a bad question to ask
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Joined: Feb 2007
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From:
a bad question to ask
ok gang first off sorry for asking this and i really hope no one tries this at home. i keep hearing that the good mesh jackets are as good as leather, i have been riding 20 plus years and always in leather or just a T, i did buy a light weight mesh last year and have to admit it pretty dang comforatable, now that its winter im back in leather. next summer im hoping to do more longer range riding and am trying to cut down on the stuff i carry. ok the bad part...Has anyone been down with mesh on and how did it do. Was it really as protective as good leather ??? and im not meaning the cheaper mesh but a good jacket with body armor, something like the HD Switchback or along those line. sorry to ask guys cause the thought of a brother down isint a good one.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,184
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From: The Peoples Republic of Massachusstts
RE: a bad question to ask
The wife and I where TOURMASTER mesh jackets with armor when it gets really hot out. WE find that althought the are still warm if you are stopped, but alot cooler then leather, in the heat they are cool riding. With the mesh you won't get sunburned OR wind burned. I have not crashed yet ..............so no coment on it protection from the road rash.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
From: Salisbury, MD
RE: a bad question to ask
I've never worn leather, in hot weather, and always wear it in cold weather.
I used to wear denim jackets in the heat. Now, I wear the Harley mesh jacket, with shoulder and elbow pads, and I like it a lot.
Thankfully, I haven't tested it for " road rash " protection.
I used to wear denim jackets in the heat. Now, I wear the Harley mesh jacket, with shoulder and elbow pads, and I like it a lot.
Thankfully, I haven't tested it for " road rash " protection.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 241
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From:
RE: a bad question to ask
The pros may wear leather, but I have no intention of going 160mph 2" from another person from the asylum.
I have a Tourmaster jacket with EC approved armor. I figure that the EC has done their homework. I remember it being rated for 100' across asphalt with denim being rated for 5' across asphalt. That's good enough for me.
It has a zip-out thinsulate liner that is waterproof and rolls up into a ball the size of a football. With it it is comfortable down to 40 degrees. Without the liner it is comfortable to wear in 95 degree heat ( it doesn't get any hotter around here) The small of my back does get a little hot and sticky where the back armor is. I wouldn't think of putting on my leather jacket when it was over 80, so any protection is better than none.
That being said, I did ask Santa for a FCL Classic II ( I wonder if they make them in brown?)
I have a Tourmaster jacket with EC approved armor. I figure that the EC has done their homework. I remember it being rated for 100' across asphalt with denim being rated for 5' across asphalt. That's good enough for me.
It has a zip-out thinsulate liner that is waterproof and rolls up into a ball the size of a football. With it it is comfortable down to 40 degrees. Without the liner it is comfortable to wear in 95 degree heat ( it doesn't get any hotter around here) The small of my back does get a little hot and sticky where the back armor is. I wouldn't think of putting on my leather jacket when it was over 80, so any protection is better than none.
That being said, I did ask Santa for a FCL Classic II ( I wonder if they make them in brown?)
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 241
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From:
RE: a bad question to ask
Oh, but back to your original question. No I haven't tried it out yet. I figure it's more of a way to ward off evil spirts.
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Road Warrior
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RE: a bad question to ask
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Road Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 971
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From: Mid USA
RE: a bad question to ask
Look at one of the higher quality mesh jackets for summer. I feel that they do not have the all over protection of leather against road rash, but leather is pretty hot in the summer. The better made armored mesh jackets protect the elbows, shoulders, and back pretty well and provide some fairly durable coverage for the rest of the upper torso. Rest assured that a 40 foot slide, or better, across asphalt or rough concrete can chew through the pressure points on a mesh jacket. But a T-Shirt wonât make near that distance before you start losing major square inches of skin and mussel.
Arcane
Arcane
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,738
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From: St. Charles, IL
RE: a bad question to ask
Mesh is not better than leather or much better than a t-shirt really. TEXTILE may be a close second to leather for abrasion and impact. That is what you want, textile/balistic nylon not mesh. The other positive of textile, most of these jackets are wind-proof. My textile is as warm, if not warmer than my Alpinestars V4 racing leather. And, this is the other qualification of protection. All leather is NOT created equal. You will only get good protection from leather that is 1.4mm thick or better. The leathers you see at the malls, is not protection, and a textile jacket will definately be better than that leather. That leather is so thin, you can cut it with a thumb nail. So, you want leather for protection, you buy leather that will give you the thickness of the leather. If they don't know, or don't list it, it ain't for protection.