Jacket Or Not?

[Jer]

Hello!

Newbie here.

Just got a GZ250 for commuting thru town to work and back.

Do I need a "motorcycle jacket"

Would a jean jacket be ok? I want to be safe. But I dont want to buy crap I dont need.

[Sarris]

Now you've opened a can of worms. Sick 'em guys.

LOL

:lol:

Also, use the search engine on site. This horse has been beaten to death, decomposed, and turned to dust.

[Moedad]

YES, you need a "motorcycle jacket"!! End of discussion.

[Jer]

well of course I have to ask "why"?

[Moedad]

well of course I have to ask "why"? A proper jacket will will be made of more durable material (thick enough leather, or a good textile made specifically for protection in case you go down) than denim and will have CE armor in the shoulders, elbows/forearms, back, etc. And I don't mean to sound militant about it; you're certainly free to choose to wear whatever you want or don't want. 90% of the members here will say the same thing about protective gear though. Not because they want to be part of the majority, but because it's safer.

[Jer]

What about something like this?

http://offer.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll

I worry about being too hot......

[Moedad]

What about something like this?

http://offer.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll

I worry about being too hot......

Link didn't work. You're in Iowa? I know the Midwest can get pretty humid and hot. We have guys in the South even down into Florida who wear jackets. I'm in Southern California near the beach, and while it can get pretty warm in the summer here, we don't usually get the humidity that you get in much of the country. I have a Joe Rocket Meteor 5.0 jacket with lots of venting that I wear. It has a zip-out liner that I took out when I got it and haven't put it back in since. I commute to work too, but my ride is only 15-20 minutes. On summer mornings it's quite pleasant. On the way home, I'm glad it's only 15-20 minutes.

[Jer]

try this link

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... 0247440156 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300247440156)

Yeah, mornings are ok. It'll take me 30-45min to get to work thru town.

On the way home it'll be brutal but thats not as big of a deal. I have a shower at home.

Not at work!!!!!

:)

[patrick_777]

That's a decent jacket. I prefer mesh jackets with CE approved armor in them, but that reopens that can of worms. You should read through the Jacket threads because they already answer your questions and most posts are very thorough and well-explained.

I ride to work at 6pm, so it's usually right in the hot part of the day. In my backpack, I carry comb and some hair gel, because helmet-hair annoys me, and hats are frowned upon in my workplace.

You do have a full-face helmet, right?

[Water Warrior 2]

Hello!

Newbie here.

Just got a GZ250 for commuting thru town to work and back.

Do I need a "motorcycle jacket"

Would a jean jacket be ok? I want to be safe. But I dont want to buy crap I dont need.

Yes you should have a proper jacket(your choice of course). Try on an armoured jacket at a dealer and hit your elbow with a small hammer. Now try it with a jean jacket. Now start over with your shoulders and back. You will notice quite a difference. Nuff said.

[Jer]

Try on an armoured jacket at a dealer and hit your elbow with a small hammer. Now try it with a jean jacket. Now start over with your shoulders and back. You will notice quite a difference. Nuff said.

Good point.



You do have a full-face helmet, right?

I have a 3/4 with the flip down full face shield.

Like this. http://www.helmetcityinternational.com/ ... 51_prd.htm (http://www.helmetcityinternational.com/DOT-Silver-3-4-Motorcycle-Helmet.-Three-Quarter-Helmet_51_prd.htm) But with the full face shield.

[Easy Rider]

well of course I have to ask "why"?

It's all a matter of risk and skin. :)

It's how much risk you are willing to take versus how much you value keeping your skin intact.

If you have never had REALLY bad road rash from a bicycle accident or similar, you probably aren't qualified to judge.

Now, having said that, I live in a state where helmets are not required. Very often, I take short trips around town where speeds never exceed 40, with no helmet and no gear. I have, however, actually been in a really bad bicycle accident and I know the risks. I've already seen 62 good years and make my choices somewhat differently than I did when I was 20.

