Lightweight jacket recommendations?

[chucks1911]

I have a nice leather jacket for colder days. I'm looking for
1)something lightweight
2) probably not leather
3) doesn't look like I should be on a crotch rocket
4) wont flap around and beat me to death
5) doesnt take up a lot of room when stuffed in the saddlebag

Any help?

[nomadtom69]

Scorpion makes a jacket in black they call the =hat trick I think it can be wore in summer has a waterproof liner and a thermal liner . http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com...ck-Jacket.aspx they also make just a summer jacket
The Cool Rod http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com...sh-Jacket.aspx
This is the summer jacket that I have http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com...-2-Jacket.aspx

[ndbigfish]

My summer jacket for the south Texas heat is a Vanson Vent Max 4. It is the jacket in my signature pic. It is very light, I need a sweat shirt under it below 65°F. It has elbow, shoulder and back armor. The waist is adjustable. It has interior pockets and zippered exterior pockets. Works great in the heat. I like to wear a long sleeve Cool Max shirt under it to control evaporation and moisture. I have worn it in temperatures as hot as 105°F.
I have a Tourmaster Intake 2, but with just the shell it is uncomfortable above 85°F.

[schoeney]

I use a Fieldheer mesh jacket, but most major brands have a decent mesh jacket.

I prefer to put a large waterproof windbreaker OVER it when the temp drops. This is the set up I am wearing in the pic below.

Keeps me warm down to about 55 and doesnt take much room in bag.

[wiz]

I have a Vanson VentMax 3 that is the best of the many mesh jackets I have owned. CE rated armor for your shoulders, elbows and spine as well as leather in those areas under the ballistic mesh - and the construction is such that it will not come apart at the seams. I have not seen testamonials for other brands like I have seen for the Vanson Leathers gear:

[dank]

I have a Teknic Blade jacket that I wear when the weather is hot. It has perforated leather in the shoulders and fantastic venting, including cuffs that open up as air scoops. I looked at a lot of mesh jackets, but really felt I was giving up a great deal of protection with them when I tried them on. They would offer some abrasion resistance, if I left the bike, but little else. The Blade is a solidly made leather jacket. It has the durability of leather for abrasion resistance and the "padding effect" of leather, but also has spine, elbow, and shoulder armor. Yet it has super air flow through it for cooling. I think it is stylish too. It comes with a liner for colder weather, but I wear my Firstgear Kilimanjaro if temps are below 80, so I don't know how well that works. I think it is a great hot weather jacket that doesn't sacrifice on the side of protection. Mine is several years old, don't know if they still make it, but take a serious look at perforated leather and try a lightweight synthetic fiber mesh jacket on before you buy one by mail order to see if it really offers the type of protection you want.

I'm not preaching against the synthetic, ballistic fabric jackets, that is what my main jacket is and I love it. I expected to go that route for warm weather too. And I do think they may be just a bit cooler. But I just didn't feel I was really getting solid protection with any of the really light weight mesh jackets I tried on. I hit a car that turned left in front of me several years back. Everyone focuses on abrasion resistance, which is important, but I quickly learned that padding for impact protection is important too. My personal test review is that the Kilimanjaro and Firstgear mesh pants are astoundingly good in that regard. I think the Blade would be too, in fact I think it is probably better, though I'd rather not put it to the test any time soon. Not persuaded that was true for the really light mesh jackets I tried. Just my opinion, obviously, and so I am only offering this for your thought, not speaking against any specific mesh jacket. Didn't try them all.

[cactusjack]

Here's what I have, and I live in the hottest area of the country.

http://www.motorcyclegear.com/street/jac....le_jacket .html

I wish I had been wearing it when I went down last week...

[leadbelly]

This is what I use: http://www.joerocketcanada.com/en/pr...le/blstc_t.cfm
Take the shell off and it becomes a full mesh jacket with padding. Shell on it's totally wind & water proof. Has lots of venting when you need something between the two extreams.

[ndbigfish]

CJ,

I don't think the fellas understand H.O.T; like cover your noze take your breathe away hot. People have already shed the leather gear here (mid 80s) and in about six weeks it will be like snowflakes in July, only a memory.

[dank]

Originally Posted by ndbigfish

CJ,

I don't think the fellas understand H.O.T; like cover your noze take your breathe away hot. People have already shed the leather gear here (mid 80s) and in about six weeks it will be like snowflakes in July, only a memory.

I understand hot. In fact only reason I got the blade jacket was for a trip through the southwest. You see I also remember what happens when you go down. That memory isn't like snowflakes in July! But from other posts it sounds like some pretty well armored mesh jackets have come out since I got mine, which is great.