They look so comfortable.....but

[DoubleEagle]

I was out for a ride yesterday and it was in the low 80s ( as long as I was going over 45 mph I was not going to pass out from the over heating issue I have ) and I kept seeing people on bikes wearing their" Summer "attire and looking so comfortable. I had on all my safety gear including Dainese Safety Jacket under my Perfed leather Dainese Santa Monica Jacket, and Perfed leather pants. I was pretty well bound up but I felt safe ( as safe as one can feel on a bike ). When I say " Summer attire " I saw everthing from just a helmet to alot of just jeans and short sleeve shirts. I guess I was wishing I could ride that way and be " comfortable " but I know better.

I was getting a hair cut today and the person who was cutting my hair was telling me about a guy that had crashed his Harley just 5 driveways from being home from a ride . The guy had two contusions to his head, had to have Jaw surgery and have plates put in his Jaw, had alot of road rash and it happened over a week ago and he is still in the Hospital . The guy has no memory of the crash so nobody even knows why it happened.

I met a younf fella on a 748 yesterday and I was in town to pick up a prescription on my way home and all he was wearing was a Full face Helmet, long sleeve shirt, jeans and sneakers. I mentioned that he might want to get some more safety gear ,on after I had told him about my crash
, and he said he was just going for a short ride across town.

Oh well, It's either comfort....or safety and it's got to be ....SAFETY for me.

[Speeddog]

<threadjack>

How do you like that Santa Monica jacket?
I've been sorely tempted, but it's just been a bit too spendy to drop the hammer.

</threadjack>

[DoubleEagle]

<threadjack>

How do you like that Santa Monica jacket?
I've been sorely tempted, but it's just been a bit too spendy to drop the hammer.

</threadjack>

Excellent Jacket. I have 2. It's Perfed, I got a white one this time from Moto Wheels and I like the Ti infused Armor in the shoulders and the sewn in CE armor in the Shoulders and Elbows. Plus you have the Hump for what that is worth. It's alot for a Jacket but I kinda got this thing for Dainese leather.

[Speeddog]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Excellent Jacket. I have 2. It's Perfed, I got a white one this time from Moto Wheels and I like the Ti infused Armor in the shoulders and the sewn in CE armor in the Shoulders and Elbows. Plus you have the Hump for what that is worth. It's alot for a Jacket but I kinda got this thing for Dainese leather.

Good to hear. 

I've got a non-perf Dainese jacket that I got a *great* deal on 'cause nobody wanted it at the shop near where I live.
Made up for it by paying full rip for the pants. 
I want a vented jacket that zips to the pants just like the one I've got.
And they're also available with lots of red leather. 
I'm not crazy about the hump.

[DoubleEagle]

Good to hear. 

I've got a non-perf Dainese jacket that I got a *great* deal on 'cause nobody wanted it at the shop near where I live.
Made up for it by paying full rip for the pants. 
I want a vented jacket that zips to the pants just like the one I've got.
And they're also available with lots of red leather. 
I'm not crazy about the hump.

My other one is Red. I too am not that crazy about the hump but it's different than all the other Dainese jackets I have but one other , an MC202 I believe. I forgot to mention that there are also two zippered vents behind the two zippered front pockets. One inside zippered pocket.

[Speeddog]

I don't recall the vents from when I looked at one, that's more good stuff.

How are the zipper pulls holding up?
My current jacket, the main pull and one pocket pull have worn thin from flapping in the wind, and then failed. 
The only real gripe I have with it.

[NAKID]

They look so comfortable.....but

But, if they fall off, they're gonna be hurting. You're doing the right thing.

Here in Phoenix, I ride in 100-110+ temps in perf'd leather, nothing less....

[Razgriz]

Safety for me as well! I also wear my white perf. Stanta Monica, my Dianese gauntlet, and boot every where I go; let it be a short ride to friends house or a quick run to the stores I'll always wear full gear.

<threadjack>

How do you like that Santa Monica jacket?
I've been sorely tempted, but it's just been a bit too spendy to drop the hammer.

</threadjack>

DoubleEagle already pointed out all the features on the jacket, I'll just add in my opinion.
The weather has been around the 90-100 in the past few days the perf.s/vents on the jacket really works well, lets alot of air through and I'm usually very cool when moving. The speed hump was cool until I started wearing a backpack, I look like a idiot trying to put on a semi-large pack as it gets in the way half the time. Overall I love the design of it, those titanium shoulder inserts are really nice, and it fits me perfectly.

I only have about 800miles on the Santa Monica, so I can't comment on the reliability of the zippers.

[Dainesedan]

Good to hear. 

I've got a non-perf Dainese jacket that I got a *great* deal on 'cause nobody wanted it at the shop near where I live.
Made up for it by paying full rip for the pants. 
I want a vented jacket that zips to the pants just like the one I've got.
And they're also available with lots of red leather. 
I'm not crazy about the hump.

If you are looking for something without a speed hump, take a look at the Newsan.  It is essentially the same jacket as the Santa Monica, but does not incorporate a hump, and uses the new 3D Bubble liner.  My new favorite jacket in our line up.
http://www.dainese.com/eng/articolo.asp?cat=1,2,3,7&nome=NEWSAN&articolo=1533565

[Speeddog]

Is that jacket perforated?
It doesn't say on the website....

[Privateer]

<unjack>

I always wear a jacket.  When it gets hot I wear my mesh jacket.  It is as good as my heavy tex jacket or a leather jacket?  probably not.  But getting heat exhaustion is not safe either.

I won't wear just a t-shirt.  Not as safe and actually it causes you to dehydrate when the sun/wind is hitting you so directly.  Plus, I sunburn real easily and don't relish the thought of sliding sunburned arms into a jacket.



Andy

[RavnMonster]

I am a pretty new rider, I always at least have my Joe rocket phoenix jacket on. It can get pretty hot here and humid. That Phoenix jacket probably isnt much but it has shoulder, elbow and back protection which is better than nothing. I just got my A* full leather jacket today for when its not 90+ degreese out.

I dont get guys who dont wear protection at all. I actually like wearing a jacket, I think they look cool

[DoubleEagle]

I don't recall the vents from when I looked at one, that's more good stuff.

How are the zipper pulls holding up?
My current jacket, the main pull and one pocket pull have worn thin from flapping in the wind, and then failed. 
The only real gripe I have with it.

The zippers are YKKs .The main one fits under the seams of the jacket so there's no flapping and 2 collar snaps that fit over the zipper when fully zipped.  The others have a 1/2" (I'll call it a flap for lack of a better word) , that fits flush over the pocket and vent zippers when they are either closed or open.

[DoubleEagle]

I am a pretty new rider, I always at least have my Joe rocket phoenix jacket on. It can get pretty hot here and humid. That Phoenix jacket probably isnt much but it has shoulder, elbow and back protection which is better than nothing. I just got my A* full leather jacket today for when its not 90+ degreese out.

I dont get guys who dont wear protection at all. I actually like wearing a jacket, I think they look cool

I also think leather looks cool even though in the warm months it's " very warm " but there's no way I want anything that even resembles road rash or worse and good leather is the best defense against abrasion.

[DoubleEagle]

But, if they fall off, they're gonna be hurting. You're doing the right thing.

Here in Phoenix, I ride in 100-110+ temps in perf'd leather, nothing less....

You're going to freeze this Winter if you are in CT....your blood will be so thin from being in that Valley of the Sun weather.