Quote from: TCARZ on April 01, 2011, 12:43:54 PM

Quote from: Vova on March 31, 2011, 02:47:24 PM
Holy Cow! Windshield wiper motor on a 2003 Monte Carlo is going to cost like $600 to replace, and warranty only covering about $270... so probably no nice jacket soon 

Are they that high at a salvage yard?  I'd shop around...

Three factors in play. Warranty expires in a few days, so not much time. Warranty will pay only for the cheapest part in the country. Shop will only install factory (or high-quality) parts. Which basically means I don't have many options .

Will the hooded jackets provide real protection or are they mostly just for looks?

I'm also shopping for a new jacket and find the info in this thread useful. Been wearing leather till now.. but I can't imagine going through another Texas summer wearing my current jacket.

Quote from: Vova on March 31, 2011, 02:47:24 PM
Holy Cow! Windshield wiper motor on a 2003 Monte Carlo is going to cost like $600 to replace, and warranty only covering about $270... so probably no nice jacket soon 

For peace of mind and long term reliability and savings, you might wanna pickup a beater... an old civic, corolla, sentra or something. Better gas mileage, easy to work on, cheap, plentiful parts, pretty bulletproof mechanical and electrical components and build quality.

Well I spent all day out at several different shops, and barely got back in time for work (okay I did not, I was fifteen minutes late :lol:)! Not sure if I accomplished anything. Determined...

1- I think I prefer the Shift Kicker boots over the Fuel

2- The Fly FL1 gloves I thought I loved, I do still like but the medium is the smallest I can get on my hand, and the fingers feel a tad long. For some reason having a real hard time finding that perfect pair of gloves!

3- I absolutely love the Speed and Strength Call to Arms and the Off the Chain jackets. At identical fits I do not know how I am going to decide. The Call to Arms looks way better, but it is a softer material that I think will not be as rain resistant. I also do not like the cuffs as much, but on the flip side the sleeves fit a tad better. The Off the Chain is ridiculous comfortable, great material feels as water resistant as you will get without being water proof rain gear, like the hood style and liner......

4- I love riding.


PS Could not find a Congo to try on, may still jump on it for the price but really jumping up $130 for the S&S jacket is not bad. It is not that I do not have the money, its that I do not want to spend it. But rather probably spend $200 now than $80 now and $200 in a couple month's when I have a better stream of income!

EDIT: 5- I would love to stick with leather, but the main ones appear to be Alpinestar and Scorpion, both of which are not only pricey, but more importantly neither go up to my size.


Call to Arms


Off the Chain

I use a Hit-Air Mesh jacket all year round(MX-5), but I doubt this would be suitable to any of you guys. It's hot here all year round. When it's rainy, I still use it, using a coolmax t-shirt it doesn't get very wet and dries quickly.
When it's sunny I use an Cortech Mod Pants and when it's rainy I use an Alpinestars Urban DNS Pants.

Quote from: burning1 on March 30, 2011, 12:12:55 PM
I've done some long distance riding in >100 degree weather. In those conditions, pouring water on your shirt and opening up the vents a little seems to work better than mesh.

I've found in those sort of conditions that I've never needed to soak the T shirt, it's saturated in sweat within half an hour anyway.  Don't leave home without your Camelbak.

I tell ya what. $60 for a mesh jacket at New Enough is a heck of a lot cheaper than skin grafts, physical therapy, and numerous other Dr. bills. Whilst I  don't think anyone is intending on crashing Murphy's law is typically in full effect! I know one time without my boots on ended up with six weeks on crutches, two months of physical therapy, and $3,000 in ER bills. BTW my ankle was the only injury.

Mary

I have the Fieldsheer Mesh, it is a nice summer jacket, horrible for anything under 50 though. And that's with a hoodie underneath. I've always loved Joe Rocket jackets, and mine stood up great after my wreck, I'll probably buy another one for next fall/winter. Icon is always great too.

Here's the jacket I bought.  I haven't ridden in 100+ weather yet, but I've heard great things from riders in this area about it.

http://www.helmetharbor.com/products/Tourmaster-Intake-Air-Series-2-Black.html

So I settled on a summer jacket that is pretty awesome.

http://www.beachmoto.com/revit/jackets/air.php



The Revi'it Air!  I found their brand a few weeks ago and its a bit pricey, but you get quality material for your dough.


I'll post some pics up soon.

