[WeaponZero]

Actually I never washed it. At first I thought it was a problem with my helmet alone but then while in correspondence with Brian Van, owner of sportbiketrackgear.com, he told me that my experience with HJC was actually quite common, something they’re known for, and that is why they refuse to carry HJC brand helmets. It was enough to tell me I shouldn’t bother giving them a second chance.

That’s not to say everyone who buys one will experience that. The Ford Taurus up until its late-90s redesign was known for being one of the most unreliable vehicles on the road, but there were quite a few Taurus owners out there who didn’t have problems with theirs.

Overall I would be very very weary of many low-end helmet manufacturers. Some are great yes but others are not. Some are comparable to higher-end helmets and some are not. Me personally, based on what I’ve learned from doing the research I’ve done and corresponded with reps from all the online manufacturers, I would say this:

If you’re not willing to spend more than $200 on a helmet then your selection is very limited. Stick with AGV, Shark, Scorpion, Icon, and Bell. Otherwise, hold off until you’re willing or able to spend more to enter into the realm of higher end brands such as Shoei. Those brands are all known for producing very high quality helmets at low prices.

That being said, if you’re willing to stick to the closeout/sale items, you can easily find premium high-end merchandise at a price point you would normally reserve only for low-end stuff, which kind of makes this whole point moot. Look hard enough and you can find closeout Shoei TZ-Rs and even RF-1000s for a price you would expect to say for a cheap HJC, and, well, the answer then becomes obvious.

Just FYI, The AGV Stealth/S-4 (same helmet just with different venting) is the only sub-$200 helmet to score a 5-star safety rating in the SHARP test.

[WeaponZero]

Its a basic mesh jacket from the looks of things. A pretty crappy one at that cause it doesn’t have actual armor in the impact areas, just some basic foam.

If you want some great moderately priced textile and mesh jackets that have styling suitable for cruiser riders, sportbiketrackgear.com and newenough.com have a TON of Speed & Strength textile and mesh jackets on closeout. Look particularly at the Moment of Truth series and Hang’ em High series. They have basic styling (with a little bit of flashy graphics on the Hang’ em High) and are FAR superior in quality and features to that Pokerun jacket. In fact I own the Moment of Truth mesh jacket in black and I can say it is AWESOME for what it is. Far more protective than most other mesh jackets because it still features ballistic textiles running down the entire length of the arm from the shoulders.

Here’s the Hang’em High

http://stores.sportbiketrackgear.com/Detail.bok?no=4328

Here’s the Moment of Truth

http://stores.sportbiketrackgear.com/Detail.bok?no=5568

Aside from graphics the only real difference is that the Hang’em High uses an 800 denier fabric while the Moment of Truth uses a 600 denier one. higher number means better abrasion protection in a crash.

Both jackets are available in mesh and textile versions. The mesh flows more air and comes with a removable waterproof liner that, well, sucks. It does the job but it’s uncomfortable as hell and you only want to use it in a pinch. The textile versions are a bit more protective and have ample ventilation (but not on par with the mesh) and feature removable thermal vest liners. My personal opinion is that unless you live in a climate where you absolutely NEED a mesh jacket (meaning you plan on doing a lot of riding in weather of upwards of 90 degrees and your rides take you through a lot of stop-and-go-traffic), go with the textile ones. You still get ample ventilation for hot weather (provided you keep moving) and more protection. They’re all awesome jackets. Speed & Strength jackets are just great, especially given the price point.

[WeaponZero]

The Ninja 250R will be adequate for you but at your height and weight I would more likely recommend the Ninja 500R. It’s not a matter of engine power as a 250 has enough power to move you at a very brisk highway pace. Rather, I would be weary of the size cramping you up. Avoid Hyosung like the plague. Can’t get parts for them when they break.

Welcome to the riding community.

[WeaponZero]

Megaspaz uses a 2nd generation Suzuki SV650S as his track bike. I believes he also owns a Ducati 848 that he uses as his street bike, but don’t quote me on that.

[WeaponZero]

Guessing you’re referring to Cycle Gear?

[WeaponZero]

My dad has one. It doesn’t vent all that well although it does breathe well. Sitting at a stoplight or stuck in traffic you’ll be okay as long as it’s not above, say, 85 or so, but moving you won’t get all that much airflow. He regrets buying it because he bought it exclusively as a hot weather riding jacket and it doesn’t vent well enough to fill the role. He still wears it when it’s cooler or mild out but when the temperature gets into the 80s he’ll go jacketless because he’s too cheap to spring for a mesh jacket.

