International Dealer News IDN 141 February/March 2018 | Page 36
PRO GuIDe extRa
Waterproof summer jacket
Dutch specialist Splash Design’s new Macna brand
‘Imbuz’ waterproof summer jacket “is not your
average jacket,” according to CEO Patrick Kant.
Waterproof and styled to impose, the ‘Imbuz’ is
“ready to hit the streets”.
SafeTech CE-protection on the shoulders and elbow,
as well as foam padding that can be switched with
the rider’s own or an additionally available back
protector means it offers safety as well as style. The
Raintex membrane is detachable so the ventilation
zippers can cool in summer and the hood can be fixed
in position, so it isn’t acting as a wind collector.
The jacket itself can be attached to a belt with an
integrated loop at the back, has a fixed mesh liner, is
made in 500 denier Polyester, has a water tight
Aquazipper with glove-friendly “Zip Grip”.
Also seen here, the ‘Assualt’ gloves have a goat
leather palm and spandex top. Lightweight and
flexible, they have the look and feel of an enduro
glove, but protection suitable for urban use, including
RISC protection on the palm, hard external finger
protectors and a 3D temperfoam knuckle protector.
Ergonomically speaking, the thumb and index finger
(with “Touch Tip” for electronic devices) are made of
one piece, as opposed to having an annoying seam
at the thumb - Macna call it ‘Ergothumb’.
Gloves are where the Macna brand started. It has its
origins in 1990 with a new and more cost-effective
production method for waterproofing gloves. The first
Macna jacket followed in 1996 and although it
(inevitably) looks nothing like contemporary Macna
designs, it shares the same excellent price/quality
ratio.
Since then innovations have flowed - the Sandwich
System, Vision vest, Summer Comfort System, Twin
Shell, and their Night Eye Technology that we here at
IDN awarded 2012 Hot100 recognition.
Microscopic glass beads in the Night Eye fabric work
like small satellite dishes, and these tiny mirrors will
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reflect the light right back where it came from and
make the rider light up in car headlights from a long
distance - the same principle as used in road
reflectors, but miniaturised and refined for motorcycle
apparel use.
With this technology Macna succeeded to let a
normal motorcycle jacket that was just plain grey in
the daytime light up like a bulb at night for an all new
level of visibility that is at least the equal of the very
best high-visibility materials, inserts or bibs.
Splash Design has some 8,000 sq m of offices,
showroom, design, warehouse and research and
development space and a staff of more than 55
people - 9 of them dedicated to design and
development.
The Macna range is sold in more than 60 countries
worldwide. CEO Patrick Kant told IDN that “Macna
only started to sell outside its ‘domestic’ Benelux
INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018
markets 12 years ago. We had seen a lot of our
designs and innovative ideas being copied worldwide
- a huge problem for lots of European brands, but it
also showed us the potential of the brand.
“Macna is riding gear with attention to detail and
innovations - all at medium prices. The design of
Macna has set new trends, both for adventure style
riders and for young, fashionable naked bike and retr