Bela Artrex Touring Textile Jacket Black Grey Fluro Yellow

Bela Artrex Textile Jacket

Summer riding gear has one job: keep you cool without leaving you unprotected. The Artrex Air 2.0 does exactly that. It's a purpose-built warm-weather jacket with an open-mesh outer shell, Cordura-reinforced impact zones, and CE-rated armour already fitted. This is the Black/Grey/Blue variant.

BELA makes gear for riders who actually ride, not just park. The Artrex Air 2.0 reflects that: functional construction, honest materials, and nothing unnecessary.

Who Should Ride in the Artrex Air 2.0?

This jacket works across three clear use cases:

• Daily commuters who need airflow in urban traffic without sacrificing shoulder and elbow protection

• Weekend riders heading out on familiar roads in warm conditions who want a jacket that's light and easy to wear all day

• Summer tourers covering distance through southern Europe where heat management matters as much as protection

It's not a four-season jacket. It's not trying to be. If you're riding in hot conditions and want real ventilation with real armour, this is worth a close look.

TL;DR: Mesh summer jacket with Cordura reinforcement, CE EN1621-1:2012 shoulder and elbow protectors, back protector pocket, neoprene collar, and full YKK zip closure. Suited to city commuting and warm-weather touring across the UK, Spain, Portugal, and Italy.

What Makes This Jacket Breathe So Well?

The short answer: the outer shell is an open-weave mesh fabric, not a solid textile with vent zips cut into it. Air passes through the main body panels directly. At speed, the difference is significant.

The inner lining uses a finer mesh construction that helps draw heat away from your base layer. You're not just getting surface-level airflow. It moves through the jacket.

For riders commuting through Spanish or Portuguese cities in July, or touring Italian coastal roads in summer, this kind of airflow isn't a luxury. It's the reason you'd choose this jacket over something heavier.

Protection and Visibility

The jacket ships with CE EN1621-1:2012 certified shoulder and elbow protectors already installed. A back protector pocket is built into the jacket and accepts a Level 2 back pad if you want to upgrade.

Reflective stripes sit on the shoulders and back, adding low-light visibility without changing the jacket's overall profile. For evening commutes or early starts, that passive visibility matters.

The jacket is water-resistant and handles light splashes and brief showers adequately. It's not designed for sustained rain, so carry a shell if the forecast looks uncertain.

Materials at a Glance

The main body panels use Mesh Outer Shell K-204, the fabric doing the real ventilation work. It's an open-weave construction that lets air pass through, not just around, the jacket.

Cordura Polyester 600D covers the impact zones. It's tough, abrasion-resistant, and holds up in a slide where lighter fabrics won't.

Structure panels use PU-coated Taslan Polyester, which adds shape and light weather resistance to areas that need a bit more rigidity. The flex panels use Taslan Soft-Micro, a lighter version of the same family that moves naturally with your arms without pulling or bunching.

Internal zones are lined with Taffeta Polyester, giving a smooth backing and additional abrasion resistance underneath. The inner lining itself is Mesh, which draws heat away from your base layer rather than trapping it.

Stretch areas use a Lycra Polyester blend that lets your arms move freely in a riding position without the jacket fighting back.

The collar is laminated Neoprene. It sits soft against the neck, seals out wind, and won't chafe on a long day in the saddle.

Pockets and Storage

Two zippered waist pockets handle the essentials: licence, cards, phone. They're YKK-zipped and sit at a natural reach point whether you're on or off the bike. Straightforward and functional.

Fit and Adjustability

Getting the right fit in a mesh jacket matters more than in a textile one because there's less structure holding things in place.

The Artrex Air 2.0 gives you multiple adjustment points:

• Velcro cuffs to seal sleeves over gloves

• Waist Velcro closure for a snug or relaxed fit depending on what you're wearing underneath

• Adjustable buttons on the biceps to dial in upper arm fit

The full-length YKK front zip is smooth and reliable. For a jacket you're putting on and taking off every day, that consistency adds up.

Technical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this jacket suitable for motorway riding? Yes. The mesh construction performs well at higher speeds. Cordura panels and CE-rated armour give adequate protection for road riding.

Does it come with a back protector? No, but the back pocket is included. It fits a Level 2 back pad, which you can add separately.

Can I wear a layer underneath? Yes. The multiple adjustment points give enough room for a thin mid-layer on cooler mornings without the jacket feeling baggy.

Is it good for UK summer riding? It's well-suited to the UK's warmer months. For unpredictable British weather, pack a lightweight rain shell as backup.

How is this different from the other colour variants? Construction, materials, and fit are identical across all variants. Only the accent colour changes.