Thoughts on Joe Rocket Jacket closeout?

pugbuddy · Post by **pugbuddy** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 3:17 pm

Not sure about this jacket but I like the general look. Does anyone know how abrasive-resistant the "hemp" material is? Other thoughts? I'm not a fan of the snaps on the arms to hold the armor in place.

http://www.motorcyclegear.com/street/cl ... acket.html

PeteH · Post by **PeteH** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 3:25 pm

I just got a Joe Rocket Nova, also from MotorcycleGear.com. The Hemp appears to have the same snap adjusters as my Fieldsheer mesh, and the Nova uses a different sort altogether - just one single adjuster.

On the Fieldsheer, the snaps are indeed above and below where the elbow armor sits, but quite frankly, the armor doesn't move even when the snaps are un-done. The snaps are really about taking up slack in the sleeves so that you're not flapping in the breeze. I'm guessing the only reason they are even there are because some riders have arms like Popeye, some have arms like Olive Oyl.

So based on my limited two-jacket experience, I'm thinking the arm adjusters ae really about slacky-flappy rather than adjusting where the armor actually sits. On either design, snugging up the adjusters will do both jobs.

pugbuddy · Post by **pugbuddy** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 4:06 pm

Yes, I have a Fieldsheer jacket with the snaps which are kind of a nuisance to me.

Edwub · Post by **Edwub** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 4:18 pm

Can't speak to yours, but I'm a big fan of the Joe Rocket Alter Ego 3.0 I bought recently. Images, $220ish on that site.

It has the same snaps on the inner arm of the mesh jacket, but only one, not on both sides of the armor. I haven't checked the outer jacket layer. At least for my jacket, I think PeteH is right: " the arm adjusters are really about slacky-flappy rather than adjusting where the armor actually sits."

I have mine on the tightest snap, if I loosen it up there's extra material. (Does that mean my arms are like Olive Oyl?

) Advantage to that is the other snap points are less visible.

neotrotsky · Post by **neotrotsky** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 5:08 pm

I had a Joe Rocket Phoenix for years and it was a fantastic jacket! Durable with great armor coverage and it fits us long armed types very well. I personally won't wear hemp, but their denier/leather combos are some of the toughest jackets for the money. As for the arm snaps, they allow for more room inside the sleeves for liners or layers for cold or wet riding, so it's not a critique on thinner arms but some well thought out room to make the jacket more versatile. If they made a more neutral position jacket in a non-sport style I would buy another in a heartbeat.

Syd · Post by **Syd** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 8:13 pm

neotrotsky wrote:I personally won't wear hemp...

Just curious, why not? Is it health, safety or comfort related? (If not, there's no real need to answer.)

neotrotsky · Post by **neotrotsky** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 8:43 pm

Syd wrote:
neotrotsky wrote:I personally won't wear hemp...
Just curious, why not? Is it health, safety or comfort related? (If not, there's no real need to answer.)

Many reasons, but the denier/leather cobo jackets Joe Rocket carries are a great bang for your buck and provide the best combo of protection and comfort that you can't beat. If they are on clearance under $200 you won't regret picking one up

Post by **ericalm** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 2:36 am

I'd definitely want to find out about abrasion-resistance testing on the hemp. The Joe Rocket site has nothing more than what's on Motorcyclegear.com.

Here's a review of the jacket: http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/397/5171/ ... eview.aspx

There's some info on testing here:
http://dealernewsblog.com/2009/08/27/ro ... mp-jacket/

rsrider · Post by **rsrider** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 6:42 pm

$135? If you like the style, then buy it. JR products stand up well, and if they made a jacket from hemp you can bet they did extensive testing before bringing it to production. I have a bunch of JR stuff and it's still holding together well. I have an original Ballistic Jacket I picked up at Laguna Seca SBK in 95 or 96. I've retired it long ago, but it is still in good shape.

black sunshine · Post by **black sunshine** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 7:03 pm

i'm looking at this one:

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/5/ ... acket.aspx

thoughts?

pugbuddy · Post by **pugbuddy** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 7:21 pm

ericalm wrote:I'd definitely want to find out about abrasion-resistance testing on the hemp. The Joe Rocket site has nothing more than what's on Motorcyclegear.com.