Having one of these shipped. ~$60 from Rocky Mountain. FL temps aren't kind for commuters like me that get stuck at lights. At the price of gas, any gear that extends my riding season saves me gas $ (about $90/mo)... What a great excuse

Speed and Strength Moment Of Truth Mesh Motorcycle Jacket

You can make a summer jacket into a winter jacket, but you can't make a winter jacket into a summer jacket.

The best all-temperature jacket that I had was a Hein Gericke V-Pilot, with verticle zippered vents the full length of the torso and back, so you can control the amount of airflow.  Verticle zippered vents offer the best airflow.  I could get cold on a 90 degree day.  They don't make that jacket anymore, but FirstGear does, in the Z-Pilot.

Currently, I ride a fully perforated leather jacket without the liner in the summer, and can add the liner and throw a ballistic nylon motorcycle jacket (without the armor) over that jacket.  The nylon jakcet blocks the air, the leather protects me with its armor, and the liner keeps me warm.  I can control the airflow with the vents on the nylon jakcet, or just open up the front of the jacket all the way.

I'm a new rider of a few months, but this is the Icon jacket I ended up getting.
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/1/39/23853/ITEM/Icon-Contra-Jacket.aspx?WT.ac=SLIsearch

I got this at a local store for the same price, but have bought lots of stuff from this website. When the temps dropped a few weeks ago I had to use the liner to keep from shivering, but other than that, haven't used the liners. Even got caught in the rain without the liner and stayed mostly dry.

When you're sitting at a stop light it can get hot inside, but I assume that's the same with any motorcycle jacket. I stay pretty cool, but when we get over 80 I feel it might be able to breathe a bit better. There are mixed reviews, but I've been in this almost every single day since I've bought it and it looks like the day I bought it. I've been very happy with the quality and fit. I also ended up getting some Icon gloves and boots and love those as well.

Of course, if I ever need to get another warm weather jacket, I will probably try something new. Not saying I don't like this one, just saying there is A LOT of gear out there waiting to be tried out 

Im using an alpinestars indy leather jacket. the quality is flawless, i have not even one gripe about the jacket, its perferated. ive ridden in 90+ with it and i never was hot. you should really consider it, not to mention it feels going knowing that you have the protection of leather.

Quote from: scratch on May 16, 2011, 10:33:29 AM
You can make a summer jacket into a winter jacket, but you can't make a winter jacket into a summer jacket.

That depends on a lot!

My S&S Call to Arms has been great. I have yet to take the liner out, on some warm days it gets a bit, well, warm... but when I leave in the morning it is normally in the high 30's low 40's so...

My winter jacket is a North Face down ski coat over top of my tight summer jacket. Much more expensive; but it's also my winter coat so...

What jacket would you guys suggest for 120+ summer weather? Yeah, I know I need to move

120°!?  That's like riding into a blast furnace. I suggest a wet T-shirt under a well vented or perforated jacket. And a hydration pack.

Or active cooling:
http://entrosys.com/

Quote from: Twisted on March 29, 2011, 02:25:41 AM

Quote from: Mart3y on March 29, 2011, 12:44:42 AM
I cant comment on that jacket, but from personal experience, i really like the Dririder climate control 2, its a perforated textile jacket with the armour in it. It comes with the waterproof and thermal liners and its a fairly good price.

Its very nice for riding in Aus, haven't tried it in winter yet though, so i cant tell you much about the thermal liner.  

Got the Dririder too. Awesome for summer. A lil so so for winter. It is warm enough with a jumper underneath but with just the liner in it can still be chilly. I still have to try it with the waterproof liner in as well to see if that makes a difference in winter. Shouldn't be to bad for Gladstone though. But on a bike if the temp is 10 celsius the wind chill while riding will be -9.

The idea with the liners and winter is...

Rain liner first. This way, you can ride around with just a pullover under in the beginning. As the temperature gets colder you need greater space between the rain liner (which prevents the cold wind cutting through) and your body, so you don't have cold right next to you. Now you insert the padded Winter liner (which does no good on its own as it allows air to flow through it and by itself is no better than a pullover without the rain liner).

So don't ride with just the winter liner in. Add the rain liner and then the winter liner when you need more space between the cold than a pullover with rain liner will give.

Michael

I just picked myself up a grey Taichi mesh jacket... it's not a bad looking jacket, but the real seller for me was the built in CE armor at the shoulders, elbows, chest and back. I haven't had a chance to ride with it yet, but the quality seems top notch and it seems like it will vent very nicely.

http://www.taichimoto.com/products/RS-Taichi-Armed-High-Protection-Mesh-Jacket.html