Hi all,

I just bought a 2008 S40 and am really excited to get on the road with it.  This is my first bike, so I want to make sure I am properly outfitted with the right protective gear.   I am in the Texas summer so we are averaging 95 degree days most of the time.   I'm looking for some input on the best warm weather shoes, gloves, and jacket that offer the best protection.   I've just purchased a Nexx X1R1 helmet today so am covered in that arena.

The best gear is something that you will actually wear all the time. Here in the Houston area, its been in the 90's and kissing the 100's with stupid humidity. I just spent the money and bought a Speed and Strength mesh jacket to wear during the summer time.

http://www.motorcyclegear.com/street/closeouts/mesh_jackets_and_pants/speed_a...

It is much more comfortable (temperature wise) than my textile jacket that I was using. I also wear a APX full face helmet and ZR1 leather gloves, I'm sure I could find some textile gloves also but I'm used to work gloves in the heat so they don't bother me.

As for riding pants, I found out hot pipes melt mesh over pants so I just started wearing double knee Dickies jeans or Cowboy Cut original wranglers (from walmart) not the best protection but better than shorts  

I know it goes against some peeps, but during the hot summers here in TX  I just forgo the jacket.  I still have my FF helmet and gloves though. I always wear jeans and normally hiking boots or at least hi top leather shoes.  I tried the mesh jacket to start with this summer but once it got over 90F that didn't really even help for me.  

R.F.

Ditto... if it's over 100f... I'm in a long sleeve shirt (for sun protection)...
FF helmet, jeans, fingerless gloves, and ankle high shoes,.. but no jacket...
Just can't take it...

Leather will help some, with abrasion... armour will help a little with some bruising,.. but,.. it's mostly false security... 1/2" of foam won't do much against a car... Bones still break...
If a 1/2"foam and leather really did something, we'd all be wearing leather padded beanies on our heads...
...

Just ride extra careful,.. and hope for the best...
... or,.. take the car... ...

Good denim jacket is what i wear when its hot, even in 100 degree heat. I get a lot of looks and questions but its surprisingly cool even just plugging around town. Keeps the sun off and you dont dehydrate nearly as bad as going nekkid or in mesh.
Not nearly as good as leather but better then a shirt.

rfw2003 wrote on 07/10/12 at 01:22:41:


I wear a backpack most of the time when riding and I put a camelback in the backpack with the drinking tube tucked inside the front of my jacket. It's easy enough to grab the tub and stuff it in the bottom of my FF when stopped, and even when riding.

The one I have has a bite valve so I just put it between my teeth and bite down to open the valve.

And I got mine for around $25.

When riding hot & humid, I always wear jeans, boots, and either long sleeve light cotton button up shirt, or long sleeve T-shirt.   You can buy cheap thin "dress shirts" at Kmart or Wallyworld and they work perfect.   Never ride long distance with short sleeves.   It may seem like a good idea, but your arms will cook, and long sleeves actually help keep the moisture inside the sleeves, so you will be cooler and sun protected.   If you keep your wallet and other stuff in a fork or sissybar bag, you can hose yourself down when you stop for fuel at the radiator station.   It don't last long, but for a few minutes you're in nirvana.

I used to have a "hot weather" riding suit.   It was a light one piece, and had velcro flaps that could be pulled open while riding exposing mesh covered vent holes.  Typically out here in Calif we don't need such apparatus, so mostly I used on cross countrys thru the south and east coast.   Also remember, light colors tend to reflect heat, whereas darker colors absorb.

My Tucson pal Gerald.Hughes suggested using 1/4" I.D. food-grade tubing to get water from bottle to mouth w/o removing FF helmet. +/- $.70 at True Value, works great.

My new, unmet, pal High_Plains_Thumper, suggested an evaporative cooling vest to deal with the heat, of which we occassionally have some here in AZ. Found one on Amazon that zips up to the neck & has a Mandarin collar. A two-hour ride in it today left me absolutely delighted. In temps well over 90 degrees I was completely comfortable, and I've no doubt it'd have done fine at well over 100 degrees. I wear it over a wicking t-shirt from Wickers, under a First Gear Mesh jacket. Note that the mesh jacket is key; air needs to flow for it to work. And note that since the vest is evaporating water, YOU won't be as much as you would otherwise, limiting the risk of dehydration. This may be the second best buy I've made, exceeded only by replacing the crappola IRC front tire that was still on my bike when I bought it.