Hi. I ordered a Joe Rocket Ballistic 7.0 I liked the looks and read the reviews. It came as a great buy and a good fit. Then I rode at nights and did alright, but in the Panama sun... Whole different ball game! It is a very hot jacket to wear by day, but I read it was a great jacket year round, even summer. Thought of cutting out the little mesh thing inside and on the air intakes at the arms, chest and back. Anyone done that before on this or any other jacket? Does this help?
Where in Panama do you ride? My leather jacket is great in the mountains, but too hot near the coast. I just bought a Revit mesh jacket, I think I will need to wear a light jacket underneath it in higher elevations. I don't think there is anyu such thing as a single piece of gear that is great in all conditions.
Hey Charlie. I ride at sea level for most of the time, departing from Panama City. Mountains like El Valle de Antón, Altos del María and Cerro Azul I ride too, but the thing is, to get there, I need to ride a few clicks in the heat, and then some on my way back home! Chiriquí must be great riding! I love Boquete! Have a little piece of land up there. But is some 5-6 hours riding from here I think, so it's a little too far for me (little bit of a bad back). Anyway, i need a jacket to be cool enough to ride in warm and cool temp. I wear it for protection obviously, rather than warmth. I'll go ahead and butcher the jacket's guts. Just wanted to know if anyone had had this problem and came up with a solution.
Do you ride much in the City itself? I have been told it is crazy to try to ride a moto there because of the crazy traffic, so I have been avoiding going.
I did, actually. But then my kid started school and I drop him off on my way to work, so no more riding weekdays. I used to ride to work, unless the clouds warned me otherwise. People here are not too courteous to riders down here mainly because 90% of them are couriers on motorcycles riding like angry hornets all over, and drivers kinnda resent their wrecklesness and give back negative attitude. Non couriers riding Hogs, Beemers, KTMs, scooters and whatever else there is ride safely and drivers get that, and (usually) will not try to kill them!!! I take it that u r in Chiriqui...Where U at over there?
My little XT250 might get mistaken for a pizza delivery bike! I live in Volcan, there is a great new road across the Baru to Boquete. There is also a terrific road up the mountain to the frontera at Rio Sereno. I would like to make the drive to Portobelo, I would also like to see lake Bayano, and take the new road to San Blas. And of course go to Yaviza, just so I could say I got to the end of the road. But these rides include going through PC, which I am a little scared of. And if there is ever a ferry, Colombia is high on my bucket list.
I have spent a fair bit of time in Panama on the coast (boating) and I can't imagine doing it without a mesh jacket on a bike. However, one idea I have had, but have not carried out myself yet, is to get a nice fitting very basic mesh jacket with decent protection, like the Vanson one, and then take all the armor out of a slightly larger jacket like your Joe Rocket which I would wear over the mesh when I needed more warmth and weather protection.
What I am going to try is to carry a windbreaker or a turtleneck to wear under an Airwave when it is chilly, and a rain jacket to wear over when needed.
Ok guys, no matter how many vent zippers the thing claims to have...if you're in Panama get a mesh jacket! I cut off the mesh on the openings at the arms and both at the chest, and 2/3 of the one on the exhaust at the back. Kinnda works while you're moving over 40mph, but if you get stuck in traffic you better bring a Camelback on you! Jacket is fine at night, the tropical sun is what ruins it for me. Funny thing is bike stores down here (Except the BMW dealer for $600+) don't carry mesh! Go figure. Ok, back to ebay again I guess. Update: I did see a mesh jacket today at Whoops store, but not very nice.
Absolutely right. Gave up on the Joe Rocket. Bought a BMW Venting Machine. Problem solved! I've had a mesh jacket before, and I'm amazed at how this BLACK jacket can be as cool under the sun. They're supposed to use a technology called "Coldblack" on their fabric. Maybe it's psychological but it does feel comfortable at traffic lights. I don't even take it off on quick stops. http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/bmwventsuit/ Seems very well made, so it will stay with me for years to compensate the price tag. But I'd be happy to wear it until retirement! Comfortable and discreet in design. Lots of big reflective panels, all the silver parts are. Hope I never go down with it, but it feels like great protection. To anyone thinking about it...Get one! It's hot in Panama, but I believe with a few layers under it, you can wear it in colder weather, and then use it again in summer. 4 seasons unless you live way up north. That's my 2 cents...