Pros and Cons of Motorcycle Apparel

[Firefighter]

Recently had to lay my bike down to avoid a crash, even though I broke my lower fibula I did avoid any road rash with my riding jacket and helmet. Lots of time to think lately and deciced I want to be a little more prepared. Been reading about riding pants, chaps, sliders, and overpants, but wonder what you people think? What you use? Sure some are better than others, some are hotter, textile, leather, mesh, etc. I like the overpants but do they protect enough?  Thanks for opinions!

[MP]

Recently had to lay my bike down to avoid a crash, even though I broke my lower fibula I did avoid any road rash with my riding jacket and helmet. Lots of time to think lately and deciced I want to be a little more prepared. Been reading about riding pants, chaps, sliders, and overpants, but wonder what you people think? What you use? Sure some are better than others, some are hotter, textile, leather, mesh, etc. I like the overpants but do they protect enough?  Thanks for opinions!

Since one stops quicker in less distance by staying on your wheels and correct braking procedure, how did you avoid a wreck by laying it down, vs stopping in less distance using the brakes?

[hubcapsc]

I use full face helmet, good gloves, Joe Rocket jacket, good boots and heavy
pants, but no padding...  I'll break my fibula too, I guess...

I have one of those Aerostitch suits, but don't like wearing it... the most stuff
you'll actually wear is the best stuff...

-Mike

[98valk]

IMHO www.Motoport.com has the very best gear there is.
for gloves I use Bison or Elk gloves upto 80-85F. then I use vented gloves.
 
I use these pants most of the time.
http://canyonchasers.net/reviews/clothing/carhartt.php
http://www.sierratradingpost.com/carhartt-dungaree-jeans-double-front-washed-for-men~p~22334/
or my motoport ultra cordura II pants and jacket. usually pants over my carhartts in winter or long road trips. in summer shorts under the pants.
http://www.motoport.com/index.php?option=com_redshop&view=category&cid=13&layout=detail&Itemid=15&limit=6&texpricemin=149&texpricemax=639&order_by=p.product_name+ASC&manufacturer_id=0&category_template=0&limitstart=6

70mph getoff with motoport gear and gloves.
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=585001

some like these
http://canyonchasers.net/reviews/clothing/cordura-carhartt.php

some like these tree pants
http://www.arborwear.com/products/pants

or
"Duluth Trading Fire Hose Jeans".

www.duluthtrading.com

[Willow]

I wear Joe Rocket jackets.  I was informed by a medical person (via my life partner) that the half shell helmet that I wore was the reason my C1 was broken.  I had a pair of chaps in my saddlebag that day.  They protected my bag well but my knees were ground pretty well.

Wisely said was that the most useful gear is what you will actually wear.  Second to that is the acceptance that almost any protective gear is going to cause you some discomfort.  Your assignment is to decide how much discomfort you will endure for the perceived reduction of damage at the rare moment of need.  Correct answers will be all up and down that spectrum.

I do normally wear over-the-ankle boots when I ride. Leather gloves these days although at the moment of need the leather gloves were torn off my hands.

I agree with MP and would like to in another discussion hear about what happened to cause you to put the bike on the ground but whether intentional or unintentional the opportunity to test out protective equipment comes to greet many of us.

[rocketray]

I wear a full face helmet as some 40-60% of strikes are to the face, I have Dainese leather jackets-perforated and use the liner in the mild winters here in Dallas,I wear sixsixone motocross armored underwear for the tailbone/hip armor and the padding for the underside, Joe Rocket pants for $240 w/leather for the knee's and backside and some motorcycle specific riding boots--some 1/3 of motorcycle injuries are to the lower leg--Dainese $250  racing gloves--2 sets of velcro on them hopefully will allow them to stay on and not be thrown off at impact--a $1,500 or so but as they say a $1,000 is chickenfeed in the ER--spoken as a family physician

[Jess from VA]

It's always a compromise between as much safety as you can afford, and as much comfort as you enjoy (or as much heat as you can stand).

For me, it all comes down to HEAT.  I don't enjoy sweating my ass off and will just quit riding at a certain point.  I've also been dizzy/groggy/sick from heat, and distance, and that is also unsafe. I wear really safe gear (except always a DOT half helmet) in cold temps, but as it warms up, my safety gets discarded for comfort.

