Jacket advice
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,865
Likes: 168
From: Potsdam, NY
Jacket advice
Looking for a new jacket. I think I want an all season jacket because I ride in a lot of different weather conditions. It should be comfortable from 95F to 30F, so I think this rules out leather as I have not seen a leather jacket with that kind of adaptability and venting. I also want a GoreTex like waterproofing for breath ability and heavy reinforced Cordura construction, not nylon or polyester, for abrasion resistance.
Hoping to spend less than $500 with taxes and delivery.
Currently looking at the Olympia X-Moto, Rev'It Sand and Rev'it Cayan online but cannot find them locally. Anyone with experience with these or other touring/commuting jackets.
Hoping to spend less than $500 with taxes and delivery.
Currently looking at the Olympia X-Moto, Rev'It Sand and Rev'it Cayan online but cannot find them locally. Anyone with experience with these or other touring/commuting jackets.
Last edited by fat_tony; Jun 13, 2010 at 08:55 AM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,597
Likes: 0
From: South Jersey
After MANY jackets, My jacket of choice is now the Tourmaster 3/4 length transition jacket. I take the liner out for summer, run the liner for spring and fall and add a heated liner for winter. It's the only jacket I need. Plenty of usefull pockets, it even has a EZ-pass zippered pocket at the end of the sleeves!! I like how the collar fits around my neck without letting rainwater in. And it's very waterproof even in downpours. Very comfortable. I tried other textile jackets before this one but they all felt like there were little strips of sandpaper that irritated my arms and neck. The Tourmaster is nice. It is a Cordura style shell, it looks like it would hold up well in a slide if you went down. It cost me $149 about 5 years ago. I think they are around $200 now, well worth the money.
Last edited by BikerV; Jun 13, 2010 at 09:25 AM.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,975
Likes: 12
From: NJ
Yes, definitely forget about leather. The light weight open knit textile jackets with armor in the elbow, shoulders and maybe back are the way to go. No need to spend fortune on them either imo.
I have both a First Gear that I picked up on sale for $70 and an HD that I got on sale for $100. Even they can get a bit uncomfortable on a hot day but it's bearable.
Opps.... I just caught that you wanted an all season coat. These wouldn't be good for winter. Don't have any recs for all season and imo opinion there is no such animal. I break out the leathers for winter.
I have both a First Gear that I picked up on sale for $70 and an HD that I got on sale for $100. Even they can get a bit uncomfortable on a hot day but it's bearable.
Opps.... I just caught that you wanted an all season coat. These wouldn't be good for winter. Don't have any recs for all season and imo opinion there is no such animal. I break out the leathers for winter.
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 732
Likes: 0
From: Central FL
Take a look at the HD switchback jackets. I have the leather one and love it, they make a textile version as well. The outer shell of the jacket zips off so that it becomes a mesh jacket. The textile versions have a water removable waterproof liner as well.
Club Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 30,914
Likes: 16
From: Springfield, Ohio
My wife recently bought me a Fieldsheer Denim, and it's a really nice jacket. Has removable armour (which I did remove 
), removable line, lots of pockets. It's well vented as well.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Field...Q5fMerchandise
), removable line, lots of pockets. It's well vented as well.http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Field...Q5fMerchandise
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 317
Likes: 11
From: Arizona
http://motogearoutlet.com/ and http://motoliberty.com/default.asp both have a good selection of textile jackets.
I have a Kilimanjaro Air by First Gear that is mesh and has a waterproof liner that keeps me warm down into the low 40's and is comfortable to about 90 with the liner out, as long as I'm moving. Hotter than that and...well...better to have the protection, so I generally wear a short mesh First Gear up to 100 degrees.
Olympia makes a better product, though...IMHO.
I have a Kilimanjaro Air by First Gear that is mesh and has a waterproof liner that keeps me warm down into the low 40's and is comfortable to about 90 with the liner out, as long as I'm moving. Hotter than that and...well...better to have the protection, so I generally wear a short mesh First Gear up to 100 degrees.
Olympia makes a better product, though...IMHO.
Last edited by rnothog; Jun 13, 2010 at 11:04 AM.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Marina del Rey
jacket advice
...I think I want an all season jacket because I ride in a lot of different weather conditions. It should be comfortable from 95F to 30F, so I think this rules out leather as I have not seen a leather jacket with that kind of adaptability and venting...
Hoping to spend less than $500 with taxes and delivery...
Hoping to spend less than $500 with taxes and delivery...
In reality it shows us that, just like with gloves, 1 jacket can't do it, but necessary are many "layered" components, each of which may be used alone, or with others, whether or not they are part of a commercial system.
Having been down at 55mph, I choose leather for my outer layer, even though the modern stuff may be scads better, but that's also because I'm an old fart who's always done it that way. My own principle jacket is an extra ordinarily heavy HD leather with elbow and shoulder pads and front and rear vents; size L weighs 6 3/4 # w/o its' liner! It is soooo comfortable, and is suitable for all but the very hottest and coldest weather.
For extremely hot weather I also have an incredibly light leather Heine-Gericke w/ full-length vents; this one replaced the damaged identical original which had previously saved my skin. It packs quite small so I always have it along when trekking the mountains and deserts around here.
Other layered items provide protection from rain, cold....I prefer to add a heavy fleece pullover as soon as the temp dips and, like Piney, I will have a heated jacket liner when it dips further. I'm still looking for a lightweight rain coverall to replace my foul-weather gear.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,658
Likes: 33
This is about as close as you can get to what you describe. It's the jacket of choice for most LD riders.
http://www.aerostich.com/aerostich-s...en-jacket.html
http://www.aerostich.com/aerostich-s...en-jacket.html
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 8,852
Likes: 2,493
From: Decatur, Alabama
After MANY jackets, My jacket of choice is now the Tourmaster 3/4 length transition jacket. I take the liner out for summer, run the liner for spring and fall and add a heated liner for winter. It's the only jacket I need. Plenty of usefull pockets, it even has a EZ-pass zippered pocket at the end of the sleeves!! I like how the collar fits around my neck without letting rainwater in. And it's very waterproof even in downpours. Very comfortable. I tried other textile jackets before this one but they all felt like there were little strips of sandpaper that irritated my arms and neck. The Tourmaster is nice. It is a Cordura style shell, it looks like it would hold up well in a slide if you went down. It cost me $149 about 5 years ago. I think they are around $200 now, well worth the money.