Summer Jacket

Trainmaster · Post by **Trainmaster** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 3:33 am

I'm looking for a light weight jacket (mesh) for riding in the summer heat. I stumbled across Tour Master. I never heard of them but their pricing is reasonable. Anyone know about their quality? Any other recommendations?

R4R&R · Post by **R4R&R** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 7:39 am

How much are you looking to spend? The mesh jackets are a compromise; cooling/comfort for safety, but still better than a t-shirt! I have used a Fieldsheer mesh jacket, and currently use a Firstgear. I liked both but the Fieldsheer didn't flow air quite as good as the Firstgear. After saying that, I felt safer in the Fieldsheer (more durable in an accident).

The BMW jackets are really nice, but expensive. Check out Rev'It brand. Goto Bob's BMW in Jessup MD. and take a look around at what they offer - all good stuff and you'll get great customer service too.

Post by **sjbmw** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 7:55 am

I have 2 Firstgear jackets. The Meshtex, and the Kilomanjaro Air.

The KA liner comes out, and it blows more air on a warm day than the MeshTex.
Carry the liner, and it's a mountain/evening jacket

I have been happy with Firstgear stuff. Mid-priced and durable.

Hogan's Hero · Post by **Hogan's Hero** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 8:04 am

I have the Olympia Airglide and it's a quality product at a fair price. The armor is more substatial than my Kili, and the hi vis version gets you seen by cages. Highly reccommended.
FWIW: comfortable from 40 to 90. Requires putting on the inner liner for rain.

Post by **Caol** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 8:25 am

I'm using a Joe Rocket Phoenix (early version) and it has proven quite comfortable on those hot, sticky type days. (35C and not quite raining). And seems to be holding up well (3 years old now). It, too, uses an inner liner for those cooler/wetter days.

RForestR · Post by **RForestR** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 8:28 am

I used to have the Joe Rocket mesh jacket which was pretty decent. I now have a mesh jacket from Alpinestars which does the trick nicely for me. It has the zip out waterproof liner, adjustable velcro cinches for the sleeves which keep the elbow and forearm armour solidly in their place and good interior pockets. The jacket also has reinforced areas on 'typical' slide points (heaven forbid) up on the shoulders, top of the arms etc. Good compromise for the money and lots of reflectors so very visible at night.

Cheers,
Chris

Post by **yjleesvrr** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 10:13 am

I too have a Joe Rocket Phoenix jacket. Mine is in its 4th season of use and I ride a couple thousand miles a month between May and August, so it's held up well. I recommend it.

Just-Beeming · Post by **Just-Beeming** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 12:16 pm

I have heard good things about the Revit mesh jacket as well.

I wanted an cool mesh jacket for those occasional hot riding days....in Oregon they are not as common as other parts of the USA.
I am a firm believer in buying off ebay or IBMWR in the off season....especially for these occasional items that would be nice to have but I don't want to give an arm and a leg for.

I found a BMW airflow for around 125.00 bucks...it was new with tags.
I am a little smaller than the average rider so there are sometimes bargains if you are not a common size.
Keep checking...There are deals out there.

Just-Beeming

Trainmaster · Post by **Trainmaster** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 2:17 pm

Thanks to all for your input.

I found a FirstGear mesh jacket today and it was just what I was looking for...lightweight and some protection. $140.00 at Bob's BMW in Jessup, MD. I always seem to end up there.

Thanks again

domekrome · Post by **domekrome** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 3:49 pm

I have crash tested a Joe Rocket Phoenix 4.0, and it held up well; I am still using it.

NHighCotton · Post by **NHighCotton** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 7:31 pm

I've got two Fieldsheer products, one is the Highlander suit (copy of the Aerostitch) and the other is a Magnesium 1 mesh jacket. Both are excellant products.

I've had a Vanson Ventilator mesh jacket but the fit was poor and it had no pockets but, it was very lite and cool for summer riding. The sleeves were too tight and I had to part with it.
My Fieldsheer mesh is almost as cool and fits me better and the quality is much better.

I've had a Joe Rocket, half perforated leather and half mesh, would not advise this combination for summer riding.

Tour Master and Cortech http://tinyurl.com/ywkjld
were two other products that I was looking at before I found my Fieldsheer on ebay, which I got for $69.00.

Post by **wncbmw** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 7:07 pm

I have to put out a good word for the Olympia mesh. I have used it 3 years now and it works well and has the right armor in the right places! Very cool with microfiber shirts and undies!

WhoZat · Post by **WhoZat** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 10:22 am

Liked my Joe Rocket Phoenix, then threw it away after three seasons exposure to the sun.

Then I fell in love with my First Gear Mesh Tex, fit me better, and in black it was actually cooler than my silver Phoenix(?!?!) I liked it so much, I bought another one just like it a couple seasons later.

I thought I was pretty smart when I bought a Hein Gericke 3/4 air. With the liner and a fleece I could ride in California winter weather, and ride in cool comfort in the summer; NOT. It's at it's best BETWEEN those two seasons.

As I gave more thought to the increased likelihood that I was to have a 'get off' soon, comfort on the bike became less of an issue..... and protection in a tumble began to influence my approach to jacket selection.

I just got in the mail (via an ebay purchase), a Cortech GX Air. It's mesh for cooling comfort, has CE armor to minumize blunt force trauma, and leather over the elbows, shoulders, and center back for abrasion resistance.
Check one out.......

Post by **DSKYZD** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 10:27 am

Pat,

PM me about the size of your new GX Air.

I've been eyeballing those and NewEnough says they fit "loose" w/out all the liners. I don't care about the liners as much as the fit. I find if a mesh jacket fits me too tightly it doesn't flow air very well.

What color is yours? Congrats on the purchase, they look like nice jackets.

DSKYZD

WhoZat · Post by **WhoZat** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 12:10 am

I tried my buddy's XL on..... it was tight like a good leather jacket a GP racer might wear, AND I could zip it up over my belly (!). It felt good.

But I decided to listen to reason. I normally buy XXL, why should THIS jacket differ? And though my intent is to wear this jacket in HOT weather in excess of 95*..... ya just never know when you'll wanna wear something like (my) BMW wind-proof underjacket with it.

I saw a silver XXL on ebay in "excellent" condition, got it (shipping included) for $129.00, and when I tried it on, it fit really well with the liner..... but THAT came out and was tossed aside within ten minutes of finding the box on my door step.

Today I wore the jacket for my ride into work. It flows air..... and I was cold. With the pair of adjustable tensioners on each arm (forearm & biceps), not to overlook the straps that cinch the jacket at the waist, I was VERY pleased with NOTHING flapping at freeway speeds and the length long enough to cover my lower back while reaching for the bars of my FZ1. The leather at the shoulders & elbows seemed to catch the air and actually CIRCULATED it around the interior of the jacket! I remember having this (unexpected) effect when I wore a black leather biker vest over my Joe Rocket Phoenix in HOT weather!?!?!?

All said, I would suggest that you might be happy with a size that you customarily wear. Avoid the silver or white (I don't do colors), simply because they show dirt, grease, bugs, dust, and 'stuff'. If I bought new, I woulda bought black.....
I heard two people discussing about how well the piping reflects at night, and noticed that my buddy's pants reflective piping lined up perfectly with the jacket; he musta been wearing some Cortech pants, and they were mesh & leather too!

If you do colors though, my buddy's red does offer the advantage of being high vis'.......

I think I'm gonna like this purchase.