| Author | Message | ||
     Rcf2 |
Suggestions for small rides in the really hot days when you don't want full protection? | ||
| Ratbuell |
Wear it anyway. I went down less than 2 miles from work back in '08. Summertime I wear a mesh jacket with armor (get moving and the turbulence through the mesh is actually cooler than just a bare tee); low-cuff armored/padded fullfinger gloves; always a fullface and boots. I'm still getting in the habit of wearing my Fieldsheer pants EVERY time out, but worst case it's kevlar jeans. (The legs are already titanium, they'll be *fine*, right?? lol) And this is just the ex-editor in me...but you said the phrase when you don't want full protection. That strikes me as odd....why would you not *want* protection? Or did you mean you didn't want all the bulk? Sorry, just being a PITA  | ||
| Florida_lime |
Wear it anyway. +1 My last "incident" was 15 years(+) ago when I chopped the throttle as someone did a lane change right in front of me. Unfortunately, there was fresh gas on the road at that exact point, and loading the front end that much put me on the ground in an instant. Never even touched the brake. I have a full perforated leather jacket (RS Taichi) that I wear until it hits the 80s, then I switch to a mesh type jacket that still has back, chest, elbow, and shoulder protection (again RS Taichi). https://www.motoliberty.com/images/Prod_Images/RSJ235_SIL_3.jpg (Message edited by Florida_lime on December 14, 2009) | ||
| Jim_williams |
yeah. the key is getting gear that is comfortable, AND, easy to use. That'll make it a no brainer for you. I live in shorts 3/4 of the year, so, overpants are easiest for me. Just throw them on over whatever I'm wearing. My Motoport Ultra II's are easier to put on than jeans. 10sec. tops. Mine are stretch, but, they come in mesh as well. | ||
| Pso |
Wear it anyway. As Ratbuel says mesh is cooler than exposed skin. I have armored mesh jacket and pants, sometimes firstgear overpants. 1st gear and Feildshire. I also cheat and sometimes padded finderless gloves. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
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| Sekalilgai |
yeah, wear it anyway .... just recently tried a perforated+armored Teknic leather jacket (got it on closeout) after using vented textile and mesh over the years. It actually cools better than the vented textile and I 'feel' safer than the mesh. Add a raincoat on top of that and you got it set. just my 2cents On the realllly hot days..... http://www.glaciertek.com/ but I really start to look just like the dam Michelin man then.....  I just peeked at your profile....so while the rest of us are breaking out the heated gear, you're probably sweating right now! Cool! I'm headed to San Paolo in April....you close? (Message edited by sekalilgai on December 14, 2009) | ||
| Sperz1 |
I picked up the Buell vented textile jacket when I got the Uly. Compared to other textiles I've had in the past it's a really nice jacket. | ||
| Hooper |
I've got a Castle jacket that is not technically mesh - it's perforated in such a way that allows a lot of air in, but still has real ballistic nylon covering all of you (as well as the shoulder, elbow, and back armor). I have the armored Olympia pants that have mesh panels strategically placed to let air in, and just wear them over my shorts, with real riding boots. Gloves are also Castle - textile on the backs of the hands and fingers, some sort of leather on the palms and underside of the fingers, rubber knuckle armor (I'll never wear gloves without it) and some rubber pieces on the backs of the fingers for additional protection. Air flows easily through the textile - the problem is the Uly's handgrips block the wind! It's the head that's most uncomfortable on hot days, especially when you're not moving much. I admit to wearing a 2/3 helmet on the really hot days when I'm on my cruiser, and it's a damn gamble. I need to stop and suck it up and put the Arai on. All this gear goes on - and off - quickly. When you get to your destination, you might be a a bit sticky, but you can zip the pants/jacket off, wipe your brow with a rag, throw on some flip flops, and stow it all in the bags while you sip your cold beverage. I don't mind it. I get a lot of respect from other riders who think there aren't real alternatives to jeans and a long-sleeve t-shirt in the summer. | ||
| Froggy |
Aerostitch roadcrafter 1 piece. Goes on in about 30 seconds, off in about 10, and is good year round. Here in the winter in NY I just throw in a heated liner, and I am good to ride well below freezing temperatures. In the summer, no liner, just open the vents and I am good well over 100°F. | ||
| Buellerxt |
