Summer riding, anyone riding with a mesh jacket?

[Jersey mike]

Hey all,

I’ve been looking to maybe switch to a mesh jacket but from looking at them online they seem a bit thin in the skin if a rider goes down. They don’t seem to provide protection from contact with pavement and I’m not talking about the shoulder,elbow, and back protection, all the jackets I was looking at do provide armor in those areas, it’s just the mesh doesn’t look very sturdy.

Any thoughts and opinions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[hubcapsc]

I wear my mesh jacket all the time. I haven't slid down the road
in it yet, though... you don't wear a leather or non-vented jacket
in the summer do you?  ...

-Mike

[DIGGER]

I bought one yrs ago and gave it away.  The pads were all very loose and would just move out of the way if in contact with the pavement.   In the Houston area I don't ride too much in the summer.  Too hot and too much humidity.   I hate riding with sweat pouring off me and the mesh jacket just held in more heat.   I know riders who wear them all the time and swear by them.    Just not for me.   Then again.....any thing you wear is another added protection from the pavement.

[Foozle]

I wear my mesh jacket all the time. I haven't slid down the road
in it yet, though... you don't wear a leather or non-vented jacket
in the summer do you?  ...

-Mike

Ditto Mike.  I have a First Gear Mesh Tex jacket that I wear throughout the summer months, but I haven't yet tested it re: protection (knock on wood!).  (I purposely got the Hi-Viz yellow to minimize the need for such protection).  It's reasonably comfortable, the padding (shoulders, elbows, and back) remain secure, and the construction has held up well over the years.  However, sitting atop the Valkyrie in the southern heat/humidity, it's "cooling" ability is necessarily limited.

It's a trade-off . . . . . . and tough to have your cake and eat it too.  I once owned a couple of Fox Creek leather jackets (USA made - very high quality) that I'm sure could have endured a 300-foot slide down the pavement.  The problem:  Each weighted in at almost 7 lbs.  Wearing them even on a cool day eventually became brutal.  They're now adorning someone else's closet.

I'm sure quality, fit-and-finish, etc. vary greatly by manufacturer - so it pays to shop around.  Since I need a big/tall size, my choices were few.  However, for me, the First Gear has been a decent jacket.

As always, YMMV.

Terry

[Oss]

Back in 2002 I was wearing a joe rocket mesh when I went down at highway speed  Yes I rode the bike home  Valkyrie's are tough machines.

It did its job that time but when I went down at 15mph on oil it did not and broke some ribs  It still is wearable but for the last 10+ yrs I have been wearing the hit-air jacket

Have not had to test it out yet.  I only clip it in about half the time and then only when riding around
nyc itself  The armor is superior to joe rocket by far IMHO and the fit is better as well

It was 600 which is less than one chest xray to test for broken rib-pierced lung

I wear it year round. when around 40 or below I will put the heated line in and around 30 I will turn it on

[98valk]

https://advrider.com/f/threads/motoport-air-mesh-crash-repprt.1457497/

tank slapper at 125 mph and went down hard, bike threw up and over to my right and that’s the last thing I knew till I opened my eyes to see a lady looking in my faceshield. Was wearing my Motoport air mesh,

[Valkorado]

Where I live you need more than one jacket.  I have a thick leather jacket with liner that I wear in early spring and late fall.  I've got a Joe Rocket mesh that I can see my shirts through that I wear on the dog days.  For the in between days I've got a Speed and Strength middleweight mesh jacket. 



They call it a mesh and it does breathe a bit, but nothing like the Rocket mesh.  Is a tough, tight wave.  You can't see your shirt through this mesh. It has decent protection all around that I hope to never utilize, much better than the Rocket.  It weighs considerably more than the Rocket, but way less than thick leather.  It has a nice liner that would be welcomed on cooler rides.

I find that I wear the Trial By Fire most often.

[Beardo]

Used to wear a mesh jacket, but even with elbow, shoulder and back pads, it didn’t feel substantial enough to protect well in a slide. I could be wrong...and often am...but that’s just what I felt.

Bought an Alpinestars perforated leather jacket, it flows a lot of air and keeps you cool as long as you’re moving. I feel much more protected with it on. I did upgrade the back protector to one that protects better and flows more air...a good idea on any jacket to keep the back sweat down.

Disclaimer: may not be cool enough for our far southern friends where your version of summer is a little more intense than ours. Although I did wear it to California last year and it was fine.

[carolinarider09]

I do wear a mesh jacket when the weather cooperates.  When its cooler, I wear my leather jacket. 

We once took a trip out west, 2015 or so as I remember.  We left in late May and returned in mid June.  Rode to Nevada and then up toward Wyoming and Bear Tooth.  Anyway, I used the mesh jacket for almost the whole trip (even when it was 90 plus in Nevada, it was a dry heat).  But, somewhere on the way back it got to hot and humid so I packed the jacket into a box and shipped it home.

