Modern Vespa

Hi all!

We have just jumped from winter to summer temperature-wise and I have a question.

I don't want the Toreador Pants folks to cringe too much, but what I am looking for is an armored shirt of some sort that protects my shoulders and back but is short-sleeved for those warm and sunny days when heading to the coffee shop for.......coffee.

I fully understand the increased risk of road rash (having ridden a road bicycle for 25+ years and endured a fair share of it) but still want to be responsible to my organs and major bones.

Does anyone know if such a thing exists. I am open to either an 'undershirt' kind of thing or an 'outershirt'.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

Desi B.

Here's a Kevlar shirt from the well-known Draggin Jeans people:

http://www.dragginjeans.com/Accessories.htm#


I'd say get an armored mesh jacket. Sure it's hot at a stoplight when it's 90 F but so long are you're moving it's fine. MUCH cooler than the Corazzo's I've tried on.

Check out www.newenough.com

I wear a mesh jacket with shoulder, back and elbow armour. I wear it when riding my Honda CBR600F2 or my girlfriends Vespa ET4. It provides circulation and fresh air when moving. Could be warm when stuck in traffic. For cool evenings and nights, leather is the only way to go...

Thanks...

Gordon

I wear armored mesh even on the hottest days.

It's plenty cool enough while you are moving.

Also, for someone like me who can get a sunburn from a flashlight, it means I can stay on the road even longer. 8)

I gotta agree with the armored mesh. Mine is black, so even hotter, but still wear it all summer. I am thinking of getting a new one in a nice bright yellow.

They do get warm sitting, but while moving stay pretty cool. I see you are in NM I guess that is part of the issue. Good luck with your hunt, and choice, Beale.

All you need is a shirt circa 1983 from a vintage store, those shoulder pads would probably protect at 60mph!

I wear one of these when the temperatures rise -



It is an IXS Atacama for £130, is armoured, but the chest has zip controleld vents and the sides and underarms allow airflow etc. It was very compfortable when it got to 30C here last summer.

Armored mesh in the lightest color you can find. Also when it's really hot soak your tee shirt in water then put on the jacket to slow down the evaporation. It works just like an air conditioner. Around every half hour take a water bottle and squirt yourself down the front and back.

I knew I shouldn't have given those to Goodwill years back.

Actually I wear my Corazzo 5.0 with a T shirt underneath. I have been fine in the hottest of weather. At least until I am in a traffic jam and no longer moving, then it gets kinda sticky. I want to get one of those Joe Rocket cooling vests. http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/joe-rocket/sahara-vest/
Has anyone tried one of these? They sound like they might be cool. (sorry about the pun)

Haven't tried it, but you could go this route.
http://www.aerostich.com/catalog/US/Off-Road-p-1-c-293.html

I wear a silver reflective mesh from Harley Davidson. Also relects the sun.
It was 77F yesterday and flurries are forecast for this weekend, so it isn't mesh weather yet.

i agree with everyone's idea of a mesh jacket with all the vents. i am about to start on my riding this spring/summer and i know how hot it's probably going to be. sometimes a jacket is the last thing i want to look at when it 95 outside.

icon makes an armored vest that's about 100.00 that covers your whole back and most of your chest. it's meant to wear under a shirt or over if you want to look like batman. i still think a jacket would be a smarter choice. but some armor is better than none.

I don't see how a vest is going to protect your shoulders and elbows. My mesh jacket has pockets for armor in these areas. I will also be looking for a pair of mesh pants with armor.

Just got a new armored mesh Cortech. Baby blue and white. My old Joe Rocket was Medium blue and Black. Couldn't stand it when It got hot here in So. Cal... We'll see if I can keep this one on when the temp. hits 120 and humid. LOL Tho hoping that doesn't happen this year.

Last summer I had to pick up a red mesh since my black one was a cooker in the sun. The red made a big difference. I would think that white or light gray would even be better. Even with the black I only got sweaty at stoplights on the worst days.

Take a look at this site - they have lots of different options - not sure if they are what you are looking for - and they are pricey - but.....

www.bohnarmor.com

First Gear mesh jacket with armor- even in black and gray it stays pretty cool. Just have to remember to take the insulated waterproof liner out. Down side is they don't make a summer weight waterproof liner for it..

That looks like a good option. Where'd you get it from?

I'm looking. It will be my first summer on 2 wheels . It doesn't sound like the mesh jacket will hold up like the woven kevlar in the draggin shirt. I'm leaning heavily in the direction of a woven kevlar pullover like draggin jeans has. It sounds like the armor can be velcro'd on. The issue I see is keeping the shirt in place.
Any thoughts?