If you want something that breathes and vents well enough for super hot days but actually protects fairly decently, then you should consider getting a hybrid mesh/leather jacket. There are a few out there. Alpinestars makes one called the Alloy if you’re willing to spend $400 on a jacket. If your budget won’t allow for that, ICON makes one called the Arc mesh jacket (about $230 or so), and Joe Rocket makes one called the Reactor 2.0. The best one on the market, however, as far as I can tell, is the RS Taichi Team Leather Mesh jacket ($299.00 from Sportbiketrackgear.com).

If you don’t want the hassle (or expense) of leather, you’ll do just fine with a plain mesh jacket as long as it still has ballistic nylon/textile in the high impact zones. Good examples of this are:

Scorpion Cool Rod (currently $99.00 on sale from sportbiketrackear.com and newenough.com)

Speed & Strength Moment of Truth mesh jacket (currently $125.00 from sportbiketrackgear.com and newenough.com)

Joe Rocket Phoenix 5.0 (about $135.00 from newenough.com)

Fieldsheer High Flow mesh jacket (currently $90.00 on sale from newenough.com)

RS Taichi Armed High Protection mesh jacket ($249.00 from sportbiketrackgear.com–expensive for what it is but trust me, you get what you pay for)

And then finally we have the oddballs of the bunch:

ICON Contra ($195.00 from virtually anywhere, but sportbiketrackgear.com sells all ICON gear for 20% off retail). This is basically a textile jacket that features a ton of motion panels and mesh in various areas as well as mesh and stretch panels in various areas. I’d say about 40% of the jacket or so is mesh. Because of this, it will flow and breathe better than any vented textile jacket but not quite as well as a mesh jacket, but you’re not sacrificing any of the protection you would with a mesh jacket.

Joe Rocket Super Ego (about $350 or so–not sure of exact price). This is basically an all leather jacket that looks and performs like a conventional old school leather jacket. However, it has one interesting feature: The leather shell zips off to reveal a mesh jacket underneath. And because the leather portions that cover the shoulders, elbows, and forearms don’t come off with the rest of the leather shell, those areas are still protected by rugged riding-grade leather even though the rest is now essentially a mesh jacket.

Another note: Perforated leather WILL keep you nice and cool even in the extreme heat as long as you keep moving at a respectable pace. But whenever you come to a stop you start to feel like you’re inside of a microwave oven, so if your commute involves a lot of stoplights or sitting in traffic you’ll just about die. But if your route allows you to maintain a respectable pace, I’d strongly consider buying a full perf leather jacket over any of the jackets I mentioned above. There’s a variety of good ones on sale in the neighborhood of $150.00 from various online retailers.

[WeaponZero]

the yamaha virago 535 (if thats what youre referring to) was discontinued in 2000 or 2001 and replaced by the V-Star 650. it was a great bike overall.

[WeaponZero]

I originally come from South Florida. I’m guessing that if I still lived down there, a mesh jacket would probably be my main jacket.

Like I said I’ll still wear the perf leather jacket if I know i won’t have to deal with city traffic cause as long as you’re moving you’re good. But the mesh jacket will definitely replace it for my commuter runs.

[WeaponZero]

After about two weeks. I decided I wanted to go catch a movie, so some friends of mine made plans to go see Dark Knight at the biggest, nicest movie theater in the area, which involves a short stretch of Highway down about 3 exits. It actually felt easier and more comfortable than being on city streets.

[WeaponZero]

Just added Draggin’ Jeans Draggin’ Liner to the collection, as well as a Speed & Strength Moment of Truth mesh jacket.

[WeaponZero]

Though I don’t own one myself (yet–Sportbiketrackgear is sending me a Speed & Strength mesh jacket), I have ridden in one. At speed, a well ventilated textile jacket will keep you just as cool as a full on mesh jacket as you say, and some can even do a better job for the reasons you say. Teknic’s textile jackets that use the powerskin II waterproof/windproof breathable liner are ESPECIALLY good about this.

HOWEVER, if you’re like me and your commute home from work involves just as much time sitting in traffic as it does moving, you will roast alive in those same well-vented textile/leather jackets. THIS is where you really begin to appreciate mesh. I spent over an hour stuck in traffic in the way home yesterday on an 85 degree day wearing a full perf leather jacket and i was about dying.

When shopping for a mesh jacket (something you should only wear on the hottest of the hot days), there are some features you should look for that not all mesh jackets have.

