Leathers in hot weather...
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,979
Likes: 57
From: PA
I ride all year round. In the winter I wear insulated chaps, leather jacket, 3/4 helmet, heated gloves & boots. In warmer weather, jeans, shirt, denim vest, gloves, & boots. I recently stopped wearing a helmet, unless I know I'm going to be on the highways.
Conversely, I have a riding acquaintance who rides ATGATT in all temperatures. During the summer he sweats like a ***** in church, but if he feels safer that way, more power to him.
Conversely, I have a riding acquaintance who rides ATGATT in all temperatures. During the summer he sweats like a ***** in church, but if he feels safer that way, more power to him.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,820
Likes: 588
From: Michigan
Below 60, GoreTex riding suit w/armor. Above 60, mesh jacket w/armor & jeans. Due to being rear-ended in a couple car accidents (both times I was stopped & got smacked from behind) lightest helmet I have found, HD Hybrid (1lb 4oz) half helmet. Due to hyperthermia susceptibility, hydro vest above 80 w/o helmet. Better to be alert & proactive to riding conditions than hyperthermic (slowed reflexes & judgement, like riding drunk) & unable to respond properly.
Banned
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,082
Likes: 2
From: USA
I rarely ride below 60ş, I often ride over 90ş and sometimes over 105ş
I wear chaps to protect me from the motor heat if I am doing any distance
My fave jacket is a HD 3n1 with armour. mesh jacket with solid panels that zip on.
in the desert sun, you have to cover up to keep moisture from being wicked out.
light coloured, black isn;t so great in the sun
mike
I wear chaps to protect me from the motor heat if I am doing any distance
My fave jacket is a HD 3n1 with armour. mesh jacket with solid panels that zip on.
in the desert sun, you have to cover up to keep moisture from being wicked out.
light coloured, black isn;t so great in the sun
mike
Last edited by UnknownUser; Jun 11, 2014 at 02:06 PM.
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 739
Likes: 1
From: Fort Lauderdale
I just got an armored mesh jacket from FLY for hot weather riding. With the liner out, while underway I can barely tell it's there. At a long stoplight, not so much, but it is still much better/more comfortable than a leather jacket would be.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,616
Likes: 17
From: Mid West
My normal temperature is 98-98.3, nurses have to check twice to verify I am breathing and their machine isn't screwed up, has been that way a long time. I do not seem to 'get cold', I work in a power station where some areas hit 120-130 F while wearing a long sleeve shirt over a T, do get hot but not excessively besides. I do have to say I am well insulated bodywise.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 196
Likes: 0
From: Washington
I used to wear full leathers year round. In the summer, I'd wear silk long johns under the leather pants and just a tee under the jacket. Worked pretty well as long as you were moving. Use an evaporative vest or just wet the tee every now and then to really cool down.
Now I generally wear kevlar jeans and a lightly armoured HD textile mesh jacket with a zip off outer layer. Great jacket but the cover is starting to sun fade, more grey than black now.
Just putting around town I may skip the jacket and just toss on the leather vest.
Now I generally wear kevlar jeans and a lightly armoured HD textile mesh jacket with a zip off outer layer. Great jacket but the cover is starting to sun fade, more grey than black now.
Just putting around town I may skip the jacket and just toss on the leather vest.
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
From: Knoxville
I recently went for a ride in the mid-90's wearing my typical leather jacket and full face. I must say, that after ten miles or so, I had to pull over and lose the jacket - between the big Batwing fairing blocking ALL the air and the catalytic converters pumping out SO much heat, I was dying. It was a very odd feeling to be riding in just a t-shirt. I hadn't done that in years.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,334
Likes: 17
From: Rosamond, Cali
I live in the desert. When it gets hot I switch from leather to a perforated textile motorcycle (with armor) jacket. I have a 'light' leather jacket for moderate warmth (up to low 80's) with side-vents that zip open/closed; and a heavier leather jacket with a liner for cold weather.
Just sweat too much in leather when it's hot in stop-and-go. Moving is not too bad. But those long lights'll kill ya.
Alan
Just sweat too much in leather when it's hot in stop-and-go. Moving is not too bad. But those long lights'll kill ya.
Alan