Modern Vespa

Hi All,

I am wanting to buy a mesh riding jacket, I am not sure what to get though? I would like something that has a place to store the zip out liners. For those who have one,, what type of mesh riding jacket did you get and why?

I have two: a Scorpion I got mainly because it was cheap, and an Olympia that’s more like an adventure riding style with panels that zip open to uncover the mesh. I don’t use the liner with the Scorpion. It’s all mesh so it’s best for the hottest weather. The Oly has a cold weather liner that I use sometimes. Neither is completely waterproof but a little rain on a warm day usually isn’t a problem.

I have a scorpion also. I use the liner during transitional temperature times because 75° can feel cold when you live in the desert. My husband has a Joe Rocket and its liner can be worn as a standalone windbreaker, which is a nice feature. This is his only jacket and he only uses the liner when it rains or temps drop below 50°.

so I have a Joe Rocket mesh jacket. I spent a lot of time researching this and it seemed to be one of the best light armored riding jackets, at least at the time I got it. Without the liner you get a nice breeze through it when riding. When I lived in Chicago the jacket was great even in the summer. Now in AZ before the summer it was still great, but in the summer, even riding naked would be too hot. I would rec getting it in a light color though, mine is a white silver and good vis and reflects the sun. Hope this helps. So as long as we are talking about hot weather riding any ideas for summer riding in AZ? I did see one person in shorts and a T-shirt with knee and elbow pads as if they were on roller blades. Not a crazy idea, but what do people think.

thanks

larry

You can lose an awfully lot of meat off your upper leg and butt while sliding along on the asphalt. Seems like it would be better to use light weight riding gear and try to ride mostly in the morning and on cloudy or overcast days. (and that is not even to mention skin cancer )

Skin cancer. I have had melanoma 20 years ago. That's one reason I went with the modular helmet for UV protection on my face.

Without going into the safety reasons for full gear, there is a strong argument for it in the heat also.
Sunburn. It's a thing.
The heat from the radiator can be scaldingly painful.
Dehydration is quicker without a jacket, especially at speed. The bedouins got it right.
A cooling vest under your jacket can give hours of cooling on a ride. By its self, not so much as it dries too quickly to be of use.

I have a Joe Rocket mesh ballistic series that I have had for 20 years. You guys made me look at it a moment ago because I never recall it having a liner. No liner in mine, just mesh with some not too cumbersome armor.

i have to agree with all of you just trying to find a way around this heat but I don't think there is just need to ride when it is cooler, i fell most comfortable wearing equipment.

I have a couple mesh jackets, Bilt, bought at Cycle Gear. The price is good and the jackets are decent. Also a BMW Savannah jacket with plenty of vents. I have mesh (armored) riding pants, too, but generally go for a pair of riding jeans with armor in the knees and hips, and aramid lining.

Where we live (deep south Texas), the humidity can be oppressive - even a mesh jacket can be too much. On those days, I wear a Cool-Max type long sleeve shirt and a cooling bandana around the neck.

If I'm understanding the OP, none of my mesh jackets have a place to store the liner, but the liner fits under the jacket on a hanger when not riding. I have removed my liner when riding, and it goes under the seat or in the top case until I get back home.

I don't have a light weight jacket -- looking for one -- I hear good things about the Klim Marrakesh from my gal friends that ride. Pricey but they love it (stretchy too from Cordova).

Not about mesh jackets as such, but about liner storage:

I have Rukka's Offlane for our nice weather riding. Very seldom hot here. It is kind of adventure style riding jacket, with lots of vents, pockets etc.

It is not the lightest warm weather mesh model, but has a removable, thin water proof liner.

It does have a large(ish) pocket at the low back side of the jacket. The liner fits there, but... I just don't like the feel of it

The liner does not weight much, nor do I feel like the Nodre Dame hunchback, but it just feels nicer without - so I'd say the ability to store the liner within the jacket mayby sounds better than is in practise.

I just leave my liner on the hook or hanger I have the jacket on as I rarely need it now. If I wear it and later need to remove it it is mall and fits nicely in the pet carrier or my topbox.

I recently purchased a Klim Hi Viz Induction mesh jacket. I’m liking it a lot.

I have had several mesh jackets over the past 14 years of riding. The current one was made by Fieldsheer (as was my first). I never used the zip-in liners, as they were just too much trouble. I found it much easier to wear a light down or fleece vest or jacket underneath it, or a light rain jacket over it as needed.

Joe Rocket Phoenix Ion. All mesh. Has a zip out windbreaker/rain liner, plus an additional zip out quilted vest. There is a bunny pouch on the back that you might be able to stuff the liner in. http://www.joerocket.com/mesh-jackets/phoenix-ion

Bought a pair of these jackets last year. Very happy with them right up until we "road tested" them a month ago. Ordered the same thing a few days later. Mesh is a compromise compared to stronger materials, but it's still way better than riding in just t-shirts which was the alternative.

Every now and then I wonder about the usefulness of my mesh jacket. Those pictures though, if all that had been skin...

My partner says I don't always have to wear an armored jacket. But I do have to wear a helmet. If I'm stupid enough to go riding without a jacket she wants my head to be awake and feeling every millimeter of skin being peeled off.
Tough love.

I got a Rev'It women's summer jacket because I can't ride without protection. It's great in the spring and the fall especially. On those crazy hot summer days where I'm afraid of heatstroke (full face helmet), I'll sometimes opt for an armored vest and elbow and knee pads. The jackets, even with all the vents, can still get hot because of the armor. Haven't ever fallen, slid, dropped the bike or been hit so I can't attest to that but I always have armored stuff on. The only thing armored I don't own is jeans. They're SO expensive and I can't wear them to work so it'd be a costume change for me. In the winter I ride with Gerbing pants over my khakis, and those are armored. The armored vests may be a good option for you. It's surreal though; going from most of the gear all of the time, to weird armor vest thing on the hottest days. Worth it though; you can never plan for the day you're "really going to need the protection." I'd rather not take the chance. My wife wouldn't be too pleased taking me back to the ED either...

Funny: When I think about "why bother with the elbow and knee pads?" Common sense kicks in and thinks, "smart enough to want to save my brain and spine, dumb enough to question wanting to save my skin??" Not a judgment on others, just one on myself.

Dear one and I, each have the Olympia Airglide 3 – a three season riding jacket with three layers. I see the current improved model/style being sold is Airglide 6. The jackets fit well, very versatile (mesh outer layer; two liners, of which one is thermal and the the other rain) and excellent quality.
I bungee each layer (to compact the size) and put them into pet carrier or topcase, depending on my riding for the day. It appears the Airglide 6 jacket offers a rain liner transportation bag.
[Aside] We also have the Olympia Airglide riding pants – which has two layers (mesh outer, waterproof, rain liner), and full leg zippers on each layer; this makes putting on and taking off very easy.

I've used a FirstGear MeshTek in HiViz jacket for years and recently purchased a Rev'It Eclipse in light Grey. The one thing I don't like about the FG jacket is the areas around the zipper are too wide and block the breeze.

I have an image posted here of the thermometer on the BV350 I had. It read 122F. Moving I was comfortable.

First Gear MeshTex. (or maybe it is TexMesh?)
Super easy zip in zip out liner. 100% mesh.
Put in 5 pieces of D30 armor.
2 zip side pockets for camera.
Cell phone inside zip chest pocket.
Nearly 100% hi viz, with several reflective bands.
This is my second....hi viz will fade after several years. Washable.
O.S.