Anybody have a recommendation for a summer riding jacket i.e. mesh jacket that will still have the protection, but not the warmth and sweating that comes with it

Hey, I know I am complaining of the snow now, but I am an optimist that I will be sweating soon!!!:cool:

I just bought a Joe Rocket Alter Ego jacket. It's been great so far. It's got panels that zip off to make it a mesh jacket and you can put the panels on the make it a medium weather jacket. not to mention it comes with a waterproof liner.

Here's a link to it:
http://www.rocketracing.com/productJR.cfm?products_id=1722

For a pretty good range of jackets at extremely good prices, surf over to the web site for the folks at New Enough:

http://www.newenough.com

They got started several years ago by selling gently used racing leathers - and they now stock an impressive line of new jackets, pants, helmets, boots, etc. I've gotten ALL my gear from them for the past five years! Be sure to check out their "closeouts" and "bargain basement," where you'll sometimes find a great jacket (retail of $150 - $250) for as little as $30 - $40.

For warm and oppresively humid summer here in southern Illinois, I wear a Joe Rocket Phoenix mesh jacket, without the liner (but with the CE armor), and I'm as comfortable as it's possible to be. The air flow lets the perspiration evaporate and cool me, while the jacket keeps the sun off my carcass! My wife has a Phoenix jacket, too, and she likes it a lot.

Have fun shopping!
Elllvis

Anybody have a recommendation for a summer riding jacket i.e. mesh jacket that will still have the protection, but not the warmth and sweating that comes with it

Hey, I know I am complaining of the snow now, but I am an optimist that I will be sweating soon!!!:cool:

Take a look at the Tourmaster Intake. *GREAT* jacket. It's a 3 season jacket with two zip out liners. The first is a wind/water liner, then a quilted liner. You can use either/or or none. I liked the jacket so much I bought the matching pants for it.

Oh, btw, last Nov I had to ride my Meanstreak to my buddies to store it. The day I rode it over it was -3C and overcast. All I had on was the jacket (mit der liners!) and my full face/gloves. Toasty warm!

Available at newenough.com for about a hunner't 'n a half!

-Steve

+1 for the intake. But......

Tourmaster has a new jacket, Flex II that uses the same Intake mesh jacket with armor, and has an outer waterproof cordura shell and inner insulated liner. This setup appears to be even more versatile than the Intake.

Enemy Zero's recommendation is a good one.
My wife and I have the matching Joe Rocket Alter Ego pants and jacket and they are great. They are cool enough stripped down for the middle of summer and we (unfortunately) got to test them in about 4 degrees and pouring rain. We got them because for the price, they are three jackets in one.

By degree and profession I am a Textile Engineer, so I am going to throw out the lecture everyone has heard, then contradict myself....

If you are truly interested in "protection" and you will be riding at anything over a downtown city speed, you really should consider some of the perforated leathers for summer riding. Of course, this is highly dependent on climate and price range! To put it as simply as possible, in studies of 175 pound impacts followed by 50+ mph slides on clean pavement, denim averaged about 4 feet before rupture, nylon made it 7, Cordura 1800 made it 13, kevlar reinforced Cordura made it 18, fashion leather (Wilson's) made it 11, a Joe Rocket Perf Leather made it 37 and a Vanson leather made it 116.

With that said, yes I have Vanson racing leathers and a couple of jackets, but I used to work there and never paid retail. In the summer here in MA, when the humidity is higher than the temp, you will find me in my JR Alter Ego jacket....knowing full well this is not really going to save my skin in crashing the way I ride.

I don't feel as if you've "lectured" us, Dan, nor that you've contradicted yourself. I appreciate the reminder and the specific, accurate information about the comparative toughness of different materials we can use to try to protect ourselves. Thanks!

I also wear perforated leathers whenever possible during warm weather, but sometimes it simply gets too freakin' hot and humid to even contemplate slipping into cowhide! Like you, I then begin to make decisions that I know will move me in a less than ideal-and-safe direction.

First, I decide to ride despite the temp and humidity both pushing into the high 90s. The wiser decision, of course, would be to stay inside and do my "riding" on a PlayStation II with a glass of ice tea next to me! However, I'm usually going to opt for riding in the real world, unless I find that I simply can't concentrate and function adequately because of the heat.

