Best jacket for all seasons

[zoom45]

What's the best all season jacket for the budget price? Pictures would help me decide. I would rather have one brightly colored or something with contrasting colors but I'm not wild about the crotch rocket style. (men and womens). Anyone tested and proven a jacket with a reasonably low price that's a good jacket? ??? What's the difference in textile, mesh, cordura jackets? Is one better than the other for certain seasons?
Thanks,
Zoom

[gopjohnny]

http://www.newenough.com/closeouts/

try this site for some good prices

[skimo]

This is what I'm using and it has already saved some hide.

http://www.tourmaster.com/xcart/product.php?productid=269&cat=3

[nighthawk700]

I hope this isn't a thread-jack, it's not meant to be... I decided this time around (my 10 year old Aerostich Darien is well worn now) to get a 1 piece riding suit because I tend to get lazy and not put the riding pants on. Hopefully by having the pants on as well, I'll be better at wearing full protection all the time. Right now I'm pretty focused on the Olympia Phantom (the "gotta wear shades" yellow).

[dogdoc]

zoom: I own 2 jackets. One is a fox creek insulated leather jacket(not cheap) but excellent quality. Good for fall/winter or colder weather. Then I just bought a textile Fieldsheer full mesh jacket with rain/insulated liner. This jacket is great for 4 season riding including some hot days. Cost about $185 from Liberty Moto in TX. so if you want ONE jacket to do all, I would pick a mesh textile even though they do look kinda crotch rockety. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[cactusjack]

Where I live, there's no such animal. Temps go from 30's-40's in winter to 110+ in summer.

I'd suggest a good heavy leather jacket with zip-out liner for cold weather, remove the liner for milder temps and a mesh jacket for warm weather riding.

[redeye]

http://www.thehelmetsource.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=THS&Product_Code=TMJett2

I wore this jacket on Valdez's Fall Colors / Polar Bear run this past month. The temp got down to 22* & never over 38 over two days of riding. I did wear a light hoodie under the jacket & at no time was I uncomfortable due to the cold. It is a fairly heavy jacket that has a wind block flap over the zipper that keeps the cold out. The white stripe & the piping is all reflective. It is vented on both upper arms & shoulders in addition to all the way across the back. I'm 6' and 235lbs, & wear a 50-52 size coat. I ordered the 2XL. This is a little too big, but with a hoodie under the jacket & the liner zipped in, the fit is perfect.

If you order from this site, they have a $10 off coupon (code rider5) in addition to free shipping.........-Rich

[schoeney]

Where I live, there's no such animal. Temps go from 30's-40's in winter to 110+ in summer.

I'd suggest a good heavy leather jacket with zip-out liner for cold weather, remove the liner for milder temps and a mesh jacket for warm weather riding.

CJ...we are not listening to your advise on jackets. You are not qualified on this subject. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif http://s2.images.proboards.com/cheesy.gif http://s2.images.proboards.com/cheesy.gif As you have pointed out sooooo many times , it is always warm where you are!

I agree with most. That yellow textile jacket I have on below is great for all seasons. It is a Frank Thomas and was on sale for about $150. I would prefer a longer one in winter. Bought it at Cycle Gear. Because it is from the UK the zipper is on the opposit side...takes a little getting used to.

When it is real cold I put a real big wind breaker over it....works great. Toasty, dry, and bright color for safety. This allows me to "peel off" layers at the day warms up.

[schoeney]

Shoot...thank for posting this topic...I forgot that I have a liner that came with this jacket. It has been hanging in my closet. Now I can get even warmer!

[zoom45]

schoeney.
Is the size of your jacket the size you normally wear? Some I have tried on seemed like they need to be a size bigger especially if I have a sweater or thicker clothes on. There are not many dealers around here that has a variety to look at. I found a Fieldsheer Drifter that I liked but it was black and had the zipper offset to the side. I like the yellow. I'm leaning more toward a textile jacket since it's water proof and a little warmer. I tried another mesh jacket with the extra liner but the liner kept sliding out when you pulled your arms out. Shouldn't it be secured so it can't do that? I think it was a Joe Rocket Atomic.
Zoom

[pkohlstedt]

I bought a Tourmaster Draft jacket from www.helmetharbor.com (http://www.helmetharbor.com) and then went back and got the Aquatherm liner.total of about $150- love it

[skimo]

schoeney.
Is the size of your jacket the size you normally wear? I tried another mesh jacket with the extra liner but the liner kept sliding out when you pulled your arms out. Shouldn't it be secured so it can't do that?

