checked much of the sites you guys mentioned, i am still looking for a good, safe, leather jacket for riding in very hot weather, for me, t-shirts give no protection, i ride with boots, draggin kevlar pants, helmet, etc., but i have yet been able to locate a heavy duty safety jacket to wear, i guess i will check with HD to see if they sell one, we put a man on the moon!! someone has to make a safety jacket for riding in hot weather, will let you know if i find one.....thanks...

Lots of mesh jackets out there, with good armor in them.

Not sure where you are in the world but Tiger Angel (http://www.tigerangel.com.au/) here in Australia do a range called Guardian. It has a two way zip arrangement in sleeves which lets in lots of air without compromising protection. It also has the added bonus of being water resistant (water proof with the Gore Tex liner fitted). I have had mine for six months and have gone from the extremes of seven hours in constant, heavy rain and staying dry to riding in high summer without suffering heat stroke!
http://www.tigerangel.com.au/images/gore/guardian_fem.jpg http://www.tigerangel.com.au/images/gore/guard_slve_vent.jpg

Check out the mesh jackets, they will offer you protection and airflow to keep you cool.
Some of the jackets even have armor in them as well.

Check the Joe Rocket stuff, they have one with armor in spine, shoulders, elbow, plus zipper vents and a neat zip out sleeve and underarm section. it unzips and removes a strip of the inner arm, up to the armpit, and down to the waist, with mesh left in place.

My "FXRG" HD jacket has armor and a kidney belt. Works just fine for me. I also has a good "venting" system that lets the air travel thru.
You should be able to find anything you want..it's out there for a price. :D

Guess I'm just old school, or more plainly, I haven't the funds for alternative wear....

I use the "layer" method...

As in someone else's post recently....(Mick, I think) If ya go more than 45 min to an hour away, chaps and riding leather is necessary....

Around town, I can feel ok with a vest over a t-shirt...

ALWAYS long pants...usually my Harley jeans, cause they're cut motorcycle-specific...:)

The jacket is always the question....usually, the jacket wins....it does have SOME venting possibilities, but mostly, its a really big, thick hunk 'o leather....The denim jacket has been making a comeback with me....but still not on longer rides...

You said you have the draggin jeans, why not there air flow jacket. Im thinking of getting this because it gets so hot here and I cant wear my leather jacket, Ive been riding in a tee shirt doing 80 down the free way, then I think about it after a few miles and have to slow down a little. Which sucks.
http://www.dragginjeans.com/airflow.html

riot jacket (http://www.joerocket.com/jrf/products/product.cfm?products_id=426)

I like this jacket,but need to wait on funds. The thing Ilike is it isblack. It is all mesh, with armor like mentioned earlier. I haveto admit, whenIam rideing around town Iam in a t shirt and maybe a leather vest. I always wear jeans...old reliable levis 501, and good leather boots.....old school black Marine Corps issue, and a helmet. I have thesmallest DOT helmet Icould find, but if I could get onbase with a non DOT helmet I would prolly wear one. The one I have has to be cinched up real tight or it acts like a parachute at high speeds andIget a stiff neck.

Alpinestar, Joe rocket and other companies make perforated leather jackets for hot weather riding. I use a First gear mesh jacket and it really makes a difference.

checked much of the sites you guys mentioned, i am still looking for a good, safe, leather jacket for riding in very hot weather, for me, t-shirts give no protection, i ride with boots, draggin kevlar pants, helmet, etc., but i have yet been able to locate a heavy duty safety jacket to wear, i guess i will check with HD to see if they sell one, we put a man on the moon!! someone has to make a safety jacket for riding in hot weather, will let you know if i find one.....thanks...

What did you finally find? Is it leather???
Thanks,
JJ

I live in south Florida... VERY HOT... I have two mesh jackets (ballistic nylon) with armor. They are really quite cool when you're moving...

look at www.ridegear.com

I use an Icon Merc jacket. It's not leather but it does come with built in armor right where you need it. Lots of vents for keeping me cool (as if I need vents for that!:roflblack ) Been thinking of getting an old Dickeys style jacket just for cruising around town. No armor but it's lightweight and lined for the cool SoCal nights.
Grizzly,
If you need some more of those 'old school' black boots let me know, got some with steel toe you can have for a beer!!:laugh

I've been lookig as well, for a good leather jacket that won't smother me in the hot weather.
It came today-XElement Racers Jacket from Leatherup.com.
Very well made, chest, upper sleeve, and back zipper vents. Sewn in mesh lining, with a zipper out quilt liner. I'm pretty damn happy for $98.
I bought a large(6'1" 180#), if you have any kind of a gut get a bigger size. I'll have room for a sweatshirt and such underneath if I need them, but the jacket is cut to fit tight.
Again, very happy, as with all my purchases to date with Leatherup.

I bought a perforated leather jacket from ebay for around $120. Far from heavy-duty, and no sewn in armor. Pretty cool when your riding above 35mph. No good for chilly summer nights. There's some padding above the shoulders, rather than on the shoulders. Looks nice. However, sleeves are not cut for riding position and will be too short when you stretch out.

