To mesh or not to mesh. Also to our bikes and others use...

[notoriouskeef]

First off, this may sound stupid, but I coulda sworn our bikes used tubes under the tire.  Then my buddy just called me and we got to talkin and he said theres no way they use tubes, he said tubless.  I just wanted to reassure myself that really the only thing that used tubless tires were dirtbikes and atv's?


Ok main subject now.  I'm looking into getting a new jacket.  I came to the style I want. now they offer it in Mesh and leather.  Being that it gets over 110 degrees up here the mesh sounded real nice.  But I was thinking I might just suffer w/ the little extra heat of the leather for the little better looks and protection.  Has anyone else had expierence with Mesh? and what are your opinions on the subject?

Thanks,
Matt

[cozy]

I just got a Fieldshear Titanium Air off ebay new for $40.  I am 6' 1" , 150lbs and lift weights. I wera size small and love it.  sleeves are very long, the armor fits right and it looks good.  I got ample time to wear it last weekend as the temps here broke 80 on 3 consecutive days. Having a breeze on my torso & under my arms was really nice.  It was very comfortable to wear even with the sun on my back.  Alot of guys around here say leather only, and i guess a perf jacket would almost be as cool when your moving.  My regular is a tourmaster magnum jacket so i really wanted something for the hot days.  

[scratch]

Nope, our bikes haven't come with tubes in the tires. If someone had a flat and maybe put a tube in it because the tire still had tread on it, that maybe a possibility, but it's not recommended to put a tube in low profile tires, because of unequal pressure between tread and sidewalls.

Maybe ol' GS500's of '82 Japanese market had tubes, and even older GS450's may have had them. I'm not sure.

The only thing I'm apprehensive about textiles, or mesh, is that, unless you can get 1000 denier, may only be good for one crash, but they are very inexpensive in comparison to leather. Leather breathes and may cover you from the sun better then mesh. I've gotten cold in my old Hein Gericke V-Pilot black leather jacket, that I no longer have (due to cat barf), in 98 degree weather, at speed.

[Kerry]

Yep, the GS500 rims are designed for tubeless tires.  I believe the tire sidewall even says TUBELESS on it somewhere.

So far I have bought 8 tires or so for my GS500s, and had them mounted, and not one of them came with a tube.

But stick around long enough and Srinath will share some reasons to put a tube in there anyway....  

[notoriouskeef]

Hmm  I guess I was wrong about tires.  We live and learn.

As for jacket.  I don't have money right now to get one of each, although sometime later this summer I prolly will.  I prefer the looks of the leather one, but am hesitant as to how warm it will be riding on hot days.  Then again fall riding gets fairly cold, should I just put up with the heat and offer a little more safety and warmth on the colder days?  I'll wait for some more opinions to make a decision.

THanks,
Matt

[mrslush50]

actually yeah, you have it backward on tires.  dirtbikes are about the only thing nowdays that used an innertube.  some cruisers as well.  basically anything with a spoked rim uses tubed and anything with a mag/aluminum rim uses tubeless.  there are exceptions of course, but that's the general rule.

[The Buddha]

Tyoooooobe... OK... If a tire has a pinhole or similar leak in it... I put a tyoooobe in it. Safer than patching I feel. Yes spokes = tyoooooobe... and I love inner tyooooobe... Its great for making gaskets to keep petcocks from leaking, great to make master cylinder gaskets etc etc... People used to ask me ... what's holding my bike together... and my answer was "zip ties, duct tape and inner tube"... then unfortunatley I bought some nice looking body work form KevinC, and managed to snag a nice blue tank that leaked from the petcock for next to nothing... and had beautiful color matched bodywork and people automatically assume its great. how can it be bad when it looks so good. People wanted to buy it over the 91 black one I was selling.
Cool.
Srinath.

[Eightmarky]

I also have a Fieldsheer Mesh.  The airflow is great.  Definitely would recommend.