Sizing is a subjective thing and you're right it depends on how much you're going to layer up underneath.

The tourmaster line has loop snap on the liners at the end of the sleeves which attach to a color coded bungee loop in at the end of the jacket sleeve.
http://www.knology.net/~tdq/sleeve.jpg

[formikec]

I just got this one, and I really like it. It is very warm on 40 degree mornings on the interstate at 80mph, has plenty of pockets in the right places, has armour in the right places, velcro in the right places to sinch up the fit, and the quilted liner zips out all the way to the end of the sleeves. It isn't colorful, like you are wanting, but there are others on the site that are. Personally, I don't want color, I want black, looks less like a crotch rocket in black, and the piping glows really nice.

Jacket:
http://leatherup.com/p/Mens-Motorcycle-Jackets/Tourmaster-Pivot-2-Black-Riding-Jacket/50865.html

Also got these instead of leather to match. They are nice as well. Insulated, elastic at the bottom to keep them from creeping, on/off easily with full length side zipper, no extra belt required, just loop them over your pant belt, and nice price:
http://www.cyclemaxohio.com/inc/sdetail/11330

For winter gloves, I chose a pair of ski gloves from the local Sports Academy store over scoot gloves. Look at both, prices were better at the Sports Academy.

[formikec]

Oh yeah, the wife got this one. It's nice as well. I actually wish the piping on mine was black like hers. In daylight, you can't tell it is reflective, but at night, her black piping is just as bright as my gray piping. She's also getting the fabric chaps from cyclemax.
http://leatherup.com/p/Fabric-Motorcycle....ket/54464.ht ml (http://leatherup.com/p/Fabric-Motorcycle-Jackets/Tourmaster-Ladies-Trinity-Series-2-Black-Motorcycle-Jacket/54464.html)

BTW, according to tourmaster's website, these jackets are good for all seasons and rain. After getting the jacket, I believe it. Lots of ways to adapt (remove lining, open vents, etc).

[formikec]

Because it is from the UK the zipper is on the opposit side...takes a little getting used to.

Umm, I thought that meant it was a woman's jacket? lol

[cactusjack]

Where I live, there's no such animal. Temps go from 30's-40's in winter to 110+ in summer.

I'd suggest a good heavy leather jacket with zip-out liner for cold weather, remove the liner for milder temps and a mesh jacket for warm weather riding.

CJ...we are not listening to your advise on jackets. You are not qualified on this subject. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif http://s2.images.proboards.com/cheesy.gif http://s2.images.proboards.com/cheesy.gif As you have pointed out sooooo many times , it is always warm where you are!

I agree with most. That yellow textile jacket I have on below is great for all seasons. It is a Frank Thomas and was on sale for about $150. I would prefer a longer one in winter. Bought it at Cycle Gear. Because it is from the UK the zipper is on the opposit side...takes a little getting used to.

When it is real cold I put a real big wind breaker over it....works great. Toasty, dry, and bright color for safety. This allows me to "peel off" layers at the day warms up.

Oh.......okay, fine. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[dougster]

Zoom,

I bought my wife and myself new jackets a couple seasons ago after a lot of research. We got the Cortech GX-Air by TourMaster, in yellow (for visibility). I paid around $120 or 140 each (can't remember)

They are ballistic mesh, with two removable liners: one that is a rain liner (and can function as a stand alone windbreaker when you are off the bike), and a quilted warm liner for colder weather. The liners both zip into the jacket, and have elastic connections as well.

I have found this to be a great jacket in all weather I have worn it in: hot, cool, rainy. I would add, though, that on a hot summer day, it can be a little warm when you are stopped, where the armor is.

I also like the safety factor: Both color, armor, and excellent ballistic mesh.

I don't think this exact jacket is still offered by TourMaster, but I know they have replaced it with a similar one.
Hope this helps!

[michiganmike]

I ride with a Tourmaster Transition jacket when traveling, and so does my brother and a friend. We wore them when we went to the Black Hills area last June and they were great. We hit cold, rain, hail, and even a few days of nice weather and the jacket was dry, warm, and comfortable the whole time. But for everyday riding when it is not going to rain I wear my leather jacket.

