Hot weather riding gear

[Bill Stevenson]

It gets hot and humid here in Florida and every year I wonder if there is a way to ride protected and still be able to be comfortable. The cops use mostly long sleeve shirts that look sturdy with pants and shorty helmets. Some wear gloves, but not all. Boots are shorty style. They are riding all day every day and managing the heat is just as important as having protection from a fall. I mostly follow their lead although I usually prefer a 3/4 helmet to a shorty and I use Kevlar knit gloves that breathe but are not intended for motorcycling. Long pants, BMW air flow boots, and a long sleeve shirt complete my flimsy attire. This is all marginally tolerable as long as I don't fall down.

My partner bought a mesh jacket last year and he says it is tolerable in the morning as long as you don't stop. Translation, it is OK except at traffic lights and the temp is not higher than about 90 degrees F, and humidity is below about 70%. He also thinks black was a mistake.

What is your opinion of mesh jackets? Does color matter? What brands are good? Some have CE pads, is that important? My dealer is having a sale on BMW mesh jackets (matching pants are also available but I am not interested) that are probably last year's model for $299, originally $449. Of course other brands are usually under $200 and some are only about $100. They all look similar and not a whole lot more protective than just a long sleeve shirt except for the elbow and shoulder pads. Anything you can see through is not going to offer a whole lot of abrasion resistance. And synthetic textiles melt whereas cotton would tear but not weld itself to the skin underneath. Of course the obvious answer is to wear a long sleeve cotton shirt underneath the mesh jacket but that ain't gonna work down here. This is a tough problem that requires risk tolerance, flexibility, and stamina. In really hot weather a car is probably a better alternative. Why I hate them is not clear to me, but short of a hurricane or a really severe thunder storm, I pick the bike over the car every day.

Bill

[AmostThere]

The only choice that made any sense to me:
http://www.motoport.com/

[thepeacebullgrunt]

Rev'it make a summer jacket with high end liners when it gets colder I guess...
there jackets are extremely well designed in every details, temperature management included.

Under southern Californian climate I use a Cayenne Pro from Rev'it and will probably wear the high end liner 2 or 3 month a year.. otherwise a nicely made silk/cashmere sweater in your luggage's will just make at night under a well designed jacket such as those from Revit.

http://www.revit.eu/

[ka5ysy]

+1 on the Motoport Airmesh 2 Kevlar. I have been using them for about 4 years and the gear is the best protection I could find. The new jacket I just purchased is the hi-vis, and is noticeably cooler than the original black jacket. Today the temp in the Baton Rouge area was 90 with the usual high humidity, and I was quite comfortable all day, even after 2PM when the max temp occurred. I have worn the black jacket in 98 degree weather, and while warm, I was not uncomfortable, so the new jacket should be even cooler due to the light color. I actually had to wait in the sun today at a railroad crossing for about 10 minutes, and did not have to remove the jacket. This is a photo of the jacket :






You can order this jacket with a one or two piece liner that works as the rain barrier and insulation, and works really well down to the 20's..
With my yellow helmet etc. anybody that says they could not see me is stone blind.

[crazyhorse]

i wear a fully perforated, armored vanson leather jacket in the summer. when i bought it 8-9 years ago textiles weren't really where they are now.

a year or so i bought an olympia jacket (hi-viz) and they also have a perforated/mesh one in hi-viz. i would probably go that route now. their jackets are very well made.

wes

[parkec]

Another Floridian with 2 cents.

* I ride before noon (mostly), or after 7pm (occssionaly).


&

* Over the last few years I have alternated between mesh (Joe Rocket & First Gear) and a Joe Rocket Perferated Full Leather Jacket. This past Chirstmas I picked upthe Revit Ignition/Navagator/Aviator or something or other...Mesh and "leather" with multiple liners...suppose to be a three season jacket.

Results...Joe Rocket Perferted Full Leather, and currently testing the Revit. Both of these are hotter than mesh, but they both have sleeves with fixed armour vs sleeves with snaps and velcro strabs ala a universal fit. When I hit/bounce I want my pads where they are suppose to be..I think I have abetter chance with fixed armour. I know that someone (Alpine?) makes a full sleeve net vest with armour but I have not tried it, but concievably could go under a stripped out full mesh jacket, or just make a Mad Max fashion statement. The knock I have on the Rev it is the hightech sown in liner sticks and makes taking the jacket off a litttle envolved, but I am hoping the jacket is cooler than the Rocket -it certain gets a few complements.