Here's a review of the jacket: http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/397/5171/ ... eview.aspx

There's some info on testing here:
http://dealernewsblog.com/2009/08/27/ro ... mp-jacket/

Hmmmm, I tend to think it's too light for a winter jacket....

blacksunshine, I like the one you posted. Not sure about the abrasion restistance; it is only cotton after all? I wonder how waterproof it is too? I didn't see anything in the comments to indicate that....

Speedweasel · Post by **Speedweasel** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 9:00 pm

I have that exact jacket (the light olive green hemp one).

Love it. Primo. Beauty-ful "ting". "fabulous" adjective, etc

Can't say anything about the abrasive factor cuz I ain't planning on wiping out (cue "ah hah hah haaaa wipe out" and drums).

LunaP · Post by **LunaP** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 10:05 pm

I personally would never buy that jacket, based on the review eric posted- it says the jacket has no water resistance and feels like a wet burlap sack in the rain. Yuck.

But I mean, if you live somewhere with virtually no rain- go for it. It looks good.

Post by **ericalm** » Fri Oct 21, 2011 12:12 am

Nikwax will help waterproof any textile jacket!

pugbuddy · Post by **pugbuddy** » Fri Oct 21, 2011 3:53 am

Speedweasel wrote:I have that exact jacket (the light olive green hemp one).

Love it. Primo. Beauty-ful "ting". "fabulous" adjective, etc

Can't say anything about the abrasive factor cuz I ain't planning on wiping out (cue "ah hah hah haaaa wipe out" and drums).

How does it handle the cold? Is it well insulated? Wind resistant?

Speedweasel · Post by **Speedweasel** » Fri Oct 21, 2011 3:01 pm

pugbuddy wrote:
Speedweasel wrote:I have that exact jacket (the light olive green hemp one).

Love it. Primo. Beauty-ful "ting". "fabulous" adjective, etc

Can't say anything about the abrasive factor cuz I ain't planning on wiping out (cue "ah hah hah haaaa wipe out" and drums).
How does it handle the cold? Is it well insulated? Wind resistant?

Well I'm originally from MN and "cold" doesn't really exist down here in Tucson... actually, "cold" doesn't really apply to myself (heheh) unless we're talking negative temps.

Jacket does have a liner (which I'll never use down here).

Seems to break the wind well.

It's light but at the same time feels "heavy" as in "very sturdy"... kind of
like the feel of a brand new jeans jacket.

It's *very* comfortable.

rsrider · Post by **rsrider** » Fri Oct 21, 2011 10:30 pm

Speedweasel wrote:
It's light but at the same time feels "heavy" as in "very sturdy"... kind of
like the feel of a brand new jeans jacket.

It's *very* comfortable.

I think that with a natural fiber like hemp, the jacket will wear in better than a textile jacket. I think that's a plus for the jacket. It could become supple, like leather, but still be effective protection. Textile will not do that. Every textile jacket I have feels like it did when I first bought it, stiff and weird. That's why I only wear leather now, except for my JR Phoenix that I wear during stupid hot days, and even that jacket feels like it did when I first bought it.

If you want something that's warm and water resistant, then buy a jacket that is warm and water resistant.

BootScootin'FireFighter · Mon Oct 24, 2011 5:25 pm

rsrider wrote:That's why I only wear leather now, except for my JR Phoenix that I wear during stupid hot days, and even that jacket feels like it did when I first bought it.

