Motorcycle kit that claims to be “four‑season” usually falls into one of two categories. The first is marketing optimism — the sort of suit that’s brilliant in one season, tolerable in another, and “suboptimal” in the rest.
The second is the rare breed that genuinely adapts to whatever the sky throws at you. After months of riding wearing the LS2 X‑Master through winter storms, spring showers, and now the recent heatwave, I think we have a winner.
In winter, the X‑Master impressed with its warmth, its drop‑liner waterproofing (which I mostly used outside the jacket, yet inside the trousers), and its ability to shrug off rain even when I decided stopping and putting on the liner wasn’t on my agenda.
Wrapping up in winter is a known science (Keis heated kit), but staying cool in summer is where the X-Master demonstrated its all-weather prowess.
Ventilation That Actually Works
Plenty of jackets have vents. Plenty of jackets claim their vents “channel airflow”. Very few actually deliver anything more than a polite waft.
Partly this is to do with laminating; a brilliant solution when it is raining, but having cuts in the laminate to let air through rather defeats the purpose of the laminate.
You can partially fix that problem by having waterproof zips everywhere, but you are not going to get large open panels and strong cooling airflow through slits. You need removable panels.
Which is what makes me think that the LS2 X‑Master was something of a passion project for someone at LS2; someone who rides motorcycles all year round.
Chest Vent
The chest vent is enormous. When you unzip it, the panel folds back to reveal a meshed air intake. On an adventure bike – where the screen normally blocks airflow to the chest – this vent still pulls in air. You can feel it. It’s the kind of vent that makes you wonder why other manufacturers bother with letterbox openings.
You’re still protected; nothing under the jacket is exposed. It also works well with my Helite Airvest.
To give us the chest panel, LS2 had to offset the main zip. At first glance, it looks like LS2’s designer had a moment of artistic rebellion, but there was a lot of logic in the madness.
The reality is that it’s entirely functional: the chest vent panel sits where a traditional zip would normally run, so the zip shifts sideways to make room.
It takes about three seconds to get used to. After that, you forget it’s even there. And when you open the chest vent and feel that glorious airflow, you appreciate why LS2 made the decision.
Double Arm Vents
The arm vents are equally well thought out. Two vents per arm means you get airflow along the length of the sleeve, not just a token puff at the bicep or a draft on your forearm. Open the four vents (two per arm) and the air rips in.
On hot days, especially when you’re behind a tall screen, these vents can be the difference between being cooled and wondering why you’re wearing a sauna with sleeves.
Michelin Man Moments
Letting all this air in at the front does very little – other than inflate your jacket – if there isn’t an exit.
The vent on the back of the LS2 X-Master is another panel you can unzip. Without it, all that incoming air would simply balloon the jacket until you resembled the Michelin Man auditioning for a carnival float. Instead, the rear exhaust lets the air flow through the suit. You get circulation, not inflation.
The result is a protective jacket through which you can feel the air moving around your torso, arms, and back in a way that’s genuinely refreshing.
Should you need liquid refreshment to go with the airflow, there is a pouch for a camel pack.
And, with everything wide open, it takes less than 30 seconds to zip everything back up when the UK weather decides that rain mixes well with summer sunshine.
Legs
Often on textile suits, the trousers feel like an afterthought. A little reinforcement here, or a patch pocket there, but mostly they are all very similar. All good. All made the same way as the jacket – which is what we all think of first.
LS2 have done all of that and then gone further. On the X‑Master trousers, the side zips run from the ankle to above the knee and there is a mesh panel behind the two-way zip.
On the front of the thighs are two more panels that can be opened, inviting a wonderfully refreshing breeze to one’s “sensitive” areas (no boiled eggs) and to round everything off, voluminous patch pockets on either hip.
That amount of venting and its positioning means they catch airflow, keeping your lower half cool without sacrificing protection or structure.
The leg length is also generous, so when you are riding, there is enough length to ensure everything stays covered.
The Technical Bit
The LS2 X‑Master isn’t just a vented jacket with a waterproof liner. It’s a multi‑layer system built around durability, flexibility, and adaptability.
The main chassis uses a mix of high‑denier textile fabrics designed to balance abrasion resistance with breathability. The shoulders and elbows get reinforced panels, while the torso uses a slightly lighter weave to help airflow. It’s a clever combination – protective where it needs to be, and flexible where it can be.
The waterproof drop liner is removable, and in winter it proved its worth. In summer, it stays in the pannier unless rain threatens. When fitted, it still allows some airflow thanks to its micro‑perforated membrane, but the real magic is how quickly it dries and how little bulk it adds.
And if you don’t have anywhere to keep the liner when you are not using it … LS2 thought of that too and made a detachable pouch that connects to the rear of the jacket where the map pocket is.
The winter thermal liner is plush, warm, and – crucially – easy to remove. Once out, the jacket becomes a lightweight shell that feels purpose‑built for warm weather.
And cleverly, the thermal liner overlaps the main zip, ensuring that any cold breezes in winter months are kept out.
The X‑Master moves well. The stretch panels at the shoulders and elbows do their job without feeling flimsy. The trousers articulate nicely at the knees and hips. The suit feels like it’s designed for riders who actually move on the bike — not mannequins posed in a showroom.
Bottom Line
In winter, the LS2 X‑Master was excellent. Warm, waterproof, and comfortable, even when I was adding extra layers.
In summer, it’s even better. The ventilation is outstanding. The materials breathe. The suit adapts. I’ve never really found it a compromise – it feels like a suit built for us lot who are idiotic enough to deal with real weather.
For touring across northern Europe, where you can get blazing heat at lunchtime and biblical rain by mid‑afternoon, the X‑Master is exactly the kind of kit you want. It’s well made, flexible, and genuinely capable across all seasons.
I’m off across the Netherlands and Germany in September, and I know which set of textiles I’ll be using.
