Some basic gear questions

[kroberts]

I have a few noob questions about gear.

Jackets appear to be broken down into 3 types; Leather, Textile, and Mesh.

"Textile" is just a broad heading under which non-leather jackets are filed, right? I've noticed that the nicer textile jackets have multiple liners that you can add or remove depending on weather conditions. These seem like the way to go in that you can kill two or three birds with one stone.

What is a "Mesh" jacket?

What jackets do you guys in hotter climates wear in the summer?

The pads in "armored" jackets are used to prevent road-rash, right?

Are motorcycle pants just covers to be worn over jeans or are they pants in the truest sense of the word, just skivvies underneath. I cant imagine you would want to wear jeans AND moto pants on a road trip thru south Texas in August.

TIA

[VetteRacer]

Originally Posted by kroberts

I've noticed that the nicer textile jackets have multiple liners that you can add or remove depending on weather conditions. These seem like the way to go in that you can kill two or three birds with one stone.

What is a "Mesh" jacket?

What jackets do you guys in hotter climates wear in the summer?

The pads in "armored" jackets are used to prevent road-rash, right?

Are motorcycle pants just covers to be worn over jeans or are they pants in the truest sense of the word, just skivvies underneath. I cant imagine you would want to wear jeans AND moto pants on a road trip thru south Texas in August.

TIA

Check out Revzilla.com for good information on gear, they break down a lot of details and I think rate items based on weather

I have multiple jackets and which I wear depends on the weather, type of ride (commute, aggressive, or longer travel type), etc. Jacket liners are nice, but using a wind breaker is also doable.
Mesh jackets are meant to breath, instead of having vents like other jackets the whole thing is a vent. Downside is they don't wear on the ground as well (or so I have read). I have one that I use in 100F+ days. Under 100F I have other jackets with vents that I prefer to wear. But again, all depends on the overall ride. Ride earlier this year I went through 45-105F, having open/close vents was a huge help.

Pads help with saving skin and absorbing some of the impact. Shoulder, elbows and back are a must for all of mine. Knees for pants, I have some with hip pads and some without.

It all depends on the pant. If they are labeled "Over Pants" or something like that, then they are meant to wear over other clothes. Most of my pants are a hair larger than they need to be so that I can wear them (sometimes snug) as overpants, altho most are not sold as such. But when I don't wear shorts/pants underneath they still fit nicely.

The theme you will see, atleast with me, is it depends on what your doing what to wear.

Matt

[twodear]

Shopping can be fun but sometimes, not. Hope you've got a good budget.

in general you've got the headings right except I think mesh can be applied to both leather and textile. Mesh would be used in gear used in warmer weather and would help ventilate any garment. I use a mesh textile jacket made by DriRider for summer riding. It is surprisingly dry even in light rain showers even though wind seems to blow straight through it otherwise - not a good choice for weather cooler weather.

It has CE armour (pads) - road rash is from sliding and scraping along the road, CE is to protect from impact with things. Most any gear will have some protection from sliding, but CE is a good step up.

I'm of the opinion that pants that fit over your street clothes are for wet weather. All weather riding trousers mean you leave your street clothes at home or in the saddle bags.

[wswartzwel]

For road riding I like old fashioned leather for all day comfort. In hotter climate, I unzip it a little and the air current cools the center of my back, like A/C. For dual sporting I like textile. Be sure to get it with Armor for your back and knees, elbows. Mesh is just textile that breathes. I usually wear gym shorts under my pants, unless it is cold weather or short trips to a restaurant, then slacks/pants underneath.

[Mitch1100]

My summer gear is Ku****ani jacket.. "Heavy-grade abrasion-resistant nylon polyamide mesh for maximum airflow, strength and durability
• Stretch Kevlar panels under arms and in neck & waist area for ease of movement
• Neoprene on wrist and inner collar for comfort
• YKK main zipper
• BMW Motorrad NP protectors in the shoulders and elbows."
worn with BMW Motorrad trousers which have the NP protectors knee,shin,hip areas.
Winter Dainese leather jacket with liner,dainese leather pants. The main point being, all as new expensive quality gear bought for a fraction of new price on Ebay or private sale.

[throttlemeister]

I always wear full leathers, regardless of temperatures. Leather is great. It's a natural material. It doesn't get sticky. It's also a great insulator, even in extreme heat. It doesn't really get hot unless you start waking about in it. I have ridden in leather in 120F weather and felt fine. Until I had to carry my luggage into the hotel....

Keep in mind that mesh is great when you are having 80-100 degree weather, but above that, not so much. If the temps are above that, that wonderful ventilation is actually starting to heat you up. Unless you actively cool yourself down using a cooling vest or something, it is actually cooler to wear full leathers without ventilation to seal you from the heat.

But above all, the best way to keep cool and functioning regardless of type of gear is to keep hydrated. My best gear investment to keep going in hot summer weather was a camelback.

[bradzdotcom]

my twelve cents:
textile is usually nylon. mesh is often used to describe ventilated.
good vented textile jackets come with zippered inner liners for cooler weather.
some jackets have shoulder or elbow pads. Some work, most don't.
some of it is just rubber padding. read up on CE standards.
without the CE certification, it's probably fake or not very protective.

some guys go with body armor like this Body Armour (trunk) - Motonation

closable vents on the jacket are a must.
stay away from snaps. run away from unsecured pocket flaps (no velcro, no buy).
good riding jackets have a duck tail (noticably longer in the back), so when you bend forward while riding, you still have jacket over your waist.
same with sleeves. they're longer than a standard jacket. the arms are rotated slightly inward, to accommodate the handlebar holding position.
many jackets have a different cut around the neck, so that when you're riding, the neck is comfy. when you're standing up, it's tight in front, loose in back.
i'm currently rocking this thing: http://www.motonation.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=1240&idcategory=34

waterproof jackets are a little stiffer than non-waterproof. also not vented, so not really suitable for year round.

