Gear Need-to-Knows

[neebelung]

Originally Posted by Mistress Maygin

foooh, yeah! Cycle gear had limited in stock. And it would be pretty annoying to have them order a bunch of shit just for me to try it on... Anywhere else where they might have more variety for girlies?

Just hit up every motorcycle dealership or shop in your area. There's also a couple good places in Orlando and Daytona (I know that's a ways for you, but it might be worthwhile). There's Seminole Powersports in Sanford (just north of Orlando), and a good Cycle Gear just down the street (there's either two or three CG's in the O-town area). Then up in Daytona, you have Cycle World (big dealership), Cycle Image (lots of Alpinestars stuff) and The Helmet Shop (lots of Power Trip and Joe Rocket).

[Mistress Maygin]

Originally Posted by neebelung

Just hit up every motorcycle dealership or shop in your area. There's also a couple good places in Orlando and Daytona (I know that's a ways for you, but it might be worthwhile). There's Seminole Powersports in Sanford (just north of Orlando), and a good Cycle Gear just down the street (there's either two or three CG's in the O-town area). Then up in Daytona, you have Cycle World (big dealership), Cycle Image (lots of Alpinestars stuff) and The Helmet Shop (lots of Power Trip and Joe Rocket).

I'm not opposed to traveling. I'll be making frequent trips to Tampa, so Orlando isn't a big deal. I'd rather make the drive to get the right jacket than be lazy and not be happy/safe.

Originally Posted by neebelung

Icon does (sorry ), and then I know the Joe Rocket Phoenix 2.0 for ladies (mesh) comes in Purple (I have it in white and I LOVE it... it has three sliders across the back to get the waist and hip fit just right)

But the mesh is less desirable in the way of actual protection, right?

[neebelung]

Originally Posted by Mistress Maygin

But the mesh is less desirable in the way of actual protection, right?

Yes, but again, being realistic, you'll need one here, esp in South Florida (between the heat and the traffic, you'd die if you tried to wear leather ALL the time). I've got two meshies actually (and a textile, and a non-perfed leather)

[Mistress Maygin]

Originally Posted by neebelung

Yes, but again, being realistic, you'll need one here, esp in South Florida (between the heat and the traffic, you'd die if you tried to wear leather ALL the time). I've got two meshies actually (and a textile, and a non-perfed leather)

Someone explain me the difference between mesh, textile and leather.
This'll be a good thread for beginner gear if it keeps going. I'll ask all the dumb questions

[Rider]

Originally Posted by Mistress Maygin

Someone explain me the difference between mesh, textile and leather.
This'll be a good thread for beginner gear if it keeps going. I'll ask all the dumb questions

Leather is leather, textile is what they call ballistic nylon and mesh is perforated textile.

[Mistress Maygin]

Originally Posted by Rider

Leather is leather, textile is what they call ballistic nylon and mesh is perforated textile.

I meant a real explanation. Like diff in weights, protection, price (if any). Stuff like that. I know what the materials are by themselves and can pretty much gather my own conclusion to some extent, but I'm playing newb. And like I said, this thread could later be used by other people who may not make clothes for extra cash on the side.

Originally Posted by neebelung

Mesh is just that - you look at it and you can see through it if you hold it up to light. And there are varying qualities - some will be tighter knit (smaller holes), which will give better protection, but allow a bit less air in (Alpinestars mesh seems to be pretty tightly knit).

Textile is a tighter woven fabric - no visible holes in it. It doesn't breathe particularly well, so you want to look for one with lots of zippered vents (Cortech has some great ones... Chris and I each have a Cortech textile and LOVE them). It's VERY comfortable though, and lightweight (but doesn't allow air to pass through, other than the vents... suitable up to about 80 degrees).

Leather is just leather. But you want to look at the tag to see what KIND of leahter. MOST of it will be cowhide, but there are some companie (higher end, more expensive) that produce stuff from Kangaroo leather (particularly gloves), and then companies like Held supplement cow leather with sting ray hide on the impact areas of their gloves.

Like that! lol Does the difference in leather offer difference in protection?

