Triumphrat

zighawk

I'm researching mesh jackets and I felt my research would be incomplete without input from this board. I live in Arizona so the airflow has to be maximum, but I'd also like something with good armor.

What jackets do you guys wear and what are your impressions?

Anyone know where I can get a Raptor for a good price?

Thanks for the input
Scott

MaxH

I live in New Orleans where it is both hot & humid. My daily riding gear includes a Venson Leather's Vent Max 2 Jacket. Basically it is a nylon open mesh jacket that has elbow & shoulder pads. It has a thin fabric lining to keep it from chaffing & will accept back pads. Not much to it.
If you want maximun cooling & decent protection, this is it.
My only complaint: it has no pockets.

oldsport

Nope - but New Enough always has some good deals on mesh.

http://www.newenough.com/product_gro...seout_mesh.htm

Also, in AZ - have you thought about one of these vests?
http://www.soundrider.com/May05/tech...oling_vest.htm

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Diego

Can't help you with the price, but I'm very fond of my Raptor...really comfortable as long as there's any air moving at all, plenty durable, easy to take care of, ample pockets, and comes with all applicable protectors.

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John

wnt2rd

I live in Hawaii and I'm poor so I need a cool (cheap) jacket. I went with the Joe Rocket Phoenix 3.0 jacket. It's $130 and has tons of armor. The whole thing is mesh with foam padding in the shoulders, back, elbows and forarms.

I find that it's cooler than no jacket on sunny days because it keeps the sun off my arms.

Gene-O

It seems that most people like the Raptor mesh jacket, But I definitely like the Rochester, I looks and feels more like a regular cruiser jacket, no elastic waist band, no arm bands and two simple slit pockets. I is all mesh in the torso, and undersides of the sleeves. I even like the Union Jack on the left sleeve - shows up in the rear view mirror just to remind you.

Excellent airflow and even though its black stays nice and cool. Seriously, it feels like air-conditioning when moving. I feel like I'm going to burst into flames at stop lights. So I keep it moving. I agree that with the Jacket I'm cooler than with out.
-Gene

Whisperinsmith

I love my Raptor and the air flow is great. All the proctection pads come with it. 90 degree day and still comfortable. I paid $212.50, not the $399. www.madss.com and search the left column for Triumph stuff.
I think I'll get the Urban Leather for cooler fall days though.

I see I have to clarify that mine is the full "leather" Raptor vented jacket, therefore the high pricetag. Sorry if it misled anyone. But I love the jacket and even though it's leather, it's still cool (in both uses of the word.)

[ This message was edited by: Whisperinsmith on 2005-07-20 09:30 ]

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dazco

What i don't get is that most of these "cool" (as in not hot) jackets seem to come in black ! As you know black gets far far hotter than light colors in direct sun. Seems kind of silly to make jackets built to cool you down out of black materials. :???: Maybe it's for the sake of "cool", not "cool"? :-D

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SalMaglie

Hey Scott,

I bought a Triumph Raptor vented/mesh jacket 2 years ago. Works good in the 70-95 degree range, but when it gets above 100 out here anything you put on it's still going to be hot. The only thing I don't like about the Triumph mesh is the wrists have snaps instead of velcro, but that's more of a nitpick. Last month I wore the jacket up to Alpine, Az on a 4 day trip and it worked out perfect. Early in the morning I wore a long sleeve fleece shirt underneath the jacket and was warm enough until the sun let me take it off. I had tried on the Joe Rocket Phoenix, and liked the fit and feel of the Triumph Raptor vented better. You can get the Raptor vented at the madss.com for about $120 + shipping. First Gear Meshtex gets a lot of praise over at sport-touring.net. About $110 at www.newenough.com. Motorcyclecruiser.com has a review of 10 different mesh jackets here.

This time of the year I just try not to ride much at all. Yesterday it was 108 here in Tucson, and riding just isn't fun in that kind of heat.

ps. Just went back through the threads and read you got your gaiters put on. Hope everything worked out during the install.

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ponycorn

I wear a Joe Rocket "Rio" jacket that cost me about $100. I am really happy with it, and the inner pocket is big enough to fit a couple of DVD rentals in.

I have been happy with it, so I'm sure the men's equivalent is good too.