Jackets Best Jacket?

STFlow, I have tried on the Fieldsheer Quattro. But thought it was too bulky for my frame. The Tourmaster Transition 2 fits better. But I still don't feel it's the best jacket for me.

Now, after speaking directly to a fellow ST owner, I'm going to give a good hard look at the Aerostitch jackets before making my choice. I just don't want to kick myself a year or two down the road for not making the best choice now. (I try to learn from my earlier mistakes by not repeating them.)

Nothing against the "Ports". It's just that I have the store in my backyard (Duluth).

Thanks,
Merrill
 
Merrill said:
Now, after speaking directly to a fellow ST owner, I'm going to give a good hard look at the Aerostitch jackets before making my choice. I just don't want to kick myself a year or two down the road for not making the best choice now. (I try to learn from my earlier mistakes by not repeating them.)
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I too am looking for armor (my first suit). Everone I run into either says "get a Aerostich Roadcrafter", or "I wish I got the Roadcrafter".

Living in New England, the crotchleak is my only concern after reading dozens of positive reviews, and some owners claim a wash-in waterproofing reduces it to 3-4 managable incidents a year which I can live with. Some go so far as rubbing candlewax on that portion of the zipper to finish the seal...

When the review includes the author's story about how well he faired after crashing and skidding, I get pretty confident I am making the right choice. http://www.motorcycle.com/products/thoughts-on-five-years-with-my-aerostich-roadcrafter-3582.html

I am sold on the suit myself and currently surfing for a used 1 or 2-piece suit in my size. (42R)
 
I went through the same search last year after purchasing the ST1300. We decided on the hi-viz AST jackets. We've ridden in the low 40's up to 90. I also have a mesh jacket to fall back on during hot days, but I don't feel as well protected in the mesh. The AST's were stiffer than cardboard when we first got them but they are breaking in, slowly. I feel well protected in this jacket. It is waterproof, well armored, warm and comfortable. My only gripe was the stock collar but a strip of polarfleece stiched into it solved the problems.

During rides over 85 degrees, I'm getting hot but the wife is still very comfortable. I talked with another rider recently, who also has the AST jacket, and he said he is comfortable up to 95 without problems as long as he keeps moving. He rides a BMW with a low windshield. The key here is airflow to the arm and chest vents.

With my windshield mod brackets, I get a lot more airflow over the arms and chest when the shield is in the lower positions. If I angle my arms outward into the airstream, the jacket inflates and I look like the Michelin Man in hi-viz! When I get that much air, I can stay comfortable in the AST. I just can't ride comfortably with my arms twisted out.

I still need more airflow to the arm vents but the changes to the stock windshield mounts have been keeping me reasonably comfortable in the mid and upper 80's. I still need more airflow to the arm ports and then I will be much more comfortable. Anything in the 90's and I'm hot regardless of what I wear, AST or mesh, or how fast I go. Those temps require water saturation & evaporation to keep me cool.

The other trick is to wear the moisture wicking long sleeve shirt to stay cooler in any type of jacket. WalMart sells their Starter brand athletic wear for about $10 or you can pay $25 and up for UnderArmor brand. Either type will help keep you cooler and stop your skin from sticking to the fabric. Works great with the mesh jackets, as well. :07biker:
 
Merrill said:
STFlow, I have tried on the Fieldsheer Quattro. But thought it was too bulky for my frame. The Tourmaster Transition 2 fits better. But I still don't feel it's the best jacket for me.

Now, after speaking directly to a fellow ST owner, I'm going to give a good hard look at the Aerostitch jackets before making my choice. I just don't want to kick myself a year or two down the road for not making the best choice now. (I try to learn from my earlier mistakes by not repeating them.)

Nothing against the "Ports". It's just that I have the store in my backyard (Duluth).

Thanks,
Merrill
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Nothing agaisn't the Stich either ;)
 
A good mesh jacket with the liner will work most the year for you . It doesnt work below 45 or 50 for me but then I live in TX .
Its about as cool as you can get for summer and still wear a jacket and the liner with a small fleece under it is pretty warm with good gloves.
This combo with heated grips has saved a cold bad ride into a decent cool ride home more than once .
I have two Joe Rocket UFO's off ebay for around $105 each. Just got to watch.
Not the $300 ones everybody is listing but then I would rather buy more gas and tires then a costly jacket.

