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I wear a Rocket mesh/perf. leather jacket during the hot days and an HJC leather jacket during cooler days. If this is your first riding jacket, go for the leather with armor in the crucial areas (shoulders, wrists and elbows). Most of these jackets will have vents in the arms and back to help you keep cool, anyway. And, as mentioed by everyone, leather offers superior abrasion protection.
Is the joe rocket reator leather or mesh or both? Its hard to tell from the tricktape website: Reactor Jacket
Nevermind I figured it out! What do you guys think about the Blaster 2.0 jackets?
If its what you can afford, then its certainly better than no gear. However, I have never been a fan of Joe Rocket products... the stitching is kinda shoddy/cheap, the liners tear too easily, etc, etc... Joe Rocket leather jackets will last you a few years max if you ride as much as I do (10 - 20K miles a season), mine barely lasted 2 seasons with no offings, and at the end it was a threadbare mess, stitches falling out along quite a few seams and the liner looked like swiss cheese...
Take a look at Alpinestars or IXS instead of Joe Rocket.. cheaper than Vanson or Dainese (which many would acknowledge as the best, but also the most expensive)...
Cheers,
Chris
Nope, I sweat alot! And I ride in rain quite a bit which is what I think did most of the damage to the stitching anyhow since its the back area that went first, but the elbows were soon to follow...Quote:
Originally posted by Mystery Squid
:wtf:
I've had a Phoenix and Reactor for two years and 19K miles and they're still well in tact...
You must twitch a lot while you ride... :twofinger
Were you well hydrated?Quote:
Originally posted by hohum
And I would rather keep riding than pass out from the heat. Passed out on the highway in my leathers in stop and go, been there, done that, never again! Not that leathers don't have their place, I just prefer to have a variety of gear, each with its time and place.
Cheers,
Chris
It might just be me but I would have made sure to stop and air myself out for a little while, sit in the shade for a few minutes. Made sure I stopped and had some water.
I know stop and go traffic is hard to avoid when it's around, but atleast you made it out safely from that incident.
Nope, I was not particularly well hydrated at the time, but it was a 102 degree day, and I was stuck for an hour on 128 where they allow breakdown travel, so all lanes were full with no really good safe pulloff... That was a case where what was supposed to be a 15 minute ride turned into 1.5 hours and a hospital trip. Luckily, traffic wasn't moving so as soon as I fell over noone ran me over.
Cheers,
Chris
I would have to agree with hohum...
Spend more now and it will last much longer than any cheap shit.
My Rocket mesh/perf. leather jacket is only about 2 yrs old, but it still looks OK. My HJC leather jacket is 4 years old and is in great shape. I just have to clean the bug guts off, but they have held up well. I spray them with a leather protectant 2-3 times a year, so that helps.
If you plan on riding for many years get a high quality jacket and be prepared to spend some cash for it. Keep in mind, your jacket is very important for your safety, so don't go cheap.
I am glad you started this thread, I think I might want a new leather jacket, myself. I like the Rossi replica and it would go great with my agv Rossi helmet.
:D
I would get regular textile, not Mesh, for your first suit.
You can get a straight cordura suit for about the same as the Mesh. It will protect you better, and it will work fine for all around wear. The Mesh is useless to me unless it's 75F minimum outside. You can even freeze on the way home at night after a hot day.
Textile with vents will be fine in all but the hottest days around here, and you can wear it down into the cold temperatures, and not have to worry as much about getting wet. (Note only GOOD textile will keep you dry without rain gear) If it's in the 60s, I will be wearing jeans under textile pants, probably with a long sleeve t-shirt on underneath the jacket, with the liner in the jacket. And I most likely will not be sweating. We have an awful lot of beautiful riding days in the 60s.
I think a regular cordura suit is the most versatile for the street. Mesh and Leather are more specialized gear that works better in some situations but pretty badly in other situations.
