Topic: Jacket Recommendations

[alltherightpills]

I decided tonight that my normal riding jacket (a perfectly weathered vintage Wrangler denim jacket) would probably disintegrate immediately if I ever crashed while wearing it.  So I started looking around for a more intelligent, and more importantly, more protective jacket.  Needless to say there are a crap load of different designs, materials, colors, and manufacturers.  I like the protection offered by the Icon or Joe Rocket jackets, but I love not looking like a douche bag frat boy on a crotch rocket.  I like the look of the classic 50's style jackets, but am concerned about the level of protection they offer.  Anyway, I thought I'd ask here for recommendations, opinions, first hand accounts, etc.

The questions:
What are you all wearing?
Leather, cordura, nylon, mesh, combo? 
Armored or not? 
What color? 
How well does it breathe?
How hot is it in the middle of summer?
Who makes it? 
If you have crashed while wearing it, how well did it protect you? 
What do you love about your jacket? 
What do you hate? 
If you had to buy a new jacket, what features would you look for? 

Obviously I know that I need to go to a cycle shop and try some on, but getting all of your first hand accounts and reviews would be a valuable resource, especially considering I will likely spend as much on a jacket as I did purchasing my bike.

[Duke McDukiedook]

Joe Rocket Alter Ego 2.0 Nylon/mesh.
Bought the jacket a size bigger so I could wear fleece under in winter time.
Shell comes most of the way off to mesh for warm weather riding.
It doesn't have armour (hard) but does have insert pads for elbows, shoulders, spine (You can buy the armoured inserts separately. Works well so far.
I want to get a separate jacket for summer- maybe a field shear or somethign else.
Need something lighter for when it gets real hot.
That will be your problem if you ride in winter like I do- you'll need two for that to be comfortable.
From what I have heard, their quality has gone down lately.

[fuzzybutt]

Joe Rocket Alter Ego 2.0 Nylon/mesh.
Bought the jacket a size bigger so I could wear fleece under in winter time.
Shell comes most of the way off to mesh for warm weather riding.
It doesn't have armour (hard) but does have insert pads for elbows, shoulders, spine (You can buy the armoured inserts separately. Works well so far.
I want to get a separate jacket for summer- maybe a field shear or somethign else.
Need something lighter for when it gets real hot.
That will be your problem if you ride in winter like I do- you'll need two for that to be comfortable.
From what I have heard, their quality has gone down lately.

i have a joe rocket phoenix 4.0 mesh with a removable rain liner, it;s a great 3 season jacket for me. and it was fairly inexpensive too

[luckydevil]

I have 2.

Icon Motorhead:
Leather (THICK)
Armored
Removable liner
Very Ventilated for a leather jacket.
Hot in the summer (Above 90) at stop lights.  Otherwise great venting.
never been down in it.

Frank Thomas XTI
Codura
Armored
Removable liner
Very Well ventilated
Breathable
Better in the hot summer but still warm.
Never been down in it

Frank Thomas XTI Mesh
Hyper Tech Mesh
Armored
rain liner
SUPER VENTED
Super Cool in the summer time
Never been down in it

[750goes]

I have a total of 3 jackets - nearly one for each season.

1.  Black full Leather old style jacket - with elbow/shoulder/back armour brand is "Riders"  - warm when it is cool  - too cold to wear in winter -  too hot to wear in our summer---- just cool enough most of the time
bought of ebay for $20.00 (got a good deal - it had a small scrape on an elbow - put some shoe polish on it -use leather conditioner on it twice a year) - my favourite.

2. Black DriRider - mesh jacket with waterproof removable lining -has armour in the elbows shoulders and back, very cool in summer - gets a bit sweaty on a really hot day - nice light jacket  - for night time cruising in summer - has reflective strips front and back.. bought off ebay again - paid $50 for it - and had some repair work stitching done by my daughter....still very cheap

3. Blue Dingo  - fully lined quilting and removable, cordura, reasonable ventialtion - used in Winter only as it is quite a heavy jacket - do not feel the cold at all, full armour in elbows shouders and back - not waterproof though ...ebay was lucky for me - I paid $80 for this one and it was worn only once (too big for the PO), he also threw in a pair of quilted & lined waterproof pants that attach to the jacket - price included postage as well ..
I look like the michelin man in it - but it is the best jacket of all.

