[KPaulCook]

Those gloves look pretty neat sitting on that complimentary Buell DeadBolt . I am curious how these new light weight jackets rate in the abrasion protection department. Is there a rating method/system for such jackets? If so how do these new light weight jackets standup. Of course in Seattle, I would only be able to use something like this for only 2 weeks in August. Love the gear reviews keep it coming. Thanks.

 

[minime]

More on the way! And content, too. Shoot, it'll be almost like a real magazine one of these days...

 

[DucButt]

Does anyone have hot weather riding experience with the mesh jackets made by Joe Rocket, Field Shear, etc.? How does the Ku****ani compare? Some days are simply too hot for leathers, and for the price, these jackets would alleviate the urge to ride in just a t-shirt (okay, not a canyon strafing ride, but I'd like some protection regardless).

 

[33183]

See the latest Motorcycle Consumer News. If memory serves, the Firstgear jacket was first, Joe Rocket second.



I looked at the Firstgear jacket for my wife, but I thought the armor was much less substantial than my Joe Rocket Phoenix, with which I'm quite pleased. The Phoenix is a fair bit heavier, though.



It's plenty warm in Albuquerque in the summer, and a full jacket is almost unbearable. This is a good compromise.



I haven't seen this Ku****ani jacket, so I can't compare.

 

[vcs700s]

I purchased a First Gear Mesh Tex Jacket about a month ago when temps were in the 90's here in Virginia. You are complaining about the mid 70's? It is fantastic and really does the job-comfortable and cool even when it is really 90 degrees. I wore it at the Honda Hoot in Knoxville where it was 89-90 every day. I bet I had 25 people ask me about it. The vendors sold out the First Gear Mesh Tex but there were plenty of Joe Rocket Phoenix jackets to be had. For me personally, the First Gear is more comfortable and has great padding. Try one and see!

 

[desertbilly]

The key is hydration. The more windflow you have against your skin, which provides the cooling effect, the faster you dehydrate. I use a Camelback, or a smaller hydration bag in a tankbag. Heat exhaustion is very serious on a bike, because dizziness is the first sympton.



Jacket-wise, I use the BMW Airflow. It's not as 'meshy' as the newer, cheaper jackets, but if I'm going to hit the blacktop at 60 mph, I'd rather be in it than a JR Phoenix (which are quite popular here in Phoenix.) I also have the Marsee mesh riding pants. The BMW pants weren't cool enough, and didn't have full length zippers. Some people also use the Marsee cooling vests, and report very good results, although I haven't gotten one of those yet.



Desertbilly, in Arizona, where it was 110 yesterday and 109 today.

 

[Dave305]

I use a Phoenix jacket and I bought a Fieldsheer Air Titanium for the wife. They are so much more comfortable than perforated leather in the heat...an entirely new universe altogether. The jackets both have double padding in the shoulders and on the back. If you were stuck riding slow in really hot weather you could remove the inner large solid back pad and still have pretty decent coverage from the seperate articulated sewn-in pads. The Phoenix has snap straps on the upper and lower arms. On my Katana there is no apparent flapping, even with just the lower straps snapped, right up to and, ummm, slightly beyond the national speed limit. The Fieldsheer has a single hook and loop type strap that looks like it should do the job. I'd be leery of a jacket that doesn't have straps at all. The Fieldsheer has a hook and loop flap closure at the neck...don't ask me why. I'm glad that the Phoenix doesn't. I love the JR and do strafe an occassional canyon in it (ever been on Hwy 190 from Springville to Camp Nelson in Calif.? Yum.)



Seems like everyone has a mesh jacket out now. Even you cruiser types have no excuse...Arlen Ness makes one.



As for gloves...BMW makes a GS glove that's nice, but about twice the price of the Ku****ani.

They don't help at all on my RT (no air flow for the hands behind that big fairing) but on the Katana my hands stay cool in all but the hottest weather and are fairly comfortable even then. There is enough air movement behind the fairing of the Beemer for the mesh jacket to work though...it's night and day! If you live somewhere hot, you must buy one.



I think the product articles are great...keep it up. The reader's comments will give us all a chance to get opinions on products that we might not even know exist otherwise.

