Summer riding: jacket or no jacket

[lemond]

AGATT
All Gear All The Time!

[lawmaster891]

Dress for the crash not the ride

[Slide Panda]

You get the picture. Not sure who to attribute it too, but i go by "leather's cheaper than skin grafts"

There's plenty of option out there depending on budget, material(s) and air flow. There's a few leather jackets other there that are almost entierly perf leather - for example this:
http://www.motostrano.com/MVD-Racewear-Motard-Jacket-p/mvd-jkt2.htm
- Aimed at the motard/supermoto set - but it's leather, perfe'd all over and armored.

There's a number of options that mix materials like the Ignition (new version for 2012) from Rev'it A buddy has it and quite likes it. Textile chest back and inner arms flows a good bit of air.

As commented, the all mesh jackets are pretty much one- shot'ers but far better than nothing. And the one and done nature isn't terrible if they protect you and then insurance covers replacement. 

[696DCRider]

On a sidenote, my brother lives in Miami so I go there occasionally.  It's amazing to see all the people with no gear or helmet.  So, I can understand why you are questioning wearing a jacket.  It makes me cringe when I see a squid on a sportbike hauling a**  over the bridge with barely even a shirt on.  I actually rode around on my brother's harley with no helmet or gear to see what it was like.  I won't lie, it's nice.  I was only going super slow speeds though around the beach though.  I don't see how anyone could ride on the highway with ho helmet or jacket on though.    Sends shivers down my spine.

[corey]

i'd like to say that I don't ever ride without my jacket... But I occasionally do. I know it's stupid. But 90% of the time, I'm wearing my Teknic Mesh Super-Vent. Plenty of CE approved armor on all impact points, a decent foam back protector (a better one would likely be a good investment on my part), and PLENTY of air flow. Proper gloves and boots are always on.

A good mesh jacket will be just as good as not wearing a jacket (unless stuck in traffic... and at that point, you're make the beast with two backsed either way).
A nice trick i like to do on the toastiest of toasty days is buy a gallon jug of water and just COMPLETELY soak my t-shirt. Once you get moving, it's like  A/C on wheels.

[thurmanjr7]

A nice trick i like to do on the toastiest of toasty days is buy a gallon jug of water and just COMPLETELY soak my t-shirt. Once you get moving, it's like  A/C on wheels.

I have never thought of this I will try this next time it's blisteringly hot here in Colorado, which is only like 4 days a year.

[Fireman1291]

Dress for the crash not the ride

I'm using that quote. I ride with all types of riders as pretty much every neighbor I'm friends with has a bike. I'm the only one in full gear. They all ride Harleys and custom choppers and keep saying "man when its hot you'll loose that jacket" lol, I keep telling them its mesh and isn't that bad and not even close to the heat I experience in a house fire so I'll manage. They wear a brain bucket helmet 50% of the time and I always rip on them "hey, not wrecking today huh? Thats cool"

I've seen my fair share of grown "tough guys" screamin like a little "B" beacause their skin just ripped off on hot FL pavement at 60MPH. And I don't know if its the handling characteristics of the bike but I've had maybe 12 harley bike wreck scenes and only 6 or so sportbikes. The catch was about half of the harley guys died and all the sportbike guys died. The Harley guys were drunk and the sportbike guys were going triple digits. I guess we have our own demons to contend with no matter the bike type.

[duccarlos]

I rode in West Palm for years. If I was going to the corner, I might just wear my helmet and gloves. If I was getting on the highway, I would wear my mesh jacket in the summer. "Winter" would see me change to the leather jacket. Most people here don't consider mesh "gear", but most people here have not experience the joy of near 100 degree 100% humidity weather either. So take everything with a grain of salt.

[Slide Panda]

A nice trick i like to do on the toastiest of toasty days is buy a gallon jug of water and just COMPLETELY soak my t-shirt. Once you get moving, it's like  A/C on wheels.

