Riding Jacket

Ryan wrote:
 > I know everyone's probably sick of this question cause it comes
 > up all the time but I missed the previous posts so I gotta ask. My
 > girlfriend is buying me a riding jacket for my B-day in July. She
 > knows nothing about them so luckily she asked me instead of just
 > going out and buying a "pretty one". I'm looking for something in
 > the $200-$300 range. I live in the
 > Pittsburgh area and I want to be warm in the winter and cool in the
 > summer without sacrificing protection of course.
 >
 > What would be my best choice?????
 >
 > Thanks
 > Ryan
 >
 > 03 Yzf-600

For street riding I have a Vanson padded lether jacket that has zippered
vents in the front. It helps a lot on hot days to have some venting.
Vanson uses thicker leather that's untreated so they end up sort of stiff.
But they're good quality jackets, maybe above the $300 limit. You can buy
armor or foam padding to add to the jackets too. I really want one of these
things for summer (not the dude, the jacket): anybody know on them?
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.vansonleathers.com/product_pages/jackets/ventilator.htm" target="_blank">http://www.vansonleathers.com/product_pages/jackets/ventilator.htm</a>

I also have a two-piece Dainese armored suit that I picked up on E-bay for
about $300. New they go for $1000+, just get yourself fitted if you choose
this route.


--
Greg Sumner
Seattle WA
'03 CBR 600RR<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Riding Jacket 

Previously on alt.motorcycle.sportbike, Saddlebag said:

; I recently purhased a First Gear Kilamanjaro after it was given a good write up
; in MCN. I haven't ridden much with it, but from what I have I've garnered that
; it is reasonably good insulator (not the best, but good).

It kept me warm all day in a cold early April rain last year.

; It is supposed to be waterPROOF. I haven't tested this aspect of it.

I have. With all the seals velcro'd shut (ie, no open vents), it is.
You can probably get away with the exhaust vent in the back open if you
lower the reflective flap... as long as your bike doesn't roster-tail
water up your back.

; According to MCN it is supposed to have excellent venting properties, hasn't
; been warm enough around here to test that feature either yet.

I found that when it gets really warm out, I need to switch to a
meshtex jacket or I'm swimming in sweat, even with all the vents open.
Note too, that I'm approx 100lbs overweight, which may have something
to do with that.

; Anyway, you will be doing well to find a jacket to do it all. I didn't really
; intend the Kilamanjaro to be my July jacket. Good venting or not, you do stop
; once in awhile and at those times you're going to sizzle. Fortunately, for
; about $100 you can pick up a Joe Rocket Phoenix (mesh) jacket to handle the
; scortchers.

I prefer First Gear's MeshTex jacket. Of course, there's the fact that
Joe Rocket doesn't make anything in my size...

I'm still looking for a pair of waterproof armored (ie, not simply
"rain suit") riding over-pants that fit.

--
Jeffrey Kaplan <*> www.gordol.org
The from userid is killfiled <*> Send personal mail to gordol

"Any excuse will serve a tyrant." Aesop
 >> Stay informed about: Riding Jacket 

On Thu, 25 Mar 2004 08:36:19 GMT, "Ryan" <Mcgee17 DeleteThis @yahoo.com> wrote:

 > I know everyone's probably sick of this question cause it comes up all
 >the time but I missed the previous posts so I gotta ask. My girlfriend is
 >buying me a riding jacket for my B-day in July. She knows nothing about them
 >so luckily she asked me instead of just going out and buying a "pretty one".
 > I'm looking for something in the $200-$300 range. I live in the
 >Pittsburgh area and I want to be warm in the winter and cool in the summer
 >without sacrificing protection of course.
 >
 >What would be my best choice?????
 >
 >Thanks
 >Ryan
 >
 >03 Yzf-600
 >

If I had to have one jacket to do it all in that pricerange, I'd take
a very close look at the First Gear Kilimanjaro: superb jackets that
occasionally go on sale for about three hundred bucks.

Trouble is, there isn't one jacket for all seasons. If I had only
two, they'd be ventilated Vanson or Kushitani leather for the summer,
and an Aerostich Darien for foul weather.

Oh, wait...

'-----------------------------------------------------
' Daniel Bannon
' NW WA State, U.S.A.
' 2003 ZX636B Hercusaki, 1999 CBR1100XX
'-----------------------------------------------------<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Riding Jacket 

On Thu, 25 Mar 2004 10:07:33 -0800, "Inlaw Biker"
<gmonsquared.RemoveThis@yahoo.com> wrote:

 >For street riding I have a Vanson padded lether jacket that has zippered
 >vents in the front. It helps a lot on hot days to have some venting.
 >Vanson uses thicker leather that's untreated so they end up sort of stiff.
 >But they're good quality jackets, maybe above the $300 limit. You can buy
 >armor or foam padding to add to the jackets too. I really want one of these
 >things for summer (not the dude, the jacket): anybody know on them?
 >http://www.vansonleathers.com/product_pages/jackets/ventilator.htm

I have a Vanson Spyder fully-ventilated for summer riding and casual
wear, assuming you don't mind casually looking like a biker hooligan.
Buying it as a bit of an impulse with Deerslayer at a Ride West BMW
open house two years ago, I've grown to really groove this jacket.

