Hot weather riding gear

[thepeacebullgrunt]

Oh oh Matt ! Les mouches "Anti-americaine" volent bien bas ce matin...

Indeed those motoport look like super-poopoo to me...vaguely copied from Belstaff or Barbour who already copied their jackets from military/hunting jackets. Rev'it do a tremendous engineering job for less the money of a motoport with all the options...and strictly designed from the core for motorbiking.

Rukka I repeat looks great in all details but before I ordered one I wrote them to ask if they could produce one without all the Fancy tags
and as I expected they replied negatively with even a kind of Attitude.

Sorry but once again
about Rukka I repeat : "I just hate looking like I am loudly advertising my generous sponsors when in fact I have paid the big $$$ for anything I wear."

[crazyhorse]

Guys !

well, they look like crap but the protection is excellent. and yeah, maybe someone should steal some of, say, bellstaff's designs...

(enfin bon, il faut pas oublier que c'est dessiné par des américains, pour des américains )

even americans know how to use google translate.

[ShinySideUp]

Guys !

I don't understand what you all have with these Motoport jackets...there design seems so bulky and primitive.

I have to find one and look at them closely.

Because when I'm sliding down the asphalt, I don't give a cr*p about the looks of my jacket. AND the kevlar mesh is a extremely stiff material and just doesn't drape my sculpted body so very beautifully like an Italian silk dinner jacket.

Form follows function: I'm so hopelessly wedded to that world view, that I even like the looks of my Russell Day Long Saddle.

Your Drape May Vary.

[icecave]

Based on my last year's crash, you really want the padding to be where its needed on the landing followed by something that will take the heat and abrasion from surface you are sliding or bouncing along. Good fit is a requirement. Looking good while walking away from a high speed crash is the dream, I'm was happy to just walk away with a punctured lung from the multiple ribs that cracked when my right shoulder blade broke on the first of a couple of landings/bounces. I must say the sliding along the tarmac was not that bad. Fortunately, it was private property and no one following me to add insult to injury. One thing to consider, is anything hard in the pants or jacket pockets will act a rock on landing...

[Ashveratu]

I live down in south florida as well and just recently started wearing a new silver (looks white in the photos but it is really a light silver) Rev-it Turbine jacket. I must say the color does make a difference (at least it sure feels like it to me). I used to wear a black Joe Rocket mesh jacket of some sort.

So far the jacket has performed admirably when the temps are around 85-90. At least my body is cooler than my head is in my Nolan N103. I purchased mine from RevZilla and have been very pleased with thier service so far. I had to exchange the first one I ordered for a smaller one. They are cut a bit on the large side.

[hjsbmw]

If safety is a concern I wouldn't recommend anything that does not have pads in the hips, knees, shoulders, and elbows. Full-mesh with maybe a removable, windproof liner for those 5 chilly days a year in FL would be my choice. You can wear shorts and a T-shirt underneath.
I don't think you need the removable panels and a 3/4 jacket in FL. Vented gloves and at least riding sneakers would be on my list also. The mesh is relatively pleasant at speed. Full gear will also protect you from sunburn and stinging insects. I wouldn't underestimate the latter two.

[ShinySideUp]

One thing to consider, is anything hard in the pants or jacket pockets will act a rock on landing...

That reminds me of a low speed spill I took a few years ago, wearing leathers. I had a pager on my belt and it was ground down to the circuit board. I did have a small bruise on my hip where the pager was, but was grateful that the grinding was on the plastic instead of my tissue.

My current riding wear has armored padding: probly works better than a pager!

[thepeacebullgrunt]

Dear crazyhorse you wrote "even Americans know how to use google translate." We know that ! and if you didn't have to use Google translate you might also be able to understand the culture behind the words.

For some cultures, in this small world, things and concepts are not systematically roughly patched with Primary colors... so ! for Revi't as exemple they proved that a motorcycle Jacket can be meantimes Safe and Elegant, traditional and modern, innovative and essential, for week end bikers or for everyday Urban Bikers... and they did that with materials, assembling technology and design belonging to our time with no futurissism at all ! for what $100 or $300 more than most of the crappy "futuristico already old fashioned" jackets that are filling up the American market.

