Poll
Question:
Which mesh jacket will provide the best protection while staying cool and being affordable?
Option 1: Joe Rocket Phoenix 4.0
votes: 7
Option 2: Fieldsheer Mach 3
votes: 3
Option 3: Alpinestars ACR
votes: 3
Option 4: Firstgear Meshtex 3
votes: 1
Option 5: Cortech GX Air
votes: 8
Option 6: Other Mesh Jacket
votes: 5
All the jackets have CE armor (I think...) but their prices vary significantly. I've read a lot of reviews but people inevitably disagree (particularly over Joe Rockets) so I'm asking everyone here. Also, I know that mesh is less protective than leather and full textile, but because of summer heat I'm limiting the poll to mesh.
what are the prices for the jackets?
Joe Rocket Phoenix 4.0 ~125
Fieldsheer Mach 3 ~113
Alpinestars ACR ~162
Firstgear Meshtex 3 ~116
Cortech GX Air ~162
(Most prices vary with size, most are from NewEnough)
THe Cortech one was 129 at the local bike shop the other day.
Right now I ride with a Joe Rocket Velocity, and I REALLY like it. It's super confortable, but as you can immagine, in the sun with an all black leather jacket, it gets hot hot hot! So I want to get a Mesh jacket, and some Mesh pants (instead of leather, so that when it gets colder, I can just double up underneath em rather than buy 2 pairs).
Here's a pic of my jacket... just in case anyone is wondering:
(http://www.newenough.com/product_pictures/j/joe_rocket_velocity_jacket/front_200w.jpg)
I got a Fieldsheer Mach 3 about a month ago from http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/. The Mach 4 has leather on the outside of the padding (I'd like that better but I didn't see it when I bought this one). Both are under $100 and come with a rain over-jacket that zips into a pocket at the back of the waistband.
I have ridden in some serious heat already this summer and it's comfortable. The Mach 6 gloves help -- I can't do my all-leather gloves in the heat here.
Quote from: trumpetguy on June 17, 2006, 11:14:00 PM
I got a Fieldsheer Mach 3 about a month ago from http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/. The Mach 4 has leather on the outside of the padding (I'd like that better but I didn't see it when I bought this one). Both are under $100 and come with a rain over-jacket that zips into a pocket at the back of the waistband.
I have ridden in some serious heat already this summer and it's comfortable. The Mach 6 gloves help -- I can't do my all-leather gloves in the heat here.
Nice jacket! I might pick one up for me.. for under $100 bucks, it can't be too huge of a mistake if I decide I want an all leather jacket later :)
That Mach 4 looks SWEET! I'm now looking into that one too!
Thanks!
Ahh I just looked into the availability of the jacket, and most colours are only available in small or X-small, with only one Medium... Too bad it's a 'Limited Quantity Item'... They probably won't be re-stocking.
Anyone have experience with BLACK mesh? It's all that the dealership has in stock and I'm wondering if its hot in the sun.
Chris
Ih
Quote from: Chris2P on June 18, 2006, 04:50:12 AM
Anyone have experience with BLACK mesh? It's all that the dealership has in stock and I'm wondering if its hot in the sun.
Chris
Everything is hot in the sun at a traffic light. Black wont' be all that much different from another color at a traffic light, but it will feel warmer when you are stopped.
I have the GX-Air in black with white accents. Wore it for the last two days straight during my MSF. As long as I as moving, or even just swinging my arms, there was a great breeze that kept me nice and cool. If you like the GX-Air (love mine), then Tourmaster makes something that's basically the same, minus the leather panels in the back/shoulders, and it's only $129. My friend just bought it, and wore it this weekend for the MSF, and he liked it a lot, said he stayed nice and cool.
My question is Mesh vs. Fully perforated leather?
Perf leather will be safer and more expensive, but will it be as cool as mesh?
Now, there is quite a bit of argument about Joe Rocket. Most of it centers on their stitching. Well, while my mom was repairing a spot where I scraped my knee and tore the stitching a bit, she found several other spots where the stitching was coming apart, not caused by my knee scrape. To quote her, "Their stitching sucks."
I have a fieldsheer heat wave jacket and four season pants (both silver, not black like my JR Alter Ego) on thier way.
I have the Joe Rocket RIo ...
http://www.motoxoutlet.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=147
I got a Large and it doesnt fit well. ( im too fat :) . anyone want it? Its grey. Only worn once $45.00 shipped :thumb:
I have been using the Joe Rocket Phoenix 4.0. Other than getting one that was a little to big for me, i like it. It gets a little hot when your sitting at a light, but once your moving its ok. But then again, when its 112 out side your kinda always hot!!
