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Looking for 4 season jacket and summer glove recommendations

rippin209

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So after my spill a couple months ago I'm in the market for replacement gear.

I've got a back up helmet so I'm good for the moment and I've got a good idea what helmet I plan on getting next anyway.

My summer gloves got scuffed up but are still useable and did their job, I'd probably order the same ones again except they've been discontinued

My 3 season jacket is also a bit scuffed up but usable for the rest of summer/fall

I'm going to try a bit harder to avoid riding in the rain from now on for both safety and comfort reasons, so water proof isn't high on the list but a welcome addition to jacket options, I think something that'll be warm enough for winter riding and cool enough for summer riding would be perfect but I know that's asking a lot.

I've got a few things in my cart at an online retailer hoping there's a 4th of July sale

So any recommendations?
 
Watch for deals, and check for fit? A lot of the same materials of the same denier, and sewing techniques are being used in cheaper gear as is being used in Klim or the like. So it often comes down to fit which really varies (sometimes armor placement is the bugaboo) and features. Myself, I've migrated to using a Pilot mesh jacket as chassis which I layer under and over to address anything from freezing to 100F or over (short or long sleeve performance underlayer, Gerry down sweater, and good rain gear takes me down into freezing). I've got some Klim and Dainese other brands too, but have to say I'm impressed what some of the more affordable gear companies are doing. Gloves can be a *****, seems like my magic bullets often get discontinued or revised, which often seems like a backward step.
 
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I've had good luck with Tourmaster brand in a three season jacket. The current offering of the Intake 5.0 is a couple revisions newer than mine and I understand the quilted inner liner is now a unsleeved vest instead of a long sleeved liner. That would not be an issue for me because I never use the supplied liner. I wear a heated jacket liner or a fleece under the Intake when it is cool, using the electric liner unheated or heated as necessary. Same brand with gloves. I've had many glove types and brands but for a mesh-back summer glove I like the Tourmaster/Cortech HDX 3. They are reasonable protective for a light glove and the forefinger and thumb are usable with a touch screen phone or GPS.
 
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Hey Rip, looking for a 4 season jacket will be asking a lot out of one article of clothing. FWIW, I looked long and hard for one and finally settled on a really nice 3 season jacket and then a mesh jacket for the hot/summer rides. Being in the same boat as many of the guys here(on a budget), i pulled the trigger on a Hi-Vis Mesh jacket from SS(Speed-Strength) and like it a lot, very happy with it. For the other three seasons i ride in, i had used an old "Free99" AGV-Sport jacket without and lots of vents. I have been pretty happy with it, i mean free is good right, and better if it works and it worked OK for me. However, for my 6 state, 2600 mile, 10 day ride i knew i was going to be in weather from the 20'sF in Montana to 80'sF in Moab/New Mex and Arizona so i wanted a new jacket.

IMHO, After all of my searching, reading reviews etc, it came down to 2 jackets. #1 I scored a great deal on a new Tourmaster, which when it arrived 2 days before i was supposed to leave-only to find the sleeves were so short on it that i had to send it back. My second choice was a really nice Fly "Terra-Trek" Jacket and had it shipped to 3 Step Hideaway so it would be there when i arrived. Man did/does it fit perfectly. Although it does not have the zippers/vents that Klim has, I was very comfortable with it on and i do not believe i could have purchased a better fitting or performing jacket. It worked great in Moab, New mex, Arizona and the cold mountains of Colorado where i hit 20'sF snow/hail and warmed to the 30's where i hit a lot of rain. It continued to perform perfectly when i returned home to the high 80'sF/low 90'sF...