Second, I decide to opt for a two-layer oufit: Joe Rocket Phoenix mesh jacket and pants (both with upgraded armor, but still minimal protection in most areas); and a long-sleeve Kevlar undershirt, with a weave that's loose enough to allow perspiration out and air in, from the folks at Draggin' Jeans. I always wear Sidi Vertigo boots, race-quality gloves and a DOT/SNELL full-face helmet.

If I go down at speed on the pavement, am I probably going to burn quickly through layers and start leaving a skin (and, probably, muscle) trail? Yes. But am I better protected than the yahoos I pass, time after time during the summer, who wear shorts, t-shirt, flip-flops and sunglasses? Yes. Am I willing to take the risks associated with my choice of vehicle and clothing? Yes, yes, yes!

I yearn for a climate change that would allow me to ride year 'round in my leathers in clear, dry, 75 degree (F) comfort. And I also yearn for MV Augusta to name me as their Chief Consumer Test Rider, which would entitle me, free of charge, to one each of their new bikes every year to ride and keep indefinitely. :cool: Ah, it never hurts to dream.....

But it does hurt - sometimes very, very badly - to fall, slide, and peel. That's one of the risks each of us takes, each time she or he rides and regardless of how carefully. Wearing protective clothing can help mitigate that risk to some extent, but the level of protection will always have to be balanced against the degree of swaddling that the body can tolerate for any given combination of temperature, wind and humidity.

Thanks again, Dan, for sharing the comparison of various textiles-in-action. It will help us all make more fully informed choices.

Peace,
Kevin

By degree and profession I am a Textile Engineer, so I am going to throw out the lecture everyone has heard, then contradict myself....


Thanks for the reminder and info to those who've never seen those numbers before. I've slid down the pavement twice since I started riding. The first was a low side and the second a high side - both at about the same speed. Gear was the same for both, jeans boots, leather jacket and gloves. The low side one scuffed me up pretty good, the other not bad at all. But the high side definitely hurt more.

My choice, is to where as much gear as conditions reasonably dictate. I'm not going to sit in city traffic on a scorching hot day behind a bus in a full leather suit. Sorry, I've passed out in traffic once because of heat stroke. Don't plan on doing that again. But, you won't see me in shorts, a tshirt and a set of flip flops in the same conditions either.

By degree and profession I am a Textile Engineer, so I am going to throw out the lecture everyone has heard, then contradict myself....

If you are truly interested in "protection" and you will be riding at anything over a downtown city speed, you really should consider some of the perforated leathers for summer riding. Of course, this is highly dependent on climate and price range! To put it as simply as possible, in studies of 175 pound impacts followed by 50+ mph slides on clean pavement, denim averaged about 4 feet before rupture, nylon made it 7, Cordura 1800 made it 13, kevlar reinforced Cordura made it 18, fashion leather (Wilson's) made it 11, a Joe Rocket Perf Leather made it 37 and a Vanson leather made it 116.

With that said, yes I have Vanson racing leathers and a couple of jackets, but I used to work there and never paid retail. In the summer here in MA, when the humidity is higher than the temp, you will find me in my JR Alter Ego jacket....knowing full well this is not really going to save my skin in crashing the way I ride.
Good info !!!

Thanks for all the great info. This is more than I was hoping for

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/1/39/11158/ITEM/Teknic-Supervent-Pro-Mesh-Jacket.aspx

That is what I'll be getting in the next month or so. true enough that leather is the best to save your ass when it hit the pavement, but being hideously uncomfortable is not good for your riding safety either. I ride like a complete asshat a fair amount of the time, and I will take my chances with some heavily armoured mesh!!!

has anyone come up with a better way to stay cool in the desert temps beyond the 'soaked' long underware under a mesh suit? Didn't think it would work until we did it last year....amazing results, just had to stop too often and re-soak the long johns. May sound dumb but since they make a plug in heated suit is there such a thing for cooling? +100 temps are beastly

+1 on the Tourmaster Intake ...it's a great, flexible jacket.

has anyone come up with a better way to stay cool in the desert temps beyond the 'soaked' long underware under a mesh suit? Didn't think it would work until we did it last year....amazing results, just had to stop too often and re-soak the long johns. May sound dumb but since they make a plug in heated suit is there such a thing for cooling? +100 temps are beastly

I have a vest that has the water absorbing beads in it similar to the bandanas. Soak the vest in water, beads soak up water (turn to gel), and wear under mesh jacket. The evaporation effect keeps you cool, the high absorption capacity of the beads means fewer stops (should last all day). Doesn't work well in Indiana due to the humidity. Should work well in the dry areas.

