hkwan
07-05-2007, 09:04 PM
http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/motostrano_1958_19402495
Commute with the SMX jacket (without the liner, and a polo shirt) and FirstGear Overpant (the summer overpant with pants inside) today during 5:15pm to about 6pm (pretty much the hottest time of the day on the hottest day of the year, >90degF).
I commuted from Fremont to San Mateo. The route is from Fremont up 880N (the hottest part of the commute). For some reason there is something about 880 (or Fremont) that it's noticeably hotter than other parts of my commute. I always notice a temp increase the moment I enter onto 880 (for instance - 84E to 880S).
Normally I would take the cage when it gets above 85F but want to put the ventilation to test on this jacket. The temp was very tolerable. Definitely good airflow (tho warm air) through the jacket. I had on a polo T underneath jacket, by the way. I didn't sweat much at all, believe it or not, where I would be sweating my balls off if I were wearing the Dainese Bora perf jacket (for comparison sake).
I do also think the good airflow provided by the helmet (Suomy Extreme) has a lot to do with me not having a overall overheating effect as well.
The one big thing that I don't like about this jacket is its huge backprotector pocket. If using the A* backprotector that normally fits in jackets, it would 'slosh' around in the pocket. I actually stuffed a Teknic back protector in there. http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/images/threads/000/203/776/3145730-teknic_bckprotector_310x310.jpg
The back gets a bit hot (may be a bit moist but not bad at all...) but probably worth it for the added back protection. This jacket is probably last of the very few moto items A* has that is made in Italy.
PS The commute consists of mostly highway - at speed limit, a bit above (80'ish), below speed limit, as well as lane sharing of ~30, 40 mph with stop-go traffic on both side emitting exhaust heat out of their hoods, exhaust pipe..etc.
Commute with the SMX jacket (without the liner, and a polo shirt) and FirstGear Overpant (the summer overpant with pants inside) today during 5:15pm to about 6pm (pretty much the hottest time of the day on the hottest day of the year, >90degF).
I commuted from Fremont to San Mateo. The route is from Fremont up 880N (the hottest part of the commute). For some reason there is something about 880 (or Fremont) that it's noticeably hotter than other parts of my commute. I always notice a temp increase the moment I enter onto 880 (for instance - 84E to 880S).
Normally I would take the cage when it gets above 85F but want to put the ventilation to test on this jacket. The temp was very tolerable. Definitely good airflow (tho warm air) through the jacket. I had on a polo T underneath jacket, by the way. I didn't sweat much at all, believe it or not, where I would be sweating my balls off if I were wearing the Dainese Bora perf jacket (for comparison sake).
I do also think the good airflow provided by the helmet (Suomy Extreme) has a lot to do with me not having a overall overheating effect as well.
The one big thing that I don't like about this jacket is its huge backprotector pocket. If using the A* backprotector that normally fits in jackets, it would 'slosh' around in the pocket. I actually stuffed a Teknic back protector in there. http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/images/threads/000/203/776/3145730-teknic_bckprotector_310x310.jpg
The back gets a bit hot (may be a bit moist but not bad at all...) but probably worth it for the added back protection. This jacket is probably last of the very few moto items A* has that is made in Italy.
PS The commute consists of mostly highway - at speed limit, a bit above (80'ish), below speed limit, as well as lane sharing of ~30, 40 mph with stop-go traffic on both side emitting exhaust heat out of their hoods, exhaust pipe..etc.