Surprisingly, it adjusted down and still fits after going from
Sasquatch-size to current. I'm keeping it, damn the torpedoes, after
thinking about selling a couple months ago. Couldn't replace it with
anything near the quality for less than five hundred bucks, I figure.

<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://tinyurl.com/3azbg" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/3azbg</a>

Mine took awhile to break in. Vansons do; it is what it is.

No chance in hell of finding a Vanson leather jacket for $300 or less,
exception possibly being New Enough. Selling people on the value of
high-quality leather isn't an easy task, right up until they need it.
Then it's suddenly easier.

The one you point out is textile/leather, though. Maybe they can be
had for $300 or less, and if so that might be the best of both worlds.
Textile make me a bit nervous, in terms of abrasion protection, though
they are cooler in the summer.

Kushitani makes outstanding mesh jackets, IMO the best in the
business. I cannot recommend these products enough, but I'm a broken
record that way. Check out their online selection.

 >I also have a two-piece Dainese armored suit that I picked up on E-bay for
 >about $300. New they go for $1000+, just get yourself fitted if you choose
 >this route.

Custom? I'd agree with that. Worth the expense, IME.

'-----------------------------------------------------
' Daniel Bannon
' NW WA State, U.S.A.
' 2003 ZX636B Hercusaki, 1999 CBR1100XX
'-----------------------------------------------------<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Riding Jacket 

Daniel Bannon wrote:
 > The one you point out is textile/leather, though. Maybe they can be
 > had for $300 or less, and if so that might be the best of both worlds.
 > Textile make me a bit nervous, in terms of abrasion protection, though
 > they are cooler in the summer.

Yeah I can hack the heat here in the summer with the stuff I have. I don't
really mind it even in full leathers. Even on long rides in mid-summer out
in Okanagan full leathers aren't so bad except when you stop. I just think
that Vanson textile thing would be nice to have. There's no end to the cool
crap you can spend money on.

If you're semi-standard sized then you can get an off-the-shelf racing suit.
Luckily I'm everyman size -- I'm dead average in height/weight so I've never
had any problems finding gear.


--
Greg Sumner
Seattle WA
'03 CBR 600RR<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Riding Jacket 

Previously on alt.motorcycle.sportbike, Daniel Bannon said:

; No chance in hell of finding a Vanson leather jacket for $300 or less,
; exception possibly being New Enough. Selling people on the value of
; high-quality leather isn't an easy task, right up until they need it.
; Then it's suddenly easier.
;
; The one you point out is textile/leather, though. Maybe they can be
; had for $300 or less, and if so that might be the best of both worlds.
; Textile make me a bit nervous, in terms of abrasion protection, though
; they are cooler in the summer.

Darien, ballistic nylon and Kevlar. In the proper weights and weaves,
each is at least as tough as leather of a similar thickness.

As you mention, textiles are cooler in the summer. In cooler times,
there are linings, sweaters, and/or heated clothing to go underneath.
And there is also the matter of image. I've only seen leather in two
basic styles: Bad Boy Biker and Boy Racer. I am neither and I prefer
to not look like either.

--
Jeffrey Kaplan <*> www.gordol.org
The from userid is killfiled <*> Send personal mail to gordol

"It is not Reaganesque to support a tax plan that is Clinton in
nature." George W. Bush, Los Angeles, Feb. 23, 2000
 >> Stay informed about: Riding Jacket 

on 3/27/04 9:54 PM, Jeffrey Kaplan wrote:

 > I've only seen leather in two
 > basic styles: Bad Boy Biker and Boy Racer. I am neither and I prefer
 > to not look like either.

There's also "Serious Road Rider". That's usually solid black, no tassels,
fringe, nor tough guy slogans sewn on. There may be evidence of insect
innards in some cases, usually from the latest multi-day 800-mile ride. I
cite my own leathers as an example. I am not "Bad Boy Biker", nor am I "Boy
Racer", but I do ride with full leather at all times. And after having two
get-offs with good leather and one with mediocre leather, I choose the good
stuff.

I do agree with your point though, that quality ballistic nylon gear is good
protection for most situations; it's just not what I choose to wear.

--
Jamin Kortegard
2002 YZF-R1
2003 WRX

"Hokey 600s and trackday usability are no match
for a good litrebike at your side, kid."

- Michael<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Riding Jacket