Info on jackets - look at login, you'll understand!

[LostinCO]

Apologize in advanced if I missed a thread on this...but looking for info on textile jackets . Specifically, trying to figure out what features I might need as I live in the central Rockies at 9,000 ft. and expect to ride locally as well as be making some trips west to the Utah/Nevada deserts. Given a work-a-day, two kid budget, local mountain weather and a yearning to travel in a warmer/dryer climate I maybe asking too much of one jacket. Just got my first bike (klr) and haven't really ridden but for atv's when a lad and summer/late fall for work, most recently.

I've noted that barring spending a mortgage payment on kit which will cover most any situation, info is a bit lacking from manufacturers on what they designed their jackets/pants specifically for. Or, I'm just not getting it - which maybe the case?!

Thanks, for any thoughts; constructive, snide otherwise.

[1911fan]

My Olympia AST is good to around 28-30 degrees with a couple of shirts under it, and with the liner out and vents open it's tolerable to 90+ degrees. When it's 50 or above I like my Revit jacket better though, with the liner out it's good to over 100. Look at mesh jackets for temperate weather, but they're actually worse for you in hot weather.

But n00b, be warned- you won't be happy with one jacket, one pair of gloves, one helmet... one bike....


1911fan

[Dave.0]

Look into the offerings from British motorcycle gear (BMG)

I have the discovery jacket and it is a great cold and wet weather jacket, not great when it's hot but doable, they also have something called the challenger which looks nice as well

It's good quality, well priced gear

[rodm850g]

lotinco,
go to motorcyclegear.com they have closeouts and regular priced items too....one of the things they do isd offer advice about fit and does the item work kindastuff great site
Rodm850g

[LostinCO]

Yes, I have no illusions of finding the Holy Grail gear-wise. I assume longtime inmates are still searching! Looking for a place to start and a reason why. Go mesh because I'll ultimately be hot even in the Rockies and it can cover a lot of bases w/ liners or go textile because when you are looking at being cold and wet there is nothing better, etc.

I do appreciate you folks weighing in!

[1911fan]

Be careful with mesh, it can dehydrate you and not cool you off. You're often better off sweating a little in a vented jacket (which cools you and minimizes water loss) than in mesh, which exposes you to a lot of hot air without cooling you. IMHO, the mesh temperature window is a narrow one.


1911fan

[yatman]

I have gone to the new Teknic Freeway in DayGlo...as my 2009 version is well worn and forlorn...with my heated Gerbings as a layer or cooling vest as a layer, over the Rocky Mts., hot Texas/Mexico, Pacific North Wet Coast, stormy Utah, mosquito Saskatchewan, check out their gear...nice fit, works well with my Olympia pants and either AlpineStar tourers or Tech 8's
My $0.02
Hope you find it helpful
You'll never get away with one, or cheap, treat yourself. You earned it.

yatman

[Shadow 9er]

+1 for Olympia's AST... great jacket in cool weather, I haven't tried it in warm weather yet. It has a lot of utility for different riding conditions.


What kind of budget are you working with? When I got back into MC's a few years ago, I had a very limited budget. Plus, I didn't know my ass from my elbow as far as what constituted good gear, or what I was in the market for. This is actually what first brought me to Advrider... I bought a cheap jacket (from motorcyclegear.com) and it was pretty decent for my first year, but I was soon looking for some improvements.

. I would encourage you to look into a price range of up to $350ish for a jacket if buying new...but heck, use the flea market here on ADV!

[LostinCO]

I am quickly realizing that the $350-ish range is probably more realistic whether a nice venting textile coat or a "4 season" mesh/heated vest combo (probably more like $400+ for this).

Thanks for the comments; it is interesting as I seem to keep coming back to Olympia Moab or AST as two possibles that may work quite well for what I expect to be doing.

Never really thought the fact that I can change my whole environment 180 degrees within a two hour drive would cause some much trouble!

[LostinCO]

1911Fan can you explain the rationale, as I understand and have briefly read the thread aboout "bad Heat" and mesh ie, textile will shield you from motor heat (I assume) and mesh will not. Is this what you are refering to?

Thanks

[AlanCT]

If you regularly check the Fleamarket subforum here, you can often score some gently used, high end gear.

[AlecMyrddyn]

Originally Posted by LostinCO

1911Fan can you explain the rationale, as I understand and have briefly read the thread aboout "bad Heat" and mesh ie, textile will shield you from motor heat (I assume) and mesh will not. Is this what you are refering to?

Thanks

I'm *a* 1911 Fan, not *the* 1911Fan... :)

There are a couple issues when the air temp gets above a certain temp with wearing mesh or no gear.

1.) Your sweat evaporates so quickly that you aren't really cooled by the effect, you end up dehydrating so quickly that heatstroke becomes a real possibility.

2.) If the outside air is hot enough the flow of hot air over your body can actually increase your core temperature like you are in a convection oven.

Wearing a vented jacket (as opposed to mesh), and using a cooling vest or wetting your T-Shirt can keep the evaporative cooling process working longer without dehydrating at a dangerous rate.

Unfortunately I don't know the hard numbers related to this.

[spoon]

As you suggested - I'm still looking. But, I have gone through 2 Tour Master Flex-2's because I must like them. I use a heated liner in the winter and take the quilted liner out in the summer. I live in northern NM and came from Co. so I am familiar with the weather. Summer temps change so much that less is not good, a hot day can see a big temp drop in 15 min. leaving you freezing. .

[GETTHUMPER2]

Originally Posted by AlecMyrddyn

I'm *a* 1911 Fan, not *the* 1911Fan... :)

There are a couple issues when the air temp gets above a certain temp with wearing mesh or no gear.

1.) Your sweat evaporates so quickly that you aren't really cooled by the effect, you end up dehydrating so quickly that heatstroke becomes a real possibility.

2.) If the outside air is hot enough the flow of hot air over your body can actually increase your core temperature like you are in a convection oven.

Wearing a vented jacket (as opposed to mesh), and using a cooling vest or wetting your T-Shirt can keep the evaporative cooling process working longer without dehydrating at a dangerous rate.

Unfortunately I don't know the hard numbers related to this.

The numbers you are referring to are any thing above core body temperature.
Approximately 98.7 degrees f.
The phenomena has been referred to as "heat gain", it is the exact opposite of "wind chill".
Your comparison/reference to a convection oven is dead on.
Dehydration and heat stroke is one of the deadliest physiological responses because often times the individual is completely unaware it is happening and prior to losing consciousness can even think they are cooling down, ergo, you cannot correct what you are unaware of.
THUMPER>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

[1911fan]

AlecMyrddyn pretty well covered it. In mesh gear, sweat evaporates RFN, so you don't get any of the cooling from it, and the hot wind can cook you. There is a good thread on this somewhere, and it does allude to textile not protecting you from motor heat, but I think that's a minor issue compared to convective heating in high temps.
Wet Tshrt and one of those soak/cool bandanna things can keep you more comfortable and safer.

1911fan


John Moses Browning was God's right hand, inventing the perfect weapon.