Why I don't care for the the two full mesh jackets.

1. sleeves with snaps and velcro straps
2. the mesh will fray from your glove velcro, and in just normal where.


Shirt. thin plaid cotton button down, and not tucked in while riding can be found at your local Bealls, Stienmart, KMart, Tarket, for about $12 please note shirt is suitable for water dousing.
Pants. jeans and babby powder. but thinking of going squid occasionly this summer and where shorts.. Won't I be a sight with my Redwing Boots.


almost forgot...in the summer I where perferated leather goves, vs nonpererated gauntlet gloves which i where in the winter.

[sweatmark]

+2 for Motoport mesh Kevlar. Lightweight, well-constructed, cool in the heat. Crashed in mine and was impressed by abrasion resistance.

My wife has BMW Air Vent jacket (or called something similar). Has same mesh Kevlar material within the venting sections as does the Motoport, or looks so similar under close inspection that we cannot tell the difference. She has not crashed in hers, but the garment is excellent quality.

[thepeacebullgrunt]

For hot weather there is also this chemical or I don't remember from what it is made but it is a stick that you apply after showering and it suppose to block sweat for the day. you can use it on your fit, armpit, torso and back area up to kidney's in contact with the back protector in the jacket.

Well if I respect your enthusiasm for the Motoport jacket I still want to say that before shopping anything you must drive to a dealer were a large selection of Rev'it equipment are available to inspect and try. You'll see that it is in every single details Revit's motorcycle equipments are full of appropriate innovations, well designed and neatly manufactured.

That's what I did and were conquered...

[Lost Rider]

If you want to spend a small fortune and have absolute top quality with the latest hi-tech fabrics like TFT COOL black, Cool Max, APS air Powered By Dow Corning Active Protection System ( reactive armor), and Outlast insulation to name a few, don't rule out the Rukka Airvision.

http://www.rukka.com/lfashion/rukka/ruk ... pand=1.6.2

I wasted many dollars trying different suits and when I finally made the jump to Rukka I understood what people said about investing money on TOP quality gear. It's worth it for piece of mind knowing you are as well protected as you can be, and are also comfortable all the time.
Motoport and Rukka are undoubtedly the best riding gear money can buy, which is better is hard to say and anybody who spent thousands on a riding suit would argue theirs in the best...

When I look at how much I have invested in my bikes, a top quality riding suit seams like a small, but smart investment in the long run for me since I tend to wear things out quickly...

Here's a review I did on my Rukka Armax:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthre ... ukka+armax

If an expensive suit isn't in the budget, I've had comfortable HOT weather riding with my Rev'it Air Jacket, though I have worn out the waterproofing on other Rev'it stuff in ONE season, and can't vouch for it's crash protection really... compared to my Rukka the armor feels very skimpy.
Nice stuff for a good price.

What do you wear under your jacket? Methinks that what you wear under your suit is as important as the suit...
Cotton is the worst IMO, a lightweight wicking-type "performance" shirt made by Mountain Hardware, or something from a athletic store makes a huge difference when it's hot.
I usually keep mine wet for very comfortable riding in VERY hot weather.

Good luck, and you might want to check out ADVrider's gear page, there's usually some kind of hot weather riding thread going on.

[thepeacebullgrunt]

I almost bought a Rukka Jacket but the tags everywhere...I just can't deal with it..
I just hate looking like "I am loudly advertising my generous sponsors" when in fact I have paid the big $$$ for anything I wear. But for sure it seems to be a very high end product ! All my Respect for their Design Performance anyway.

Below is a Flickr link with pictures and comments of a rider who crashed at 100mph
with a cayenne pro jacket http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=cayenne ... ash&m=text

Jus for Info Rev'it and Mountain Hardware are manufactured by the same factory in China...as the LA Rev'it dealer told me.

Regarding Hot Weather Riding I was wondering if some of you use this product
available for foot, underarm or I guess anywhere you need it --> http://www.certaindrifeet.com/Pages/Cer ... _Feet_Home
this brand of antiperspirant also seem to be well reviewed online --> http://www.mitchumman.com/

.......

[bobw]

In really hot weather a car is probably a better alternative. Why I hate them is not clear to me, but short of a hurricane or a really severe thunder storm, I pick the bike over the car every day.

Bill

My kind of guy.