Main thing is find what you like that fits

Fits you
Fits your budget
Fits you style
 
Merrill said:
Is there any place in MN that sells the AST - just to try on?

Merrill
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I think that I read where most of the BMW dealers sell Olympia. I know the Nashville BMW dealer does.

When it comes to purchase time, call Mike at Tellico Motocycle Outfitters (423) 253-2088 www.tellicomoto.com Another site member (Bones) mentioned Mike and that is who we purchased from. He gave us the best deal I could find, anywhere and great service from good people! :D
 
John OoSTerhuis said:
Hi Mick,
Just curious, what did you pay for your vest? Back in '01 my Marsee vest was $125.
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Just ran across your post John.

I purchased the vest from Silver Eagle Outfitters. Their website shows it to be $95:
http://www.silvereagleoutfitters.com/shop/vests.htm

Hopefully the cheaper price I paid doesn't mean reduced quality from the one you bought several years ago.

BTW, saying a cooling vest doesn't work or is worthless in high humidity is just wrong. If you're moving it's working. Sure, you feel warm and clammy but your core temp is being better maintained
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On a purely technical level sure, you're gong to get some evaporation but the reality is that in the 75% to 95% humidity we often experience down here in the hot summers, that small amount of cooling will be offset by the discomfort of having a warm, clamy sheath wrapped around you (which you mention) that is slow to dry. This reduces the practicality of it's application. This is not just conjecture but is based on posts I've read over the years from folks who actually live along the coast and have tried the cooling vests. Trust me, if a cooling vest was a practical solution down here, every biker would be wearing one during the summer.

I've ridden along the Gulf Coast area for enough years to know that as long I'm moving, I'm OK, even in very high temps because of the fairly low evaporation rate. Sure, it's warm but not intolerable. That's why I've never bothered to try a cooling vest. What is dangerous near the coast is being stopped or stuck in crawling traffic on a 95+ degree, very humid day with heat pouring off the concrete and the ST's engine. I actually came close to getting in trouble in such a situation about 10 years ago. Started getting light headed and nauseous. I had to find shade and a water source immediately or I was going to go down.

My purchase of a cooling vest now is dictated by an upcoming trip across parts of the desert southwest in August where temps can be in the 110+- range with very low humidity. In areas like that, the practicality of a cooling vest is undeniable. It's gonna be a hot trip! :biker:
 
After trying on many jackets, I decided that I wanted the 3/4 length. Many were much too heavy, even without their liners. And I wasn't thrilled to have to stop in the rain to add the "trash bag" inner liner to keep me from getting more wet. (Strange concept)

The Transition 2 is a nice jacket. But I wasn't convinced that I wouldn't overheat on a hot, humid day. I read a lot about the AST's. But I couldn't find a dealer in my area that carried it. I didn't care to purchase it online, either.

After speaking to a friend about my expectations, he lent me his Aerostich Darien to demo. I am so impressed with the simple, but very effective features, and the company's dedication to quality, I immediately decided that I needed one. Not whipped up to pay full cost, I was able to locate and purchase one from a fellow rider (from this forum) for a very fair price.

I think this will be a fine jacket to fill nearly all my needs. Possibly add a cooling vest as needed.

Thanks again for all your excellent feedback.

Merrill
 
Congrats on a good pic. As a dedicated gear pig, I can only add that the best jacket is the one you keep going back to, because you'll wear it. I have way too many jackets in my closet, but the one I always reach for isn't the Darien or the Torrent, it's a lowly Joe Rocket Atomic. http://www.newenough.com/protective...ocket/atomic_3_textile_motorcycle_jacket.html

It's comfortable in a wide range of temperatures, and its venting deals very well with the Florida heat when I don't want to "mesh" it. The liner keeps me warm on cool days, and I've learned that a $20 Suzuki light and long rain jacket beats all comers when it comes to riding in the wet. The Atomic is inexpensive and a really good all around jacket.
 
Last1Out said:
... I can only add that the best jacket is the one you keep going back to, because you'll wear it. ...
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Nail, meet hammer. You pegged it.

I'm convinced that there does not exist in this world one jacket which will be perfect for every riding condition. That's why I have more than one, like most people here. You put one on and you go ride.
 
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