Anyone ever crashed in a mesh jacket?

[Silver K6]

I'm not sure if this is the proper forum but my post is about crashes, and I'm sure it will be moved if I'm wrong.

So here's the deal, I've been riding every day for the past two weeks and its getting pretty warm. Anyways, I usually wear an Astars TZ-1, but due to the recent heat wave and the fact that I only work 5 mins from home and rarely exceed 50MPH on my way to work I figured I'd wear my Mesh today and see if it helped. Now I bought my TZ-1 in October of last year and since have only worn leather, but apparently I forgot how unprotected mesh feels. So I guess the question would be even though my mesh jacket has shoulder, elbow, and back armor if I spill at 35-40MPH am I gonna die?!?!?!?!? In all seriousness though has anyone crashed at these speeds wearing a mesh jacket? How did it hold up? Was there any rash on your body you felt would have been avoided if you had worn a leather jacket? Now I know there are a lot of people out there that think mesh is not a solution and that you should just tough it out and wear leather all the time, but thats not the answer I'm looking for. Of course leather is better!


PS
I know it hasn't been that hot lately but this question is more about the summer and 85+ degrees because pretty much any other time I wear the leather.

[Mortifer]

Nope.

but I crashed in a Joe Rocket textile jacket once, material ripped right open inside my arm, elbow and lame foam elbow and shoulder pad wore through quick, good thing I was only going 30, I wasn't hurt at all.

I wouldn't trust a mesh jacket.
Stupidly I still wear my same textile though.:|

[aboo4ya]

I have a buddy that crashed in his mesh jacket (FirstGear brand I believe) at about 45mph and he was totally fine. In fact he still wears the jacket to this day as it has only minor scuffs. Obviously you don't have the protective or slide characteristics of leather so it may bunch and move out of place because of the friction. It will however protect against that initial impact and slide much better than the no jacket option which many people rock when it gets hot. Also, remember to steer clear of the zipper down on the jacket ride which I've seen a several people with in the past few days. Nothing undresses a person faster then asphalt.:devil

[brichter]

Make sure it's got armor in the right places and snug enough not to move around too much.

I wear one when it gets hot, but I do ride slower when I'm wearing it. :)

[batman69]

I have never worn a "mesh" jacket. I do, however, go between wearing leather and textile jacket. Oddly enough, I've only been down while wearing my textile jackets (three different times and circumstances). I've been physically hit on the freeway at 65 mph and slid on my back. Walked away without even an abrasion. I've flipped a bike at 55 mph out by the lake. Other than crazy "soreness," not a scratch on me. Finally, I've lowsided going around the lake (I hate gravel!!!). Jacket and "pads" torn up... but, not a mark on my flesh.

Obviously, there is a reason leather is ONLY acceptable on the track... it's just safer. But, i'm living proof textile jackets can be protective!

Hope this helps.

[pepperell]

dynamics between crashes varies too much to directly compare. if you crash hard enough to kill yourself the type of jacket material ain't gonna matter. however, if you crash going 100 mph and slide for a quarter mile, then it would probably be nice to have leather.

I think the two main problems with mesh are 1. will it hold the armor where and when you need it, 2. it will melt in a high speed, long slide.

[batman69]

Originally posted by batman69

Obviously, there is a reason leather is ONLY acceptable on the track... it's just safer. But, i'm living proof textile jackets can be protective!


I just read my "reply." In regards to the track, what I MEANT to say was, "there is a reason leather is the ONLY acceptable apparel on the track..."

I need to fire my secretary!!!!

[petree]

mortifier what kind of textile jacket was that? I'm certain it was bad stitching over bad materials.

on the subject of mesh being viable it just seems to me that asphalt could get right through the holes to your skin. it gives me the creeps thinking about sliding in one of those.

[nweaver]

For hot weather, get a perforated leather suit.

[Sidewalk]

If I find the link (or maybe someone else will) there is a discussion of a guy who went down on his R6 with mesh. He posted pictures and talked about how much he didn't enjoy the doctors pulling the melted mesh out of his skin.

[xgambit]

also theres different kinds of mesh jackets, some will have more protection than others. the good ones are probably the ones with actual leather strips in the most likely impact areas.

motorcycles are inherently dangerous, you have some miles under your belt so you can set your own parameters for how much danger you are ok with. dont just listen to the ' i always wear full leathers, and bullet proof armor, and flak jackets, and an m1 abrams tank when i ride and you should too' group.

[repsol73]

I have the same jacket. I low sided going 55mph. Jacket held up fine and I walked away without a scratch. After washing the jacket you would have never know it was in an accident. But every accident is diffrent.

[VTRZA]

I crashed a firstgear mesh before,worked great but jacket was a total loss.