I think everything is hot in the weather you describe. After 25 years in Phoenix I notice the motor cops dress as you described the Florida officers gear. I know most also wear a bullet proof vest under their shirt too. A balance of protecting from heat stroke or crash protection is tough. I wear old heavy leather gear in colder weather and use Held and Alpinestar ballistic fabric/mesh in warmer months. I just get used to sweating and carry a couple bottles of water to drink at a stop. I avoid the few lights we have around here as any movement provides a welcome breeze. In AZ I watched farm workers go all day in humid cotton fields wearing a big floppy hat and light colored long sleeve shirts. It protected from direct sun light (burning) and those same folks drove without the a/c on in their trucks or cars; they just were acclimated to the heat.

There are times that I am in my gear sweating like a pig and I almost envy the guy in tank top, shorts and sandals riding next to me, then I think about just laying down on that hot pavement unprotected let alone crashing on it. I accept I am not willing to risk that kind of risk.

BMW stuff is top shelf, but you can get some "cheaper" quality gear to try at places like New Enough.com and/or a ton of other places on the Internet if you know your sizes. Draggin Jeans or "air" mesh type pant/jackets offer basic coverage that I would try to live with VS just hoping for the best.

Safe travels

Bob

[waynemathews]

[quote="FredeR1200Ric"]

Regarding Hot Weather Riding I was wondering if some of you use this product
available for foot, underarm or I guess anywhere you need it --> http://www.certaindrifeet.com/Pages/Cer ... _Feet_Home
this brand of antiperspirant also seem to be well reviewed online --> http://www.mitchumman.com/



I advise against using antiperspirants because of the potential for inducing heat stroke. Generally, sweat provides cooling and is good; if odor is the issue, try a straight deodorant.

[thepeacebullgrunt]

In every country I lived I never owned a car or obtained a driving license for car... always motorcycle.

Thanks for the tip wayne... Odors is not really the problem but its the sweating while the bike is stopped, its annoying to feel the shirt soaked under the jacket... even if a 10mns ride with all venting open dry everything inside if wearing a Rev'it Cayenne Pro.

For sure ! if I try those chemicals I'll do it parsimoniously.

[daveyator]

I've been very happy with tour master's intake air jacket (mesh) and their venture air pant. The pant are actually warm enough (with the liners in) to use in the dead of winter..well as much as we get in so cal anyhow.

[ShinySideUp]

I wore the Motoport mesh jacket (black) in Italy in 100 degree weather. It really is as cool as riding in a T-shirt while you are moving, since the entire garment is mesh, not just the vents.

But I found I got dangerously hot in the stop and go traffic in towns. (The same thing would have probably happened in a T-shirt). That's when I broke out my cooling vest. Soaked in water for about 10 minutes, it kept me nice and cool for about an hour of riding time. Then I'd find a stream, lake, or water hydrant to recharge it. The other riders on the tour almost killed me for it!

[thepeacebullgrunt]

Today I just tried "Tom's Deodorant"...a kind of inexpensive "organic" deodorant and slightly antiperspirant.
Applied parsimoniously on torso, armpit, back & kidneys then foots and legs up to under the knee exactly where my Rev'it touring socks end.
It seems to works well at controlling the sweaty effect under the boots and the jacket while doing stuff in the city without the bike.

[Bill Stevenson]

Thank you everyone, there is a lot of information to digest here. I did try on a Tourmaster mesh jacket and there is no way that would work for me. I will try to get down the the BMW Shop next weekend and take a harder look at their stuff. In the end I will probably stay with my current flimsy outfit. Dehydration and heat exhaustion or worse are just too great a risk to ignore. I bought a perforated Vanson jacket several years ago, beautiful thing, but it hung in the closet because it was unbearable whenever I stopped. In the end I gave it to my son in law. He finds it acceptable in the Washington DC area where he and my daughter reside. I also have a strong preference to support local merchants and that will probably rule out things like the Rukka or the Motoport.

Bill

[sweatmark]

I also have a strong preference to support local merchants and that will probably rule out things like the Rukka or the Motoport.

"To each his own", but please consider the Motoport alternative as good option to BMW gear. One ride with good mesh gear on a hot day is all it takes.

[thepeacebullgrunt]

Guys !

I don't understand what you all have with these Motoport jackets...there design seems so bulky and primitive.

I have to find one and look at them closely.

[mattbr]

Guys !

I don't understand what you all have with these Motoport jackets...there design seems so bulky and primitive.

I have to find one and look at them closely.

well, they look like crap but the protection is excellent. and yeah, maybe someone should steal some of, say, bellstaff's designs...

(enfin bon, il faut pas oublier que c'est dessiné par des américains, pour des américains )