Textile is nearly always more comfortable than leather, and as it heats up, textile full mesh is the only way to go (and white or silver are WAY better than black in hot weather mesh; so what if I look like the ice cream man?).  Look carefully when shopping on-line; lots of gear has a few mesh panels, and they have very little air flow.  In mesh for hot weather, you want FULL mesh.  The crotch rocket guys are fully in the wind; us cruiser guys are behind big shields and fairings and wings.

However, my black textile pants (99% of them are only in black) with sewn in perforated liner were just way too hot to tolerate, and when I turned them inside out and cut the perforated liner down to short/shorts, the inside seams of the harsh cordura nylon would shred my bare legs.  So those pants just hang in the basement.  

I would not screw around with overpants, over jeans, in hot weather (any more than I would wear leather chaps over jeans in hot weather).  Whether they are advertised as overpants or just textile pants, you buy a full mesh textile pant (the knees are always double fabric and armor, not just mesh) sized to wear over underwear only, and if you are safety conscious, you leave all the armor panels in their pockets (same with the textile mesh jackets).

In hot weather, I'm happy with heavy jeans, and have never tried Kevlar jeans because they are reportedly hot as hell.  I wear heavy but baggy (a little longer than street wear) jeans as I have discovered that boots on the hwy pegs fill the baggy pants with air all the way up, and are about as cool as you can get in hot weather (and cooler than my black mesh textile pants - behind the IS fairing and air wings).  

I never compromise on boots or gloves.  All my boots are at least 8" lacers to 18" bike specific boots.  And I would never wear half gloves with my fingers poking out.  When you fall or tumble you WILL lead with your hands and if they are not covered your fingers will be damaged/scraped (more than with full finger gloves).  And I like armor on the back of my gloves.  Finger injuries usually hurt like hell.

Now my choices are made in consideration of having not fallen (or been knocked) off a bike in the street since 1971 (slid 50+ feet in winter, all bundled up, and only got a hip bruise, and was only 18).  I've dropped them, been pinned between a street sign and the bike, forgot to put the kickstand down, and had a number of almost fell off badly at speed incidents over the intervening years.  If I had more get-offs, I'd probably wear more gear in hot weather.

[Firefighter]

MP  
I was commited in a sharp curve, a little fast and a dog ran in front of me. I straightened just a touch and that took me off the road, down into a ditch and out the other side but there was a metal fence in my path, so I turned and made it back through the ditch gained control, (still in a sharpe curve) when I came out there was a concrete canal about two foot tall coming up fast, which is when I laid the bike down. The bike stopped about 4 inches before the concrete.

Should have run over the dog but I just reacted. I had handle bar slap while ditch riding but was still able to control the direction somewhat. I feel lucky and hope to use this experience to better my riding skills.

[Willow]

...  The crotch rocket guys are fully in the wind; us cruiser guys are behind big shields and fairings and wings.
...

May have jumped one too far with the assumptions, counselor.   

Firefighter, I hope you and the machine came out relatively intact.  While it's true that the best braking on pavement is done with the bike upright that does not necessarily hold up when one has left the road and the pieces of the bike can dig into the surface when it's on its side.  I won't judge your decision from afar.  It sounds like you managed to handle very well in a series of very bad circumstances.  If you'd hit the dog in a lean you'd probably have gone down anyway.

[Firefighter]

Well Willow, Been analyzing for 5 weeks now, plenty of time for that at the moment and I don't know what was best. At the time there was no thinking at first just reaction but then the world slowed down and half way through the ordeal I was already thinking I was going to make it, I was already starting to pat myself on the back as I rode back through the ditch, I don't even know if I used the brakes or not until I came out of the ditch. I do think it was all my fault, I have missed many animals before, hit a few, but this is the first time I have hit ground since younger dirt bike days.

[Jess from VA]

I went in a ditch at 45, right off the edge of the road (just wandered into it, woozy in high heat and on antibiotics).  I was sure I had it under control.  But I was pissed for doing it, so I just rode up and out without first slowing.  Well, I came out airborne, briefly, then landed crooked halfway across my two lane, headed for the grass and rock berm of the medium.  So I horsed the bars to get straight, and went into a barely controllable wiggle and tank slapper.  Now I was certain I was going down, and prepared to try and stay on top the bike when it fell (this is always my plan).  Then, miraculously, she stopped wiggling and tank slapping and straightened up (never give up).  I had not been feeling well, and now almost threw up.  Rode up to a station a half mile up and laid down in the grass for 20 minutes.  My riding buddy behind said it was the best save he'd ever seen. 

