The Richa Orion Gore-Tex is a mid-length laminated waterproof jacket aimed squarely at riders who spend plenty of time battling the kind of cold, wet weather the UK serves up for much of the year. Best suited to touring and commuting, it also has enough flexibility and comfort to cope with occasional off-road outings.
After 1700 winter miles on a Honda Africa Twin 1100 and Honda CRF250L, the Orion Gore-Tex has left a very strong impression. It combines the weather protection I expect from a premium laminated jacket with a softer, more comfortable feel than many rivals, making this easy to wear for long days in poor conditions.
Fit & comfort
This is one of the best-fitting jackets I have worn. It feels super-comfortable from the outset, with a softer shell construction than many laminate jackets I have used previously. That makes a real difference to both comfort and manoeuvrability, and it never feels stiff, bulky or restrictive.
The fit is true to size and in line with the standard clothing I am currently wearing. It sits nicely on my hips, does not bunch up and allows plenty of movement both on and off the bike. The four-way stretch helps here too, especially when moving around on the bike or pushing it around off the stand.
One of the nicest design touches is the elasticated waist panel. Instead of relying on a big Velcro waist adjuster, the jacket feels neater and more natural in the way it fits. Off the bike, it is comfortable enough that I would happily keep it on when stopping for a brew and a chat.
My only real comfort niggle is the cuff width. There is a sleeve zip, but it does not open out very far. When using a heated jacket and heated gloves in winter, getting everything tucked under the cuff was a bit of a squeeze, and not as easy as I would have liked.
Cold & wet weather performance
This is where the Orion shines. The laminated membrane is hugely impressive and proved itself almost immediately on a ride from Leeds to Birmingham's NEC for Motorcycle Live. Conditions were very cold, with heavy, sideways rain for a good chunk of the journey, yet I arrived completely dry. The same was true on the return trip in equally grim weather.
That performance has continued through a Yorkshire winter, where the jacket has faced all sorts of miserable conditions without letting me down. The waterproofing has been faultless, and it inspires the kind of confidence I want from a laminated touring jacket.
Photography: Jose Mas
Drying time is equally impressive. After that NEC ride, I gave the jacket a shake before leaving it in the cloakroom and it was dry by the end of the day. That is exactly what riders want from laminated kit - no heavy, soggy outer shell and no need to put damp gear back on for the ride home.
The jacket also comes with a removable thermal liner with full-length sleeves. Personally, I feel the cold badly, so no thermal liner is ever quite enough for me in winter and I quickly swapped to my heated jacket instead.
On a few one-hour rides in November with a decent base layer, mid-layer and the thermal liner fitted, I was still cold. That says as much about my own cold tolerance as the jacket itself, but riders who feel the cold as much as I do will still want heated kit in deep winter.
Hot weather performance
I've not yet had the chance to use the jacket in genuinely warm weather, so I can't give a definitive verdict on how it performs above 20°C. However, it does have a few features that should help when temperatures rise.
Taking out the thermal liner is the first step, while two chest vents and dual-opening sleeve zips allow some airflow through the jacket. The sleeve zips are particularly useful because they can be opened from the opposite end, with a mesh flap inside that lets air through while keeping the jacket secure.
That said, the chest vents are quite basic and I would have liked them to be either larger or able to be clipped open for more direct airflow. The jacket has a low collar, which I personally prefer, but there is no option to pin it back open in hotter weather.
Based on the design, it looks like it should cope reasonably well in mixed conditions, though it feels more obviously at home in colder, wetter months than in peak summer heat.
Protection
The Orion jacket carries an AA CE rating, which gives it a solid safety foundation for road riding. It comes with CE Level 1 armour in the shoulders and elbows, both of which sit comfortably and in the right place.
There is no back protector or chest protection fitted as standard, so those are areas where buyers may want to budget for upgrades. In my case, I added a Level 2 D3O back protector and upgraded the included armour to CE Level 2 as well, because armour is something I always take seriously.
Even before those upgrades, the jacket felt secure thanks to the quality of the construction and the way it fits. Once upgraded, it gave me a very reassuring sense of protection.
Pockets & practicality
The jacket offers a sensible spread of storage, with two outer pockets, two internal pockets and two pockets on the removable thermal liner. There are also two chest pockets that can be used if you are not wearing chest armour.
I do not rely heavily on jacket pockets, but I did check them after riding in the rain and all remained dry. That is particularly reassuring for the internal storage, where I normally keep an emergency £20 note. In everyday use, the layout is practical and covers the essentials without overcomplicating things.
The low collar is another practical plus for me, as it keeps the jacket feeling comfortable around my neck without being intrusive.
Durability
After four months and around 1700 winter miles, the Orion Gore-Tex has exceeded my expectations in this area. It still looks brand new, and there are no signs of damage, wear or declining performance.
It has been washed once using Nikwax products and continues to perform exactly as it should, which is always encouraging with waterproof kit. The overall build quality feels excellent, and it genuinely comes across as a premium jacket.
If I could change anything, I would ask for larger chest vents and slightly wider cuffs, but those are relatively minor complaints in the context of how well the jacket has held up.
Final thoughts
The Richa Orion Gore-Tex is an outstanding textile jacket for riders who prioritise comfort, waterproofing and cold-weather performance. It combines the practicality and weather protection of a laminated shell with a softness and flexibility that many laminate jackets simply do not manage.
Its warm liner will work for many riders, though those who really feel the cold may still need heated kit in winter. Likewise, while it has some ventilation features, it still looks better suited to wet and chilly conditions than really hot weather.
What stands out most is the value. It costs £550 at the time of this review, but it feels like a jacket that could easily sit much higher up the price ladder, and the five-year warranty only strengthens that impression. For commuting, touring and general UK road riding in miserable weather, this is seriously impressive kit.
