This is the Yoxall II waxed cotton motorcycle jacket from British company Merlin, each comes with D3O® tri-ventilated LP1 armor in the shoulders and elbows, and it’s made from a Halley Stevensons® waxed cotton blend with Reissa® waterproofing.
These jackets are designed with traditional pre-WWII styling but make use of a slew of modern materials and technology to make them far safer. The Yoxall II is also four-season capable, with a removable thermal liner, and adjustable vents for improved airflow when required.
This is the Yoxall II waxed cotton motorcycle jacket from British company Merlin, each comes with D3O® tri-ventilated LP1 armor in the shoulders and elbows, and it’s made from a Halley Stevensons® waxed cotton blend with Reissa® waterproofing.
History Speedrun: Merlin
Merlin is a British motorcycle gear and apparel company best known for its extensive use of waxed cotton and classic early-20th century design cues. Merlin officially started up in 2011, and the first collection came out of a barn conversion workshop in Birmingham a year later in 2012.
Merlin was founded by five British motorcyclists, they explain that they had become tired of motorcycle gear that was uninspiring, unflattering, and poorly made – unless it was expensive – and between them they brought more than 30 years of experience from various corners of the motorcycle industry.
Merlin was entirely self-financed, and as a result the early days were rough. Merlin’s own account of the period has staff packing orders in warehouses that had leaking roofs, packing stock outdoors in the snow, and using every room of the barn for storage.
In 2014 Merlin formed an agreement with Halley Stevensons, the Dundee , Scotland-base waxed-cotton manufacturer. Waxed cotton became Merlin’s signature material. and the two firms later co-developed Cotec, a Merlin-exclusive fabric that’s lighter, more breathable, with better abrasion resistance than Merlin’s traditional waxed cotton range. Merlin also acquired icenses to use D3O armor, Outlast liners, DuPont abrasion-resistant fabrics, and Marton Mills tartan.
The company now has a dealer network that stretches around the world, and the rise in popularity of modern classic motorcycles has played right into Merlin’s hands.
These jackets are designed with traditional pre-WWII styling but make use of a slew of modern materials and technology to make them far safer. The Yoxall II is also four-season capable, with a removable thermal liner, and adjustable vents for improved airflow when required.
The Merlin Yoxall II Waxed Cotton Jacket
The Merlin Yoxall II is a traditional waxed-cotton motorcycle jacket from Merlin’s Heritage Collection, it’s designed to look more like a classic British field or riding coat than modern technical motorcycle gear, but still pack plenty of modern protection.
The jacket has a mid-to-long cut, four large flap-and-stud patch pockets up front, separate side-entry hand-warmer pockets, an adjustable collar and waist drawcord, with antique-finish hardware used throughout helping give it the period appearance Merlin is known for.
The outer shell is 12oz Halley Stevensons Silkwax cotton, all made in Scotland using traditional methods. Silkwax is one of Halley Stevensons’ traditional wax finishes, with a soft, slightly oily feel and a matte surface rather than the dry texture of many newer waxed fabrics.
Underneath, Merlin adds a Reissa Active waterproof/breathable membrane, a mesh drop liner, and a removable 150 gram full-body thermal liner for riding in the cooler months. British-made Marton Mills tartan is used as liner trim, while YKK zippers are fitted throughout.
The jacket has front and rear ventilation points to help manage heat as temperatures rise in the warmer months.
This is the second-generation version of the Yoxall jacket, it’s fitted with removable D3O LP1 Level 1 armor in the shoulders and elbows – these LP1 pieces are thin, flexible and heavily ventilated, with D3O claiming 45% greater breathability than its earlier armor designs.
The Merlin Yoxall II is a traditional waxed-cotton motorcycle jacket from Merlin’s Heritage Collection, it’s designed to look more like a classic British field or riding coat than modern technical motorcycle gear, but still pack plenty of modern protection.
There’s a pocket for an optional D3O Viper back protector, though the back protector itself isn’t included. The complete jacket is CE EN 17092 Class Aand UKCA certified, and Merlin also provides both a short jacket-to-trouser zipper and a connector loop for riding jeans.
The Yoxall II is now available to buy direct from Merlin through their official storefront here, and each comes with a 12 month warranty against manufacturing defects, and you can activate a further 12 months of warranty coverage for free using the form on their site.
Images courtesy of Merlin
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