[afm199]

A picture is worth a thousand words.

http://www.r6messagenet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3469

[Baptistro]

I went down at probably 45 mph wearing a first generation Phoenix jacket. It fit perfectly, and the armor was snug in all the right places, not moving during the impact or slide. No injuries whatsoever, and only a small tear on my left shoulder where I initially made contact with the ground. Held up well, and tossed it afterwards. Bought a Phoenix 2 as a replacement, but the jacket does not fit nearly as well even though they are the same size. I don't have nearly as much confidence in my new one and only wear it occasionally.

As far as the graft pictures, direct heat and any synthetic textile can melt on your skin, it would be no different IMO with most other textile gear. Then again, I could also get hit by a car walking across the street.

[Slowmofo]

crashed in my joe rocket nova jacket on my SV and the jacket held up great but around the waist it started to ride up and slowy as it rode up my side started scraping the street. Jacket was unscracthed LOL bike was so jacked up rideable but was totaled after insurance got through with it. I still rember that day hell I still have the scar on the side. I got up off the ground in pain like i was slashed with razors and left out to dry. I even crashed in cargo pants regular cargo khaki pants not rip or mark but damn knees were all cut :wtf go fig didnt rip threw but my knees had big deep cuts scraps.

[mabbott]

I crashed in my First Gear Mesh Jacket at 35 mph and it looks untouched. But, every accident is different. Mesh isn't as good as textile because of all the holes, textile isn't as good as leather, and leather with holes isn't as good as leather without holes.

Wearing something is better than nothing. If you are distracted by being hot, then maybe mesh is for you. If you don't have faith in your gear, you are wearing the wrong stuff. Mindset counts for a lot when riding.

I thought that I had a point, but it seems I don't... I hate it when my wife is right!!!

[66nick]

I highsided in an Alpinestars Textile Air Flow jacket at about 35-40 and slid on my right shoulder/back and the jacket barely looks scuffed at all. I love this jacket for just riding around on hot days, it barely inhibits any air at all and I never feel too hot in it even though its black. Its got armor and pads and those stayed in place, and i didnt have a scratch on me.

This is a picture of the jacket, (from the store I bought it from)

http://motostrano.com/alaiteja.html


...and I'll take a pic of my jacket later tonight.

[Jomega]

same sentiment as 66nick.
I have this jacket
Alpinestars T-Stunt Air-Flo
http://www.motorcyclegearreview.com/reviews.php?prodID=932

OUTSTANDING armor in the elbows and shoulders (upgrade the crappy back piece. it has GREAT ventilation on the shoulders; with the liner out I haven't had any complaints yet. I was thinking about the mesh.. but man after seeing those guys pics.. no thanks!

whether you ride slow or not.. just think 'is THIS the gear I would want to crash in?"

[66nick]

As promised, the pics of my jacket.

The back of the jacket.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b178/NSkou1/Bikes/IMGP0624.jpg

The shoulder

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b178/NSkou1/Bikes/IMGP0625.jpg

The lower part of the jacket (near the waist)

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b178/NSkou1/Bikes/IMGP0626.jpg


As you can see, its barely scuffed

[bpw]

I havent crash tested them but I have a pair of fieldsheer pants that are mesh but have lots of leather in the impact areas. There much cooler than my leathers but all the mesh is in pretty out of the way places where it should be somewhat protected in a crash. I dont think I would want to slide on a mesh panel. Seems like a good compromise to me.

Also was thinking about the nylon melting into your skin, anyone ever heard of this happening with the liner of a leather suit after the leather ripped or wore through in a crash?

[}Dragon{]

Originally posted by bpw
Also was thinking about the nylon melting into your skin, anyone ever heard of this happening with the liner of a leather suit after the leather ripped or wore through in a crash?

I haven't seen it... but it is possible.

[Flimsy Slowham]

FirstGear mesh jacket during a 55+mph lowside. Took major impact to my left shoulder (I was in a left-hand sweeper on Empire Grade when I got wide and into the loose stuff from the trees and gravel, etc.--front end was suddenly gone and I'm hitting the ground with my left side). Was STUPIDLY wearing jeans, jacket rides up on me, exposes left hip and back, pavement and gravel start to eat away at my exposed flesh. Jacket was fine--took a good hit on the shoulder and elbow pads. My Joe Rocket gloves had the gel palm pad ripped right out of the glove, leaving my palm exposed and scraping along the ground as well. If I had worn better pants it would have been pretty minor, with the exception of a deeply bruised shoulder. Can't believe I didn't snap my collar-bone. Still have the jacket but wear it only in ultra hot weather, and usually when just doing fire-roads or what not. Wear perforated leathers otherwise in the heat, always...

[jboat]

I crashed wearing the Joe Rocket Phoenix mesh pants. I landed on my arse going about 30-35 mph. The stitching around the butt came completely apart. If I wasn't wearing my BDU cargo pants underneath, I probably would have had a nice diaper rash...
:blush
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y249/jboat/1003.jpg