I decide what jacket I will wear each morning after I look at the weather and take the cover off the bike... have got caught a few times with wet weather....

not permitted to buy another jacket for a while...
have not (touch wood) come off on any of them (if you do not include the one where I fell over in the driveway putting my foot down on wet grass edge and damage a fairing on my cx500 custom...lol

[tramp]

leather jacket with extra leather on elbows and shoulders
zippered vents for air flow
gortex liner
it's good till about 45 degrees then you better have more underneath
hot weather not's bad as long as your moving

[MacM2010]

I'm fond of this one:

http://www.newenough.com/protective_apparel/mesh_jackets_and_pants/power_trip/mojave_textile_motorcycle_jacket.html

It's mesh, so it breathes, but it also doesn't have any weird patterns or giant logos to make me feel like an arse.  Armor in the elbows and shoulders, too.

If it's not too hot, full-grain leather is probably the best way to protect from rash.

[shacolaid]

I have 3 also but only 1 that I wear regularly.
One is a mesh Fieldsheer that is nice when it is smokin hot but rarely do I wear it.

The second is a Triumph jacket that is leather and textile with ce armor in the elbows and shoulders but it is black.

The third is a red, white, and blue Alpinestars leather jacket with ce armor in the elbows and shoulders and protection for the spine. Yes it is hot in the summer, but I can deal with a little heat so that I am protected. It's bright and my friend says I look like the guy from the movie "Tron" but I want to be seen. This one I wear 90% of the time.

[alltherightpills]

Thanks for all the info so far.

[alltherightpills]

Anybody running anything like this under their unarmored jackets?

[Sporkfly]

Anybody running anything like this under their unarmored jackets?

I'm considering the Alpinestars Bionic 2 actually. Link: http://newenough.com/armor/elbow_shoulder_knee_worn_on_the_body/alpinestars/bionic_2_protection_motorcycle_jacket.html

It seems like an intelligent choice, as I absolutely love my vintage Hondaline jacket but it offers little to no protection, except from rain.

[andy750]

I have 3 jakets:

1. Old style leather jacket that ive had for 20 yrs...padding (not armor) in elbows and shoulders. Worn in all weathers and sure it gets hot but good enough protection - see below.

2. Moto GP leather/textile jacket - ce armor in shoulders and elbows -  tight fit  - great for all weather riding though in the rain Id use a dedicated rain jacket on top of it. Well vented using zip pockets and is cool in summer and warm in Fall/Spring (Oct -Dec) and (March - June) -Boston, MA.

3. Hein Gericke all-weather textile quilted-liner gore-tex jacket. CE armor in elbows, shoulder and back. Good for anything below 30F.

I have been down twice with jacket #1 (18 yrs ago  ). Both times at speeds less than 45mph. Once hitting a car at low speed and the other time overshooting a corner on a country road. Both times I hit the road and jacket (thick grain leather) held up fine - leather scuffs, broken zip. I still wear jacket #1 but its getting a little small  . Never been down with #2 and #3 but if I do I am confident both jackets will be fine. Unless you are going 100mph+ (like on a race track) I think most jackets will survive an impact. You on the other hand.....might come off worse....a jacket dosent protect against broken limbs etc....

Happy shopping,
cheers
Andy

[Caaveman82]

I've got a River Road leather jacket. It's very heavy. I think it's called the hooligan or something like that. It's got the euro collar where it's just a strap that goes around the neck in the front, not like a real collar. Any way the front pockets unzip to reveal a mesh pocket inside and then the back has a zipper that goes across it that reveals more mesh and it acts as like an AC system, works very well in my opinion. Comes with a liner, runs about $150. I love it. Not too hot, but room to bundle up and for my money the only thing better than leather is kevlar. As long as you are not buying some cheap leather jacket from Burlington Coat factory, you'll be good.

I love my jacket though and it has a pretty classic look to it.

[sangyo soichiro]

The questions:
What are you all wearing?

The basic men's motorcycle jacket, like Travolta's in Greese.

Leather, cordura, nylon, mesh, combo? 

Leather.

Armored or not? 

Not.

What color? 

Black (although I have a brown one too).

How well does it breathe?

Pretty good, with the front open.   

How hot is it in the middle of summer?

Not bad as long as you're moving.

Who makes it? 

Street Legal (I think) by Berman's.  It's pretty old though.

If you have crashed while wearing it, how well did it protect you? 

My dad wiped out while wearing it.  Only a small hole in the left sleeve.  He tried to take a corner too fast.  The jacket's got sentimental value now.   

What do you love about your jacket? 

The classic look.  No fancy stuff, just a standard no BS jacket.

What do you hate? 

The only thing I don't like about it is that I feel people that see me wear it when I'm not riding might think I'm either a hooligan, or a poser.

If you had to buy a new jacket, what features would you look for? 

I would either get the same style I have now, or one similar to House's in the TV show House.  Or one similar to Tom Cruise's in the movie War of the Worlds.  Theirs is a basic jacket, but more of a 'racer' feel to it as opposed to a 'biker' feel like the one I have.



Let us know what you end up with!