I never should have shot out of the ditch at full speed.  If I had slowed down and used common sense, there would have been no saving necessary.  The sins of pride and wrath were upon me.

Little correlation between our accidents, except the ditch part.   

[fudgie]

100% when I ride I wear my leather vest and fingerless gloves. Chaps if its cool or when I'm traveling. Leather jacket for cold riding. Sweatshirt and vest for cool days. Novelty helmet for rainy days or mandatory States. Im a boot guy so I always wear boots.

[Firefighter]

Jess, One of my more memorially empty-headed rides, I was fasting because of a medical proceedure the next day. Rode off with my wife on a several hundred mile ride on one of our hottest days of the year. She was hungry about 100 miles from home so I bought her a hamburger and me well I had a diet coke. No calories, burning hot on the interstate home, I was so weak, dehydrated, and lite headed, pulled into a convenience store about twenty miles from home and I was worried about putting my feet down, if I could even hold the bike up. Made sure I stopped straight and had her get off, I could barely balance to walk into the store. Sat in a chair till I rehydrated and recovered some what. Talk about dangerous and unsafe!

[The emperor has no clothes]

I wear a mesh jacket here even in the winter. It rarely gets cold, but when it does I just put a sweatshirt on under it. I have a Joe Rocket but recently got a Xelement and it is much better for the heat. I don't know how protective it is though. I've been wearing full face helmets since I crashed with an open face helmet when I was 14. Recently got a modular but am not sold on it yet. I would like to find some full mesh pants if anybody knows of some.

[Jess from VA]

Firefighter, I wasn't that sick, just a little woozy.  When I took off that day it was cool enough to wear some gear and I felt fine, but by noon it was HOT.  At that time, I should have gone home.  I finished the day ride, but slower than usual.

Rob, if you can fit into a 36 waist (waist elastic panels so probably another two inches there), I will give you my black First Gear mesh pants for the price of shipping.  As I said, I cut the liner out to shorts (so underwear doesn't show), then had to take them back to a dry cleaner to get patches sewn over the knees on the inside because the uncovered cordura seams inside rubbed my knees raw (patches were from some old woodland ripstop BDUs I cut up, invisible on the outside).  They are listed as short but the inseam is 30".  Not armored, but padded in hips and knees. Leg zips and three zip front pockets. Despite single mesh up to the short liner, they are still hotter than jeans, but probably safer in a slide than jeans.  You are welcome to them if you want.

Others:  http://www.motorcyclegear.com/street/pants/mesh_pants

Their only closeouts are in super extra jumbos.    

[Valkorado]

I've got both chaps and touring pants, but rarely wear either.  I usually wear kevlar lined jeans, but they wouldn't help much for broken bones.  I wear all the other gear, all the time.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Firefighter, I wasn't that sick, just a little woozy.  When I took off that day it was cool enough to wear some gear and I felt fine, but by noon it was HOT.  At that time, I should have gone home.  I finished the day ride, but slower than usual.

Rob, if you can fit into a 36 waist (waist elastic panels so probably another two inches there), I will give you my black First Gear mesh pants for the price of shipping.  As I said, I cut the liner out to shorts (so underwear doesn't show), then had to take them back to a dry cleaner to get patches sewn over the knees on the inside because the uncovered cordura seams inside rubbed my knees raw (patches were from some old woodland ripstop BDUs I cut up, invisible on the outside).  They are listed as short but the inseam is 30".  Not armored, but padded in hips and knees. Leg zips and three zip front pockets. Despite single mesh up to the short liner, they are still hotter than jeans, but probably safer in a slide than jeans.  You are welcome to them if you want.

Others:  http://www.motorcyclegear.com/street/pants/mesh_pants

Their only closeouts are in super extra jumbos.    

Thats very kind of you. But if they are hotter than jeans I would likely be like you and not wear them. Thank you though 

[Jess from VA]

They can stay hanging in my basement.   

Really, I like mesh jackets fine (with just a tank top).  Mesh pants feel like wearing plastic pants (I suppose cordura is plastic), and not enough air ever gets through them, and black in hot, full sun cooks you.

On the other hand, starting out early to ride to TN one morning, a day that would become hot later, I froze my nuggies off for the first few hours down I-81.

If anyone else wants them, now would be the time.

[Captain Combat]

100% when I ride I wear my leather vest and fingerless gloves. Chaps if its cool or when I'm traveling. Leather jacket for cold riding. Sweatshirt and vest for cool days. Novelty helmet for rainy days or mandatory States. Im a boot guy so I always wear boots.

