[derf]

Originally Posted by caveman

Ok guys, i searched and found this thread but I don't seem to hear any recommendations for what kind of Jacket is the best for the summer. I am tired of sweating my @$$ off when I wear my leather. I like to have the protection of a jacket but I hate the sweltering heat that comes with wearing leather in 95°.

Please help

I have a Joe Rocket Phoenix mesh jacket, its not super great but I got it on closeout and its probably been ridden for 5,000 miles and still looks new. I haven't crash tested it but I have heard stories that range from it did its job to the jacket caused more damage than it saved.

here is a worst case scenario of some dude who crashed his and had it melt into his skin

But overall it really comes down to what level of protection you want and what compromise you are willing to deal with.

Leather will be the best, pref'd leather is a decent compromise because it flows air. I have a full 1 piece teknic race suit which is great, probably the best protection I have. I also own a Cortech leather jacket, no pants that fit with it, but its great for tooling around town. Both of them probably have between 7 and 10,000 miles on them and neither have let me down. the teknic suit was down at a pretty high speed, and other than a scratched ass and elbow I walked away from an almost triple digit trackday lowside with nothing but a broken collar bone, pretty smashed up helmet and tore up gloves. Not a hair of rash on me and I slid for a good hundred feet, didnt even break a stitch on the suit.

Textile has gotten me excited lately, last year I bought a 2 piece fieldsheer set, waterproof, super warm. I put 5,000 miles on it and have had it in weather from 20 degree freezing rain and snow up in the hills of CT to mid 90s today in the traffic of DC. I was decently sweaty today in the heat, but once I was able to move and flow some air I was fine. I was also just gifted a very well worn roadcrafter 1 piece. I haven't worn it on the bike yet, but I did run across my house and did some jumping jacks. The previous owner had a 50mph lowside on it in LA, wore through the first layer of the knee, busted a seam in the ass and the shoulder, but the roadcrafter is supposed to be a superior suit to the fieldsheer I have so we shall see about that. I ordered a patch kit and zipper repair kit from Aerostich for the knee, and broken zippers, and used some liquid stich to repair the ass and shoulder, waiting for the stuff to set now, and I threw some duct tape on the knee to keep it from fraying any more than it already is.

Really it comes down to what level of protection you are willing to ride in. For me if I'm going out and pushing myself I'll wear the 1 piece leather, if I'm going on a longer distance ride, I'll wear the 2 piece textile (or possibly the roadcrafter 1 piece in the future). If i'm going out for a liesurly cruise for an afternoon I'll wear either just the leather or textile jacket and jeans. And yes if i am going down the street or just to work for a 2 mile ride, I wont wear any gear, just my regular clothes.

I always wear a helmet and I always wear gloves, just cant ride without them, and I pretty much always wear boots.

Originally Posted by TYEster

I have a bunch because you never know when you might need it for others.

Also I'm starting to have a weird policy that I because I never buy USED gear(not tried once used, but 10000+mi used) I tend to not sell USED gear.

I wear my stuff out and once it is, it becomes decoration.

I bought some really cheap gear early on, stuff that just fell apart on me, I started buying better stuff a few years back, and now most of my gear is built to last. the more expensive stuff though I get used. My leather 1 piece was lightly used and sold because the PO got fat and didnt fit in it anymore. The new roadcrafter was previously owned by a guy that is buying a new one instead of getting this one fixed. I'll eventually send it back to the factory for a refurb, have them patch professionally them, and replace the leg zippers for the newer 100% waterproof ones. I expect to spend $200 for that, and expect to have a top notch suit