

According to their website, Raven Rova is “a fashion design house for protective motorcycle apparel.” The wording there is key since Eberle’s approach to motorcycle gear takes a more detailed lean toward the individual client than I consider typical for our mass-production-obsessed industry.

Raven Rova’s very first gear prototypes were revealed to the public in 2018; since then, RR has helped thousands of riders find their perfect fit.

Brand values of the company include:

Bravery – “To face fears, shed stereotypes, and combat all forms of negativity.”
Community – RR lifeblood. “We are inspired by our sisters and brothers of the road and strive to design products for protecting them.”
Fun – “The reason we face those dangerous statistics, constantly wrench on our machines, and deal with helmet hair.”
Curiosity – “to try new materials, learn new techniques, and never cease to question the status quo.”
Quality – “Because our lives and yours depend on it.”

*A BIG thank-you to Karleen for the privilege of being able to test my first piece(s) of Raven Rova motorcycle gear!*

Features

Since the Falcon Pants were the very first of Eberle’s lineup to see our markets, Karleen really didn’t hold back with the Falcon jacket. Both knowledge and know-how have been carried over from the success of the Falcon pants to this number, and the residual quality shows in the performance specs.

Let’s take a closer look, shall we?

Key features include:

500 denier CORDURA® and Keprotec® DuPont Kevlar® stretch panels (the black fabric)
Interchangeable armor pockets (CE-1 back protector and CE-2 shoulder/elbow armor included)
Zip-out quilted thermal liner for all-season riding
Internal waterproof phone pocket
Accordion panels at the shoulders for maximum motion
Adjustable velcro tabs and accordion panels at the waist to customize your fit
Breathable stretch panels on the inner arm for maximum motion and airflow
Water-resistant material
Athletic mesh lining

For a complete list of features, visit Raven Rova Falcon Textil Jacket in Midnight Blue.

First Impressions

I had three thoughts smack me simultaneously upon first zip:

I had asked for the wrong jacket size, though she still zipped up decently.
The fitment still felt amazing in spite of the cinching about the chest.
I was FINALLY wearing a Leia Organa-inspired motorcycle jacket (see the “Pros” section of this review for additional information)!

Comparing this unit to my current #1 jacket – the KLIM Altitude with her plethora of GORE-TEX and 600D CORDURA® – I found the Falcon’s style and choice of 500D CORDURA® to be more flattering – certainly more forgiving.

In short, I had on a size too small and I was already reveling in the rockstar properties of my new blue bit of happiness.

Yes, the jacket was cinched tighter about my waist than would be recommended; regardless, Raven Rova’s jacket followed torso lines beautifully. I could see how the RR Falcon happily catered both to larger ladies and, simultaneously, to shorter gals… and nearly everyone in between, including my lanky 5’9” self.

Once I had the jacket on and the mandarin collar clipped, I could see that Eberle was very intentional in shaping space for the neck, relieving the worry that I would have to carry away red marks from my rides like I had to with the REV’IT! Coral jacket.

Overall, the smaller jacket size I had chosen showed off the inner workings of my zipped-in meshing more than recommended – a small detail to remember for picking your own size, but one that also speaks to Karleen’s excellent forethought in choosing strong, yet stretchy material for the zip-in connector.

I can also say with utmost certainty that the Falcon Midnight Blue (FMB) doesn’t hurt in the corners (armpits, elbows) when I lean into my Yamaha R3 AT ALL, and – get this – the jacket still breathes brilliantly once out and away.

Rockstar qualities indeed.

Construction

Outer Shell

For the exterior of this jacket, Karleen has chosen a 500 Denier (500D) CORDURA® Nylon fabric (in Midnight Blue). This is a versatile material boasting water-resistant properties due to the polyurethane coating on its nylon fibers.

For the black stretch panels, we’ve been given Keprotec® DuPont Kevlar® – developed for motorcycle riders, and optimizing high durability, temperature stability, and comfort (via Discovery Fabrics).

At the front of the jacket rests two pockets for both hands; a latch with Velcro attaches to the Mandarin collar, while the back features accordion panels at the back of the shoulders and two zippered vents open on either shoulder blade for airflow.

Numerous other little details are added, such as accordion panels at the waist, large branding, two over-strap cinchers, black Keprotec® DuPont Kevlar® on the inside of the arms, and premium componentry such as YKK zippers and metal snaps.

The inside features an athletic mesh that contributes to the breathability of this jacket, on which is connected a stretchy zip-in connector for the full-suit experience.

Outer Shell: 500 Denier (500D) CORDURA® Nylon / Keprotec® DuPont Kevlar®

Lining: Athletic mesh

Insulation/Inner shell: polyester mesh

Interior

On the inside of the Falcon’s outer shell, Karleen has lined the jacket with athletic mesh and two pockets – a waterproof number for phones on the one side of the main zip, and a larger option for wallets and documents secured by Velcro on the other.

The back features the zippered-in, CE-1 back protector and CE-2 shoulder/elbow pads, with black Keprotec® DuPont Kevlar® being the chosen strip of fabric to carry the zipper for connecting Raven Rova’s Falcon Jacket with their equally entrancing Falcon Textile pants.

The inner shell is removable via snaps at the sleeves and collar, and may not feature the waterproof phone pocket, but it does feature an identical option for wallets and documents secured by Velcro on the lefthand side of the jacket’s main zip.

In total, there are five pockets for the Falcon Jacket, four of which are in the outer shell (this excludes the pocketry for shoulder and back protectors):

Two diagonal, zippered slash pockets at the front, both of which are lined with a water-resistant material

One inner straight pocket design, zippered, and featuring the same water-resistant lining

One flap pocket – the largest – featuring a Velcro fastener and a wallet picture.

Riding with Karleen’s Raven Rova gear has been a surreal experience. While I’ve only tried ten or so jackets since my inception on a motorcycle, I entered the Powersports industry with a particular pickiness for livery that looks good and hangs well off the proverbial hanger. I don’t wear things that make me feel like I’m sucking in parts of my body that I didn’t know I had (a symptom I acquired when I dropped over four stone back in 2019).

Today, I feel so grateful to impassioned individuals like Karleen who continue following their dreams in spite of difficult times. Karleen, you inspire me to do justice to our moto markets by continuing to churn out content that helps riders to live out their best life.

For that, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

As for the Falcon Textile jacket, I’ll probably be buying a bigger size… but as a better-safe-than-sorry gal who also beats the living daylights out of her gear, I personally recommend Raven Rova’s Textile jacket.

Oh – and I totally felt like Leia Organa on top of some of those dirt heaps, Karleen. Big thanks for that one. 🙂

Enjoy the rest of the season, guys; as ever, looking forward to hearing what y’all think about Raven Rova’s gear, and stay safe on the twisties, yeah?

Pros

Designed from the ground up for the female figure
Design inspired by Princess Leia Organa, the main protagonist of the original STAR WARS™ trilogy!
Top-quality materials and componentry (zippers, seam quality, etc.)
Very nice breathability
Pockets, pockets, pockets
Great protection ratings, armor included
Surprisingly water-resistant for a textile number