Quote from: Egaeus on June 18, 2006, 09:49:45 AM
I have a fieldsheer heat wave jacket and four season pants (both silver, not black like my JR Alter Ego) on thier way.
How do you like the four season pants? Those are brand new aren't they? I didn't think they had been released yet. They look really nice, but I've found fieldsheer doesn't seem to really fit well for fat guys like me.
They're "on their way." Est. shipping date is late June. I'll let y'all know how they are as soon as I know. :)
I've got a Mach 3. You can get them for about $70 on eBay or motorcycle-superstore.com I think. The Mach 3 is nice, vents well, and has CE armor all around. It's on par with the Alpinestars T-Flo or T-Stunt or whatever Mesh jacket both in finish and quality.
Mesh is surprisingly durable, provided you get a quality brand.
Look into the Vanson VentMax 3, it's CRAZY mesh with CE armor. By crazy, I mean it is the bare bones minimum protection, but with CE armor and leather reinforced contact areas (shoulders, elbows, back).
As for mesh vs. fully perforated leather: Fully perffed leather is pretty much useless here in Texas. It's too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter.
[j
I just bought a Tourmaster Jett Jacket. It is AWESOME. Zip out insulated liner, vents in forearm, chest, and back. and ill all black it looks pretty BAMF
Sounds about like my JR Alter Ego. It's black with silver mesh. The black is hoooooot.
Color makes a very significant difference in radiation absorption. In general, black is the worst color (it absorbs all light in the visible spectrum) and white is the best (reflects all visible light). For an experiment, wear a white T-shirt under the midday sun and then swap it for a black T-shirt--the difference is pretty clear.
Personally, I have a Alpinestars T-stunt Airflo which I like very much. I cannot compare it with other mesh jackets since that is the only one that I ever have. I just went by the review (http://www.newenough.com/alpinestars_tstunt_airflo_jacket_page.htm) and the cutting which I like. I got imine used but in very good condition in ebay for about $80 after shipping.
Get something that you like so you will wear it all the time. Otherwise the jacket will just be hanging in the closet instead of giving you the protection that you need.
After reading a ton of reviews and looking at the jackets a lot, I decided on the Cortech GX Air because they look nice, they're mesh so they'll be cool, but they've also got leather on the likely impact points and have CE armor. Now I just have to decide between yellow and red...
Hey.. you can't buy that.. that's MY jacket! :laugh: :laugh: 'Grats on making a choice. Go red. Red is the fastest color. Everyone knows that.
Hard to turn down the Suzuki colors though :)
Hehehe... I just got a Cortech GX Air too... in red...
I love eBay!
Belstaf Zodiac. Great jacket. Read the reviews
http://www.motorcyclegearreview.com/reviews.php?prodID=952
Quote from: mp183 on June 21, 2006, 07:17:57 PM
Belstaf Zodiac. Great jacket. Read the reviews
http://www.motorcyclegearreview.com/reviews.php?prodID=952
That looks like a textile jacket, not a mesh jacket. Textile jackets are as crappy as perforated leather in heat.
I just picked up a alpinestars acr airflow mesh jacket. I can't wait to try it out. Also, I got some motocross knee/shin guards for when I squidishly wear jeans. Very similar to these alpinestars
(http://www.newenough.com/product_pictures/a/armor_as_reflex/knee_550w.jpg)
And here's the jacket....(http://www.newenough.com/product_pictures/a/alpinestars_acr_airflo_jacket/blue.jpg)
this thread prompted me to buy the cortech jacket. New Enough was out of my size so I had to get the Cortech Mesh Inak Jacket.
nice jacket
(http://www.newenough.com/product_pictures/t/tour_master_intake_jacket/red.jpg)
Quote from: porsche4786 on July 09, 2006, 12:58:06 PM
I just picked up a alpinestars acr airflow mesh jacket. I can't wait to try it out. Also, I got some motocross knee/shin guards for when I squidishly wear jeans. Very similar to these alpinestars
Let me know how those knee/shin guards work out. I have been considering getting some.
I guess they work out fine. I might drill a couple holes in them for a little better ventilation (some brands have holes drilled in them and just cost more). I don't plan on falling off and crash testing them. But riding with that mesh jacket, and jeans on. wow. feels amazing when it's hot out!
I went with a SHIFT Airborne jacket. It was 90 bucks, mesh, padded elbows/shoulders, and looked the "cleanest" out of any of the jackets I've seen.