[dogdoc]

I bought tormaster intake 2 jacket and it was a well made jacket but by the time you dick with 2 liners and zipping them in/out and a plethora of tabs to snap, FORGET IT. i took it back and bought a Fieldsheer, http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[flavor]

I also have a Cortech textile jacket in 3/4 length. Comes with liner. Warm and waterproof (though I haven't ridden in a downpour yet). If I wear a jacket I want something that doesn't rise up when your arms are out riding and I found with the shorter jackets that's what happens.

Sorry no pictures since I haven't done the photobucket thing yet.

Cortech and tourmaster both work. Style and climate obviously a deciding factor. Don't like to ride below 45 degrees but I can tell you the cortech is toasty at 45.

[schoeney]

Hi Zoom,

The size of my jacket is the same size as my normal clothes. But if you are planning on layering I would go a size bigger.

I don't layer because the between the jacket, the liner and a turtleneck (especially under armor brand), good gloves w/gauntlets, warm pants, full face helmet, hot hand packets, face mask,engine guard chaps, I am toasty to at least 32 F. I don't typically ride in cooler weather than that.

I like the yellow for daytime visibility. Also make sure whatever you buy has the reflective piping (mine does not) or buy some matching reflective tape to put on your jacket (mine does), bike, helmet.

My jacket is waterproof (so they claim, I haven't been stuck in bad enough rain to really to test it) and has CE armor, also has zippered wind vents so you can open them on those warm days to get some air flowing.

Mine is a Frank Thomas Aqua Fore. It is the "short" style but I wish I would have bought the longer style to keep the wind from going underneath. Good Luck!!

Formikec....I don't think our KawaNow brothers from the UK like the sound of that! http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[k9sarky]

This is what I'm using and it has already saved some hide.

http://www.tourmaster.com/xcart/product.php?productid=269&cat=3


+1 For Tourmaster. I ordered from here

http://www.powersportequipment.com/product_items_detail2.asp?item=20338

Free shipping (they shipped same day)and with discount code cost was $140.15. This jacket has 2 removable liners. one for rain and one insulated. You have option to use either liner or layer both together. I'm 5'11" 210lbs and wear a large.

http://www.helmetharbor.com/Products/ProductDetails.cfm/Search/Results/ProductID/477110

I have the earlier generation of this jacket. It waterproof insulated liner for very cold or wet days. Remove the liner and you have a medium kind of all around jacket. Finally, all of the textile zips off to reveal a vented mesh jacket. There is leather on the shoulders and outside of the sleeves so it still has the "cruiser" feel to it. I LOVE THIS JACKET. It really works year round. I live in Idaho and we actually have four seasons here. I have ridden with this jacket in 14 degress up 114 degrees. Works great and is resonably priced.

As far as leather vs. textile, I will stick with textile from here out. I like the armor in mine (its there and I don't look like a storm trooper). In cold weather, Leather just stays cold, plus you have to carry your rain gear with you. Textile seems to retain warmth better and I no longer have to worry about where to pack my rain gear.

I realize I'm a little late on this post, but I thought I would give .02.

You also asked about sizing, I bought mine fairly form fitting. Even in the coldest weather, the coat functions best when I have a thermal top and long sleeve t-shirt on. I've given up on wearing seven layers. The technology in the new insulations seems to work very well.

[dogdoc]

I bought the Tourmaster newest model that came out for about $185 and it was good quality BUT once you fumble with TWO liners more than half a dozen near 10-12 for all liners and getting everything to mesh up right, I was out of the mood to ride. I took it ALL back for a refund.

[Top Cat]

Doc, I hear ya on the tabs and flaps and time consuming liner changes.
That being said I still like the jacket. It is quality made and warm with the thermal liner and dry with the rain liner and cool with the mesh alone. It also has reflective piping.
Whats the name of the fieldsheer jacket you got. One of my buddys and his wife both have Feeldsheer jackets and they look nice.

[reaper]

I guess it depends on where you live.

Where I live my seasons are: tourist season, mosquito season, hurricane season and summer

[bigdave]

i have the tourmaster intake for the summer and the transitions 2 for the winter. been caught in the rain with both and have never gotten wet.

[bobzinger]

I have a First Gear "Scout IV" for 3 seasons and a Joe Rocket Mesh for summer, although I like the First Gear mesh much better.
First Gear equipment is very well made.

[donoller]

i bought the skyliner by joe rocket .its made for the goldwing but works on all bikes as well it made all the way up to 5x .179.00 works in all weather.