Hey Cal, I thought I'd throw in my two cents.
The ideal is ATGATT (all the gear all the time), and if you have a big getoff, you'll be way better off. But most experienced cruiser riders do not follow the rule. I spent decades riding in jeans and tshirts but have tried to do a little better with protection from both falls and the sun.
First, you should always wear a decent DOT helmet, gloves, long pants and boots. Footwear should not be slipons; wellingtons will come right off your feet in a slide. I wear 8"waterproof swat boots which are reasonably priced and comfy right from new. If you fall, you will put out your hands to break your fall, you must always wear gloves.
I think having a set of compact raingear in the bike all the time is a good idea. It is cheap, packs tighter/lighter than anything else, and is a good wind and weather insulator if it turns cold even with no precip. It doesn't breath though, and becomes a sauna suit in hot weather. Frog Toggs is the lightest stuff available but it is like the house wrap Tyvek paper, and easy to rip out the legs getting the pants on over boots. If you do the raingear, then you have that as a backup at all times, then choose your other gear accordingly.
http://www.newenough.com/raingear/2_pc_suits/tour_master/defender_two_piece_motorcycle_rain_suit.htmlhttp://www.bikebandit.com/product/5462I like textile because it offers the most options. An all purpose waterproof/breathable, as many vents as possible, and warm zip in FULL (not vest) liner is the best jacket going. I can wear this with liner out, all vents open with a tank underneath up to about 75, and zipped up with liner and layers to 30. I also have a set of the textile pants with liner, but these are too hot for summer, even with the liner out.
My Tourmaster is an earlier version of this: (I yank the armor from pockets, but it can go back in for a trip.)
http://www.newenough.com/protective_apparel/textile_jackets_and_pants/tour_master/pivot_series_3_textile_motorcycle_jacket.htmlcheaper: http://www.bikebandit.com/product/15120
If you want mesh, know there are two basic kinds....1. convertible partial mesh with one and even two liners (wet and warm), and 2. plain total mesh with no zip in liners of any kind. I already had a ton of cold weather gear, so there was no reason to spend extra for the convertible with liners, and for hot weather you want full open mesh, which is still hotter than just clothing, especially the pants.
Finally, there is really no reason to pay regular price for almost any type of gear, if you wait and watch for sales and closeouts. There are a number of sellers; I go to each and only look at closeouts (though some of the regular prices are the same as closeout). NewEnough.com out of Texas is my favorite seller; they always have a closeout and bargain basement section. BikeBandit is another. Also, I like TourMaster brand gear best because it is always well made and generally runs a bit cheaper than most of the other stuff, but I'll get any brand if the price and quality is right. (Fieldshear, FirstGear, Tecnik)