[notoriouskeef]

I can't beleive i'm so indecisive about this.  I'll post links of the jackets and wait for some more opinions.  Regards to the links, I will be getting the jacket in black.

Jacket 1, non mesh

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/item.aspx?style=9517&department=112&Division=1

jacket 2, mesh

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/item.aspx?style=9520&department=112&Division=1

Thanks for the help guys,
Matt

[chupacabrah]

my vote is for mesh

[snapper]

I have a Tourmaster Cortech mesh jacket and I love it.  I also use it with the idea that it is only good for one crash.

It doesn't get as hot here in Boston but when it gets rather warm when you are sitting on Rt 93 and its in the 90s.  

I also bought it in white.   1: to reflect the sun and 2: good visability at night.  It does get dirty but I throw it in the washing machine and whamo its clean.  Washes well.

Hope that helps!

[scratch]

I just recently purchased a Fieldsheer Monza 2 textile for this summer, so I haven't tried it out, yet, but for the features that I reqiure it met my standards. 500 denier (all over), a certain type (zippable) and placement of vents,  CE approved armor, and zips to my Fieldsheer Astropants. I was also, looking at Teknic's Stinger and Spider (the one that 70 cam guy did a reveiw on). Others I was also looking at: Spidi TypeR and TourMaster Cortech GX/GX Air.

[chuey]

Jope Rocket mesh all the way, very inexpensive, although some people claimed that when falling at speed the mesh melts which is scary.


try www.newenough.com I get lotsa stuff from them.

[Hi-T]

I ride with the ballistic nylon (JR Meteor 4)... I would like leather but am broke right now so it will wait.  I like it.  I have met and talked with people who have crashed in the same jacket and have come away with no rash.  It has a removable inner linner and several vents to keep cool. I think that for commuting you will do fine in a good nylon jacket-

Mesh jackets scare the hell out of me- it's a step up from a squid in a sweat shirt.  We've all heard "ride in it - slide in it" and I have a real hard time believing that a mesh jacket will slide evenly across the cement, stay together, stay in place, and not melt.  

In the end it's your life- you determine what it's worth.  I say ride a little hot and know you're ridding safe.

[dublinjail]

I have a j.rocket phoenix 2003 jacket that so far in n. florida has been really good lets alot of air through and feels as if you're wearing a t-shirt. my biggest complaint is that the armor is not sewn in so the shoulder pads seem to wander which makes me worry in the event of a crash. I think the new 2004's may have addressed this problem.

[Shadowhawk]

I ride with a Joe Rocket mesh jacket if the weather is warm+, but wear my leather jacket and spine armor when the weather gets colder(don't have the money yet for a leather armor jacket).  There is a guy here in Chas. that has a Joe Rocket, wiped out(apparently tore the jacket pretty good), and still wears it because the armor stays in place.  Not quite for me, but if it works for him, I'm not gonna argue.

As far as tubes, I do know that the GS450(at least the LD model) with alloy rims was designed to work with or without tubes.  Trust me, I ride one every day, but I have a GS500 comming next month.

Don
'83 GS450LD

[dgyver]

I only trust leather and not all leather is the same either. Been down in leather and I know it works. I do not trust nylon for protection. I have heard of people that had their mesh suit melt onto their skin. Ever see a racer wear mesh?

[Shadowhawk]

Nope, I've never seen a racer use mesh on the track, but the racing mentality is also why I keep my feet on the proper pegs, not the rear pegs or the back of the bike.

Don

[dgyver]

The racing organizations do not allow it for safety reasons.

BTW...racing is not the same as stunting.

[cozy]

Yes, we,ve all heard about mesh jackets melting. i can guarantee you that it would not be available for sale if even one person recieved serious burns to their skin caused by the jacket.  these are not big companies mind you, and even one product litigation case could sink Joe Rocket.  And anyway, the only place i could possibly see it burning is your chest, maybe? Youv'e got padding and armor on every conceivable sliding body part.   :dunno:
This sounds like a first born/ later born issue anyway.