Cool Jackets

[burbin1978]

Hey guys what's up? I'm looking into buying a cool jacket. I mean cool in the absolutely most literal sense of the word. I live in South Texas and it is freaking hot!! Not to mention I am a pretty profuse sweater. I don't wear any jacket at the moment, but would really like something I can wear in case of a fall or crash, but won't cause me to arrive at my destination entirely sweat soaked. Can any of you recommend anything that fits my needs? Thanks.

[patrick_777]

Look into mesh jackets.

I wear a Firstgear Tex 3 jacket (http://tinyurl.com/4lk6zn) that I bought at the local Cycle Gear store here in Tulsa. They had it on sale for just over $80. I think they discontinued that particular jacket now, but Firstgear replaced it with the Control Mesh (http://tinyurl.com/59bjuz). They have a good selection of minimally-priced armored jackets that are pretty sturdy. I ride nearly every day here in midday heat and very seldom have any sweat issues other than on my head (from the FF helmet). It also comes with a zip-out liner that rolls up tiny and makes it warmer if you find the need.

The problem a lot of people have with mesh jackets is a real lack of abrasion resistance. Honestly, a good vented leather or textile jacket will be better for this, but when you're faced with either suffocating or not wearing your jacket, most people will go with the latter, and at least some armor protection is better than none at all. I have no problem wearing a mesh jacket, and combined with a pair of meshed or perforated gloves, it keeps me pretty cool, even in midday traffic.

Check out the jackets at NewEnough.com or Cyclegear.com and then go try some on at a store or a dealership. Fit is everything, and most of the street jackets are alpha-sized. You really have to try them on and get them just right. I hear NewEnough has a great return policy on stuff if it doesn't fit though. I'll probably buy online near the end of the summer when I'm looking for an autumn and winter jacket.

There are a lot of good gear stores online if you're comfortable buying fitted clothes without trying them on.

NewEnough.com (http://www.newenough.com/)
Cyclegear.com (http://www.cyclegear.com/)
motorcycle-superstore.com (http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/)
DennisKirk.com (http://www.denniskirk.com)
MotorcycleGiant.com (http://www.motorcyclegiant.com)
BikeBandit.com (http://www.bikebandit.com/)

[JIBTEXHNKA]

i've been meaning to ask this and now seems like a good time:

has anyone bought from/heard anything about http://nakedleatherbiker.com/?

they have a whole bunch of leather jackets for CHEAP. almost too cheap. scarily cheap.

anyone have anything good or bad to say about them? i don't really like the jacket i have now. it'll be great when it gets cold and rainy, but it's summer. the weather here isn't incredibly hot so leather is do-able.

[patrick_777]

That hot pink vest and chaps outfit would look fabulous(th) on you JIB!:P

Actually, I've dug through their site a little bit this month, and decided that unless I heard a definitive review of them, I'd stay away. I don't think I want teeth or a hoof blended in the shoulder of my new leather jacket.

The price is reaonable, but I totally wouldn't trust a dramatic drop in price from retail, unless it was an advertised sale and the regular price is displayed as well.

[jonathan180iq]

If you buy this one, you'll be cool. :lol: :lol: :lol:


http://www.postimage.org/gx1ceFU9.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gx1ceFU9)

[burbin1978]

That IS a cool jacket. I just don't think I can pull that off. At least not an a GZ250. Maybe on a chopper with an american flag paint job, a'la Easy Rider.=)
Plus, I do live in Texas and I'm not one to play into stereotypes.

[patrick_777]

That's more of a "California"-look, if you know what I mean.

[burbin1978]

Yeah, I think I do. ; )

[burbin1978]

I think I might go for a full body deal like this instead.
http://www.postimage.org/gx1efze0.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gx1efze0)

[Moedad]

That's more of a "California"-look, if you know what I mean.

HEY!

[burbin1978]

I saw this Science channel episode called Mars Rising or something. Anyway, they were talking about the new space suit that they are going to take to Mars. They use this fabric called Super Fabric. It is supposed to be ultra light weight and 15x more durable than leather. I read that they make gloves out of this stuff. Surgeons and cops use the gloves so that they won't get poked with any needles or cut themselves with knives. Anyone know of any companies making jackets out of this stuff? I didn't find anything on-line. I did find the military gloves at (http://www.uscav.com/prod_9341_tabid_54 ... 0%20Gloves (http://www.uscav.com/prod_9341_tabid_548_Armor%20Skins%20The%20Protecto r%20Super%20Fabric%20reg%20%20Gloves)). Nothing on jackets though.

