Riding Jackets

[06GSowner]

I am looking to get a jacket to wear if I ever get my bike back from that head gasket incident. I am looking at this one right now. http://tourmaster.com/xcart/product.php?productid=15&cat=25
I know basically nothing about riding jackets. I live in Ohio so right now i need it to be good for 80-90 degree weather but down to like 50 degrees in the fall. It would be nice if it would save my skin if I fell though. I just don't want leather so I heard textile was the way to go. I can get that jacket for $135. Anyone have any opinions on it or any other jacket in the $150 and under price range? Ive read through some of the older posts on here.Thanks guys!

[scratch]

Fit is most important, though.  If that jacket fits you, then great.  If not, see if you can get yourself to a m/c accessory shop and try on jackets, check the phone book for places near you.  Try on that same maker's jackets.  I have the TourMaster Coaster jacket in XS, and I still have to have the sleeves taken in, because I'm 125lbs, 5'10", so I know that I wont fit in that jacket, even though I'd love to have it as my autumn/winter jacket.  Other makers I'd suggest are Fieldsheer and FirstGear.

[CirclesCenter]

Check out Icon's Merc jackets.

I have an Icon Ti-Max (ghey name but saved my ass without any wear on jacket)

I went down, it kept my torso intact. Enough said.

[dgbernstein]

Why the aversion to leather? It's not a hot as you think, and it provides better protection than textiles.

...but that Cortech jacket is sharp-looking.

If you change your mind about leather, I am selling my Cortech Magnum leather jacket: http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=28070.0

Good luck with your search.

[veeref]

I am looking to get a jacket to wear if I ever get my bike back from that head gasket incident. I am looking at this one right now. http://tourmaster.com/xcart/product.php?productid=15&cat=25
I know basically nothing about riding jackets. I live in Ohio so right now i need it to be good for 80-90 degree weather but down to like 50 degrees in the fall. It would be nice if it would save my skin if I fell though. I just don't want leather so I heard textile was the way to go. I can get that jacket for $135. Anyone have any opinions on it or any other jacket in the $150 and under price range? Ive read through some of the older posts on here.Thanks guys!

I think I've seen that jacket in the store, or at least something very similar to it.  I think in any weather warmer than 70-75 degrees, you're going to sweat in that thing.  That jacket is made for a more cooler climate, like riding in early spring or late fall. That will be a good jacket for the 50 degree weather you're talking about in the fall.

For your 80-90 degree weather now, I would get a fully-breathable mesh jacket, something similar to a J/R Phoenix or something similar.

[CirclesCenter]

I think the aversion to leather comes standard with a $150 budget.

Maybe the heat too, but my budget saw leathers and went AHAHAHAH NO WAY KID.

[06GSowner]

Do mesh jackets protect enough? Yes the price budget kind of hurts the leather deal also, gotta pay for the financed bike, and car and bike insurance for my nice young age haha. I will be going to the store to check out the jackets and try them on. this is my store i will be going to, some of you have heard of it. www.ironpony.com  I'll check out that phoenix 4.0 im  assuming thanks guys

[ajgs500]

I have strongly been considering this jacket because sometimes when I ride to work it is 75-80 and on the way home it is 50-55.

http://tourmaster.com/xcart/product.php?productid=35&cat=3

[RedShift]

There are definitely a lot of good choices out there.

I've got a Joe Rocket Meteor 3.0 Textile Jacket and it gives me a pretty wide operating temperature range.  I haven't tried any other jackets, but did a lot of research before I bought.

It has vents in the arms and back to allow air flow.  You get an inner jacket to zip in when below 40°F. What you wear under is also variable based on the ambient temperature.  

In hot weather I open vents and wear it loose with a T-shirt underneath.  When under the summer sun you tend to get hot if stopped for a while, but it's okay when you're moving at any reasonable speed.  In cool weather I bulk up with layers underneath.  Never been a problem with my core temperature -- my hands are the first parts to numb up.  

They don't sell the 3.0 any more, but the JR Meteor 4.0 is on sale at NewEnough well in your price range, and there's a version 5 available at MSRP.

Opinions may vary, but I like the jacket, though haven't tested it in an "Off" (don't intend to).   Comfortable, Fits well, Wears well.  A1 in my books.  