a good all-around kit would include a vented textile jacket with zippered removable inner liner. then toss in a rain suit, which can also keep you warm.

re-read tm's mention above about hydration and venting being a potential dis-advantage in high temp situations.
with all that venting, your body sweat is wicked away and you won't even notice. your brain has trained you to want liquids when you're standing still, sweating hard after a tough chore...but that doesn't happen at 70 mph.
no lots of sweat, no brain message of "hey bud, you should drink some water". a camelbak is a must for summer. you should remember to drink water and leave your brain alone because it's busy riding the bike.

he's right about leather in high temps too. best dollar value, best all around bet, as long as you keep moving. if you stop...you sweat.
kangaroo is lighter and stronger, but makes you want to stand on your head, eat nutella and tell everyone to call you Joey.
can be embarrassing with the wrong crowd.
don't ask me how i know.

[nail24fac]

Every bit of gear in this photo is up for sale. Vanson jacket with hard armour back protector, Vanson leather pants and Sidi boots. PM me if you want them or the price.

[kroberts]

Thanks for all the info. I have a lot to consider.



"My summer gear is Ku****ani jacket"

I'm curious what the smut-guard filtered out.

[VetteRacer]

Originally Posted by kroberts

thanks for all the info. I have a lot to consider.



"my summer gear is ku****ani jacket"

i'm curious what the smut-guard filtered out.

s
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i
t

[Spenser]

Another important consideration, for safety and comfort, is that it fits properly, just like your helmet.
That means you should try it on before you buy, or check the vendors return policy.

[sgoodwin]

Wife beater, shorts, flops & raybans, ready to go. Anything else is just false hope. Ride to Live, Live to Ride, loud pipes save lives, helmets create neck injuries & limit vision, padding is for pussies, scars make a real man. Ride On Brother.

[brentw1]

most tracks won't accept nylon based protection gear, they want you in leathers,
and if you have a pair that fits properly they are comfortable and really provide the
best abrasion resistance. also buy good gloves if you fall forward you always put your hands
down and as others have said good light full face helmet, not the flip ups,
I have a pair of hein geric leathers held gloves and x11 shoei or nexx helmet
the leathers I have have some ventilation but I try to avoid riding in 100 degree weather.
and good lace up over the ankle boots.

[kroberts]

I'll never be a racer so track time doesn't figure in to my equation but the importance of correct fit is pretty obvious. I bought the bike for commuting and longer weekend rides...and a road-trip or two if I can get some time off from work.

I think my gear choices will lean towards sport touring.

I hadn't heard of Ku****ani Leathers. I thought the censored word was some Australian-ism for "bloody marvelous..."


Thanks again

[1100s nut]

Just to throw one more out there. I am a aero stitch fan. I love their stuff. Good all around protection(armor) ...decent venting, built in water proofing...no putting in or removing liners. I just had mine in Death Valley in June...106 degrees and nc mts. Recently in the cold...just wear a fleece. American made. The Long distance riders like them....check em out.

[bradzdotcom]

Originally Posted by 1100s nut

Recently in the cold...just wear a fleece. American made. The Long distance riders like them....check em out.

oh sure, just go right ahead and flaunt the tried and true layering system that's been used for probably thousands of years.

i did the mountain climbing thing for a few years, and in that "sport", it's more than a hundred bucks a gram....the super light, super awesome clothing rocked you back some seriously big bucks.
but it worked terrific too. you'd find youself standing on a glacier, feeling like you're wearing no more than a t-shirt and pajama pants.

my climbing coach explained that great mountain gear was all about layering:
"You layer down a few hundred bucks per garment and you'll be warm and comfortable. If your wife finds out how much you're spending on this stuff, you won't layer at all."

i still use some of that gear. still better than some of the newer stuff.

[Spenser]

Originally Posted by kroberts

I'll never be a racer so track time doesn't figure in to my equation but the importance of correct fit is pretty obvious.

Obvious indeed, but not always so easy to attain.
Seemed to me that every brand/style had a different fit.
I gave up and went for the Motoport made to measure.

If your wife finds out how much you're spending on this stuff, you won't layer at all.

That must explain it. Thanks,

[RIQUE]

Originally Posted by Mitch1100

My summer gear is Ku****ani jacket.. "Heavy-grade abrasion-resistant nylon polyamide mesh for maximum airflow, strength and durability
• Stretch Kevlar panels under arms and in neck & waist area for ease of movement
• Neoprene on wrist and inner collar for comfort
• YKK main zipper
• BMW Motorrad NP protectors in the shoulders and elbows."
worn with BMW Motorrad trousers which have the NP protectors knee,shin,hip areas.
Winter Dainese leather jacket with liner,dainese leather pants. The main point being, all as new expensive quality gear bought for a fraction of new price on Ebay or private sale.

Man I love your helmet. It looks like it has a small jet turbine up there to give you that extra thrust. How´s the quality on those Shark?

[Mitch1100]

SHARP Helmets - THE HELMET SAFETY SCHEME
The helmet safety scheme rate them 5 stars, is light carbon model, best helmet I've owned for fit ,noise, ventilation.

[throttlemeister]

SHARP ratings are questionable at best. Though those under the Queen sure seem to like them.

Any office that rates an Arai RX7 that is highly regarded in the entire industry and has half the GP riders betting their lives on with only 3 (Corsair) or 4 (GP) stars, and some no-name $80 helmet with 5 while it virtually disintegrates in other independent tests leaving questions how it even got certified in the first place, should themselves stop and reconsider their methodology and rating system instead pushing faulty information to the public.

In short, they suck and should be ignored. But they got their marketing working alright.