Mesh will only protect in the areas where the guards are, I would imagine? Textile similar to mesh, but with more in the way of protection from road rash. If you slide far enough, though, it will eventually wear through, right?

[neebelung]

Originally Posted by Mistress Maygin

I meant a real explanation. Like diff in weights, protection, price (if any). Stuff like that. I know what the materials are by themselves and can pretty much gather my own conclusion to some extent, but I'm playing newb. And like I said, this thread could later be used by other people who may not make clothes for extra cash on the side.

Totally depends on the brand. I think typically mesh will be least expensive, textile in the middle, and leather the most expensive, but it's going to depends on the brand, and the armour.

Mesh is super light weight, and actually so is textile (I actually think my textile is more comfortable than either of my meshies in that regard). Leather is heavier, and will vary GREATLY from one line to the next. My Joe Rocket leather was glove soft the day I got it, whereas Chris' A*'s leahter was really stiff and needed a lot of breaking in.

Originally Posted by Mistress Maygin

Like that! lol Does the difference in leather offer difference in protection?

Mesh will only protect in the areas where the guards are, I would imagine? Textile similar to mesh, but with more in the way of protection from road rash. If you slide far enough, though, it will eventually wear through, right?

Yeah, apparently roo and stingray are supposed to be tougher, and more resilient in a slide.

Mesh will protect to some degree all over, but mainly the armoured areas. There've actually been people who claim mesh will melt and fuse with the flesh because it heats up in a long slide on asphalt, but I don't know how true that is, or how often it happens.

My rule of thumb is this: if I'm just commuting to work, my lil 12 mile commute where I'm not riding like a bat out of hell, and it's 90000 degrees out, I'm wearing mesh. On the other hand, if I know I'm going on a long sunday ride where I'll be riding HARD, then I might think twice and opt for something more protective.

Originally Posted by Rider

I wear my Cortech textile in 95+ but we also don't have the humidity that you do. Also some companies like Teknic use goat hide for some of their leather products.

WOW.... nope, no can do here. 80 is really about the limit and mine has LOTS of vents.

[neebelung]

Originally Posted by Mistress Maygin

Someone explain me the difference between mesh, textile and leather.
This'll be a good thread for beginner gear if it keeps going. I'll ask all the dumb questions

Mesh is just that - you look at it and you can see through it if you hold it up to light. And there are varying qualities - some will be tighter knit (smaller holes), which will give better protection, but allow a bit less air in (Alpinestars mesh seems to be pretty tightly knit).

Textile is a tighter woven fabric - no visible holes in it. It doesn't breathe particularly well, so you want to look for one with lots of zippered vents (Cortech has some great ones... Chris and I each have a Cortech textile and LOVE them). It's VERY comfortable though, and lightweight (but doesn't allow air to pass through, other than the vents... suitable up to about 80 degrees).

Leather is just leather. But you want to look at the tag to see what KIND of leahter. MOST of it will be cowhide, but there are some companie (higher end, more expensive) that produce stuff from Kangaroo leather (particularly gloves), and then companies like Held supplement cow leather with sting ray hide on the impact areas of their gloves.

[Rider]

Originally Posted by neebelung

Mesh is just that - you look at it and you can see through it if you hold it up to light. And there are varying qualities - some will be tighter knit (smaller holes), which will give better protection, but allow a bit less air in (Alpinestars mesh seems to be pretty tightly knit).

Textile is a tighter woven fabric - no visible holes in it. It doesn't breathe particularly well, so you want to look for one with lots of zippered vents (Cortech has some great ones... Chris and I each have a Cortech textile and LOVE them). It's VERY comfortable though, and lightweight (but doesn't allow air to pass through, other than the vents... suitable up to about 80 degrees).

Leather is just leather. But you want to look at the tag to see what KIND of leahter. MOST of it will be cowhide, but there are some companie (higher end, more expensive) that produce stuff from Kangaroo leather (particularly gloves), and then companies like Held supplement cow leather with sting ray hide on the impact areas of their gloves.

I wear my Cortech textile in 95+ but we also don't have the humidity that you do. Also some companies like Teknic use goat hide for some of their leather products.