 

[lant5]

I have to agree. The mesh jackets look like they will flow the air but I just don't have faith in them should they be put to the real test, saving my hide. The mesh jackets I have looked at could be frayed with a piece of velcro. I like the BMW Airflow II and a Marsee cooling vest. This combo works well as I put it to the test just last week in 100 degree temps. Yes the cost is about 4 times that of mesh jacket but I think the protection factor is worth it.



One other thing. I own two pairs of Ku****ani gloves and they are fantastic but they run small. I have to buy one size larger than normal and at that they are still on the tight side for a few rides.

 

[DCH3HASHER]

I've had the Joe Rocket jacket since May - and it is great! Bought the pants last wekend: not so great. After an hour on the bike, the knees (padded) and seat (no perforation) get very hot.

 

[Ivy_1]

I ride with a Joe Rocket, and it is wonderful for summer. Don't have any specifics on how it does in a road rash slide but it does have armor and padding. I think a good fall would make the jacket a piece of junk but you would come out of it better than any other product.

 

[seruzawa]

Looks nice but lordy, $240 bucks. I seldom buy any dedicated MC clothing simply because I consider the prices to be way too inflated.



A light 100% cotton jacket, like a desert camo BDU shirt, breathes well, is pretty tough and costs about $60 at a surplus store. This also works quite well in the current 90-100 degree temperatures I'm riding in. A decent alternative for those without money to burn.

 

[PurpleF2]

I bought the Joe Rocket Reactor and love it. The difference between the Phoenix and the Reactor is that the Reactor has perferated leather on the outside of the sleeve. For $50 ($179 vs $129) more, I felt the leather on the Reactor added just a little more protection.



Only complaint is the same as Burns with the Kushi. The back pad collects heat when you are sitting still.

 

[BRIAN_1]

Yeah, I agree, the MC stuff is expensive, but I doubt the BDU shirt would provide much protection. I lowsided once at 25~30 mph in leather jacket & gloves & blue jeans. I received no abrasions on my hands or upper body, but a real nasty/deep one on my knee. The jeans instantly ripped away exposing skin. I've read that blue jeans provide about 5 feet of abrasion protection (and no padding) when sliding on asphalt.

 

[KPaulCook]

Yep anything that says motorcycle is expensive but I agree with you it beats having a nasty leg abrasion which could lead to medical complications. An MSF instructor of mine said the same thing about jeans i..e 5 ft. He said nothing beats competition leather. My brother-law is Cruiser guy who used to get ribbed from his buddies because he wore his chaps all the time. Then a buddie of his went down and spent several expensive weeks in the hospital. I started my full gear (Frank Thomas jacket and pants) when I ride on the weekend but during the week I just wear my jacket. Your post has me rethinking that strategy. Thanks.

 

[Huss]

Nice ad, maybe you should read Motorcycle Consumer News to get an idea as to how you should test the gear.

 

[dwr461]

I live in the deep south of Louisianna where high nineties and one hundred percent humidity is the rule. I use a leather Vanson Pro-Perf Breeze jacket. It has the abrasion resistance of leather (DUH) with the air movement through the jacket that is close to the types of jackets you asked about. Anything below seventy degrees and I start to get cold wearing it. My opinion only but I think that it is superior to any these variety of textile jackets. Oh yeah, It's also way superior in price. They ain't cheap.



Dave

 

[dwr461]

Yeah but it's a dry heat. When you add close to one hundred percent humidity to high ninety degree temperatures, the evaporation effect is way reduced. Bottom line, when it's hot out you will be hot, while out. I think I read that in a fortune cookie somewhere.



Dave

 

[dwr461]

I have to agree with you this time.



Dave

 

[biggsly5000]

75 degrees?! Maybe in December and January in Houston. I dont ride in July or August during the daylight hours, you could literally melt sitting on I-10 for an hour!

 

[NinjaMan]

Any Crash Tests?

Has anyone actually crashed or heard of anyone who crashed while wearing one of these mesh jackets. I have been seriously considering either the JR Phoenix (or the one like it but w/ leather strips), but I would like to know if they actually work protection wise.

I currently wear a JR Meteor jacket, which is not bad in the heat, but I would like something cooler. I did survive a low speed lowside without any damange.

- BA

p.s. I like the product reviews, but I would love to see some actual abrasion resistance tests (not sure how you measure or test this, buti it would be nice).