At that time I did not have the trailer so space for storing the jacket ton the bike was limited.  Don't remember what my wife did.  But I remember I could no longer tolerate the mesh jacket. 

Its a Honda Rider's Collection jacket created by Intersport.   Its problaby 10 years old. 

I have one of these I purchased maybe 15 years ago. Used it for awhile but it was not as cooling as I would like.   It is an option.

https://www.dragginjeans.com/mens-shirts/

[semo97]

I wear mesh great when moving but when stopped at a light you will perspire greatly and get hot fast. . They are a one time slide jacket.

[0leman]

I wear a tourmaster mesh jacket year round (it is my second mesh jacket).   It came with a outer shell which I used during winter riding time.  Guess I am too cheap to buy several jackets, when one will do year round.   I live at 4K feet in southern Oregon, we go from below zero in the winter to 100 in the summer, so get some seasonal changes in weather.

I tend to try to stop riding when temp get close to 90 and when they drop below 35.   I agree that stopping in hot conditions is tough in the jacket, but then no matter what you are wearing as a jacket it is hot.   

As far as testing out the pads and material sliding down the asphalt, haven't done it yet.  Though did a get off slide on ice several months ago.  So can't really say how the material holds up in a slide situation.

[hubcapsc]

I wear the same jacket all year too. Mesh only when hot. Liner when needed (cool and/or rainy).
Then add silk shirt (like underarmor, only silk) layers, finally the heated liner...



-Mike

[Alberta Patriot]

Most of the good Mesh Jackets come with an inner liner that needs to be removed for hot weather riding.
I guess like anything else, you get what you pay for.
There are high wattage heated jackets/vests that are effective for cold weather riding...why not jackets with high wattage fans to move air through the liner. I know that sound kinda' 'gyro gearloose' but still...why not?

[Gryphon]

I wear a mesh in the summer.  I'm pigment challenged and sunburn badly without it.    I also managed to take out a deer at "65 mph"  and managed to come out of it with only a sprained ankle.  The jacket was destroyed but the level 3 armor at the shoulders and elbows took all of the damage.  I also but major gouges in my modular helmet.  Both were replaced while I was still on crutches. I was wearing both replacements at Inzane Billings.  Wetting down my t-shirt under the mesh feels cooler to me than without it. I don't have the sun directly on my skin.  Did I mention I can sunburn through SPF 60?

I don't know if mine was one of the "good" jackets, but it does have a full sleeve zip-out liner that I wear when it's below 55 and above 30.  Got it on sale at Leatherup.com.  Just under $100.

[98valk]

Where I live you need more than one jacket.  I have a thick leather jacket with liner that I wear in early spring and late fall.  I've got a Joe Rocket mesh that I can see my shirts through that I wear on the dog days.  For the in between days I've got a Speed and Strength middleweight mesh jacket. 



They call it a mesh and it does breathe a bit, but nothing like the Rocket mesh.  Is a tough, tight wave.  You can't see your shirt through this mesh. It has decent protection all around that I hope to never utilize, much better than the Rocket.  It weighs considerably more than the Rocket, but way less than thick leather.  It has a nice liner that would be welcomed on cooler rides.

I find that I wear the Trial By Fire most often.

what material? armor padding?
We have noticed over the last year that the nylon mesh type jackets have become very popular. Please try and read what the jacket is made of. Most are made with 100% Polyester with a 100% Polyurethane coating. This material has very poor tear and abrasion strength. If you only ride off road the mesh jackets may provide some protection. Sliding on the pavement both the Polyester and Polyurethane can become a dangerous combination. At a motorcycle show in Minnesota a man came into our booth with an injury to the top side of his entire arm. His arm looked like raw hamburger. He said: “I fell going about 35mph and the jacket melted into my arm. I’ve had two skin grafts and need to go in for one more”. The jacket he crashed in was made out of Polyester with a 100% Polyurethane coating. Again at a motorcycle show in Anaheim CA. A man came into our booth asking for a jacket that would not melt into his skin if he slid on the pavement. He also had a large scar on his back. He said: “I fell going about 25mph” and then pulled up his shirt to expose a huge scar on his back. His Polyester/Polyurethane jacket melted into his back. A 21 year old girl was on her BMW waiting for the light to change in Atlanta. A car ran the red light and hit this poor girl head on. She had a few broken bones from the impact of the car but her worse injury was from her jacket melting into her back while she was sliding backwards on the asphalt. She had a long sleeve cotton shirt underneath the jacket that provided no benefit. In all three cases the doctors had to remove the skin to take out the Polyester/Polyurethane. The girl required 3 skin graft surgeries.

https://www.motoport.com/the-save-your-hide-guide/

https://www.motoport.com/motoports-snythetic-suits/

[luftkoph]

Vanson leather fully perforated in warm weather,yes it can be warm,yes you will sweat some,I used it on a 4000 mile ride including 100+ degree days in Ga and Fla. But I’d rather sweat than bleed
Vanson non perf for cooler times and Vanson mesh textile for dirt

[Valkorado]

Good info 98.