+1 FirstGear Mesh.

I also use the mesh overpants, using them over reg jeans is cooler then just Draggin Jeans.

jrdg wrote: i have the bohn airtex shirt (and pants). comfy and high quality (made in USA), machine washable. vented polyester, like a basketball jersey, with some lycra in it, with CE armor, incl a modest back protector. snug & stretchy so the armor stays in place better than a jacket. not cheap, but it's great--and it makes all your jackets armored, bc you can wear it under a leather jacket in cool weather or a light one in summer. or even by itself, i suppose. a draggin kevlar shirt over it would be a great hot weather combo

I have the shirt from Draggin jeans that Irish Tim suggests. I like it but the armor is basically useless (we sent ours back). The shirt is kevlar and breaths well. I will wear mine in the summer and we are looking to get armor (maybe Dennis Kirk) to put in it.

Patty

I guess my hawaiian shirts are not considered armor.
I do have old levis vest (the kind like the jacket minus sleeves)
covered with patches I wear.
90 degrees and 90% humidity any jacket too hot.
Stan

The FirstGear Mesh-Tex 2 is what I bought last summer. I got the silver, I couldn't imagine something darker. It works great, nice and cool... However, I did replace the armor in the elbows and shoulders with core-comp stuff.

I have a Joe Rocket Phoenix 4 mesh jacket



On very hot days, I notice it is warm while standing still, but it very quickly cools off once I start moving again.

Though I like the Draggin' kevlar shirt, I would be wary of the armour. I don't think that it would stay in place as you skid across the pavement.

My 2 cents.

Correct me if i'm wrong but the armor only needs to be in place when i hit the road and i'm not sure that it would (like some say of the loose fitting jackets). I want the shirt to stay in place as i slide across the road. Do you think the shirt would stay in place? I'll be looking at high 90s both temp and humidity.

New ersion 3 is available on ebay for 99USD I offered 85 they countered 88USD

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FIRSTGEAR-MESH-TEX-3-0-MC-Jacket-SILVER-BLACK-MD_W0QQitemZ270097717105QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item270097717105

"The Mesh Tex 3.0 jacket is slightly re-styled (as compared to the Mesh-Tex 2 version) and now comes with CE rated "Evolution" type armor in the shoulders and elbows."

Check out http://www.vansonleathers.com/product_pages/jackets/vx3.htm.

Lightest weight with armour. I use it in the hotest weather. Much cooler than any Joe Rocket.

Anyone check out the BMW Venting Machine Suit? I heard some good things about it, but have yet to try one on. Only bad thing I heard of was that it only comes in black - doh!



http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=83958

No matter what you wear, no matter how ugly, you can always add the Coolness Emulator

http://www.aerostich.com/catalog/US/Coolness-Emulator-p-17406.html

YES!!!

It finally dropped in price! Only $82,579.00!! What a steal!

Price comparable to other products from Aerostich.
I sold the house, cashed in the 401K and bought 10.

Thats a good deal at $88... I bought my 2.0 last year for around $80 I think, then later on bought the CE armor.

Volunteer at a hosptial ER some hot weekend Summer night. When you see the road rash from m/c-ers spills you'll gladly trade sweating a bit under the armor for burns and the loss of skin.

an earlier post suggested checking out newenough.com. I got my Joe Rocket phoenix and Joe Rocket alter ego jackets there. the phoenix is great on hot days when you will be out and back while it is still hot. the alter ego has removeable panels. this is a great SF bay are jacket where the days can be warm and the nights cool down quickly. the drawback to the Joe Rocket jackets is the color choices. black is the predominant color with blue or red trim. they do have good elbow and shoulder protection. the spine pad that comes with the jacket is OK but if you want more armour you can upgrade to a CE rated spine pad.

My major objection to JR jackets is not wanting to be an advertising billboard on wheels...their labels are pretty loud to me!

That's my objection with a lot of the jackets put out by the major MC-oriented companies. That and the Road Warrior styling. Fortunately it's cooled down to typical springtime temps here in LA so I'm biding my time, looking at all the options, and wondering when or if that Corazzo mesh is going to hit the market.

I just came across this in a motorcycle magazine.

It doesn't cost much and received a pretty favorable review, too.
They said it's thin enough to easily wear under a regular motorcycle jacket and with the vents open, it worked well. I'm guessing it would work even better under a mesh jacket.

http://www.ridecool.com/sport.htm

Even though I don't mind the heat much while wearing my mesh armor, I might just try one of these out for myself.

Anyone have one?

NSFW !
It's just not possible to explain why you're laughing so hard.