Ben
Good points, but have you tried any of the Mesh with zip in/out liners? Mine has one and it greatly extends the usefulness of it... I was only cold when it dipped below 55 this weekend.. Also the liner is 'waterproof' which kept me plenty dry during the light rains (100% dryer than mesh with no liner anyhow), but it certainly doesn't hold up to downpours (which I rode through for an hour on the highway in my mesh jacket/overpants). Only the best of the best textile (Aerostick, Gerbing, etc) will keep you dryer... I really only take the liner out of the jacket on those 75+ days, but when its 55 - 75 with the liner in, its just fine...Quote:
Originally posted by benSV
The Mesh is useless to me unless it's 75F minimum outside. You can even freeze on the way home at night after a hot day.
Cheers,
Chris
careful...some people apparently take this advice seriously. I saw a guy in a mesh celtics jersey weaving in traffic down 93 todayQuote:
Originally posted by Mystery Squid
Just in case, let us not forget mesh t-shirts for those REALLY hot days... :twofinger
http://www.eastsideteamsports.com/fo...y/1021_400.jpg
it wasn't that warm out..:dunno:
pop quiz...who wears #21 for the celtics:dunno:Quote:
Originally posted by craig
careful...some people apparently take this advice seriously. I saw a guy in a mesh celtics jersey weaving in traffic down 93 today
it wasn't that warm out..:dunno:
I think im gonna go with a leather jacket for now and maybe get the mesh during the off season when prices come down some. As for pants, Im not sure yet.
one EBAY!Quote:
Originally posted by HBerry
I think im gonna go with a leather jacket for now and maybe get the mesh during the off season when prices come down some. As for pants, Im not sure yet.
or two words, E-BAY!
Quote:
Originally posted by craig
careful...some people apparently take this advice seriously. I saw a guy in a mesh celtics jersey weaving in traffic down 93 today
it wasn't that warm out..:dunno:
bwhahahaha!!!! :D
I'd get a well ventalated regular tex jacket. Up to 95* my JR Comet (leather upper and elbows) isn't that hot... Sure you sweat, but thats just weight loss! It'll help your power/weight :poke: :D
As for JR quality, no issues with mine... Even through the wreck last year. It was a more expensive jacket from JR, but its held up. In 65* weather you can get a chill when you ride in the shade with the vents open. Its got a full sleeve liner too.
http://www.newenough.com/index2.htm
poke around, its not that expensive when you really think about what its saving.
If your deadset on the leather/mesh combo; I'd go with mesh now and save for the leather. Cold weather coming will give you incentive to save :D
Missed that somehow ^^^Quote:
Originally posted by HBerry
I think im gonna go with a leather jacket for now and maybe get the mesh during the off season when prices come down some. As for pants, Im not sure yet.
Good choice!
Although I am an eBay feend (sp?) I would rather buy a jacket from a store/ online market/ so that I can return it if it sucks and bitch.
have you looked at JR jackets on ebay? i got a phoenix 2.0 mesh jacket brand new off ebay for $35, whereas it would cost $139 retail. look around, this was just 2 weeks ago.Quote:
Originally posted by HBerry
Although I am an eBay feend (sp?) I would rather buy a jacket from a store/ online market/ so that I can return it if it sucks and bitch.
a lot of ebay sellers sell JR gear from older years for really low prices, (eg, the phoenix 2.0 is a 2003 jacket) i think it's worth it to have something cheap lying around, even just for back up gear.
I was at Brockton cycles the other night and they have some nice fieldshier textile jackets for a little over 50 bucks !!!! The clearance rack is full of stuff.
I hit them up for some dirt riding gear and got a pants and jersey set up for cheap money.
I will have to look at that. After seeing everyone last night, and being the only jackass without a jacket, I have decided I need to get a jacket very soon.
jackass!:twofinger :DQuote:
Originally posted by HBerry
I will have to look at that. After seeing everyone last night, and being the only jackass without a jacket, I have decided I need to get a jacket very soon.