The Rocket jacket does say 100% polyester shell.  The Speed and Strength say shell is 55% knitted polyester, 42% woven polyester (still all poly).  Not sure if any differences in durability knitted vs. woven.

Seems most of the mesh jackets out there have polyester shells unless you're springing for high tech materials like Kevlar.  And the technologies like air bag deployment are designed for impacts, not sliding.  I have some Kevlar jeans but rarely use them.  They're hot.

I guess there is no perfect jacket.

As some have mentioned, I also have a heated liner that it's worth it's weight in gold when riding in the "real" cold.  I consider it protective gear too.  Keeps me from freezing up which has been proven to delay muscle reaction in riders.

[Pappy!]

All mesh is NOT created equal. In this type of jacket you pretty much get what you pay for.
As with a lot of others I too wear mesh in the Summer. If you do  your searching on the net you will find lots of information on hitting the pavement with mesh. In most cases it does a good job for what it is supposed to do. Read the last part of that sentence again!
Here is a link to a guy I watch on YouTube. He is pretty darned good at supplying information that is both accurate and to the point. Here is a video on Mesh Jackets.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSCXCZpqKd8&t=287s

[Ken aka Oil Burner]

I don't know if this has been posted here before, but some interesting reading about hot weather riding: http://www.ironbutt.com/ibmagazine/IronButt_1002_62-66_Hot.pdf

[Willow]

For many years I've worn Joe Rocket Phoenix (3 0f them) mesh jackets.  I do not always, 100% of the time, wear the jacket but much if not most of the warm times.

Seven years past I went down at 80 - 60 mph wearing the Joe Rocket armored mesh.  I was injured very badly - knees, face, brain, wrist and the back of my hands as my gloves left.  There was no skin damage under the jacket and I did slide.  There was no serious injury under the armor.

The reason for the range in hiway speed is that I would have been doing 80 when the rear tire went down.  My last memory was that I believed it to be turbulence off the freighter in front of me and decided if I held my speed it would recover.  I have no idea at whether the speed decreased before the bike flipped.  

As said, it's a one slide jacket.  The jacket was pretty well destroyed.  I replaced it with an identical jacket.

[..]

All mesh is NOT created equal. In this type of jacket you pretty much get what you pay for.
As with a lot of others I too wear mesh in the Summer. If you do  your searching on the net you will find lots of information on hitting the pavement with mesh. In most cases it does a good job for what it is supposed to do. Read the last part of that sentence again!
Here is a link to a guy I watch on YouTube. He is pretty darned good at supplying information that is both accurate and to the point. Here is a video on Mesh Jackets.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSCXCZpqKd8&t=287s

I read a long time ago that mesh can "grip" the road surface when sliding and be pulled to expose what's below. Also that the material generates more heat and can melt causing burns. Being a smoother material leather slides. One reason why racers wear leather.

[Jess from VA]

I have a beautiful mesh jacket. 

I never wear it unless I'm traveling distance somewhere. (that's why it's like new)

My protection is long sleeve T shirts.

I ain't falled off at speed since fall 1971.  (wearing a heavy wool mackinaw, which did pretty well sliding down the road)

In cool and cold weather, I dress like an ATGATT guy, but not in the heat.

[Pappy!]

Britman - I would do a lot more reading. Never heard that about mesh jackets.
I too have done my reading on mesh and the general consensus was that it did it's job. Never read a single word about sticking or burning.....for what it's worth! 
I always wear a wicking long sleeved fishing shirt under the mesh. It breathes well and cools well when the sweat starts.

[F6Dave]

Ever since I bought an Olympia mesh jacket my leather jackets have been sitting in the closet.  It has separate rain and thermal liners which zip in and out in seconds.  The rain liner can be used as a standalone jacket, and also stretches enough to be worn over the outer shell if you need rain protection in a hurry.  The 2 liners allow me to ride in sub freezing weather.  But when it gets into the 90s, the outer jacket without either liner is actually cooler than riding in a T-shirt.