It is YOUR life and YOUR skin and YOUR choice. Just be very sure you know the possible bad outcomes. :tup:

[LilNinja77]

I'm sure some of the people here are tired of my gear-talk, so I'll cut it fairly short. "NEED" .....no, you don't necessarily need a motorcycle jacket, just like you don't "need" a seat-belt or airbags in your car either. All of those things are very nice to have, especially in the actual event of an accident. As Easy said, only those people who have had direct experience with road rash can really make these decisions with a level-head. With that said, I can say if you don't already fall in to that group then you probably don't want to do so. Bottom line is this, if you like wearing your skin, use common sense. As I've said here before, if someone took a belt sander to your body while you are in your riding outfit.......where would it hurt? Wherever that belt sander might rip flesh off, you need good quailty riding gear. Whether textile or leather, just get some gear.

It's your bike, your skin, your life; make decisions to protect all three and you'll be much happier in the longrun.
Ride safe

[Jer]

great info.

Thanks!

[Jer]

Looking at this one now....

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/ ... acket.aspx (http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/1/39/327/ITEM/Fieldsheer-Johnny-Cool-Mesh-Jacket.aspx)

[patrick_777]

Very good choice. Fieldsheer makes some really nice equipment.

Although, like I've said many times before, you can't go wrong by actually going into a store and trying on jackets. If anything just to size them up and find out which particular one you want to buy online. Often though, you'll actually end up getting a better deal in the store than you will online because they're trying to move last year's product and they don't have the customer base the Internet does. Negotiation is possible as well.

[Jer]

Oh yeah. I'll hit the stores before adding to cart.

Its easier to show what I'm leaning towards using online store links though.

Any sensible store owner is willing to work with you. They dont want to lose business to online stores.

[Magnar Infectus]

Here's my $0.02 on jacket/no jacket, helmet/no helmet.
Wear one of you want, don't wear one if you don't. Just keep in mind it doesn't matter if you are the best rider in the planet, There's always someone worse at operating a motor vehicle that you. All it takes is one good tap to send you off your bike. Even at low speeds a jacket/helmet can mean the difference between some minor scrapes and bruises or major abrasions and a cracked melon.

Also I saw you were looking at jackets online. I wouldn't purchase one online without trying it on first. From My experience sizes vary greatly from one style to the next.
I'm 6'0" 150lbs. Basicly tall and skinny. I tried on probably 15-20 different styles of jackets in various sizes, and only found one that fit properly. It was size XL. Some of the jackets that were large or Medium were way to big, some XLs were way to small (They were all mens sizes).
(my jacket is in this (http://www.gz250bike.com/viewtopic.php?t=1204&start=15) thread)
Here's the helmet I got:
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/magnarinfectus/Helmet.jpg
It's a full face, but the face flips up and makes it like a 3/4.It's vented at the mouth and on top. Plus the padding on the inside all comes out so it can be cleaned.

[patrick_777]

I have yet to build a real opinion on modular helmets, simply because I haven't really tried one on. They seem feasible if the hinge between the chin guard and the rest of the helmet is sturdy enough for impact resistance.

I know they are DOT approved, but has Snell ever certified a modular helmet before?

[patrick_777]

I know they are DOT approved, but has Snell ever certified a modular helmet before?

I just answered my own question.

From the Snell website:
Why won't Snell certify some types of helmets like flip up front designs?
Snell does not dismiss out of hand any helmet design that strays from the conventional. Snell does not point out any design specifications other than general requirements in our standards. We are however, always concerned with innovations and new designs that may effect the helmet's ability to protect the wearer, or in some cases the helmets potential to cause injury. At present the Foundation has not had the opportunity to test any of the flip up front type helmets for certification. We do not find any fault with these designs as long as they are used according to the manufacturers instructions and meet all of the requirements of the standard. We will also certify any size of helmet as long as it meets the same requirements as any other Snell certified helmet.

[Moedad]

It's getting great reviews from buyers. Looks like a good buy.

Looking at this one now....

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/ ... acket.aspx (http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/1/39/327/ITEM/Fieldsheer-Johnny-Cool-Mesh-Jacket.aspx)

[Jer]

My jacket came yesterday.

A Fieldsheer.

Dig it.