The CB1100 Community Forum

I am looking to buy my first MC riding jacket and am looking for opinions. I live in Hawaii where the weather is usually in the 80s or 90s during the day. So I am looking for an appropriate jacket for this warm weather and mesh jackets seems to be the best option. However, I like the look of a leather jacket so I was wondering if there are any leather jackets with adequate ventilation for our warm weather.

Icon and really most if the big name brands have at least one leather/mesh hybrid jacket in their lineups. Could be a good alternative for you. I'm thinking of getting one of these, too because I like the look and protection of the leather with the venting of the mesh....it gets hot here in Chicago, too ya know.

When I went in to Revzilla last year, set on buying a leather jacket, their best floor guy( named Bobby) helped me decide that the best jacket is the one you are going to wear, and in the hot humid summer, it will most likely be a mesh jacket you will pick up in weather where you would be tempted to only wear a t-shirt.
So, for temps above 80, I wear a Dainese mesh jacket
temps below 80 I wear a Dainese race leather jacket, which has vents , and partial stretch panels.
Beware buying a perforated leather jacket as bugs are impossible to clean out of it.
Mesh
http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/daine...ile-jacket

Leather on sale
http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/daine...her-jacket

Mesh with breathable liner
http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/daine...dry-jacket

It's mostly warm to hot where I live and I resisted the temptation to buy leather for a more versatile RST Ventilator II which is a good all round jacket. It's been superseded but the concept's the same.

Why would someone want to clean the bugs out of one's jacket?

Thanks for the replies and I will research into your suggestions.

HikerToo, I hear you about purchasing a jacket that I will actually be wearing while riding. No matter how cool you may look in leather jacket, if I am sweating like a pig I probably would not wear it. Now you got me thinking that about purchasing a mesh jacket to use on the majority of my rides and a leather jacket can come later.

That was my rationale.

For hot days I use this dirt bike amored shirt from Fox.
http://www.cyclegear.com/FOX-2015-Titan-...oad-Jacket

On the down side, on long rides I get this very funky sun burn where the sun hits the skin in the holes in the mesh so now I try to wear a large dirt bike shirt over it.

If the ride is long I wear an evaporative vest soaked in water. Keeps my core cool for about 45 minutes. Probably not needed in Hawaii.

I wear it riding the the dual sport 650L and it has been tested when the bike has bucked me off.

It has the added benefit (in my eyes), with the shoulder armor and arm armor, one looks much more athletic and youthful, at least until you remove the helmet.

(08-28-2014, 01:00 AM)Rboe_imp Wrote: [ -> ]For hot days I use this dirt bike amored shirt from Fox.
http://www.cyclegear.com/FOX-2015-Titan-...oad-Jacket

On the down side, on long rides I get this very funky sun burn where the sun hits the skin in the holes in the mesh so now I try to wear a large dirt bike shirt over it.

If the ride is long I wear an evaporative vest soaked in water. Keeps my core cool for about 45 minutes. Probably not needed in Hawaii.

I wear it riding the the dual sport 650L and it has been tested when the bike has bucked me off.

It has the added benefit (in my eyes), with the shoulder armor and arm armor, one looks much more athletic and youthful, at least until you remove the helmet.

Hey! I noticed that you too could benefit from the use of a full face helmet - with tinted shield....