 
A leather vest is great for protecting your sensitive nipples in a crash... That's about all.

[Oldfishguy]

They can stay hanging in my basement.   

Really, I like mesh jackets fine (with just a tank top).  Mesh pants feel like wearing plastic pants (I suppose cordura is plastic), and not enough air ever gets through them, and black in hot, full sun cooks you.

On the other hand, starting out early to ride to TN one morning, a day that would become hot later, I froze my nuggies off for the first few hours down I-81.

If anyone else wants them, now would be the time.

I'm in for the pants if your willing.

Anything warm his time of year is good news for me. 

PM sent.

David

[Jess from VA]

Anything warm his time of year is good news for me.  Smiley

PM sent.

David

PM received and answered David.  They're yours.

They are only hot in HOT/sunny weather, in cold/cool weather you'll freeze your azz off.   

[Pappy!]

I wear a Joe Rocket mesh jacket almost all year around here. Rainy months I carry the waterproof inner liner with me.
I wear this over long sleeved "Reel Legends" fishing shirts. They flow air like you have never experienced and come in all colors. Cheap too.
For jeans I have a couple options,  I have a couple pairs of Diamond gusset jeans. Kevlar lined and super comfortable as well. Reasonably priced too.
https://www.gusset.com/product/defender-motorcycle-jean-blue-4/
Also have Carharts with the double thickness knees but hardly wear them.
Just picked up a pair of the Duluth flex Firehose work pants. Havent used them yet.
http://www.duluthtrading.com/store/mens/workwear/flex-work-wear/71703.aspx?processor=content

[Hooter]

    Doesn't matter what you wear, other than a good helmet to protect your melon blunt trauma is a killer in itself. Everybody puts emphasis on helmets which is great. Good leather will prevent a bunch of road rash but not all of it. People that ride in shorts are just asking for an owie.
    Leather pants? A buddy of mine went down wearing them and they did very little to protect him. Chaps are a thicker leather and may do a better (road rash wise)  job but won't stop or keep you from breaking a leg n o more than a leather jacket will keep you from breaking an arm. Hit anything hard enough and bones break no matter what.
   Boots should be leather and not tennis shoes or sandals. I don't care what anyone else wears and I'm not preaching here but shorts, sandals and a "T" shirt aren't much protection.  I wear good leather slip on boots and came right out of them when I got hit. I also had a bunch of road rash and had leathers on. But I think it would have been a bunch worse if I wouldn't have had the leather on.  They cut my leather jacket off of me. I was wearing jeans and they also took a bunch of abuse but helped. Lace up boots would be good but I still wear slip ons. I wear good leather riding gloves. I'm a musician and I like my fingers and screwed up fingers won't work.

    I guess my point is from a bad experience I had personally, and covering a bunch of motorcycle accidents for the past 40 years is: good leather is helpful in a crash. But, the bigger problem in an accident blunt trauma, leather or any riding gear doesn't help in that area much, maybe some but I doubt much. A body isn't designed to be treated as most are in an accident. Low and slow leather is a good thing. Much speed, blunt trauma is the problem.

   I'm sure there are people that will argue any point of this but I have been involved with this personally and professionally, thus my 2 cent opinion.


 

[havoc]

i'm a new and inexperienced rider. i wear full leather jacket and pants with all the armour built in. Full face helmet. it doesn't get any hotter than 90 Fahrenheit here...the safety gear can get pretty toasty sometimes but i prefer to be warm than to feel the burn of road rash

[hubcapsc]

i'm a new and inexperienced rider. i wear full leather jacket and pants with all the armour built in. Full face helmet. it doesn't get any hotter than 90 Fahrenheit here...the safety gear can get pretty toasty sometimes but i prefer to be warm than to feel the burn of road rash

I went on a couple of 10-day InZane rides a couple of years back during
the drought years... 95 to 100 most days... I wore all my stuff... my
buddies wore less stuff. We were all hot. Some of them were sunburned
to the point of sun-poisoning... Joe's head was sunburned under his hair.
I remember standing in the full sun at a gas stop and putting on
my helmet - ahhhh... shade!

-Mike

[Willow]

i'm a new and inexperienced rider. i wear full leather jacket and pants with all the armour built in. Full face helmet. it doesn't get any hotter than 90 Fahrenheit here...the safety gear can get pretty toasty sometimes but i prefer to be warm than to feel the burn of road rash

Consider an armored mesh jacket for hotter times.  I wear the Joe Rocket Phoenix.  Leather looks cool but for protection the best selections are not all leather.