Cycleport Kevlar Mesh is the best in my book. Much stronger then leather, doesn't degrade when rained on as leather does, has super liners when needed, comes with a full 7 year repair/replacement warranty, etc. I've read on ADVrider that many guys have switched from Aerostitch to Cycleport. I've had mine for three years and it is in new condition, even after a major incident. I'd NEVER ride without this gear. To me it is the best money I have ever spent in motorcycling. Check it out at: http://www.motoport.com/ or read about it on ADVrider. Whatever you do, wear full gear! (Message edited by buellerxt on December 14, 2009) | ||
| Richsm2 |
You can find inexpensive , good equiptment for cheap. I paid $265 for fieldsheer adventure 2 pc which I have ridden in 95 f and 50 f with only mesh shorts and t shirt-long sleeve for the cooler times and have yet to use the liner.Just changing out the unders to fit the weather conditions for the day.this jacket is amazingly adjustable to control the air flow for any conditiions. I have the mercury pants which have a fully zipped legs and upper vents also. I bought at competition accessories and nu enough is also good on their prices. I went on a 1300 mile ride up the coast and around Yosemite area,loving it all the way.The best is the fact that my tropical wife did also ,seeing she is cold at anything under 75f. I have a m2 with a fieldsheer tankbag, the saddlebags I made up at the last minute due to hf welder failure and me. | ||
| Hangetsu |
With the matching pants,here's my suit of choice. You get nearly all the protection and the comfort. I've toured extensively in Southern Colorado and Southern California summer heat and never had a complaint. http://www.olympiamotosports.com/bushwacker/bushwh acker.htm | ||
| Americanmadexb |
+1 ATGATT Mesh does do its job. This is a 50mph get off after i T-Boned a car then slide on my back for awhile. Only mark on me was my elbow that hit the ground first. This jacket has armour, but at the angle i hit the ground, the elbow armour was around my forearm instead..     | ||
| Richsm2 |
I like the feature of the jacket zippered to the pants for everything to stay in location.as well as the adjustability of the armour position to your own body. | ||
| Nadz |
Hit a drunk driver at 40mph a couple of months ago wearing a heavy armored leather jacket, full-face helmet, darth-vader gauntlets, and jeans. Not one scratch on my upper body, though the jacket, gloves, and helmet were trashed. But the Levis evaporated and my legs were shredded. Almost gouged my kneecap off! My leather touring pants were too uncomfortable, so I'll be getting some textile ones, because stitches are more uncomfortable. YMMV, but ATGATT for me. -Nadz | ||
| Richsm2 |
as an after thought I have seen many using the offroad armour outside the mesh to take the beating. My thought is that the idea is to keep on with the ride not just survive. I have one of those down to cartilage at the side of the cap, no aggatt- 40 years ago now.still itches. /www.motorcycle-superstore.com/2/6/9/MANF/Acerbis-D irt-Bike-Motocross-Mens-Riding-Gear.aspx | ||
| Billyo |
I wear a full face helmet, mesh or leather jacket, boots and gloves. Normally I only wear riding pants when it gets cold but recently decided I'll be wearing them all the time (why protect the rest of my body and let the pants go?) I have Tourmaster pants with reinforced and armored knees and pads in the hips. They are made of polyester so I wonder just how protective they really are (can't help thinking "leisure suit") and what I should wear under them. It gets really hot with jeans under the riding pants in the summer but I can't imagine shorts underneath polyester is much better than jeans alone. Has anyone seen good comparisons or tests of riding gear? When I try to find anything I just come up with everybody saying how great their stuff is-no testing by actually abusing the gear and then comparing how they wear. | ||
| Hangetsu |
Cool, comfy, and good protection  Olympia | ||
| Nadz |
One more thing I has learnt: leather still protects even if your joint "misses" the pads on impact. Not always true with textiles or kevlar jeans. -Nadz | ||
| 4_pete_sake |
If you ever need a reminder... go to any trauma hospital during the summer especially.... gear saves... all the gear saves much much more.... cheers-pete | ||
| Bobbuell1961 |
Anyone have any experience w/Bohn ?i have a feeling that Santa will be bringing a pair for me for under my kevlar jeans | ||
| Ghostrider |
