111 degrees forces Sahara vest purchase

pwillikers · 08-09-2003, 12:02 PM

I finally broke down and bought a Joe Rocket Sahara vest 'cause it's been so damn hot here in Austin. I have a "Reactor" vented textile jacket that I like alot.

My initial reaction is that the vest is very nice; kept me nice and cool in 100 degrees. The info tab on the vest says you need a fully perforated jacket for the vest to work. I'd been hesitating because I thought there'd be alot of drippage making the thing uncomfy, but there's not. My t-shirt got seriously moist but that's how it works. It's actually reasonably comfy except being kind of heavy when water logged.

badbilly · 08-09-2003, 02:05 PM

pwillikers,

A mechanic friend said he'd get me a phoenix jacket "at cost." I say ok, but then finds its the '02 version without the inner zipper. Wasn't sure if it was worth it--you make it sound worth doing (its going for 111 and climbing).

Later, BB

pwillikers · 08-09-2003, 05:30 PM

Bad, Not sure what you mean... I have the reactor jacket (I wanted the leather, cheezy though it may be, on the high probability contact surfaces which the phoenix doesn't have). It doesn't have any inner zipper for a vest. It does have a half zipper at the waist for pants. Maybe I have last year's model also. The vest has double zippers on one side but it seems to work just fine without zipping it into the jacket.

casporttouring.com has the Sahara for $67 delivered.

motoyoyo · 08-09-2003, 11:09 PM

Ok, not sure what else is going on here, but I would like to here more about the Reactor jacket and other stuff related to hot weather riding.

rider_md · 08-09-2003, 11:52 PM

joe rocket phoenix jacket. cannot comment on the 2.0 version, but i can say re: both the pants and the 1.0 version... be wary, and try them on first. they do not fit very well, and the straps will have extra fabric flapping in the wind.

for roughly equal price, consider the "first gear" stuff. highly recommend it. Bob's BMW carries it along with their BMW apparel. that should say something about it right? fitting is superb for both the pants and the jacket, though i did not purchase the jacket as i already have a hot weather jacket named below...

ku****ani mesh jacket. superb, and considerable thought put into it... perfect for most days of hot weather riding.

generally speaking: try it on before you buy it. i know the internet has the best deals, but at least go to a store and try it on before u order it online (though that has questionable morality attached to it)

Firebolter · 08-10-2003, 06:07 AM

Morality?

ALso checkout the Marsee gear. As good as any of the others but doesn't look so cheesy.

http://www.marseeproducts.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.100.exe/online-store/scstore/scpages/subpages/sub_cooling.html?L+scstore+hfty5085ffaafbaa+109295 4591

As good as First Gear, which isn't bad stuff. I have a Joe Rocket Pheonix jacket and it is so so. I wouldn't really want to have to go down with it on......I personally accept the heat and humidity and wear a full perf Vanson. A little warmer, but when moving, flows well and I feel way more confident knowing the added protection level...

jgrm1 · 08-10-2003, 10:48 AM

What's the deal with this: ku****ani? Why is this treated as a four-letter-word?

-Jeff
Vanson, Tour Master, & First Gear Fan

tigeraaron · 08-10-2003, 02:42 PM

I am on my second summer with my phoenix and have been very happy with it. I have been very hesitant to try the phoenix pants though, as they look a bit too flimsy to me. I have the regular Joe Rocket Balistic overpants and as long as I am moving its fine. Not much helps when you are at a stop and can feel the heat off the pavement.

pwillikers · 03:18 PM

The JoeRocket Reactor jacket is essentially a Phoenix jacket with leather on the elbow sides of the sleeve and shoulders. It has heavily padded elbows, shoulders and back. The cheeziness of the Reactor to which I referred earlier is in the heaviness, thickness of the leather. My other jacket is a Vanson Cobra. The Reactor's leather doesn't compare favorably to Vanson's leather. Having said this, the Reactor is meant to be a summer jacket so it's gotta be lighter right? Also, it fits me very well. I haven't tested it's crash worthiness and hope not to. I wore my Vanson for two long hot summers and found myself riding around in a t-shirt more and more often and not liking the choice. If you've been riding in a t-shirt, then I highly recommend you go buy any summer jackey. I can highly recommend the Reactor .

The Phoenix pants are another story. I went to the dealer wanting to like them. I didn't. You won't either. They look to be poorly constructed and were uncomfortable.

The Sahara vest is very cool

.

pwillikers · 08-10-2003, 03:21 PM

tigeraaron, are you the aaron that rides a phoenix gray S with lots of carbon? I think our paths crossed a while back. No wonder you like the phoenix jacket.

tigeraaron · 08-10-2003, 08:03 PM

Yup thats me, we were on F.M. 2243 right. How have you and your S been getting along?

profWacko · 08-11-2003, 08:35 AM

This is my second summer season wearing the same pair of the Joe Rocket Phoenix pants, and I still like them. They showed no damage from a minor get-off (25 mph off-pavement spill) a month ago.

Of course, YMMV.