I have tried many MANY mesh jackets. So far, the best one I have found is the SHIFT RACING AIRBORNE MESH JACKET. It is only $100, and has a ton of features, not to mention it offers the best airflow I have found. I got mine in the now discontinued color silver, and it really doesn't absorb heat like a black jacket would. I also own a Cortech FSX jacket, but found its quality to be lacking and the workmanship to be poor. Take a look at the shift jacket!

PS Shift product run small, so you may want to order a size larger than you would normally wear. I normally wear a Medui, but had to get a large.

Skeezix

I have a Motoboss Air Speed jacket. It has proven to be comfortable to me in 95 degree weather with a decent amount of humidity, but you'll still roast if you stop moving for long. It has more armor than almost any other mesh jacket, and the liner that comes with it is waterproof. Only real problem is the pockets are scarce and no chest armor.

I used to have one of the Vanson perforated jackets and it was like riding in a t-shirt. I'm using an Olympia bushwacker jacket and pants for commuting and a set of Alpinestars leathers for any other riding. The Alpinestars suit has ventilation in the belly, but the only time I notice any breeze is when first starting out and when it's cool and dry - otherwise, it's hot as [insert expletive here].

I agree with DanPorges that the Vanson stuff is absolutely top-notch. I regret selling my ventilated jacket (this was years ago), and I was looking at the Vanson full ventilated suits before I bought the Alpinestar suit just recently. The decision on which to buy came down to the Alpinestar at about $600 and the Vanson at about double that.

I also have an Icon mesh jacket that I bought the day I picked up my bike because I simply didn't have a jacket, it was cheap and it was wicked hot that day. It's very cool, but I don't have any faith in it's ability to protect me from anything over parking-lot speeds.

Does anyone know of tests of mesh material vs. regular cordura? DanPorge's info is top notch, but I didn't see anything about mesh.

We all know that riding a MC involves "Risk Management." Choosing to wear a mesh jacket is a good decision because if you have leather and its too hot to wear it, it won't help you if you take a fall.

I've had very good results from my First Gear mesh jackets. I didn't like the inner waterproof liner. Instead, I use a high-viz rain jacket over the mesh jacket. Using this combo, I get better fall protection, better comfort and I'm much warmer in all conditions. With the rain jacket on the outside, the clammy feeling of the inner waterproof liner is eliminated. Also all air flow is eliminated and this helps to keep me warmer as well. This combination allows me to use this when I start out in the morning and it is too cool for the mesh jacket alone. Use it or not during the day as the climate changes.

I have one Hot Weather riding experience to offer. As I was riding to Las Vegas during a July ride, I met up with a Gold Wing rider who was riding with no helmet and no jacket, only a Tee Shirt. I was wearing an AeroStich riding suit with a long sleeve Tee shirt under. When we got to LV, I was in much better shape than the GW rider. My explanation is that the AeroStich protected me from the hot air blast and allowed my perspiration to evaporate more slowly cooling me. The GW rider was constantly exposed to the hot air blast which acted like riding into a giant hair dryer!

YMMV

Red

I wear an armored mesh Alpinestars jacket.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a212/toplesstuner/IMG_0709.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a212/toplesstuner/IMG_0710.jpg
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I've been trying to decide on a multi-season jacket that will provide decent protection and wondered if anyone has a Fieldsheer Adventure or Hydrotour jacket?
I do most of my riding in and around the city with the occasional interstate trek, let me know if either of these jackets would be suitable.

Thanks, and have a great weekend!


John

http://www.compacc.com/prod.cfm/cid/1001001/pid/15676

Since I am new and no one has posted it yet, I really like the Icon Arc Mesh for warm weather. It has leather stretching down from the shoulders along the arms. It did well for protecting me in a slide. And it is very cool, being a mesh jacket.

I picked up a Joe Rocket Sonic 2 perferated jacket a couple months ago. It's a fantastic jacket. It looks and feels great, and the holes really make a big difference. I've never felt hot in it all summer. At night it's almost too cool, the air comes right through, and since it's thick leather with padding for the spine, shoulders and elbows it should offer great protection.

I find that my Olympia AST Neon Green jacket is actually cooler than full mesh Joe Rocket! Those full length sleeve vents really work. Gives you a funny tan line on your arms! Was actually too cold last Fri at 0800 riding up to Ky from Hotlanta!