Looking for a warm weather jacket - suggestions?

[Yenool]

Hey all.  I haven't posted in a while, but could use your experience on this.  So this heat has been killing me down in SoCal as I have a pretty heavy leather jacket from Frank Thomas.  It was my first jacket and wanted something in my price range but that could hold up if I were to take a fall.  Well I've come to realize that this will not be a 4season jacket for me.  I don't want to give up any protection in any new jacket so I've found 2 options and wondered if you all had any experience with them or if you have any other suggestions.

1)Shift Racing Streetfighter hybrid jacket - the jacket is mostly leather, but is text in some of the low impact zones.  I've read some pretty good reviews on this one ($250)

2)Joe Rocket Blaster series - perforated leather and/or mesh vents on side (I'm not quite sure on the exact differences between the 3.0 and 4.0 yet).  Read some good reviews on these as well.

Neither jacket is designed for optimum airflow, but I just want something more bearable than what I have now.  Full textile doesn't seem to guarantee the same level of protection as leather.  Anyways thanks guys.

[tripleb]

I live in FL and I have a first gear mesh-tex.  It's fairly cheap, but if you want a lot a lot of air flow and protection from what I've seen you gotta expect to spend $200-$300.  I have seen some leather ones that have both, but I can't think of who makes them right now.

Try going to bikebandit and selecting the warm weather ones and see what they have.

[srtman]

I have the Joe Rocket 4.0 textile and it may not offer the protection of a leather jacket, it feels good on.It has protection in the elbows,spine,sides.Its well made and came with a waterproof liner that can come out.I won it new off ebay for $99.

[arbakken]

I've got a Fieldsheer Mach 2, which is mostly mesh, and has CE approved armor, which, as far as I can tell is far more protective than leather ever will be. It seems that the Mach 2 is long discontinued, they're on to the Mach 8... that's the jacket I'd buy right now

[AFMO]

I've had great luck my blaster 3.0 from joe rocket.  The mesh arm panels and inner liner have been out all summer, and that combined with the airflow over the naked GS really reduces the heat of the leather (and wont tempt you to go without on hot days).  With that, I can zip in the arm panels and add the inner liner and have a warm jacket for the fall and spring.  Extremely versatile jacket and very well made.  I find that warm weather gloves are much more important, as my mesh/leather combo gloves make my fingers freeze quick in colder temperatures, making for a tough ride.  Anyway, I would definitely recommend the Blaster series, though I'm not sure the 4.0 model has the zip out sleeves.  Also, a friend of mine has the perforated leather in the 4.0 model and I would not recommend that--looks chincy and doesn't seem to be the same quality or thickness.

[DoD#i]

One thing I've read about but not bought since it's usually a short time of blazing heat up here is a "cooling vest" to wear under a regular jacket - sound pretty good - supposed to last 2-3 hours and hold around a steady 60-70F for that time (it's wax, basically). Refreeze in fridge or ice water.

[BreakerIBS]

I have a Tour Master mesh/tex jacket. It's great, it has the armor on elbos and shoulders and back. It also has a removable thermal liner, as well as a removable rain liner. Take them both out and it breathes great. I just keep the rain liner with me in my backpack just in case.   I got the last of last years jackets and it only cost me around $150.

[LOUiE]

i have an Icon Pursuit jacket... perforated leather with a removable 'winder liner'.

got it for 180 bones off ebay.  They are discontinued now, but there are a bunch floating around the net for CHEAP.  I believe they were reg 400$.

[Yenool]

Well they don't have my size, but AMFO recommended the Blaster 3.0 and newenough has them dirt cheap.
http://www.newenough.com/closeouts/leather_suits_jackets_and_pants/joe_rocket/blaster_3_leather_motorcycle_jacket.html

Thanks for the other suggestions guys.  I'll be looking into them.

[TonyKZ1]

I've got a Tourmaster/Cortech HRX mesh textile jacket. It's a nice jacket with 2 liners (insulated & waterproof), CE approved armor and leather on impact areas (shoulder, elbow, back, etc.). I bought it from New Enough a while back. They've since updated it to a series II. It's an 2XL as I was told from other people that it runs a little small, well not on me I guess as I normally wear an XL. So it's a little big on me and also available if you're interested.
Thanks, Tony

[Yenool]

Tony - I've tried on at least 1 of those type of jackets of jackets by Tour Master.  I haven't decided whether I like all those liners.  The sleeves make them messy to add/remove.  How do you feel the jacket fits you with and without the liners?  I've heard complaints of a "baggy" fit with the liners removed.  Thanks for the info.

[TonyKZ1]

You're welcome.
Yea, mine kinda fits me baggy w/o the liners, however with the liners installed it fits good. I should have just bought my normal size XL, as I rarely wear it with all the liners in it, then I'd imagine that it would be fine as just a mesh jacket. Now I just wear my one-piece Fieldsheer highland II suit all the time.
Tony

[Domindart]

I have the textile joe rocket jacket your talking about, I THINK!.  I couldnt find a model number or name on the jacket tags, but its a full perferated textile.  You can get my jacket in half leather also but I thought the full text would be cooler.  This is the coolest one I found.  It also has a inner linner jacket for colder weather and rain.  I got it for about $150 at motions here in atl ga.  I really like it.  Sometimes feels sticky w the linner in but its a good jacket.  Has the arm and back pads!

[mikedrees]

i have the joe rocket alter ego. most versatile jacket i have ever had. goes from an easy flowing mesh to textile & also has a zip in rain liner. it is the ony jacket i need here in florida. also has c.e. armor. i also to have an icon mesh jacket & it doesn't breathe worth a crap. i have the original alter ego, i think there is a alter ego 2 now. different styling, but that means you can get the original pretty cheap.

[Yenool]

well I I just read a review on the Alter Ego and while it does not have CE armor webBikeWorld still rates it's protection fairly well when wearing the textile layer as well.

Mike, would you say you get adequate airflow with the liner removed while wearing the textile portions?

If you're a skinny bastard like me it's on sale for $99 here (small only)

[mikedrees]

i am fairly sure it has ce in the arms. i know the back protector is not though. i'll check when i get home. with the textile panels removed, it has as much airflow as the phoenix (had one a couple years ago). it does have some zipperd vents when the textile is on. it's comfortable up to about 75 degrees i would say. i wear a large, got it on ebay (new) last year for about $140. with the rain liner in  i have been down to 45 degrees & was good. come to think of it, it might be my wife's jacket that has the ce.

[OVD]

I have Joe Rocket Reactor 2.0. Works great for me:
http://www.newenough.com/protective_apparel/mesh_jackets_and_pants/joe_rocket/reactor_2_leather_mesh_motorcycle_jacket.html

[Yenool]

The Reactor looks pretty nice.  I liked Shift's hybrid style that is some what similar.  At $179 it's not too bad of a price either.

and Mike:  I was only basing that statement about the armor based on what I read at webBikeWorld, but I'd assume they had it right :-p

edit: hey OVD, does that jacket have reflective piping on it or anything like that?  Especially on the back.  I can't tell clearly from the pictures.  Thanks.

[Domindart]

be careful when u buy off the net.  Im a skinny guy but my jacket is a medium. 

[Yenool]

yeah I guess I'll just try on some products from whatever brand I'm interested in 1st.  I have a Frank Thomas leather jacket that's size 40 and it's a little loose on me even.  But good suggestion.

btw
www.powersportequipment.com has the reactor jacket for $10 less than all other sites I could find.  I know bike bandit has the lowest price guarantee.  Has anyone used this power sports site?