SUCCESSFUL REVIEW FOR SCOTT CONCEPT MODULAR SYSTEM

David Zimmerman, test rider for Acidmoto.ch, is going on trips in remote places where he can test the limits of his riding gear and accessories. Last summer he went on a journey where he tried and tested our SCOTT Concept Modular System and his reviews are great. Read about his trip and experiences with our gear in the following interview.

Tell me a little bit about your trip, when was it?

It was in summer 2015 and I was on the road for 4 weeks in total.

What did you do exactly?

I went on a motorbike trip by myself with the goal to cross Sweden from south to north only on gravel roads which finally did not work out due to bad weather conditions.

Where did you go?

I started my trip in Gothenburg/Sweden and went along the Arctic Circle to reach the North Cape in Norway and further to Russia/Murmansk Oblast region.

How many kilometers did you go?

7000km

How was the weather? Did you face different/difficult weather conditions?

The weather was quite tough especially during the first 2 weeks of my trip. I experienced a lot of rain, cold, mud and temperatures partly below 10°C. I was very happy to have the SCOTT gear with me. The last two weeks were better with temperatures up to 25°C.

Which SCOTT Onroad apparel did you use for your trip?

Concept VTD and Concept DP jackets and pants

How did you actually get to the brand SCOTT?

It was at Swiss Moto 2015. Before that I did not know that SCOTT is also producing gear for onroad. I also learned that the headquarters of SCOTT is located in Givisiez/Friburg, which is my hometown. At Swiss Moto, I met Stephan Rossier who is a sales rep for SCOTT Switzerland and he suggested me to try and test the Concept Modular System for my upcoming summer trip. I immediately liked the idea of the Concept Modular System – the fact that you wear the rain gear on top of the normal outfit is very smart. I don`t trust jackets that have thermal or waterproof inner lining which is mostly the case. A waterproof jacket on top of the normal jacket is much better. This was the major reason why I was so motivated to try the Concept Modular System.

Were there particular moments where our SCOTT gear was absolutely helpful for you? If yes, which moments?

There was not only one moment where it was helpful. Throughout the entire trip I was glad to have the SCOTT gear with me. I never got wet which was especially important during the first two weeks when it was raining so much. The problem with many waterproof clothes is that they are only waterproof for about 2 hours but not for 8 hours or more, which I needed. The Concept DP jacket and pants were totally waterproof on my entire trip! Not once, even after 600km in the rain, I was wet under my DP combination. Besides, it is also a good wind stopper and keeps your body warm.

What do you like in particular about the Concept Gear? What are the strengths?

For sure the biggest benefit and competitive advantage is the Concept DP which consists out of jacket and pants worn over the VTD Concept that protect you against rain. I have never seen anything similar before with other providers. It is really waterproof and dries very fast. Its breathability is great and prevents finding yourself in moisture due to condensation under clothes. Another advantage of the Concept DP is that it looks much better than a regular rain outfit. These outfits usually don`t look good, whereas the Concept DP looks like a real moto outfit. What I also like are the openings of both Concept DP jacket and pants. Easy to open with long zippers, you can just pull it over very quickly. No need to take off your boots or anything else – just pull them over and that`s it. The zippers are easy and the zipper of the pants goes up to the thighs. Openers also allow to have direct access to the pockets of the Concept VTD which is the jacket worn under the Concept DP. This is very practical! As already mentioned, it is a good wind stopper that keeps you warm too. I was using the Concept DP again for low temperatures because it’s a wind stopper. When the weather was above 20°c, I stored the Concept DP in my luggage and went ahead with the VTD Concept. The Concept VTD jacket has a great ventilation system especially on the arms. You can use the zipper both ways and the air is really going well inside. Also the ventilation on the chest is very nice, designed with a magnet to make sure the ventilation stays open.Is there anything that could be improved with our Concept Gear?

What is your impression about the SCOTT brand in general?

I have a very good impression of the brand SCOTT. Products are cool and look nice. The brand transfers a young, dynamic and sporty image. Last but not least I like the fact that the headquarters is right in my hometown which creates an additional connection to the brand.

Is there anything else I did not ask and you would like to add or mention?

The most interesting part of my trip actually happened in Russia where I was travelling with a friend from Finland. I was looking for abandoned military bases which finally were closed areas, controlled by the Russian army. By pure hazard in Murmansk we met some nice guys that invited us to join them on the Ribachiy Peninsula, close to the Norwegian border. It was a pure off road track of 250km to get there and the weather was pretty rainy and cold. Once we reached the camping spot, while I was wearing the Concept Modular System and all my other clothes under it to stay warm, these crazy Russians went kite surfing in the sea. After that nice weekend, we went further east to a city called Teriberka, famous because the Russian movie “Leviathan” was filmed there. On our way back to Finland, we went again on an adventurous off road track nicknamed “the road of 1000 rivers” in Russia. It used to be a railroad track but all the rails have been scrapped. Achieving these 200km from Revda to Kirovsk took us more than 10 hours because of the river crossing and swamps. Especially during this time I was happy to have the Concept Modular System with me.

Finally, what is your conclusion about the Concept Modular System?

My final conclusion is that it is a great system for motorbike tours but you should get all or nothing. Even if the components of the Modular System are available separate you are missing out on the main purpose and advantage if you only get one piece. The VTD jacket is excellent in summer conditions, but is not waterproof and not warm enough for trips below 20 °C. The use of the VTD in combination with the DP allows you to face all weather conditions and be comfortable with 10 °C as well as with 30 °C and during a full day in the rain. I am convinced that for longer trips it is the only system that works. It is so much easier to stop and add another layer that is waterproof, warm and breathable.