LeatherUp has a heavy-duty perforated jacket, but it sells out extremely fast. It won't be listed on their site again, until it is back in stock. I bought the ebay version cause the backorder got extended beyond 3 months. All they had left in stock over the summer were "fat-boy" models :D

I live and ride in Miami Fla. I have the Harley gun metal mesh with armor it comes with a removable liner and it works great. I can't see spendin the $$$$ on a leather that'l be sittin in my closet for all but 2 days out of the year.

There is a new Harley Jacket out.

INSTINCT PERFORATED LEATHER AND NYLON MESH JACKET
97070-06VM
Let your instincts guide you into this sporty midweight leather jacket that features nylon mesh for maximum airflow, a mandarin collar, action back, zippered cuffs, adjustable tabs at the waist, two hand-warmer pockets, two inside pockets, wind flap, mesh lining, and lightweight padding along the back waist. It contains body armor pockets that fit FXRG Body Armor. This jacket is decorated with reflective piping, Harley-Davidson embossing along the zipper and Bar & Shield logo leather inlay at the shoulders.
http://www.harley-davidson.com/media/images/productphotos/MC/97070_06VM_L_1f913.jpg

I am thinking about a joe rocket orbit jacket there are alot of them on ebay for like 95 bucks all together.. I just need to go to the rice burner shop and try some joe rocket jackets on so I order the right size

Tour Master makes great moto-wear for the money. I have one of their Cortech 3/4 cold weather coats.

They make a leather "Air Jacket" that I'm thinking about getting. Check it out at MotoEmporium.com, the best price I've found on it:
http://www.motoemporium.com/tourmaster/tourmastermagnum_air.html

Also check out Mawonline.com and ask for their Tour Master price list. They're shipping costs are high, though, so check on that too.

http://www.joerocket.com/jrp/catalog_images/cat/426_3171.jpg
I like this jacket,but need to wait on funds. The thing Ilike is it isblack. It is all mesh, with armor like mentioned earlier. I haveto admit, whenIam rideing around town Iam in a t shirt and maybe a leather vest. I always wear jeans...old reliable levis 501, and good leather boots.....old school black Marine Corps issue, and a helmet. I have thesmallest DOT helmet Icould find, but if I could get onbase with a non DOT helmet I would prolly wear one. The one I have has to be cinched up real tight or it acts like a parachute at high speeds andIget a stiff neck.

I have always liked the spinal armour on the outside. I am in the same boat though, waiting on funds. (well more like saving than waiting, but you know what I mean)

I have the Tourmaster Corteck Impulse perferated leather jacket. Has a zip out liner for when the weather really warms up. Shoulder scoops and lot of venting. Here in the high country it is almost too much ventilation on cool morning, but great in the heat. Also has armor in the shoulders, coller bone, and back. Great jacket, but it is a heavy SOB!:tour

Eventually leather is in the future for me. But for now, for the upcoming summer season, I just got a Vanson Vent Max 3 mesh shirt. 1000 denier mesh throughout with leather and armor at forearm/elbow, and shoulder, with a back protector as well. Comes in plain black mesh with option of white stripes, flames, or bones(my choice) on the sleeves. Took it for a test run in 80 plus weather. Very very breezy!! Fit and finish excellent.

Got it from Newenough.com. Pictures can be seen there.Added plus for me--Made in U.S.A

I use a leather/mesh jacket and pants for hot summer days. I actually had a bad crash a few years agao wearing a mesh jacket and was very surprised how well it held up and protected the important parts! Unfortunately I was only wearing jeans on my legs and my knees were badly tore up.

Did you look at the Vanson Strip Jacket (http://www.vansonleathers.com/product_pages/jackets/s1_s2_strip.htm)?

I have one and it is great. As long as you are moving you get a lot of air going between the strips. It is at it's worst in stop and go traffic on a hot day. Other than that I am very satisifed with mine.

Eventually leather is in the future for me. But for now, for the upcoming summer season, I just got a Vanson Vent Max 3 mesh shirt. 1000 denier mesh throughout with leather and armor at forearm/elbow, and shoulder, with a back protector as well. Comes in plain black mesh with option of white stripes, flames, or bones(my choice) on the sleeves. Took it for a test run in 80 plus weather. Very very breezy!! Fit and finish excellent.

Got it from Newenough.com. Pictures can be seen there.Added plus for me--Made in U.S.A

I also recently got the Vanson Vent Max 3 mesh shirt. I've used it several time already in 90-95 with a t-shirt underneath, almost like wearing only a t-shirt, very comfortable and cool with the benefit of impact protection, and a fabric that also has abrasion and tear strength.

I also wear it underneath my cool weather jackets that don't have armor, so one set of armor for more than one jacket.

I just wish it came in safer more visible colors besides only black

evalea -

Can you provide any more information on the jacket you described above? I went ot the H-D website and tried firnding it by name and number. Nothing came up.

Thanks,

Fred