What is the best riding jacket?

[LukeM]

I ride with a Firstgear mesh type jacket in summer.  It has the armor in the shoulders, elbows, and back. 9 pockets for stuff.  I got it through an online place (can't recall which one).  It was a closeout, and I paid $130 plus shipping.  This should do me well, until the cold weather hits.
For the colder stuff, I have a non-mesh Cordura jacket that does well. It is armored as well, and it has a zip-in backpack, which is a neat feature and gets lots of comments. I got this used off of the local Craigslist for $75.

It's probably not cool to have armor in a jacket, but with all the crazy cagers and inattentive drivers out there, I'd rather have as much protection as I can get.

Luke M

[LukeM]

Oh...the Firstgear has a pocket near the small of my back that holds an outside liner that you zip on when it's raining or just too windy/cold.  I've used it a few times, and it's VERY handy. I need to get better at weather forecasting. :-)

Luke M

[cheesehead]

I got this Joe Rocket for free when I bought my bike. It was the perfect size and feels and looks great. Mine is all black. I wore it on warm days without the liner and with the vents open and wasn't hot and I've worn it on cold days and was kept warm. But usually when it's hot out I just go with a t-shirt.

http://www.joerocket.com/catalog/index.cfm/236/434/Textile_Jackets/Atomic_4.0_[waterproof]

[cheesehead]

he also included this helmet for free but it's too small for my giant head..

http://www.motorcyclecloseouts.com/sport/motorcycle+helmets/hjc_fs-15+air+helmet+-+snarl+?utm_source=gps&utm_medium=csn&utm_term=FS-15+AIR+Helmet+-+Snarl+&utm_campaign=sport-motorcycle+helmets&gclid=CNbhq4v16KsCFYxx5Qod3l1fGw

[cityslicker]

Luke M wrote

Oh...the Firstgear has a pocket near the small of my back that holds an outside liner that you zip on when it's raining or just too windy/cold.  I've used it a few times, and it's VERY handy. I need to get better at weather forecasting. :-)

Luke M

thats a very good idea. I would like to have something like that. I always get caught in the rain.

[shinyribs]

I have that same helmet Cheese,i love it.Mine is the matte black,though.Is yours just like in the pic with the graphics?Are you gonna sell it?

[Piute]

   you just reminded me have to get contact lenses
 wont to use a full face but glasses get bent ,foggy,hard to see,have a few 3/4 shells .

   "O"more stuff to paintnow I got better things to think about at work  flames    stripes  both    just flat black     

[shinyribs]

i have problems using a full face helmet with eyeglasses,too.Get you some "Cat Crap".Its good stuff
http://honda-cb750-s.456789.n3.nabble.com/New-helmet-td3224258.html#a3224393

[sgtslag]

Have you tried a modular helmet?  I wear eyeglasses, and my wife wears sunglasses, and we both love modular helmets.  They're not terribly expensive anymore.  For touring, they seem to be the best all around:  protection same as a full-face , but can be opened up to resemble a 3/4 type, for talking, and drinking.  The modular goes on with my glasses on my face.  Cheers!

[shinyribs]

I have seen those.I had already bought a full face helmet with a visor before i knew about the modular type.I bought my full face years ago for a race car that i had at the time.I never thought that i would have ever been riding a motorcycle!I wish i had one like you were talking about,but mine seems to be doing okay for now.I'll ride it for a few weeks and then decide if i need to change or not.There was a real nice looking one in town for about $175.I also like the ones with the retractable sunglasses!That is a BIG plus for people with prescription glasses.I doubt that you can get a modular with retractable sunglasses.If you can i will definitely save up for one of those!

[Piute]

remember when those came out liked them but ran 400 $ ,but as you say may / have came down
 just seen this and got my attention

[cheesehead]

yes, I would love to sell it. Make a fair offer and it's yours so I can get a bigger one. It's a large or XL, I'd be willing to trade for a nice XXL

[cheesehead]

and yes, it's that exact one with the graphics and has been worn maybe twice by my daughter. she did scrape it on the sidewalk once while walking though so there's a small spot on top that's nicked up but you can't see it unless you are looking or feeling for it.

[sgtslag]

Check these out:

http://www.leatherup.com/c/Motorcycle-Modular-Helmets/2/176.html?gclid=CKuc1u_o7qsCFWsEQAodeUiMHw

These are just one link from Google for a "modular motorcycle helmet" search.  There are lower priced helmets, same type, with an internal visor.  As long as they are DOT certified, they are safe (Dr. Hurt was quoted in an interview as saying that the $70 DOT helmets, from Pep Boys, offer the same protection as the high priced helmets).  Cheers!

[shinyribs]

Thanks Sarge!A flip-up with a retractable visor!Awesome!I gotta tell Santa about that one!
What about the Snell 90 rating you see?What does that mean exactly?Anyone know?

I am not in the market for another helmet right now Cheese.If i do buy another helmet it will be like the one in Sarge's link.Sorry.Didnt mean to waste your time.I do like the looks of that helmet,though.I figured some of the other new riders on here might be interested

[shinyribs]

My Bilt Apollo Textile jacket showed up on my front porch today,so i figured it was time to try it out.Put 120 miles on it today.That thing breathes great.I love it!You CAN actually feel the air course around your shoulders and lower back.Thanks Rich. Extremely pleased with it!

[rich]

I can also tell you now that its cool weather performance is good as well. It was around 42 degrees this morning and I rode to work today, 50 miles, most of it at 70+mph. With the vents closed and the liner in, my arms and torso were nice a comfy. My legs and my neck got a little chilled though. I didn't really think about it when I left this morning but 42 at 70mph is a lot colder than 42 and sitting still. If I had to do it again I'd leave earlier and take the back roads to keep the speed around 45 or so. Anyway, it made up for not getting to ride much this weekend. The weather was awesome but I had my little grandson, age 5,  visiting from out of state so I stayed close to home.

shinyribs wrote

My Bilt Apollo Textile jacket showed up on my front porch today,so i figured it was time to try it out.Put 120 miles on it today.That thing breathes great.I love it!You CAN actually feel the air course around your shoulders and lower back.Thanks Rich. Extremely pleased with it!

[Lucky 1]

The best motorcycle jacket has armor built in and is nylon so if you fall it just slides.
Leather is bad because it really grabs the pavement and tosses & rolls you around.
Leather is not warm and gets wet in foggy weather.

The good motorcycle jackets also come with a liner that you can remove in hot weather.

But the really,really good motorcycle jackets come with airbags built in now.

By the way....The best motorcycle gloves are ski gloves, if it is really cold.

[Piute]

  crash dummy : after 30+ yrs of hard riding ?

i layed down bike in rain ?20mph slid into car along with bike,just brused elbow and scratched bike
  ,once went down in a 20 mph curve doing 40+ bike slid up hill hit tree so did I
 my worse was making a U-turn at night front tire caught and slid on something bike fell on my ankal have a quarter size scar were I was able to see my bones working while I road myself to hospital

   I always wear a leather jacket and leather gloves ,If your thinking while your fall or going down you can    make yourself slide or roll,I always tryed to keep my head up and see around.
   Try putting on latex gloves before your own I'll bet your hands will swet
   Your safest bet is to be awere of all around you and have a plan on were to go at all time of situations
      Piute N Judose

    Sorry to say but, tell all that I have taught to ride,Others (vehicals)will try to kill you,Gravity does work,Black-top does hurt ,DRESS FOR IT

[shinyribs]

Piute,i like you and all...just dont be offended if i never want to ride with you         Piute= Unbreakable