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I am on my second Joe Rocket Alter Ego jacket in 15 years. It transforms from a mesh jacket to a regular riding jacket (water proof). A good trick considering its modest price.
I've been wearing a couple armored textile jackets since I slid a hole in my leather one. I've been through a couple meshes but I've been liking the Joe Rocket Phoenix lately.
In Kansas you'll be fighting a humid heat during the day and you'll like the liner for cooler nights.
I hate branding tags and they come right off with this jacket.
I bought a H-D mesh jacket after my accident in '19 (hit a car that pulled across the road at 50 MPH approx.). I was wearing a leather jacket, jeans, boots, gloves and half helmet. I didn't have a mark on me, but broke six bones and permanently messed up my left shoulder. Problem with accidents, is that they are, by nature, "accidental." It's impossible to predict what will happen, how you will land or what damage will be inflicted. Make the choices you're comfortable with and hope for the best.
As for me, I decided I was no longer comfortable riding in jeans and a t-shirt in hot weather, so I did something about it. If it's too hot to wear the mesh jacket, it's too hot to ride anyway.
A few years ago I decided that I needed some sort of textile jacket.
I see a lot of adventure riders around here on the weekends and they are always stylishly armored regardless of the summer temps. That's just something I've never done myself. I'm stuck in the past century with all my crap so it's no surprise that I'm a jacket retard too. It's just always been human hide or leather in the cool.
I started nosing around on-line, like Ebay and vendor websites. Doing diligence. Picking features and price shopping. That's when I picked up a few clues that the way they were sized was fishy. The more I looked the more confused I became.
Vendor websites led me to their product review videos. These videos shed light on the crazy sizing on these jackets. The trick is to find key words in the produce description. Things like "slim fit" takes a guy like me out of the picture.
There is a Cycle Gear showroom in San Antonio. Who ever needs an excuse to ride but this did seem like a good reason to roll. I reckon the only way that I'd be happy with fitting was to do it in person.
Upon arrival I was met by a knowledgeable guy who joked with me that everyone came it to try on jackets that they ended up buying on-line
I ended up buying a jacket from them that was sized as a 5x long. There is no way that I am a 5x!
There is no way that I would have ordered a 5x either. I like enough room under a jacket to layer a little....but a 5x?
Watch the sizing closely. It seems to be brand specific.
I'll just leave these here, 40 mph side on the asphalt. Walked away and just had a sore elbow and shoulder the next day. It is your decision and your body.
Knee
Butt
Left Palm, leather with Kevlar lining, held up really well.
Right palm
Left Elbow, armor saved the skin and attenuated the shock of hitting the pavement
Those look like Joe Rocket mesh pants, if so I have a pair of those. Good to know if I ever go down, I will have good protection! I really like how much air they move, they are great summer overpants. Thankfully you were wearing good riding gear when you went down.
Those look like Joe Rocket mesh pants, if so I have a pair of those. Good to know if I ever go down, I will have good protection! I really like how much air they move, they are great summer overpants. Thankfully you were wearing good riding gear when you went down.
Yes Joe Rocket Mesh Pants and Tourmaster Jacket. Was my son, not me he got surprised by a deer on a corner and grabbed a little too much front brake. He was glad I had drilled wearing good riding gear into him and I was glad that he was wearing it.
I bought him a new set of riding gear as I look at it as good insurance and as a thanks for him wearing the gear.
The bike (Suzuki SV650S) got a little rash, tweaked the handlebars and broke the left turn signal. I had frame sliders on it so they took most of the beating. Bike is fixed and he will ride again.
I have a river road baron that I admit I don't wear as much as I should. It's a good 2.5 season (mid spring to mid fall) mesh jacket that's armored (shoulders, elbows and spine)
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