Mesh Jacket with armour

[MJ]

I just purchased a Fulmer Flip up full face helmet and am now looking to get a jacket with armour. It's hot and humid in my part of the county so I've been looking at a mesh jacket. The Joe Rocket Cleo model to be specific. My question is "will a mesh jacket provide enough protection?" I have a set of leathers and I'm expecting it to be the same but I want something more than just a t-shirt.

MJ

[rcoolbaugh]

I just got This Jacket (http://www.leatherup.com/product.asp?pf_id=CF%2D500%2DGray%2DBlack) and really like it. The air flows freely through it.

[cTc]

Different materials offer different types of protection. the mesh may be a protection from the elements, but may not be so efficient in the event of an accident. Leather is more protection in an accident, but not so practical in the summer. Its hard to say just how protective the mesh will be, because you never know how much protection you will need (crash/fall/etc.) I look at it as something is better than nothing.

My jacket is ballistic cordura seen in this thread http://www.hondarebelforum.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=952#952 It has the zip out liner, but is still just as hot as leather, although it is water proof, where leather is not.

[MattD]

MJ,
I talked to the folks at Fieldsheer and they have a new jacket out, called High Temp Mesh. It has body armor in places and is supposed to be relatively cool. I haven't found a "good" price on it yet. I am planning to buy one like the one rcoolbaugh's talking about. It looks good for the money.

BTW, rcoolbaugh, does the size run fairly accurate?
thanks

[wheezeburnt]

If you're buying a mesh jacket, just make sure that the armour will stay put in a slide or tumble. If, for example, the elbow pads will move up your arm, or the back pad will slip up to your neck, it won't do you much good in an accident.

I have a heavy leather jacket, but, like CTC, also a ballistic cordura jacket with kevlar and thick foam padding in places. Most importantly, the liner zips out, and there are large zipper vents in the front, rear and under the armpits. Its still darn hot in hot weather. I'd certainly consider a well-made, effective mesh jacket.

brent

[Gabe]

One of my MSF instructors was telling us about a debate he and his brother had been having about mesh jackets. They both wondered the same thing you do...would they really do any good in an accident? On one ride, his brother happened to go down wearing a mesh jacket and escaped with minor bruises and no major scrapes. I'm sure there are accidents for which mesh wouldn't be enough. But for most minor incidents, a well made mesh jacket should be ok. And for those instances where it isn't...well, like cTc said, something is at least better than nothing.

Gabe

[rcoolbaugh]

BTW, rcoolbaugh, does the size run fairly accurate?
thanks

I just followed their size chart and both the leather and mesh fit very well.

[jsonder]

I got the jacket that rcoolbaugh linked to in grey and yellow.

The armor is pretty well stitched into the "armor cages". Velcro straps above and below elbow to help keep the elbow armor snugged up.

My only gripe is that there is no way to snug the bottom. I'm not at all sure how sliding feet first on your back would work out. I suspect that the jacket would ride up a ways.

[MJ]

John, I agree, if I go with that jacket, I'd have to get it in grey and yellow. I wish they had in ladies but they don't. It is half the price of the one I was originally looking at which is good.

[99ww]

I found my jacket online at this site and it's made by Fieldsheer with armor, vents, zip out liner, waterproof, cinches at waist and wrists, straps to pull in the loose arm material, and it's pretty much shred and tear proof. The best part is it was only $80 and was delivered to my door in 4 days!

http://www.motorcyclecloseouts.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=WP471-5060

I'm looking at a pair of Fieldsheer overpants too. I can dress for work and just put the overpants on over my clothes and won't have to change when I get there :D

[rcoolbaugh]

I got the jacket that rcoolbaugh linked to in grey and yellow.

The armor is pretty well stitched into the "armor cages". Velcro straps above and below elbow to help keep the elbow armor snugged up.

My only gripe is that there is no way to snug the bottom. I'm not at all sure how sliding feet first on your back would work out. I suspect that the jacket would ride up a ways.

I got a strip of 3/4" elastic, stretched it about 8 inches and pinned it on the inside of the waistband. A quick pass (from the inside) with a wide zig-zag on the machine and it holds nice and shug around the waist.

[jsonder]

This one (from Wanda's site) has a waist closure, comes in yellow, etc., but is about 50% more money:

http://www.motorcyclecloseouts.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=50-2425

[balisada]

Hi,

Someone on the Honda Rebel mailing list I subscribe to has only just had an accident and detailed all the gear he had and how it stoodup to the crash.

To quote him regarding the jacket.

First Gear silver mesh jacket has a couple scrapes, was cut off by EMTs but clearly did its job also.


Balisada

[BarryC]

I bought a First Gear Tex Mesh jacket and like it. It has armor built in, very comfortable and the wind goes right through it.

[MJ]

Thanks for all the help. After much searching I ended up ordering the FirstGear Mes Tex 2 Summer Jacket in yellow. I ordered it from newenough.com. Motorcyclecloseout.com did not have the yellow in the size I needed.

http://www.newenough.com/ladies_firstgear_meshtex2_jacket_page.htm

[Jasperslegacy]

I just wanted to add my two cents...well, being a newbie, maybe it's just one cent! I am anal about researching everything before I buy and I think I found a great jacket. It's the Joe Rocket Super Ego. It is leather and has the armour in the elbows, shoulders and spine. The coolest feature is that it has zippers and when you unzip them you remove the leather panels from the front and back of the jacket. Voila! A nice mesh jacket is revealed that still has leather arms and shoulders with armour! If anyone is still looking for a jacket, you might want to check it out. They are $400 on the Joe Rocket site, but I just bought a brand new one on ebay for $215.

Hope this helps!
Diana.