[dweh54]

My girlfriend got me a JR Meteor 5.0 this past weekend.  As a fellow Ohioan, I know what you mean, 85 and humid this month and in September the nights can be in the 40's.  The jacket has a nice zip in liner and, as mentioned above, excellent ventilation.  I wore it last Sunday for 5 hours of riding without a problem in a t-shirt.  I was quite comfortable.

[mike_mike]

alpinestars textile jackets are nice

[Dorianfes]

I have the JR Meteor 5.0 and the JR Phoenix (can't remember which one).  I like them both.  I've never worn the meteor in hot weather before.....I got the phoenix first.  I like both of them, they both fit great....but I'd def. suggest trying one on at a store first.  The only reason I got the phoenix first was because it didn't fit my cousin     I've never had to try out the protection on the phoenix before.  I can see how the protection on the arms wouldn't be that great, but it does have a back shield and in over 90 degree weather it's great.

Dorianfes

[Alphamazing]

Do mesh jackets protect enough? Yes the price budget kind of hurts the leather deal also, gotta pay for the financed bike, and car and bike insurance for my nice young age haha. I will be going to the store to check out the jackets and try them on. this is my store i will be going to, some of you have heard of it. www.ironpony.com  I'll check out that phoenix 4.0 im  assuming thanks guys

Yes. I crash tested a Fieldsheer Mach 1. It held up very nicely.

[CirclesCenter]

Icon Ti-max, i restate, Icon Ti-max, crash tested.

Go for the Merc jacket, it's the same thing except more toned down looking (if I had known about it I would have gotten it)

Trust me, the Jacket is tough.

[LeChatNoir]

I don't have much experience with various jackets either, but I'd recommend the Cortech GX Air. It comes with a mesh/leather/armor outer layer, a windproof inner layer, and a thinsulate thermal inner-inner layer. I used it in temps from 45F to 90F with no complaints. If you get the white color, it shows up better and reflects solar radiation. I paid $163 for it.

Plus, the thing saved my arm in a 50mph lowside.

Of course, I'm wearing a Tourmaster Coaster (perforated leather) now. I sweat more, but feel safer.

[domahmegok]

Just in case you didnt know

www.brocktoncycles.com has a sale on fieldsheer jackets and probably others as well. 

check them out, they are a great store, I bought all my gear there.

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

I don't have much experience with various jackets either, but I'd recommend the Cortech GX Air. It comes with a mesh/leather/armor outer layer, a windproof inner layer, and a thinsulate thermal inner-inner layer. I used it in temps from 45F to 90F with no complaints. If you get the white color, it shows up better and reflects solar radiation. I paid $163 for it.

Plus, the thing saved my arm in a 50mph lowside.

Of course, I'm wearing a Tourmaster Coaster (perforated leather) now. I sweat more, but feel safer.

+about 100

I'm riding in the GX-Air right now. Loving it. The rainproof liner works great. Haven't tested the thermal liner yet, as I'm in FLORIDA... But for an extra $20, go with the mesh with leather reinforcements!

[LPC2104]

You should check out the Teknic Chicane Perforated leather jacket on closeout from newenough.  A little power rangerish but not too bad, especially if you get the all black.  Armor in shoulders, elbows, and back (not sure if it's CE). 

[LPC2104]

Here is a link to a bunch of good jackets in your price range.

[scratch]

I have strongly been considering this jacket because sometimes when I ride to work it is 75-80 and on the way home it is 50-55.

http://tourmaster.com/xcart/product.php?productid=35&cat=3

It will be far too warm for the 75-80F, and there's no zippered vents (or venting at all).  Oh, wait!  I see that the front zips off for ventilation!  Cool!

For a jacket to be truely versatile, it needs to have good zippered vents.  Also, the placement of the vents are criticle.  I have found that jackets with horizontal zippered vents do not flow as well as vertically, or diagonally, zippered vents, on the front.  On the back, it doesn't seem to matter.

There are only a few jackets made with verticle, or near verticle zippered fronts: FirstGear's Z-Pilot ($500) and Fieldsheer's Supersport IV($320); both are full leather.

I currently have a fully perforated leather jacket; TourMaster Cortech Coaster Air (why pay more for the Magnum, unless you're going un-perforated), and it's great!  I used to have a Hein Gericke V-Pilot (which is where FirstGear got the patent from for their Z-Pilot), and it was even better!  Zip up for the cold, zip down for the hot.  It was perfect, and performed perfectly.  I'll be getting a Supersport IV in August.