[Willow]

Hooter, I wouldn't argue your point.  The more often lethal issue is going to be blunt trauma.  We need to all accept in our choice that riding two wheels in traffic is more risky than driving wrapped in a cage.  I do hope that no one interprets your assessment to negate the importance and significance of armor.

Some eight years ago I impacted a Ford at forty miles per hour.  The impact should have killed me but I was unprepared.  The nose of the bike was not down as I had no opportunity to brake.  Rather than slam my body into the side of the offending vehicle, which would have ended my life, the collision tossed me into the air to what I would estimate a thirty foot or more altitude.  I landed flat on my back on the pavement.  At the time I was wearing a Joe Rocket mesh jacket with all the pads in place.  I am convinced that the spine pad, which many riders discard, was responsible for my back not being broken.  I believe had I not had that spine pad I likely would have survived but would spend the rest of my life in a wheel chair.

Wear the armor.  It matters.   

[98valk]

http://www.motoport.com/quad-armor/

Motoport has been manufacturing motorcycle apparel since 1965. Motoport has spent more money on testing motorcycle apparel and the injuries that result in motorcycle crashes, than any other company or country in the world. The most accurate proof of motorcycle apparel’s protection is outcome of the rider after crashing.

During a four-year period in Germany, Motoport performed the largest study of motorcycle crashes in the world. Five hundred serious motorcycle crashes were studied in depth. These crashes occurred on the autobahn, rural areas, and on city streets. Many of these crashes resulted in death to the rider. Four German doctors performed autopsies on the riders that crashed resulting in death and analyzed the bodies of all the riders involved. This, to date, is still by far the most important test to learn how to design protective motorcycle apparel.

http://www.motoport.com/motoport-an-evolution/

During a four-year period, Motoport studied the injuries sustained in over 500 crashes. These crashes were serious, resulting in severe injuries or death to the riders. The crashes that were studied in Germany occurred on the autobahn, rural areas, and in cities. Four doctors analyzed and recorded all the details of each injury. Autopsies were performed on the riders, documenting injuries that resulted in death. The details of the crashes and the apparel worn were also studied.

The study’s finding were alarming. It was revealed that the most serious injury to the body was the initial impact area. In 83.2% of cases, the initial impact was below the waist. The main initial impact was the knee/shin and full front-to-back thigh area. Over one third resulted in broken-bone injuries. Well over half of the victims (59.4%) suffered arm injuries. Other body regions that received frequent severe injuries were the shoulders, chest, and collar bone.

[hukmut]

For me, one word: ATGATT.
Rock the gear!
Ride safe...

[Hooter]

   My intent was not to say that riding without protective gear is the way to go because it does no good. I hope it isn't interpreted that way?  Quite the opposite. My leather when I was hit saved my skin, no pun intended. Even though I had road rash that was obtained through my leather it would have been much worse!
   I did as you did. Only I was hit from behind and never saw the hitter. I was on the xway when it happened. I went straight back off the bike into the hood, grill and then flipped over the truck landing on my back in the passing lane.
   I believe that lacerations were avoided by the leather. The trauma was inevitable! The road rash and other abrasions /cosmetic injuries were greatly reduced by gear. I just believe that you have to accept responsibility for your actions (no protective gear)  and be ready to accept the consequences if the unthinkable happens if not dressed properly. I cringe when I see someone riding in shorts, sandals and a tank top, rider or passenger. To each his own.
  

[0leman]

I have been down twice in 50 years of riding.  I was lucky both times, no road rash.  BUT did mess up my right elbow.  Both times, I had on jeans, jean jacket, FF Helmet, boots, and gloves.

Since then I have acquired a several mesh jackets (wore out two of them), now have a Tourmaster.  The Tourmaster has a outer shell which is used during the colder portion of the year along with several layer of clothes under it.  In the last several years I have acquired Kevlar jeans which I wear year around.  During colder times wear leather chaps.  I do wear leather above ankle hiker type boots, gloves and of course FF helmet. 

I do get a bit warm during our summers, especially in late afternoons.   More stops and water tends to take care of this problem.   I do advocate the use of Protective clothes but feel it is the riders own choice what they wear.   It is their body.