:{)
 
I would help to know where you live. 4 season gear for me am only be 3 or 2 seasons for you
I live in California in the central valley and work over the hill in the south end of Silicon Valley, I start at various times from 0300 to 0500 so most of my riding is in the dark and I ride in temps ranging from upper 20's f° to over 110 f°
 
I've had good luck with Tourmaster brand in a three season jacket. The current offering of the Intake 5.0 is a couple revisions newer than mine and I understand the quilted inner liner is now a unsleeved vest instead of a long sleeved liner. That would not be an issue for me because I never use the supplied liner. I wear a heated jacket liner or a fleece under the Intake when it is cool, using the electric liner unheated or heated as necessary. Same brand with gloves. I've had many glove types and brands but for a mesh-back summer glove I like the Tourmaster/Cortech HDX 3. They are reasonable protective for a light glove and the forefinger and thumb are usable with a touch screen phone or GPS.

My summer gloves that I was wearing were Tourmaster, they cost $20 is $25 were 5 or 6 years old and discolored from the sun but we're still solid and very comfortable, even after hitting the ground they have held together, they're scuffed where they hit the ground but all of the seams held together and my hands didn't have a scratch or bruise on them.

I didn't see much Tourmaster stuff when I was looking around, I'll look again and check them out.

I was thinking about getting heated gear last winter, I guess I should just do that sense it'll make my winter rides more enjoyable
 
I live in California in the central valley and work over the hill in the south end of Silicon Valley, I start at various times from 0300 to 0500 so most of my riding is in the dark and I ride in temps ranging from upper 20's f° to over 110 f°

I'm afraid that you are going to need more than one pair of just about everything.

One of those multi season jackets with a liner but you'll need to make sure it has good ventilation for the warmer days. I have become tired of attaching my liners to each jacket, trying to find the attachments and zippers... not i just wear by best liner as a layer. I have a nice one from Fieldsheer that work even off the jacket, with a center zipper.

You might also need to bring an extra pair of gloves every day. I too have Cortech HDX3's but they don't look like they'll last more than a few years. My primary gloves are Spidi STR-4 vents, while I have winter gloves they are not good enough, so would suggest heated grips first. Then heated gloves or liners.

I've found I only need one pair of riding pants. The Joe Rocket Alter Egos have a removable panel and zippers that open from the top for even more venting. I've never had to use the liner down here in SoCal.
 
For somewhere around 11 years, I have owned an Icon Motorhead leather jacket with full sleeve liner. I had a size Large back in the day, wrecked in it in 2010 when I lost my leg, recovered, got back into riding and continued to wear it for a couple more years, outgrew it and bought an XL on Ebay and sold the Large. Retail on those jackets were $350, but I bought both of them used on Ebay for $150 or so. I love the Motorhead because it is not overly perforated like a lot of leather jackets so it's really warm in the winter, but in warmer weather, it isn't terribly hot when the liner is out and all the zippered vents are open. My buddy bought one a few years ago, also used on Ebay and loves it. They are kinda niche jackets, as I never cared for many of Icon's newer leather jackets. They were perforated more and I always wanted the leather jacket for middle winter riding. I've always had a lighter weight mesh jacket for summer riding. Also the cuffs of the liner for the Motorhead has the scrunchie type material that seals off good so cold wind can't blow up your jacket sleeve.

Now the Motorhead 2 jacket has been out for a little while, but there are still several of the original Motorhead jackets used on ebay. Here is a link to search results for "Icon Motorhead Jacket" and you can see both the used ones and the new Motorhead 2's. The new Motorhead 2 jackets don't look like they have much perforation at all in them like the old ones, and they have a taller collar to better fight the cold. I always wear a fleece neck gaiter in the winter with my OG Motorhead jacket.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=icon+motorhead+jacket&_sacat=0
 
As for summer gloves, I am hunting some too, as my 12 yr old Alpinestars SMX carbon short gloves have holes in the end of 2 or 3 fingers. I really like the Alpinestars SMX-1 Air v2 and SMX-2 Air gloves, I may go with one of them. Also thought about buying a cheapo set of Icon Twenty-Niners which are only $35. I don't demand much from a summer glove. Little protection and comfort, but mostly just to keep bugs off my hands. Lol

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I do have heated grips already as well as insulated Cortech gauntlets that keep my hands dry and almost always warm enough, my riding pants were in my side case when I went down so they're still in perfect condition.

