Recommendations for vented jackets?

[burkazoid]

I'm looking for a good vented jacket, something I can wear in the dead heat of August and be fairly comfortable. I have a leather jacket now, one of those bad-ass Bill Idol affairs from the early 80s, but it's just too dang hot to wear except in the early morning.

Suggestions?

[Cajunrider]

Joe Rocket makes a nice looking mesh jacket with a removable liner. I think it's the Phoenix 4 or Phoenix 5 that I tried on at the dealership. My wife tried one on and loved it. No mesh on the sleeves though so I'd get a light color rather than black. It also had plastic armor on the elbows, shoulders and spinal area. About $145 down here. I've seen them on the web for $134.99 + shipping of ~ $12.

[superduty]

I've had a Power Trip, San Jose jacket for 3 summers now and I love it. It's nearly all mesh. Armor in the elbows and back. Zip-out liner that covers your torso, but not arms. I can wear it down to about 60 degrees around here. You can get them for about $75 on eBay.

newenough.com has got some nice ones on sale right now. Their prices are usually unbeatable. When they get down to onesies & twosies they sell them off on eBay for really cheap prices sometimes. Their customer service is good too. No I don't work there, but I've bought lots of gear from them.

[dank]

I wrestled with this. I like the complete mesh for staying cool, but didn't feel like it really would be worth much if I hit the pavement. I ended up buying a Teknic Blade jacket. Nice looking black leather jacket. It has perforated vents on the back, well positioned sleeve and chest vents (the sleeve vents grab the air stream outside the windshield), and sleeves ends that can be opened to let air in around the wrist. I used it on a 98 degree day in Phoenix and liked it very much. 98 was still hot, but I got good evaporative cooling.

[flavor]

Cortech makes a great 3/4 length jacket. It has armor, zippered vents, the sleeves zip off on both the outer jacket as well as the liner itself. The pockets in the front of the chest area zip off completely to let air through. I'm not sure how good it will be when the temp reaches 99 degrees but with those features I think it'll be ok, as I haven't experienced the 99 degree mark with it yet. It also is the warmest motorcycle jacket with the liner in I've ever owned.

By the way it's a textile jacket and costs about $160.

[bobzinger]

All the mesh jackets I looked at have armor in them. I have a Hein Gerike and a Joe Rocket Phoenix. My wife has a First Gear mesh-Tex. The Joe Rocket has hard armor in the elbows...the others has 1/2" thick pads. I feel cooler in the 100+ days wearing mesh than having the sun beating down on my arms.

[gshep]

I have a Nitro mesh jacket with liner that works well for warm weather. I think I gave about $70 at the local dealer.
A better jacket is my Tourmaster Transition. a 3/4 length with jip out liner and lots of jippered vents. With the vents closed, it is waterproof, ( I proved that last week)with the vents closed and the liner in it is good down to about 35 degrees. with the liner out and the vents open it is fairly cool when riding, but pretty warm when stopped at a light or something.

I think all of us are looking for that perfect jacket.

shep

[redeye]

There's a thread over on the "Vendors & For Sale" board on this very subject.

[burkazoid]

Thanks everybody. I really appreciate the feedback. I was wondering how funny it would look for me to be wearing alpine stars gear on the Nomad, since all I've ever seen was stuff that looked more appropriate for a sport bike.

[scott2007nomad]

I have a Teknic and I like it a lot.
It has armor in the elbows, shoulders and back.
It's like riding in the shade.
I only get hot when I get stuck at the red lights or stop-n-go traffic.
I think it was about $150.

I have the Cortech denim. Zip out lining, vents, armour... love it.


http://www.kneedraggers.com/details/Cortech_DSX_Denim_Jacket--601866.html

http://www.kneedraggers.com/image_storage/6/a6/6a6143eebe946aae994bd23853ae46f9_rough.jpg

It's great year round...... $99 http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[superduty]

I have the Cortech denim. Zip out lining, vents, armour... love it.

It's great year round...... $99 http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

I've got that one too, and have been pleased with it. Thats my "cold weather" jacket though. I've ridden in 31 degree weather with the liner in it and been toasty warm.

I have the Cortech denim. Zip out lining, vents, armour... love it.

It's great year round...... $99 http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

I've got that one too, and have been pleased with it. Thats my "cold weather" jacket though. I've ridden in 31 degree weather with the liner in it and been toasty warm.


In hot weather with the lining pulled out along with the 2 snaps I had put on at the leather shop I use a "vest keeper" and leave it unzipped! Works great!



http://www.northendsupply.com/POWMIAVESTKEEP.jpg


Vest Keeper (http://www.northendsupply.com/misc.htm)

Try it.. you'll love it.... you can still zip up the jacket with the vest keeper on.... I leave it on all the time! I have a Maltese Cross one.


Nico

[jayc]

I'm thinking go checking out one of these.
http://www.jafrum.com/Motorcycle-Gear/Mens-Textile-Motorcycle-Jackets/MJ2299Black

[rflnomad]

I got the vented jacket from Kawasaki! It was in silver & black like the bike. About 100 bucks too! Look in the catalog as I forgot the pn. In fact, I could not find it in the catalog. We found it online at Kawi's site. Or go to the dealer.
Armor at elbows,shoulders, and back. Good removeable liner. Well made.
We both have them.

[rflnomad]

I think it is K-82026-522. This is a Xsmall size but ask the dealer. I have aXlarge.
We love them.

[burkazoid]

If only my leather jacket wasn't so dang hot on a long ride. I know I get less dehydrated wearing the jacket than I would wearing only a t-shirt and going bare-armed, but dang, it's hot!

I got my jacket at wilson's leather the day after christmas a few years ago, so I got a helluva deal on it. I checked their site and the exact model isn't available anymore, but this one is pretty close:

http://www.wilsonsleather.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1835176&cp=2446814.2446940.2011943&parentPage=family