[old2soon]

Most of the time I wear a half shell helmet. 60 and below leather jacket along with leather chaps and jeans and what ever else it takes to remain comfortable. I have an armored mesh jacket that gets used in the warmer weather. Leather gloves ALL the time-bugs at 85 M P H hitting uncovered hands HURT. Over the ankle lace up leather boots year round and this is the third pair with steel toes. I have a 3/4 helmet and a F F helmet which neither one get as much use as my half shell. Yeah-folks have seen me at the Inzanes in T-shirt and jeans riding. Can't handle a lot of heat or cold anymore. Jest fer yuks and giggles I tried shorts and tennys while riding ONCE-did NOT work for me. I get into helmet choice states and I chose to wear my lid. See a LOT of the crotch rocket crowd here bouts in shorts tank tops and flip flops and their gals in bikinis and flip flops!  You just KNOW they've NEVER been down. RIDE SAFE.

[Hooter]

Now I didn't say anything about a bikini specially on a crotch rocket. 

[Oss]

I may be the only rider in this club wearing the hit-air jacket which I got at bikebone 8 yrs ago after breaking some ribs

They also make a vest

airbag inflates inside the mesh jacket in .25 second.  That is enough time to protect the chest neck and pelvis in most rider flying off the bike scenarios   Protection against blunt trauma  It aint the speed its the sudden deceleration

Mine is silver and I wear it almost every ride, including today (as I am at work in the Bronx and will be riding home on the R1150RTP around 6 which is still rush hour anywhere from 10-70+mph)
If near or under freezing I will probably have my tourmaster heated jacket liner under it, sometimes I even turn it on

[fudgie]

100% when I ride I wear my leather vest and fingerless gloves. Chaps if its cool or when I'm traveling. Leather jacket for cold riding. Sweatshirt and vest for cool days. Novelty helmet for rainy days or mandatory States. Im a boot guy so I always wear boots.

 
A leather vest is great for protecting your sensitive nipples in a crash... That's about all.

How did you know mine were sensitive? 

[Pappy!]

i'm a new and inexperienced rider. i wear full leather jacket and pants with all the armour built in. Full face helmet. it doesn't get any hotter than 90 Fahrenheit here...the safety gear can get pretty toasty sometimes but i prefer to be warm than to feel the burn of road rash

I went on a couple of 10-day InZane rides a couple of years back during
the drought years... 95 to 100 most days... I wore all my stuff... my
buddies wore less stuff. We were all hot. Some of them were sunburned
to the point of sun-poisoning... Joe's head was sunburned under his hair.
I remember standing in the full sun at a gas stop and putting on
my helmet - ahhhh... shade!

-Mike

Hey Hubcap - Try these shirts. they are as cool against your skin as a short sleeved shirt, flow a ton of air, keep the sun off you, and are cheap! I have about 10 of them now in all different colors and thats about all I wear under a jacket anymore. About all I wear in the sun now...period!
You can also get these from Amazon.

http://www.beallsflorida.com/online/reel-legends-mens-freeline-long-sleeve-shirt-

[hubcapsc]

Hey Hubcap - Try these shirts.

You're from Florida, so I guess you know heat...

What motivates you to wear a long sleeve shirt
under your jacket? I wear my thinnest T-shirts
under there in the summer, the jacket keeps
the sun off...

-Mike

[Pappy!]

These shirts are made for the sun. They wick moisture. They keep the sun off you yet they feel cooler than a tee shirt when you're sweating. They dry in nothing flat. They don't wrinkle! Ball them up  and throw them in a bag and take them out and put them on. Best shirt I have found.....ever. Took me about an hour in one in the  sun. My brain was going....wait a minute this is a long sleeve! I'm just as cool feeling and not getting burned. They have an SPF rating of around 30 so they do let some sun through to keep your manly tan and all !
These shirts and a mesh jacket work super together down here. Your weather sux in the Summer too.

Here's photos of them in use. Heat of the Summer.






You get the idea!

[Former BMW Guy]

A subject near and dear to my heart.

I wear ATGATT which includes:
Firstgear TPG Expedition suit over Diamond Gusset Kevlar lined riding jeans and a long sleeve t-shirt,
Aerostich Combat Lite boots,
Full fingered leather gloves with knuckle and palm protection,
Shoei NeoTec modular helmet plus eye protection,
Custom earplugs.

 

[cookiedough]

t-shirt and shorts and tennis shoes in hot summer days, but wear a helmet 99% of the time.

IN cooler weather under 80,  I do wear my mesh armored cycle jacket as well and gloves of some sort with pants of some sort of course. 

I side on the area of comfort over protection.  It will haunt me some day if I ever go down am sure.