Someone makes a neck cooler scarf  - think Aerostitch sells it. It's got a layer of absorbant gel or similar so it stays damp for quite a while and functions like a swap cooler for your neck.

While back saw an amusing exchange at a local HD shop. Sales person is showing jackets to a new(er) rider. A stereotypical road pirate interjected that he doesn't wear and didn't think the noob needed to either.
Sales person: 'What if you get into an accident? A jacket will help protect you.'
Road pirate: 'I don't plan to have an accident.'
SP: 'No one plans to have an accident - that's why they are called accidents, not planned crashes.'
- I couldn't help but let off a loud snort

[Scoober1103]

To begin with 20 yrs ago I would dress to suit the weather and trip duration but now as I get older as stated I dress for the crash as I have had two reasonable off's both out of my control and both less than 2 km from my house! So the short ride theory should not enter the equation in my eyes....if you talk to an insurance agent they will (used to) tell you the same thing that most accidents occur in close proximity to your residence. I was lucky with the first one and it was winter and I had all my gear on with the exception of leather dress shoes as I had been out to dinner with my girl friend at the time (not riding pillion thank goodness) and they both got ripped off during the launch sequence which resulted in quite substantial damage to my feet! My leather jacket wore through on the shoulders and elbows but did not sustain any injuries there and just a few burns on my legs from the heat generated though my pants. All in all a very lucky boy as it could have been so much worse. The second one was a fairly low speed job and I was in a t-shirt and boardies but no road rash occurred but tore the tendons in my knee! Again could have been allot worse.

Now all gear all the time but I just bought an A*s perforated jacket and perforated Ixon gloves and the difference in comfort is astounding even with the upgraded CE back and chest inserts it is sensational. For here in Australia where it is hot and humid this would be my minimum as I just can't get my head around textile jackets! If it's hot chuck on a camel back with a spare t-shirt rather than remove levels of protection! Although hospitals are air conditioned the nurses here at least are make the beast with two backsing ugly (my cousin is one, and he's big......and hairy.......) and show no mercy when cleaning gravel out of your flesh if you tick the 'No' box on form that's asks "were you wearing appropriate protection".

Cheers,

Scott   

[billschusteriv]

Full gear.  Jacket, pants, helmet, boots, and gloves.

I just picked up the Rev-It ignition jacket and gear pants.  I plan on wearing it whenever I commute or go on long day trips.  If I'm going around the corner for gas or to the store to pick up something quick, I will skip putting on the pants and ride with jeans.  But that will be on a rare occasion.  The bike is for commuting.  I have the cage for those "quick" trips.

[ducatiz]

Pick up a good textile jacket in a light colour.

I have an AGVsport jacket in bright yellow (which is great for my acid yellow S2R).

The light colour rejects some of the heat and it sheds very quickly when you're moving.  Just wear a T shirt underneath it

Human skin will come off at 5 mph on pavement.  That's all it takes.

The more gear you wear, the better you'll feel when you make that inevitable dump.  I will wear jeans with a jacket, boots,gloves and of course helmet, but i feel better wearing the pants.

Being sweaty is part of the joy.  If you need AC, buy a Goldwing.  Or a Toyota.

[dk1six]

Wicking wear as was mentioned can make a difference, perforated leather for the hot summer days and non perf otherwise.  Short trips in a tee shirt is all it will take one time.

[sbrguy]

if you are a bicycle racer you know full well how it hurts to clean out road rash and most of those crashes occur at under 25mph, ok if you are going downhill or you are really fast maybe you can get up to 35-40mph.. and you are only wearing spandex shorts.

on a motorcycle in the sujmmer, i wear the bmw mesh neon yellow jacket and revit overpants over a pair of jeans, or the bmw city pants instead.

[NAKID]

Ive ridden in 118+ and I still wear good gear regardless.


I've has the skin grafts (regardless of gear but that's another story) and I tell ya everyone here is right. AGATT.

Mesh melts when you slide though, I wear leather all the time...