1. Removable windproof liner. This is a godsend on those spring days when it’s like 40-50 degrees in the morning but hot as hell in the afternoon like we had yesterday.

2. Ballistic nylons or leather in the high impact areas (shoulders, forearms, elbows). Mesh jackets typically fall short on protection because they pretty much disintegrate on impact with the ground and don’t provide much abrasion protection. Using sturdier materials like what you’d find on a textile jacket in the high impact areas helps alleviate this issue and provides a MUCH higher degree of protection.

Because of what happened yesterday (basically they closed down a bridge–with me and a bunch of cars on it–while 3 ambulances came to get to a major accident involving multiple cars) I spent an hour in traffic cursing my perforated leather jacket and the second I got home i started browsing newenough and sportbiketrackgear for good mesh jackets that were on sale for good prices. I eventually narrowed it down to the Speed & Strength Moment of Truth jacket, Scorpion Cool Rod, and ICON Hooligan 2 because they all seemed like good, high quality mesh jackets that were being sold for great prices. I ended up choosing on the Speed & Strength because the entire arm from the shoulder down is covered in ballistic textile which offers more protection, it includes a waterproof liner, and I like the fit of Speed & Strength gear.

By the way, I just want everyone on this site that if you are a big guy with a gut like I am, Speed & Strength offers THE BEST FIT around!!! The only thing that can match it is Joe Rocket, but their quality isn’t as good.

[WeaponZero]

I would rather have taken the bus than had the riding experience coming home I had today. I got stuck on a bridge for an hour in 80+ degree sunny weather which is not cool in a perf leather jacket because when youre moving, yeah, its like an air conditioner. But sitting still? I felt like I was in a damn rotisserie! I lost about 5 lbs of weight just by sweating!

[WeaponZero]

As I said I have never even so much as seen a Shift jacket in person because none of my local retailers keep them in stock. They will only order them at your request, for money down.

Would it be possible for this open up avenues for users to do video reviews of their gear? I know I currently own:

Teknic Freestyle textile jacket
Scorpion EXOwear All-In leather jacket
Scorpion EXOwear Stinger leather jacket

Alpinestars Drystar Apex gloves
Speed & Strength Moment of Truth SP short gloves

ICON Field Armor boots
Tourmaster Solution WP boots

ICON Field Armor leg guards
Knox Cross Knee leg guards

Shark RSR2 helmet
Shark RSi helmet
Scorpion EXO-400 helmet

River Road balaclava

Gear I’ve owned in the past and no longer own because it didn’t hold up well in the long run –

River Road Monterey leather gloves
HJC CL-15 helmet
Joe Rocket Atomic 3.0 textile jacket

I’m sure if all the users pooled their own opinions on gear together we’d come up with a wide variety of good reviews.

[WeaponZero]

Now granted, I don’t own any Shift stuff, in fact I’ve never even seen it in person because I’ve never even heard of a retailer that sells it–are they online only? anyway…

I don’t like Shift personally because their pricing puts them on the level of a lot of the higher-end designer brands such as RS Taichi, Alpinestars, and almost at the level of even Dainese stuff. I just don’t understand where they can get the gall to charge that much for something made in Korea. $500 for a leather jacket?

I had a lengthy discussion about this with Brian Van, owner of Sportbiketrackgear, who is a fan of Shift gear. But while he couldn’t directly come out and say it, he did strongly imply that Shift isn’t worth the money they’re charging for it. He said that while they are good quality stuff, he feels they should be priced more in line with Teknic’s merchandise as Teknic is a much closer competitor to them. He stated that while Shift certainly does have its strong points, they’re not at the level of quality and safety of RS Tachi and Alpinestars, who are both comparably priced.

I wouldn’t have any problem buying a Shift jacket that was on sale/closeout, but I won’t pay $300 for a hybrid leather/textile jacket when I could get a full leather jacket from Teknic of comparable quality for less. And I certainly won’t pay $500 for a jacket that wasn’t made in Italy (exception being RS Taichi).

EDIT – The bottom line is this: Kias and Hyundais are great cars for what they are. But I’d never pay BMW prices for them, and I feel that is what they are trying to do: Sell Kia and Hyundai equivalent merchandise at a price point that puts it in direct competition with BMWs.

Also, WTF is up with that one textile jacket they have that looks like someone puked confetti all over it?

[WeaponZero]

Ninja 500R is liquid cooled. GS500 is air cooled. Liquid cooling leads to better performance and reliability in varying temperatures. That right there tells me which one is the only one I would be looking at…

[Author]

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