Part of Throttle Times’ live coverage of EICMA 2026.

KLIM has taken the wraps off one of the most anticipated gear evolutions in recent memory at EICMA in Milan: the all-new KLIM Dakar GTX Jacket and Pant system. For over fifteen years, the standard KLIM Dakar line has served as the undisputed gold standard for hardcore dual-sport, desert raid, and trail riding—praised for its indestructible Cordura construction and uninhibited mobility, but chronically limited by its lack of internal weatherproofing whenever cold European mountain rain rolled in.

Riders previously faced an awkward compromise: either pack a flapping rain shell over their Dakar jersey, or endure the stiff, multi-layered bulk of heavy adventure-touring suits like the Acerbis Quartz ADV Jacket or KLIM’s own flagship Badlands Pro. With the 2027 Dakar GTX, the Idaho technical apparel house has engineered the missing link: a featherweight, highly articulated off-road chassis that delivers genuine, guaranteed GORE-TEX waterproof performance.

Guaranteed To Keep You Dry With 2-Layer GORE-TEX and 840D Cordura

The primary technical breakthrough of the Dakar GTX is its construction architecture. KLIM utilizes a bonded two-layer GORE-TEX performance shell fabric designed specifically for high-mobility off-road athletics. Unlike heavy three-layer laminated touring laminates that resist bending, the two-layer shell drapes naturally, significantly reducing arm pump and fatigue when wrestling a single-cylinder dual-sport or middleweight twin through technical ruts.

Durability is reinforced through heavy-duty 840D Cordura overlays across high-abrasion impact zones—including the shoulders, elbows, forearms, knees, and seat. The garment achieves full CE Class A certification under EN 17092-4 standards, balancing real slide protection with unencumbered active movement.

“Our dual-sport riders told us they loved the fit and ventilation of the Dakar series, but they were sick of getting soaked to the bone when transiting mountain passes between trailheads,” KLIM’s product line manager noted at EICMA. “Dakar GTX gives them complete foul-weather protection without turning the suit into an armored spacesuit.”

Rogue Level 1 Armor Integration and Massive Cross-Core Ventilation

A major complaint with previous non-armored Dakar gear was the necessity of wearing separate strap-on pressure suits. The Dakar GTX eliminates that hassle by integrating low-profile, highly ventilated Rogue Level 1 limb and back armor directly into internal mesh pockets at the shoulders, elbows, back, hips, and knees. The armor pads feature extensive honeycomb venting, allowing maximum airflow while absorbing blunt impacts.

To prevent the dreaded greenhouse effect during strenuous technical single-track riding, KLIM engineered an aggressive ventilation network. The jacket features massive cross-core chest zip intakes that route airflow directly across the torso before exhausting out two vertical back vents. The pants mirror this setup with enormous angled thigh intake vents and hamstring exhaust ports, accompanied by genuine full-grain leather inner knee panels to grip the bike and resist scorching hot exhaust headers.

The Rider’s Trade-Off: Featherweight Mobility Versus Slide Abrasion

Delivering a flexible, breathable waterproof suit tailored for aggressive standing trail riding requires calculated compromises. By prioritizing active off-road mobility and low overall mass, KLIM certified the Dakar GTX to CE Class A rather than the heavy-duty Class AA or AAA ratings found on long-distance asphalt touring suits. While the 840D Cordura overlays provide outstanding tear resistance against jagged granite boulders and tree branches on the trail, prolonged high-speed slides across rough 130 km/h motorway asphalt are not what this lightweight chassis was designed to endure.

Feature / Metric KLIM Dakar GTX System (2027) KLIM Badlands Pro A3 Acerbis Quartz ADV System
Waterproof Membrane 2-Layer GORE-TEX Performance 3-Layer GORE-TEX Pro Laminated 10K/5K In&Out Membrane
CE Protection Class Class A (EN 17092-4) Class AAA (EN 17092-2) Class AA (EN 17092-3)
Armor Package Rogue Level 1 (Full Suite) Aero Pro D3O Level 2 Level 2 Shoulder / Elbow
Primary Shell Material 840D Cordura & Ripstop Nylon Vectran & SuperFabric Laminated Stretch Nylon
Primary Riding Discipline Dual-Sport, TET, Hard Off-Road Global Trans-Continental ADV Sport-Touring & Mid-ADV
Off-Road Articulation Maximum / Knee-Brace Fitted Structured Touring Cut Moderate Mobility
European Jacket MSRP €590 €1,450 €399
European Pant MSRP €450 €1,050 €299

Pricing and European Availability

Ergonomic touches include accordion stretch zones across the shoulder blades, articulated sleeves, and an over-the-boot pant cuff engineered with expandable gussets to fit comfortably over bulky motocross boots like the Sidi Crossfire or helmet setups like the Shoei Hornet ADV vs Arai Tour-X5 vs Klim Krios Pro.

KLIM confirmed that the Dakar GTX suit will hit European powersports retailers in February 2027, arriving in three distinct adventure colorways (Monument Gray, Vivid Blue, and Stealth Black). European pricing is set at €590 for the Dakar GTX Jacket and €450 for the matching Pant—delivering an intensely practical, all-weather off-road setup that finally bridges the gap between motocross agility and adventure touring weatherproofing.

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Official product page: https://www.klim.com

Reporting via: malakye.com, trailadventuremag.fr