We are not stupid, we all don't care of our jacket good looking while crashing on the asphalt in fact its almost a civilian goal to never crash, that's what we probably all are busy at while riding... me included

So ! for those who ride absolutely everyday because of the many inaccurate and dysfunctional transportation systems in most of the world city's. Why not being WELL PROTECTED meanwhile LOOKING GOOD ? lets say looking civilized and modern once for all ! to provocate a little the idiocraty of all the disgraceful functionalism supporters....

Then keep our "Potatoes bag" motorcycle jacket
to help moving stuff at your friend ranch on the week end.

[crazyhorse]

for what it's worth, i am not american, i'm canadian, can speak french (not well!) am a designer so i do care about style, and think those jackets look awful and would never get one.

i just don't think the jacket is ugly for the sole reason that it is 'designed by americans for americans'.

wes

[Bheckel169]

Back to hot weather clothing... I liked the Rev'it clothing line but found they were extremely tight fitting and a bit claustrophobic. I notice their ads generally show a young person wearing the item. I'm a bit more advanced by several decades and my body, though still trim, found the styling not to fit a mature body. I have found Olympia clothing to be my best choice and the mesh jackets do a very good job. I have both the AST Touring Jacket and the Airglide 2 mesh jacket and both work well for different reasons. The Airglide is my choice for warm weather. Very well made and lots of bang for your buck with prices that are very reasonable.
Here's the site to look at the clothing,

http://www.olympiamotosports.com/airglide/airglide.htm

[thepeacebullgrunt]

Crazyhorse...

mattbr wrote that : " enfin bon, il faut pas oublier que c'est dessiné par des américains, pour des américains "

And fredeR1200Ric answered : " Oh oh Matt ! Les mouches "Anti-americaine" volent bien bas ce matin... "

Crazyhorse I don't know what is your level of French Canadian but my answer was a spiritual twist from an old agricultural expression that mean "When flies fly low...storm is coming" understand " When Anti-American flies fly low Storm is coming" nothing else and YOUR stormy feedback confirmed the expression ! Ah ah ... and by the way please don't make members of this forum understand what others didn't say, specially a Francophile like you...which is suppose to understand and integrated values such as tolerance, freedom of speech or critical debate...that naturally come with the culture associated to this language.

And somehow I agree with mattbr in that US is good at designing sturdy things sometimes but also very bad at making them perfectly or refinely manufactured, elegant, complex and efficient all in one... usable everyday in all circumstances.

3 hours in a motoshow such as the yearly one in LongBeach will tell you how poorly manufactured and gadgety are many American products unless you deal with some of the best American small businesses that still make a good creative job trough small production... Roadgear for example make some nice and smartly designed product, Chaseharper make also some nice products even if quite bulky sometimes, RKA is very very nice...Lumalink is a good example too. I didn't say that Motoport wasn't one of them...I just wrote that there jackets look like "Potatoes Bag" and in 2010 they honestly could do better for a so advanced and civilized country like USA, my dear country because I am American too.

If you stop by your local Moto Mall none of those brands are represented...and most of the time all you get is many CRAPPY/BULKY Made in China poopoo for sale ) with a salesman repeating endlessly like a 1950 robot toy replica "I'll make you a good deal" when in fact few Internet researches and forum browsing will show you that no such things is possible.

Cheers !

Below is a Rev'it
Cayenne Pro All Black Jacket
$620 with recommended back protector
I wear it every day under Californian sun with a Yellow silk shirt and
an armored Corduroy Burgundy Tie patterned with
hundreds of little French pigs having a Parisian Orgy.
Any problem with that ?

She LOVE HOT WEATHER and anything HOT and naughty attract her...by the way...

[ErikM]

BMW Airflow 3 Suit over 80. BMW Comfort Shell Suit all the rest of the time.

[Bill Stevenson]

I spent the first 2 days of this week in California, it had been a while since my last visit. Big, BIG difference in climate even this early in the season. Semi tropical vs. semi arid. Huge even if the temps are similar. I would not have a problem with most of the gear discussed here if I lived out West.