As for protection, I have first hand experience.  After over 600,000 accident free miles I went down 3 years ago.  I hit the pavement hard with my right shoulder and then slid on my back.  The jacket held up great and the body armor likely prevented a serious shoulder injury.  It was a very hot July day and I considered taking the jacket off at an earlier stop.  With leather I probably would have.  Thankfully I kept it on, and now I don't ride ANYWHERE without my (replacement) jacket.  In fact, a good jacket is every bit as important as a helmet.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Ever since I bought an Olympia mesh jacket my leather jackets have been sitting in the closet.  It has separate rain and thermal liners which zip in and out in seconds.  The rain liner can be used as a standalone jacket, and also stretches enough to be worn over the outer shell if you need rain protection in a hurry.  The 2 liners allow me to ride in sub freezing weather.  But when it gets into the 90s, the outer jacket without either liner is actually cooler than riding in a T-shirt.

As for protection, I have first hand experience.  After over 600,000 accident free miles I went down 3 years ago.  I hit the pavement hard with my right shoulder and then slid on my back.  The jacket held up great and the body armor likely prevented a serious shoulder injury.  It was a very hot July day and I considered taking the jacket off at an earlier stop.  With leather I probably would have.  Thankfully I kept it on, and now I don't ride ANYWHERE without my (replacement) jacket.  In fact, a good jacket is every bit as important as a helmet.

600,000 accident free miles  (wish I could say that) I've been down with a t-shirt on, I've been down with a parka, I've been down with a leather motorcycle jacket. None were much fun, but only the leather protected. I swear by mesh jackets now. It's just too hot for me most of the year here. If it weren't for mesh my riding would be severely curtailed. A few years back someone here posted a link to some Joe Rocket mesh on clearance. I had never tried them before. I was sold. I think the protection on it is pretty good. But the ballistic nylon in the neck rubs me raw on a long ride. I bought a cheap LeatherUp mesh a while back. It is 100% mesh and I suspect it won't protect near as well. Probably the most important part is adjusting the arms, waist, wrists so that its snug. I'm pretty lax on that. That jacket with a wet sweatshirt underneath is just about the coolest thing I've found.

Mesh jackets ? Hell yeah !
https://www.leatherup.com/products/xelement-cf511-mens-black-armored-mesh-sports-jacket
(I think I only paid $40)

[Jersey mike]

Hey thanks everybody, I appreciate all the feedback.

Seems like I have some research to do on whose jackets have the better material.

I’ve been considering a mesh for a while now but I’m usually good with the heat. Saturday I was out all day and my Tourmaster jacket just wasn’t getting the job done on air flow even at highway speed but it was close to 90 out.

I’ve been looking at the jackets available on Revzilla, I’ve made purchases from there in the past and have returned items that I didn’t like with no issues so I guess I’ll make some comparisons in materials and armor protection.

Thanks again

[Jess from VA]

My advice on mesh jackets is to get FULL mesh and light color (even if you do look like the ice cream man).  Mine have been light silver and white.  If you do hot weather night riding, white is extra visible too.

If you want max airflow, why get a jacket with only partial airflow, or zip down airflow in a couple places?
  
And the default bike jacket color is black, which attracts and holds heat more than any other color.  A bunch of mesh comes in white or light color, but with black shoulders and arms (the most exposed sun areas).

Zip out linings, either wind or rain or both, are nice but in the hottest of days are you really worried about some rain or cold wind?  Most of us already own more solid leather and/or textile jackets to cover those conditions (and already carry rain gear on the bike), so I don't care much about zip out linings.

Bike gear really is a regional and geographic issue too.  Most will spend (the most) for the most common local weather.   The only jacket I can wear in summer is mesh, if I wear a jacket at all (mostly not). When it cools off, I want more than mesh (and have several to choose from).

My idea of good mesh is a full mesh white jacket with the least amount of goofy logos or color designs, which is essentially no more than an overshirt with slide protection.  If you leave the armor in, it's also good for hit protection.  

[F6Dave]

Completely agree about the light color.  I bought my Olympia Airglide in white.  It's visible and noticeably cooler.  It's even liveable (if not exactly cool) when riding in the upper 90s.  The only downside is that it looks dirty after several months, but hand washing is easy after simply removing the liners and armor pads.

[0leman]

I agree with the "Bike gear really is a regional and geographic issue too".   Instead of going light colors I went dark.  This is because only 2 month (or less) of my riding time is during really hot weather.  The dark color helps when riding in cooler (or really cold) weather. 

Yeah the lighter colors would help with being seen, but then if they can't see the fat lady coming down the road with my Mod headlight going, colors isn't going to help much.   

I do like the way they manufactured my jacket.  Instead of liner to stop the wind they made a outer shell.  this shell is normally zippered on the jacket,  But during periods of cold mornings and warmer afternoon, I usually don't zipper the shell on, just put on and close the Velcro storm flap.  Takes a minute or so to take it off and put in trunk.