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... I found a near new HD 'Durango' fabric jacket on eBay that has elbow & shoulder armor. Not uncomfortable at all, is reasonably well vented and works great when 65* or less.
I have Armor in both my Textile (First Gear Kilimanjaro) and my Leather (Fox Creek) jackets. I only notice the Armor when I'm putting the jackets on. Once on they're hardly noticeable and nonexistent when riding. Hope I never need them, but . . . just in case . . . .
Super heavy leather no armor in the cold, but a textile jacket with removable armor which I keep in at all times with a zip out liner and venting zippers for when it gets hot. I have only done the T-shirt thing once or twice.
I agree with a lot of what's been said about armor. It's slighty noticeable only when you put it on, the back piece can be a bit more noticeable than the joints, but it's really noticeable on that off chance that you meet the pavement. I wear a couple different jackets with armor pads depending on the weather and mesh pants with armored knees/shins.
The flip side is that my wife says that I look like a tool. I'm not that cool helmetless, gloveless, t-shirt wearing dude she romanticizes about. I'm a father who wants to come home in one piece to his little girl.
I agree with a lot of what's been said about armor. It's slighty noticeable only when you put it on, the back piece can be a bit more noticeable than the joints, but it's really noticeable on that off chance that you meet the pavement. I wear a couple different jackets with armor pads depending on the weather and mesh pants with armored knees/shins.
The flip side is that my wife says that I look like a tool. I'm not that cool helmetless, gloveless, t-shirt wearing dude she romanticizes about. I'm a father who wants to come home in one piece to his little girl.
You guys sure spend a lot of time worrying about falling down. Knee pads? I've never even seen a person on a motorcycle with knee pads, but I imagine it would be hilarious.
I just wear one of these packs on my back - you can put extra armor in the pouch:
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