Hi all,
After many years off a motorcycle I returned to the world of 2 wheels this summer. Years ago I was the typical (at the time) stupid early 20's squid riding in my t-shirt and shorts (unless I was going for a fast ride then I wore jeans and a hoody). This time I am trying to be a bit safer. Unfortunately I don't have a lot of experience with safety gear. When I bought my Monster, the shop I got it from was pretty limited in the riding jackets they had. I ended up with a ICON ARC. It is fits me pretty well but I have found that it is fraying in several areas. I am thinking of upgrading to a perforated leather jacket. It is my understanding that this will protect me better if I find myself sliding across the blacktop. My question is in regards to temperature. How cool will the jacket stay compared to the textile/leather combo ICON. Although I live in the Northeast the summers are pretty hot and humid so I want to be able to stay fairly cool. I am comfortable in my ICON at 85 degrees as long as I am moving. Also how warm will it keep me with a liner in it when the temps drop. It is already getting in the low 50's and 40's at night. How will a perforated leather jacket compare. Anyone have any suggestions for jackets?
Thanks for your help,
Jim ;D
I really want to get the DAINESE laguna seca perforated jacket. They are thin and nice, but do not come with a back protector. They should be on sale everywhere for around 360 too.
My leather technic jacket is slightly perfd, but the arms are not. In the heat my forearms roast.
Depends a lot on the jacket. Do you have a particular perfed jacket in mind?
I have a dainese... nevada? full perf.
bought it from d store last year and, since it was liner-less... temps below 60 started to kind of suck. layering clothes underneath helped alot, so between layering and a zip-in liner you should be ok.
back home (hawaii) it's fantastic. when standing around it can get a bit warm, but as long as I'm moving it's better than the firstgear leather/tex jacket I used to wear. fits me better, too.
your result may very, but im sure im not alone when i say you need cold weather gear, and warm weather gear. When I first started my gear purchasing I thought i can make that work during the cold and hot.. No.. No you cant.
If its perf. for cooling it will always flow air and the liner doesnt act as a windbreaker so cold air goes all the way through. And vice versa for non perf gear.
My thought has always been sweating is better than shivering.
I would buy gear specific for the upcoming weather change and at the next change buy appropriate gear AGAIN.
good luck.
Thanks for everyone's help. Looks like I will have a cold weather and warm weather jacket. How does a perforated jacket compare to a textile when it is hot. I probably won't be buying until spring but just wondering if the airflow is comparable in the hot weather. I assume a nice leather jacket with a liner will keep me fairly warm when the weather gets cooler?
On another related note. I am going to have to buy some cold weather gloves also. I just got back from a nice ride but my hands were borderline cold and it is 60 degrees (f). I better get them soon.
Jim ;D
Quote from: jsd2 on September 11, 2009, 11:34:39 AMOn another related note. I am going to have to buy some cold weather gloves also. I just got back from a nice ride but my hands were borderline cold and it is 60 degrees (f). I better get them soon.
You could also look into heated grips, that way you have them available if the weather changes during the day.
If you think you'll eventually get leather or textile pants as well (and I hope you do), you may want to check that the brand of jacket you get has pants that will fit you so the two can zip together. Strangely enough, I find that textile jackets are great but I really can't stand textile pants and prefer leather. My problem with leather pants is they're typically expected to tuck into the boots, making things a tight and painful fit.
+1 on needing cold and warm weather gear, unless you go all out and get something like the BMW Rallye 2 Pro stuff. It's VERY expensive, but I'm strongly considering selling all of my Dainese gear and just going with that.
Also +1 on heated grips, and a heated jacket can't hurt. You can go a long way with a perf'd leather or textile jacket and a Gerbing.
Either way, take your time and make sure to get gear you're comfortable wearing for extended periods. The seam sticking up a little bit will become unbearable after 8 hours on the bike. Try stuff on and get on your bike while wearing it. If the store won't let you do that, find another store.
Hot and cold are good necessary starting divisions but I'm sure after you've been riding for a while you'll end up with in between gear too. :P Also, when you're talking cold, are you talking rain too? Makes a big difference. I liked the Revit gloves I have for cold (can't remember the model) but hate them for wet because the liner sticks to anything wet and keeps you from putting them back on if your hands are wet.
As folks have noted, there are a lot of variables that would alter the gross generalities that follow, but to take a stab at your basic question: In my experience, a perforated leather jacket should be equivalent or even a bit cooler when moving that your average (generally poorly vented) sport-style textile jacket, hotter than a well-ventilated textile touring jacket, and WAY hotter than a textile mesh jacket -- and much cooler than solid leather. I sold my textile mesh jacket after seeing some post-crash pix of melted polyester mesh versions, though it sure felt nice when the weather turned hot. I think there are some other materials that work better as mesh.
One thing that will cool down any WELL VENTILATED jacket is some kind of evaporative cooling vest http://www.soundrider.com/archive/products/techniche_evaporative_cooling_vest.htm (http://www.soundrider.com/archive/products/techniche_evaporative_cooling_vest.htm) -- though they'll generally work better for me in hot/dry Arizona than in hot/humid New England.
A good source for discounted gear and information is New Enough http://www.newenough.com/ (http://www.newenough.com/) in case you haven't come across them yet -- the owner writes up brief reviews of the gear, and the jacket reviews always include his assessment of an appropriate temp range (cold, cool, warm, hot).
And +1 on Sugarcrook's advice on planning ahead -- even if you don't buy them at the same time, think it through to make sure you get a jacket & pants that work together. I'm selling a really nice Vanson (solid leather) jacket that just doesn't work with any of the pants I've got, so it doesn't get worn...
Quote from: Frosty_spl on September 10, 2009, 08:38:47 PM
I really want to get the DAINESE laguna seca perforated jacket.
i have this jacket and its great.
but as another NE rider, let me remind you that our hot season is over. get a full leather, and get the perf next june.
(they move a lot of air, you dont want to be wearing on at 70mph on a 60 degree day)