Un-armored motorcycle jackets?

[dentheman]

Does anyone offer unarmored warm and cold weather (mesh and/or fabric) motorcycle jackets? Everything I am finding online includes armor, but suppose I wanted to wear an armored shirt or 'under armor' such as Bohn and wear different weight jackets over it depending on the weather? I know I could remove the armor from the jackets, but why pay for it if I wouldn't need it?

In other words, I am looking for several sets of suitable motorcycle outerwear to wear OVER one set of armor. (I have tried on a few mesh jackets and I am not happy about how snug I have to adjust the arm straps to keep the armor in place, so I am looking at a different approach.)

[dannylightning]

midas well get some leather gear, you can get quality leather coats any where...

[alanmcorcoran]

There are places that sell used jackets. They might have some that are missing the plastic for cheap.

try http://www.newenough.com/

[music man]

You can buy mesh jackets that have that ("soft armor" or in other words foam padding) in it cheap, then just yank the foam padding out and chuck it. I see them on Bikebandit and the like for 50-60 bucks all the time.

[dentheman]

Thanks all. I was already thinking of an oversized insulated leather bomber jacket for cold weather, and a cheap mesh hot weather jacket with padding removed for summer. I just thought there might be some better alternatives.

[music man]

Finding a mesh type motorcycle jacket with no armor in it is probably going to be a tall order to fill, I would suspect. I could be wrong, but considering that is most peoples reason for buying a mesh riding jacket to begin with, I would think that at least foam type armor would be "standard" in them.


If you are not wanting any real protection out of the jacket itself, then for the summer jacket, you could just get any ole' mesh breathable jacket to put over your armored shirt, now in the winter on the other hand, you are going to want to get something motorcycle specific.

I made that mistake when I first bought my GZ, I bought it in the summertime, and made no effort whatsoever to buy cold weather riding gear, because I thought that my huge array of jackets, coats, hoodies and gloves would be perfect for cold weather riding, NOT. I have a Carhart coat that will make you sweat when you are out in the woods and it is in the teens, but isn't worth a damn for riding when it is 30 degrees outside. It takes a different kind of gear altogether to keep you warm when the below freezing wind is blowing against you at 60+mph.

But the good news is that there are a TON of leather motorcycle jackets out there that don't have armor in them (I own one right now), and leather is the best way to go in cold weather.

And I didn't even notice until after I posted my first message that you had already mentioned just taking out the armor :oops: .

[dentheman]

I didn't realize leather was good for the cold, but now that I think about it it would be windproof moreso than a cloth jacket, and some insulation would help, so my idea of a bomber jacket would work. But I will research motorcycle specific leather jackets as well to see if some are well insulated.

[blaine]

I use a leather jacket with a zip out liner, so I can use it spring,summer,and fall.It has zippers on the cuffs to keep out the wind.Make sure when you buy a jacket the sleeves are long enough that when you stretch your arms out they don't ride up.That way a good pair of gloves will fit over them,and no wind gets up your sleeves and down your back.I have jackets that are heavier,but not as warm because the sleeves ride up and let the wind in.
:roll: :rawk:

[Water Warrior 2]

95% of the time I wear leather gauntlets to protect my wrists. Less chance of a draft and better water proofing if it is raining. They are comfy and have just enough extra room for light knit gloves if things get overly chilly. Less worry about having to buy a jacket with just the right wrist design at the expense of overall jacket design.
The one major thing I have found when shopping is look for comfort. Find a few items that have the requirements you need and then go with the most comfortable item. Don't tell yourself you will get used to it if the fit isn't quite right. I have given away a lot of riding gear that just didn't make the grade due to the wrong fit and poor comfort levels.
I spent 2 years looking for the right riding boots to fit my wider size 12 feet. Finally found them by accident in in Marysville Tenn while on vacation. Shoulda bought 2 pair. Later found them in the GWN for 3 times the price. No sale there.

[alantf]

95% of the time I wear leather gauntlets to protect my wrists.

How do you stop them getting soggy? Mine are the worst gloves / gauntlets I've ever had for letting water in, when it rains. :cry:

[blaine]

95% of the time I wear leather gauntlets to protect my wrists.

How do you stop them getting soggy? Mine are the worst gloves / gauntlets I've ever had for letting water in, when it rains. :cry:

I have never had a problem with water getting in my gloves/gauntlets as they fit snugly over my jacket. :??: I have never heard of anybody with that problem before. :)

[alantf]

What I meant was that the rain soaks through the leather, so that all the inside gets soggy.

[blaine]

What I meant was that the rain soaks through the leather, so that all the inside gets soggy.
Ok.Now I got ya. :tongue: What if you water proofed them with a good quality leather dressing? :cool:

[burkbuilds]

I soak mine down with "silicon water-guard". The can says only one treatment needed, but I've found 2-3 applications are required for 100% effectiveness. One treatment

would probably work if you were just sitting still, but at 70 mph it doesn't seem to be enough. I found this stuff at Wal-Mart but I've also used similar products from

Sportsman's Warehouse and I bet most sporting good suppliers have a spray on waterproofing treatment available. I re-apply every couple of months to maintain the effect.

[Easy Rider]

What if you water proofed them with a good quality leather dressing? :cool:

Well, here's the problem with that: Leather is porus. To make it truly water PROOF, you must seal up those pores. If you do that, it doesn't breath anymore (hot, sweaty feet!) and it tends to crack sooner than normal.

I prefer a heavy oil treatment, which makes them "water resistant" without the above drawbacks. Of course, I also make it a point to never ride in rain heavier than a shower and prefer occasional wet feet over all the trouble necessary to try and prevent it.

YMMV. :cool:

[Water Warrior 2]

My Red Wing gauntlets seem to be fairly water proof. My hands have always stayed dry. I suppose they may be helped somewhat by the fairing and factory handguards but they still do get wet on the outside in heavy rain. It is possible they were treated during manufacture but I can't remember if there was a tag stating so. I bought the Red Wings after nearly drowning in a 5 hour ride and finding out how well my first pair of gloves did not resist water. That was also the trip when I bought a rain suit after the rain. The entire trip was an education including heat prostration to hypothermia in less than 24 hours. Definitely a lesson well learned.
The boots I eventually got are waterproof and have a breathable liner that keeps my feet dry in hot weather. A lot of riding gear is a trial by error sort of thing but I seem to have it nailed down pretty well now.

[mrlmd1]

There are all sorts of nylon waterproof gators that easily slip over boots for waterproofing in the rain rather than spending a fortune to find truly waterproof boots. They pack very compactly too when not in use.

[b1pig]

i get lucky for boots. we weat danner or rocky boots at work, and they pay for them. when they start reaching the end of their "useful" life, i rotate them into m/c gear. the latest pair, Rocky zip-side boots, waterproof above the ankles with goretex.... IIRC... but the certainly are waterproof.

raingear... i just use the wal-mart gear for the time being with some duct tape over the front flap. havent had a leak yet. you can likely find any good commercial waterproofer to work with leather. like most, it'll probably require periodic treatment to retain the waterproofing.