jacket question?

[coopstar55]

am going to get a riding jacket for christmas from my wife(i hope :kiss: ) and would like to know which ones you guys like and which ones are best(best for buck i cannot spend $400 on a jacket ). textile or leather which is better. I have been riding up until now with just a hoody and helmet on but would like a bit more protection. any feedback would be great thanks

[JCH]

I really like my Cortech Magnum Air, I think its a good quality jacket for a low price.  I don't have experience with any other safety gear, but for around 200 bucks on new enough you can get one, and it comes with CE armor in the elbows, shoulders, and back.  Plus it has extra padding on the shoulder blades.   It took a little while to get used to the armor on my shoulders but besides that I think its great.

[se7enty7]

I have an alpinestars tz-1.  Looks great, can wear to the office.. it's hot though.  I'll need to get a textile for the 95+ degree atlanta days

[acoder]

I've got an Gericke Eco Gore-Tex Jacket that I got from Motorcycle Closeouts.  It's been great.  Has plenty of pockets, and a full sleeved liner.
http://www.motorcyclecloseouts.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=57-6187

[davipu]

I have Teknic Chicane textile jacket (145 at the shop) in plain black  it has CE armor in the elbows shoulders and back. the first year I had it, it was water proof (just needs some scotch gaurd)  was plenty warm in the sub freezing calorado rockies and I wore it in the 95*+100% humidity NC summer ( I took the removable liner out)  the arm vents are plenty big for summer riding, and weren't drafty in the winter.  I've gone down in it at 10 mph 15 and 45 the last one scrached the little lable on the sleeve.  a great jacket and I plan on buying another if this one wears out.
hears a link but I am shure if you look around you can find them cheeper, and if you can find last years they are really cheep.
http://www.team11moto.com/catalogo/producto.asp?Linid=21&Fabid=60&Prdid=632

[Frost]

check www.newenough.com

[pantablo]

I have an alpinestars tz-1.  Looks great, can wear to the office.. it's hot though.  I'll need to get a textile for the 95+ degree atlanta days

I've got the same but wouldnt buy it again. Its hot, but its also not warm enough to wear in the cold due to the fabric panels on the inside of the arms-they let in too much cold air.

Whatever you get buy the best you can afford and if you can afford it , get leather. Check newenough.com for their closeouts. Check out fieldshear and firstgear for good jackets and dont discount joe rocket as well. Hein Gericke is good too.

[southjerzriderz]

I've got the Joe Rocket Meteor 4 jacket and love it.  Just got one for my girlfriend too.  Textile, full zip-out liner, body armor (including spine), totally water and windproof.  Nice jacket for about $150.

[hairball]

I love this First Gear S Pilot jacket.  Been wearing my buddy's size 42, just ordered a 42 tall, $195 plus $10 shipping:

http://www.motorcyclecloseouts.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=50-6877

CE armor in elbow and shoulder, pad for back.  Top quality jacket, my buddy originally paid about $500 for it.

Sizes for this jacket are just like the new Z Pilot, so try that one in stores and you'll know your size.  I'm a 40" chest, and a 42 is perfectly snug.  If you need to exchange for another size, no problem, but you pay shipping both ways.

You can't beat this jacket!  or motorcyclecloseouts.com

[scratch]

http://www.gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12363&highlight=fieldsheer

Hope this helps.

[Roadstergal]

Get a jacket cut for women - it really does help with fit.

It depends on what kind of riding she's doing.  I've somehow acquired three jackets not counting the First Gear lether jacket that was in the accident.  A Joe Rocket Rio armored mesh for really hot weather, a Teknik Venom for most riding, and a Joe Rocket Ballistic for wet weather.  I like 'em all, but if I had it to do again, I'd get a Phoenix instead of the Rio - also armored mesh, but better quality and better put together.  The Venom is a good jacket and fits very well, but the First Gear it replaced was just much better quality in all of the little details (and the Venom has an annoying velcro clousure at the neck that would rather adhere to my helmet lining than its jacket mate - I wish it had a snap).  Of course, the First Gear cost a couple of hundred more.  The Joe Rocket Ballistic is an excellent jacket, and I recommend it for a rain jacket.

[Dorianfes]

i just bought the joe rocket meteor 5.0 jacket.  i think it's awesome.  the coldest i've tested it is 30 degrees, 80 mph for about 45 min.  didn't feel a thing!  i was still real warm with only a light sweater on.  plus i think the 5.0 looks sweet.

[cujosocal]

Depends where you live! If you plan on riding in 90+ degree weather, get a mesh jacket rather than a leather. My vented leather is still too warm in hot weather. My mesh jacket has a liner that zips in for cooler weather making it more versitile overall. As far as protection, most people say leather is the way to go. I've also heard today's mesh jackets can be just as abrasion resistant. Just make sure the jacket (especially mesh) fits snug so the padding/armor won't shift if you go down.

[hairball]

forgot to mention that they do have women's sizes in that first gear s pilot  jacket for $195.  see link in my post above.

[adamwade]

I have a Joe Rocket Atomic textile jacket for cooler weather and a Joe Rocket Phoenix mesh jacket for the summer days.  The Atomic has a removeable liner and also has vents to keep you cooler.  Both jackets have a ton of body armor in them.

[Anonymous]

You can get a joe rocket revolution at www.motoxoutlet.com for $99.  It's a nice heavy duty cold weather jacket.

You can also get a pheonix 3.0 mesh jacket for about the same price.

That is what I did.  Now I have one for the hot summer months and another for the colder spring/fall.

The pheonix is the most versatile with a wind/water proof liner.  It will keep you comfortable from 100 down to about 65 degrees.  The revolution has a fleece liner and it very warm down to the mid 40's.  I'm a cold wimp and don't ride when it's too cold.

I also have the pheonix pants, they're mesh for the hot weather with shorts on and when it's cool I wear jeans.  The armor in the knees keep the cold wind out.  Beware, my pants are kinda big, I'd go one size smaller than you think you need.

[Caravan]

I just crashed wearing a Joe Rocket 3.0 Phoenix mesh jacket.  The jacket and windproof liner held up well.  Just had to "dust" it off.  The Phoenix pants seem to be "sized" as overpants.  I wear a 34/30 trouser and the medium size fits well, albeit a little long.  NO, I wasn't wearing the pants when I crashed and still have a "hole" below my knee to indicate that knee armor is a good idea!  For a colder climate, you might try the Fieldsheer HIghland 2 suit.  Jacket and pants for about $250.  Good luck.



Gene

[dyran]

See if there are any bike shows in your area (there is one on in Toronto Dec 3rd and one on January 9th) I'm going to go pick up a l2 piece leather suit there as they ALWAYS have good deals on the last year models and what not. Check google to see if there are any around you.