[JIBTEXHNKA]

That hot pink vest and chaps outfit would look fabulous(th) on you JIB!:P



that's the one i was looking at!! it's great, huh?

....yeah no.

there is a lot of ridiculous stuff on there. but a few good-looking jackets for cheap, so i think i'm gonna look into their return policy and maybe give it a go.


They use this fabric called Super Fabric. It is supposed to be ultra light weight and 15x more durable than leather. I read that they make gloves out of this stuff.

that link didn't work (for me at least), but i found them on the same site: http://www.uscav.com/Productinfo.aspx?productID=9341&TabID=1.
it looks like it's only "stronger" than leather relative to the thickness of the fabric; like when people tell you that spiderwebs are 10x stronger than steel. but nobody builds skyscrapers out of spiderwebs (not yet, anyway). i'm sure the stuff is great for gloves and probably a ton of other things, but i doubt it would hold up to what a motorcycle jacket would go through. just my thoughts.[/url]


edit:
here are some bits from nakedleatherbiker's shipping/return policies:
http://nakedleatherbiker.com/shipping.php

"...we employ a fixed standard ground shipping charge of $12.00 per order for items shipped in the continental U.S., in one package, and with a total weight under 10 pounds. For packages weighing more than 10 pounds, there is an additional handling fee of $8.00."

"Returns and Exchanges

All returns must be postmarked no later than 30 days from the original customer shipment date. Returns and exchanges must be in new condition and include original product packaging.

There is a restock fee of 20% for any returned, undamaged product. If exchanging an item there is not a restock fee, and the customer pays shipping charges.

To return or exchange an item, contact us by email. We will then forward the proper documentation via a Word attachment for you to print out and place in the box with the return item. Shipping instructions along with the warehouse address will be included in the email. Do not ship to our offices as this will incur an extra shipping charge."

so: for a $150 jacket, if it doesn't fit i'm looking at a $30 re-stocking fee plus $12 shipping each way. so i'm out $54 if their product sucks. i don't do a whole lot of online shopping but i would bet this is at the "crappy" end of the spectrum.

[jonathan180iq]

In all seriousness, did you see my post about new riding gear?
The jacket that I purchased is lightweight, lets air flow through it, is of good quality and only costs about $65, all while offering armored bits in your color choice.

[JIBTEXHNKA]

In all seriousness, did you see my post about new riding gear?
The jacket that I purchased is lightweight, lets air flow through it, is of good quality and only costs about $65.


probably, but i'm usually at work when i'm on here and i'm not always paying attention. lemme go take a look

edit:
look taked. i definitely wasn't paying attention the first time; that looks like a really good deal. i didn't see you mention the brand/style or anything, and i don't think i just missed it. would you mind telling me the name of the ebay seller you used?

[jonathan180iq]

Bottom of page 1:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TEXTILE- ... QQtcZphoto (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TEXTILE-100-WATER-PROOF-MOTORBIKE-SPORTS-JACKET-2234_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742Q2em153Q2el126 2QQcategoryZ6750QQihZ015QQitemZ250255424940QQtcZph oto)

The seller had great communication and shipping was very fast. Their after-sale communication left some to be desired but that's just because I needed a refund on the saddlebags and I don't let people dick me around. The jacket's great. I wear it everyday.

[Badbob]

I have one of these. Lots of air flow.

http://www.olympiamotosports.com/bushwa ... hacker.htm (http://www.olympiamotosports.com/bushwacker/Bushwhacker.htm)

[burbin1978]

Yeah Badbob,
I like the silver one. Looks to be like what I'm looking for. Do you wear it without the liner? Where did you get it? On-line?

[Badbob]

Yeah Badbob,
I like the silver one. Looks to be like what I'm looking for. Do you wear it without the liner? Where did you get it? On-line?

I've not used the liner yet.

I bought it at a Local BMW dealer. They were only about $10 more expensive than ordering it and I got to try them all on. My wife is very hard to fit and they ordered a jacket for her just to try on so I figured it was worth the extra ten bucks. I've been in there several times and they never once tried to BS me and were always helpful so I gave them some money.

I'm not sure I like the silver. It shows the dirt real easy. However it is much cooler than my other mesh jacket plus it has a liner and pockets.