I was looking at the firstgear Kathmandu but that's more pockets and just more everything then I need, I also heard it isn't very warm but all those huge vents looked very appealing for warmer rides.

After looking at the Tourmaster intake, it looks like it fits what I'm looking for perfectly, not many reviews and I can't find a video because the 5 model is so new, so I'm hoping I like, the details that are hard to pick up online can make a difference and I don't know of any brick and mortars that carry much gear anymore.

The gloves I was looking at (for warmer weather) were the icon hypersport short gloves (newer model) lots of protection, good ventilation and they look comfortable

I'm still not 100% on anything and I'm not in a hurry, still planning on waiting for a sale as I need to fix my motorcycle before I can ride and my existing gear would work for awhile anyway

I wanted to add I'm also planning on getting a heated vest now

P.s. My handlebars just arrived and I've got my mirrors and pegs already so in going to start the repairs soon with my son's help, hopefully the hardware on my handlebars cooperate
 
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Only thing I can add is on summer gloves is Five FIVE - ADVANCED GLOVES - Catalogue I have been pretty happy with them for warm weather.
First I have heard of that brand and it looks like they make some badass gloves! I really dig the Five Stunt Evos! Looks like a great glove for $60-70 price range.

I would probably buy a pair if I hadn't have just went ahead and bought the Icon Twenty Niners. They were $35 on Revzilla and I had $20 zilla cash, so after taxes and shipping was sorted and zilla cash was credited, they were only $25 shipped.

I am gonna look over the five gloves more though, might buy some long gloves for colder weather later on.

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I like my short (sport) Touratech/Cortech 3 season jackets. But I really like my Fieldsheer gear. Not as much mesh so not as breathable, but still flows a decent amount of air. It is a lot more 4 season though! Check out their current offerings.

Men's Jackets | Fieldsheer
 
First I have heard of that brand and it looks like they make some badass gloves! I really dig the Five Stunt Evos! Looks like a great glove for $60-70 price range.

I would probably buy a pair if I hadn't have just went ahead and bought the Icon Twenty Niners. They were $35 on Revzilla and I had $20 zilla cash, so after taxes and shipping was sorted and zilla cash was credited, they were only $25 shipped.

I am gonna look over the five gloves more though, might buy some long gloves for colder weather later on.

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That is the exact model that I have. For my taste I thought it was the best mix of technical plastic and venting. In my fourth season of use and no concerns about the model. I wish I as happy with my Alpine Stars Winter gloves...
 
I still think layering is the best approach for wide temp and weather swings. That's why hiking and backpacking and the like have always gone that way. You can buy jackets like the Joe Rocket Alter Ego 3 that are really a layering approach. I can attest to that having a great super-durable outer shell that stays waterproof and has decent chest venting, but also allows you to strip back to a good mesh jacket. Mine has been a great jacket that's never let me down, even with a lot of off-road dirt naps that often involved getting flung or dragged.

But if you start with a mesh jacket like the Pilot Slate Air or similar, you can add whatever outer rain/cold layer you want and always have armor, and it's easy to find a down sweater like the Gerry ones sold at Costco or whatever that add warmth and windproof qualities without bulk. That and a performance t-shirt or underlayer and you are set for anything. And you don't have to zip or clip anything to anything else – just strip back or add on as the conditions demand. It also opens you to bargains from the hiking/backpacking/active sports markets, with more pricing, style, and fit options.

For the town/urban thing I even combine my mesh with one of my leather jackets sometimes...
 
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On that note, looks like Dennis Kirk and others have some especially good closeouts on the Alter Ego 3. I didn't check what sizes were available, but Joe Rocket is really good about having more sizing and color selection than just about anybody else. For me the only downside was the sleeve zippers would come up gradually over a day, which I solved by dabbing a tiny bit of shoe goop on the zipper and running it up and down immediately before it could dry.
 
Thanks for the recommendations and keep them coming, I'm checking out all this stuff sense in still sitting around for the most part and if anyone hears of a good sale or anything site wide please let me know, thanks everyone
 
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