I agree with Ratbuell. Wear it all the time, even when it's hotter than Hades outside. Those are the times when the knuckleheads are out there not paying attention because they're talking on their cell phones or whatever. I've had two encounters that good gear let me walk away from. I just bought the Buell Adventure jacket and pants. They're great for the cold weather now. They have zip out sections for ventilation in the warm weather, so we'll see how that goes. I typically wear my two-piece Fieldsheer leathers when out on my Firebolt, even on the hottest summer days. It's perforated all over so relatively cool, but I still sweat like a beast at low speeds. I always have a full-face helmet and gloves. I also keep extra gloves in my tank bag in case I go down and still have to ride home. +1 to Electraglide for that "Waking Ned Divine" reference. Hilarious.  | ||
| Jphish |
My 2c on mesh gear(for what it's worth, maybe only 1c): Mesh does ok...but only once. I like a bit more durability. I wear full textile gear year round. That spill can happen @ 5... or 500 mi from home. Ya never know. In hot dry climate (Baja) the mesh allows TOO much evaporation, you cant hardly keep up with hydration requirements. I just wear an evaporative vest to cool the 'core'(about $30) and open all the zippers on my Cortech FSX jacket. Works great - but ya also want to avoid 500 mi days in the heat when ya can. Ever get those 'side stitches' or cramps ? Thats one of the signs your going into heat exhaustion. Need to get off the machine and cool down & hydrate with electrolytes. In humid/hot weather the vest still works well, and ya don't have to wet it down more than once a day - depending on distance traveled. Ride smart (don't want to get too morose here but, we lost enough of our brothers and sisters already this year) and have a safe holiday. j | ||
| Jsg4dfan |
I live in near San Antonio, and this past summer was BRUTAL. I used an Olympia Stealth one piece, and it worked very well. It's just too friggin' hot around here for my Aerostich until winter. You're getting the constant message from many of us along the lines of "wear it anyway" because it's true. My fiancee' is still dealing with the decision to wear "all the gear except for jeans" after we killed an 8 point buck with our Uly. See here: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142 838/518109.html?1259428430 Lots of stitches and lots of pain that would not have been experienced at all with the addition of proper riding pants. For the lack of a couple hundred bucks, we're dealing with the stitches, the pain, and over $3,000 in medical bills. Do what you wish, but I know damned well what I'm going to do! | ||
| Rcf2 |
Great info, thanks everyone. It's clear that full gear is vital. On the other hand is also clear that affordable light summer gear have a huge market. Living in Brazil (1.000 mi from São Paulo) we see everyday hundreds of bikers driving with T shirts and even sandals... Guess is time to have a big publicity on crashes. But them the motorcycle industry will not support adds showing how bad asphalt can be to a bike driver. I appreciate to check the Air Mesh Kevlar clothes at: http://www.motoport.com/ with Buellerxt indicated. I like the idea to have something to go to get a cup of coffee nearby. BTW, I use the Buell Adventure jacket, full of zippers and openings, which is quite good while moving... Thanks everybody for the quality info. | ||
| Babired |
Electraglider THAT IS GROSS!  ATGATT even on short trips! | ||
| Rcf2 |
Does anyone tried this shirt and the jeans? http://www.dragginjeans.com/ProductInfo.aspx?produ ctid=DACCESSORY_2 | ||
| Etennuly |
I hate to even see anyone ride around their yard on a fourwheeler without a helmet and gloves anymore. Two years ago, one of my employees(and a friend) was riding his son's fourwheeler in his yard when he hit a dip as he turned. It through him off, not hard, but he hit his head on a cement block in the weeds just off the grass. He died in minutes. I have the Buell Adventure jacket and double mesh padded zip over pants. I wear shorts and a T shirt most of the time, and these things go on in seconds. Sometimes when I get where I am going, I do look silly wearing a T shirt and shorts with my high top riding boots, but I usually carry a pair of Nikes in the bags. The Adventure jacket is cooler than a T shirt in the sun. It blocks that radiant heat and air circulates around your body as you ride. Once you break a sweat you are actually cooler. The Alpine Star double mesh pants zip right on and off and actually insulate your butt from the heat of the bike. I tried just shorts once to the local gas station. It was so much hotter than with the riding pants. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Ricardo- I have one pair of the Draggin' Jeans. I think they'd offer reasonable protection from abrasion. They are however hotter than normal jeans. Mesh pants over light weight pants or shorts are MUCH cooler. |
