Mesh Jackets - how well do they work? | GTAMotorcycle.com

Mesh Jackets - how well do they work?

sburns

sburns

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With this hot weather I am looking for options to ride safe but not overheat. I will be honest on days like today I will just stow the jacket and ride in a T-shirt.
But I do want to ride safer. I was considering a vest with a back protector, and also mesh 2-1 jackets. I was able to try on a couple at GP bikes but it still felt like a textile jacket. I didn't get very far as the power went out and had to leave.

I have been looking at Olympia Dallas, and Bradley and a Joe Rocket jackets, leaning more to 2-1 rain/wind all have protection (back/shoulders/elbow)

Just need to better understand how effective they are at keeping you cool.
 
It can vary.

I brought an older Joe Rocket mesh (ballistic phoenix 6 or something?) jacket and pants combo to Thailand back in '17. 5 days of riding in 40+ degrees and as long as i was moving i was OK. Sitting at the lights i was dying, thankfully that was only on the first and last day of my trip.

https://imgur.com/a/JrBBGHu

They do make even lighter synthetic 'wind breaker' types. I suppose if you`re willing to give up any abrasion resistance that's another option.
 
Olympia is generally pretty nice stuff , mesh is always a bit of a compromise, but better than a t shirt . You get no elbow coverage with a vest . I don’t melt like some folks so a textile jacket works for me , but at 30 in humid gta I drink a lot


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Mesh works well. It keeps the sun off you and flows really well. You typically are a touch warmer stopped and get a little sweat on but then once you start moving the airflow cools you off pretty good.

I think a vest would be hotter to be honest. Arms out in the open getting absolutely smoked by the sun and limited to no wind flow on the torso.
 
I recently bought a plaid looking kevlar shell by spped and strength. I wear it quite a bit as it looks more casual for when I get off my bike. It's solid kevlar so I figure it has to be better then mesh. It's quite thin so the wind cuts through it well. There are no elbow/shoulder pads but to be honest, once I remove the liner from my mesh jackets the padding is so loose that I doubt it would stay in place in a slide.
 
Don't worry about it. Skin grows back eventually.;)
 
Is Technic still in business? I'm still wearing their mesh jacket in the heat. Elbow armour, possible back pad (I wear a b/p).
Yesterday, I was at rider's choice buying mesh pants. Took them for a 250km test ride. What a f'n difference compared to "riding jeans". Highly recommend.
Tried olympia on at royal. Fit was wrong for me. A stars seem 4 season. Dainese ftw.
 
I bought a mesh suit while on a ride once and sweat was dripping out of my riding pants. The mesh is much more comfortable in the heat. Skin protection is worse. As with most textile, the armor takes the initial impact, then rotates out of the way and you are left with fabric between you and the road. Mesh has less fabric so it gets used up faster. Still better than a t-shirt or jeans though.
 
Have had my ICON Contra for at least 8 years now and even though I (shockingly) still barely fit into it, it was one of the most comfortable jackets I ever had. I lost the inner liner when my side luggage opened somewhere on the 401, but overall it was very comfortable in most conditions. Sucked in cooler temps, but just threw a sweater on.

I know that it's not as good as leather in a slide, but I prefer to be more comfortable to focus on the ride, then be uncomfortable and frustrated in an oven under leathers.
 
I'll only ride in leather, as long as it's perforated and you have some speed it doesn't get too hot.
Going full squid in shorts/t-shirt is also very pleasurable at times, but feels "wrong" so I very rarely do it. It also means you become a meat crayon if you go down which I hear is no fun.

I also never really ride in the city so I'm always moving to keep airflow going thru. If I was doing tons of city riding or commuting, a textile jacket is something I would consider.
 
blackcamaro said:
Mesh works well. It keeps the sun off you and flows really well. You typically are a touch warmer stopped and get a little sweat on but then once you start moving the airflow cools you off pretty good.

I think a vest would be hotter to be honest. Arms out in the open getting absolutely smoked by the sun and limited to no wind flow on the torso.
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I was thinking about that, the sun, today as I rest from 1 hour's worth of riding yesterday and getting burnt all over my arms. :confused:
 
Thanks all for the input, will try to go back to GP Bikes early next week and try on some jackets. Hopefully there won't be any issues.
 
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sburns said:
That's a Trials answer! :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO:
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no mine would be:
Have you seen that stuff that sharks can't theoretically bite through,
that looks pretty cool. titanium would be my guess, I like titanium.
 
Mesh is fine and no it won't melt to your skin. It is cooler. Was fine in this hot weather then just put a rain jacket over it today. Have an inner liner that is waterproof and breathes but prefer the rain jacket as the mesh collects water like a sponge even tho you are dry.
I'll ride 3 seasons with layers and it's far more flexible than textile. My Joe Rocket is going on 15 years now AFTER I bought it used for $50 and the only wear is the velcro strip on the sleeve. Easy fix. I don't think they make them to the quality standard or to fit North American sizes these days ....my 2x fits looser than my 5x Eurocut Scott. :rolleyes:
Back armor is often below par so I put some good stuff in. Feels funny putting it on but then don't notice it riding.
 
Trials said:
no mine would be:
Have you seen that stuff that sharks can't theoretically bite through,
that looks pretty cool. titanium would be my guess, I like titanium.
Click to expand...
Shark mesh I have seen is just stainless wire and a lot of hours of work.
 
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Trials said:
well that's only slightly disappointing,
if it is that much labour i want to use the finest lightest coolest materials available.
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It's like a cedar strip canoe. The person buying it is shocked at how much it costs and the person making it is normally making substantially less than minimum wage for something that requires skill. If you charged properly for your time, a cedar strip canoe would be the price of a car. If you built a shark suit out of Ti, probably similar pricing. (I checked, stainless mesh suit is 7500 USD, Ti is 25,000 USD).
 
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