Summer Riding Gear
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Road Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 18
From: Beautiful SW Missouri Ozark Mountain Country
Summer Riding Gear
I did a search and really couldn't find a thread about summer gear.
Back in about 1985, I had a rear tire blowout and laid the bike down at 65mph. Bike went to the left and my girl and I went to the right. Road rash from my ankle to my hip and from my wrist to my shoulder on my right side. My girl just kinda rode on top of me and got a tiny bit of road rash on her forearm. Anyway, I swore I'd never ride again without protective gear of some sorts. So I always ride with a leather jacket, at least full length jeans, sometimes chaps, and gloves. The jacket is pretty heavy and lined, not really for summer riding, but I've toughed it out all these years. But I'm tired of the weight and warmth. Not as tough as once was I guess.
So what do you wear for safe summer riding?
And before we go there, it's obvious to everyone here, that clothes (just like helmets) are only minimally helpful, so let's refrain from the lectures and the ney-saying.
Back in about 1985, I had a rear tire blowout and laid the bike down at 65mph. Bike went to the left and my girl and I went to the right. Road rash from my ankle to my hip and from my wrist to my shoulder on my right side. My girl just kinda rode on top of me and got a tiny bit of road rash on her forearm. Anyway, I swore I'd never ride again without protective gear of some sorts. So I always ride with a leather jacket, at least full length jeans, sometimes chaps, and gloves. The jacket is pretty heavy and lined, not really for summer riding, but I've toughed it out all these years. But I'm tired of the weight and warmth. Not as tough as once was I guess.
So what do you wear for safe summer riding?
And before we go there, it's obvious to everyone here, that clothes (just like helmets) are only minimally helpful, so let's refrain from the lectures and the ney-saying.
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: Concord Ca
Greetings, I wear a Tourmaster flex jacket with removable liner, once the liner is removed you have a jacket that is all mesh with armour in elbows, and lower back and its comfortable and you get all the flow through venting you can possibly imagine. I use the sliders cargo pants with the kevlar also.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 4,082
Likes: 11
From: Long Island, NY
Lined leather jacket and chaps (sometimes) in the summer? That would take all the fun out of it for me, not to mention the danger of heat stroke if you get caught in traffic.
I wear jeans and a t-shirt. If you're looking for more protection, check out some of those mesh armored jackets.
I wear jeans and a t-shirt. If you're looking for more protection, check out some of those mesh armored jackets.
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 211
Likes: 9
From: Eastern Colorado
Mesh jacket with armor on the shoulders and elbows. Combined with jeans and boots you get fair coverage. I have some summer mesh gloves that have armor over the knuckles as well. Knees are unprotected but every other body joint has some protection.
When I had a get off at 65mph on blacktop my shoulder, elbow and knuckles got severely scuffed. Steel toe boot got ground as well. Funny but my knees never did hit the road. Oh, and I did trash a FF helmet as well, but you weren't asking about that.
When I had a get off at 65mph on blacktop my shoulder, elbow and knuckles got severely scuffed. Steel toe boot got ground as well. Funny but my knees never did hit the road. Oh, and I did trash a FF helmet as well, but you weren't asking about that.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,990
Likes: 9
From: Marina del Rey
For hot weather I switch to a very lightweight leather Hein Gericke vented jacket; and vented, armored and gel-padded, leather & mesh hybrid, Olympia gloves. Jeans, helmet (3/4 w/ built-in flip-up visor) and boots are my year round wear. As my riding is generally longer road trips, I normally add leather chaps, even when it's hot.
Banned
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,790
Likes: 3,003
From: NJ Shore and IRB Fla
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Road Captain
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 542
Likes: 5
From: New York
Can some of you guys post links or pics or info of your Mesh Jackets please ?
I usually throw a vest on during the summer with boots, gloves and a FF helmet. Been thinking of a mesh jacket. Went down one time and road rash really sucks !
I usually throw a vest on during the summer with boots, gloves and a FF helmet. Been thinking of a mesh jacket. Went down one time and road rash really sucks !
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