Bill

[mattbr]

for what it's worth, i am not american, i'm canadian, can speak french (not well!) am a designer so i do care about style, and think those jackets look awful and would never get one.

i just don't think the jacket is ugly for the sole reason that it is 'designed by americans for americans'.

wes

sorry for starting a flame war here. i said that in a totally tongue in cheek manner, indicated by the emoticon at the end of the line. I've got to admit i've got a somewhat limited knowledge of fashion design, but for some reason, the first names that pop to mind when it comes to elegance aren't American brands, not that they don't have other qualities, which is clearly the case with Motoport. However, no matter how much form follows function in their case, i can't help but think that part of the function, beyond a low seam count for solidity, no very light colors because the kevlar is light yellow, etc, there is a case of cutting for the American waistline, which could have a negative effect on the elegance of it all... I just wish I wouldn't have to hesitate before buying just because they look dreadful.

[famousperson]

I love my moderately priced Olympia jacket. It's perfectly functional and I have no idea how "elegant" it might look to someone with more fashion attuned eyes, nor do I care. Also, I don't have pockets as deep as some on here and couldn't afford a Cheyanne even if I wanted it. Same reason I don't have any BMW gear--I don't care where it's made, I simply cannot afford it. I think this American design versus blah blah blah is ridiculous. We ought to drop it and continue the discusion talking about various brands, no matter where they are made.

[deilenberger]

What Frede has to realize - is some of the "potato bag" shaped suits are actually form fitting for some of us lumpier riders... I told Andy at RiderWarehouse to imagine the Penguin in Batman Returns when shaping my AeroStich..



Fits perfectly.

[thepeacebullgrunt]

Ouuuuch ! Don this picture is one of kind...

But even Sir Alfred Hitchcock despite his overweight was always elegant on his motorcycle...
well let's say Hitchcock was a motorcycle rider

To me a good jacket should be Safe first...then functional and elegant all in one wherever it has been made for sure ! the problem is that after days of researches I didn't find anything designed in US able to meet or compete those quality standards.
This is why honestly the $200 extra you'll spend in a Rev'it for example are way worth than many other brand including BMW I think.

[ka5ysy]

Guys !

I don't understand what you all have with these Motoport jackets...there design seems so bulky and primitive.

I have to find one and look at them closely.

The bulk is because the armor is probably the best in any riding gear I have found. I was seriously looking at buying a Rev'it Infinity suit to complement my original black Motoport outfit. There were issues about torso fit that may have been resolved by now, but the "armor" in the suit was very inferior to the Motoport stuff to the point that I felt naked. My wife even commented that she was not impressed with the protection in the suit which says a lot. It actually resembles the Trilaminate dry suit that I use diving, which means that the suit material is not particularly heavy or thick. It makes me wonder how well it would protect in a bad dump.


Having crashed in the original Motoport kevlar suit, I can say it saved a lot of skin damage (not a scratch on me) and minimized what the doctors say could have been shattered ribs (only flex cracked 4!) and a busted knee. Also take note that the Motoport gear is, AFIK, the only textile gear approved by race organizations.

Bulky and dorky looking, yes it is, but I prefer safe riding gear to a fashion statement anytime ( see average HD rider outfit!). Besides, it is cool in very hot south Louisiana weather. I have been riding in 90+ weather the last few days quite comfortably in the new hi-vis jacket.

Oh... one other thing I like about Motoport: If you ever crash in one and trash the jacket or whatever, they will either fix the damage or give you a new one free. Cant beat a guarantee like that.

Doug

[NeilS]

+1 on Motoport. Mine isn't mesh, because I don't need the ventilation in the Great White North, but I've had an Ultra II jacket for about 6 years now. One crash, both the jacket and my body were undamaged.

I own German and Japanese motorcycles, so "Buy American" is clearly not my primary consideration. But when other things are roughly equal, I'd prefer to support the American manufacturer. There are far too few of them left. And I'd rather support an American manufacturer selling directly than a local retailer selling "Made in China." For riding gear, for me, that means Motoport or Aerostich.

[thepeacebullgrunt]

Ok Guys ! I need to see a motoport now closely... do they only sale online ?

Any dealer in Los Angeles area ?