Spada Temper review | Trucker-style motorcycle jacket tested

Date reviewed: August 2024 | Tested by: John Milbank | Price: £299.99 | spadaclothing.com

Despite its casual look, the Spada Temper jacket on review here is protective AND practical. It’s not an all-year-round jacket, but it could be a great choice for many riders, as I’ve found out while wearing it on a 2019 BMW R1250GS, a Zontes ZT350-T and a 1999 Kawasaki ZX-6R…

Pros & Cons

Construction & Fit

The Spada Temper has a denim and Cordura outer with a subtle waxed-style finish that, combined with the removable sheepskin-look polyester collar, gives what I can only describe as a very cool trucker jacket style.

The button-down collar won’t flap against your neck while riding, and the faux-sheepskin continues into the chest and back, while.

Available in sizes Small right up to 5XL, I found my usual size Large to be spot-on, and details like the concealed expansion ‘action back’ mean there’s no restriction when reaching for the bars.

Meet the designer!

James Kents talks through the process of designing better, safer bike kit

UK-brand Spada has taken a significant change of direction in its motorcycle kit with the launch of its new range, thanks to the new Product Creator and leader of the design team, James Kent. Given his previous roles at Engine Hawk, Superdry, Holland Cooper and Fat Face, his clothing design skills should come as no surprise, but it’s also his material technology knowledge (he’s even designed bomb disposal suits), and the fact that he works closely with Spada’s in-house and ex-SATRA PPE compliance expert Chris Giddings, which means the high-end styling doesn’t compromise the protection…

Protection & Certification

James and Chris are passionate about ensuring the new range of kit from Spada offers provable levels of protection, and it’s great to see that the Temper Trucker jacket meets Level AA under the EN17092 certification standard for abrasion resistance, seam strength and tear resistance.

It also comes complete with Level 2 (the highest level) Type B (the larger size) armour at the shoulders and elbows, AND a Level 2 full back protector. This armour is unique to Spada, having been developed by James and the team with Keeptech.

It’s great to see brands taking rider safety so seriously, and recognising that the certification levels are becoming an ever more important part of riders’ buying choices.

From April 21 2018, all new motorcycle clothing is deemed to be Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). To meet this legislation, it must be tested to a recognised standard. For more information on the new laws, click here.

Pockets

The Temper’s two main pockets at the waist are metal zipped, and well positioned for tucking your hands into. They’re not huge – my keys and wallet went in fine, but not my Google Pixel 7 Pro. However, there's also a zipped 'Nelson' pocket on the inside left of the chest, which is just big enough to take the Pixel.

At the chest are two more popper-secured pockets, while inside at the waist are a pair of large, Velcro-closing pockets that are ideal for shoving your gloves into when off the bike.

Fastening

The main body of the Spada Temper closes with a metal two-way zip that can be opened from the bottom if you want more space when sitting.

The zip’s covered with a popper-secured flap, and these poppers are all flat to reduce the chances of damaging your bike’s paint, though I’d still suggest a tank protector.

The faux-sheepskin collar is secured with a zip and poppers, making it easy to remove if you don’t want it on one day, or for easy washing.

The cuffs fasten with a zip and popper, and there are two popper-secured loops in the lower rear inside to pass your belt through if you want to make sure the jacket can’t ride up in a slide.

Adjustment

There’s not a great deal of adjustment in the Spada Temper, though there’s little needed. The cuffs have two poppers on each that allow me to cinch them tighter against my wrists, though I prefer the ‘normal’ setting. There are also two popper positions at the hem.

I’d like to see some adjustment in the elbow armour as it sits a fraction too high for me, but that’s my only real criticism.

Ventilation

There’s no ventilation built into the Spada Temper, though leaving the chest zip slightly open at the top, and leaving the cuffs open (they’re designed for this) does allow some air to move around.

This is somewhere that the styling has come before function, and combined with the sheepskin-style body lining means that about 25°C or so is getting towards the upper limit for riding in the Temper.

Of course, this makes it ideal for a large proportion of the weather in the UK, and this trucker-style jacket has been my first choice for the majority of my rides. At 23°C it was great, my only comment being that my back felt warm. In fact, it’s only where my elbows touch the armour-carrying fabric that it felt just a touch sticky, but certainly not uncomfortable.

Warmth

As casual-style jackets go, the Spada Temper Trucker is warmer than some others, and good for plenty of riding in early Spring and later Autumn thanks to its 3M Thinsulate lining.

Liner

The Temper’s lining is polyester sheepskin-effect in the main body, with cotton down the arms. It’s a stylish combination that feels good against the skin, and looks great in a jacket of this style.

Waterproofing

While this isn’t intended to be a waterproof jacket, I have found that the outer shell shrugs off water well. With no storm-flap behind the main zip, heavy rain will quickly find its way in, but if you get caught in a brief shower you’ll be a lot drier than you could have been…

Three alternatives to the Spada Temper Trucker jacket

James and the team at Spada are really working hard to create a distinctively stylish range, and it’s all the more impressive to see it done without compromising on protective performance, but here are some others to consider…

• Spada Turbine, £349.99 | This soft leather flying-style jacket is AAA-rated and also includes a five-piece set of Level 2 armour. We’ll have a full review of the Spada Turbine shortly…

• Furygan Marlon X Kevlar, £189.99 | There’s no back protector supplied, and the armour is only Level 1, but the Marlon does achieve AA under EN17092. I really like the style of the Furygan Marlon X Kevlar, which you can read a full review of here.

• Goldtop ’72 Easy Rider, £429.99 | Goldtop makes some beautiful AAA-rated leather jackets, with a wide variety of classic styles on offer. Read the full review of the Goldtop ’72 Easy Rider here.

These are just three of many alternatives – you can find all the textiles we’ve tested here  and be sure to regularly check for the discounts available through Bikesocial membership.

Spada Temper Trucker review: Verdict

The Spada Temper is no all-season jacket, and for some riders it simply won’t be practical enough. But honestly, there’s very little I’d want to change about it as the design works so well, and the protective performance is impressive. I love it.

This isn’t form over function; it’s a great implementation of a style that works very well with many bikes and for many riders. If the Spada Temper Trucker jacket appeals to you, it comes highly recommended and is my favourite jacket for evening rides.

Do you own this jacket? Tell us what they’re like, or ask us questions about it at bikeclub.bennetts.co.uk.