How does the leather hold up in the cold? I ride year round, but have to do layers and still after about 30 minutes, no matter how many layers, the cold air still finds its way in. I saw Leather Up has a lot of good looking jackets, very well priced. I wanted to get other riders feedback about leather and how much it breaks the wind. Like I said, I ride year round, but when it's cold, I'd like to still be able to venture far away from the city without having to stop every hour to thaw out.

LunaP · Post by **LunaP** » Mon Oct 24, 2011 5:32 pm

BootScootin'FireFighter wrote:
rsrider wrote:That's why I only wear leather now, except for my JR Phoenix that I wear during stupid hot days, and even that jacket feels like it did when I first bought it.
How does the leather hold up in the cold? I ride year round, but have to do layers and still after about 30 minutes, no matter how many layers, the cold air still finds its way in. I saw Leather Up has a lot of good looking jackets, very well priced. I wanted to get other riders feedback about leather and how much it breaks the wind. Like I said, I ride year round, but when it's cold, I'd like to still be able to venture far away from the city without having to stop every hour to thaw out.

I can't speak from personal experience, but my friend and coworker rides a Ruckus year round and he has a leather jacket that he ditches when it gets cold. He says it'll take a waterproofing spray really well if your treat it and take care of it, but it's not that great as a windbreaker and abysmal for warmth.

That being said, he's old school/gearing on the really cheap and his jackets are just jackets and not meant for riding specifically- I think any you would buy from leather up would at least have inner liners that would keep you warmer than that, but I don't know HOW warm, or protected from the rain or wind.

PM Awinn, she and her bf have leathers from LeatherUp... they aren't riding year round, but I'm sure it's already gotten decently cold up there and rained on her at least once, and I don't thinks she's put away the Buddy yet.

k1dude · Post by **k1dude** » Mon Oct 24, 2011 5:46 pm

LunaP wrote:
BootScootin'FireFighter wrote:
rsrider wrote:That's why I only wear leather now, except for my JR Phoenix that I wear during stupid hot days, and even that jacket feels like it did when I first bought it.
How does the leather hold up in the cold? I ride year round, but have to do layers and still after about 30 minutes, no matter how many layers, the cold air still finds its way in. I saw Leather Up has a lot of good looking jackets, very well priced. I wanted to get other riders feedback about leather and how much it breaks the wind. Like I said, I ride year round, but when it's cold, I'd like to still be able to venture far away from the city without having to stop every hour to thaw out.
I can't speak from personal experience, but my friend and coworker rides a Ruckus year round and he has a leather jacket that he ditches when it gets cold. He says it'll take a waterproofing spray really well if your treat it and take care of it, but it's not that great as a windbreaker and abysmal for warmth.

That being said, he's old school/gearing on the really cheap and his jackets are just jackets and not meant for riding specifically- I think any you would buy from leather up would at least have inner liners that would keep you warmer than that, but I don't know HOW warm, or protected from the rain or wind.

I'm not sure I agree with your friend. I have this jacket:

It blocks wind incredibly well. I also has a zip-out liner for warmth in the winter. With the liner out, it's actually much cooler than I would have expected for warmer weather riding. It also has zip-open vents and a mesh lining for warmer weather. When I know it's going to be cold out, I'll reach for my leather over my textile. But if there's a chance of rain I'll grab my textile. My textile also has armor whereas my leather doesn't.

The only drawback of my leather jacket is it has large openings around the wrist, so wind can get in and chill your arms. It's great for warm weather, but not for cold unless you have gloves with long gauntlets to go over the openings to keep wind out.

pugbuddy · Post by **pugbuddy** » Mon Oct 24, 2011 10:25 pm

k1dude wrote:
LunaP wrote:
BootScootin'FireFighter wrote: How does the leather hold up in the cold? I ride year round, but have to do layers and still after about 30 minutes, no matter how many layers, the cold air still finds its way in. I saw Leather Up has a lot of good looking jackets, very well priced. I wanted to get other riders feedback about leather and how much it breaks the wind. Like I said, I ride year round, but when it's cold, I'd like to still be able to venture far away from the city without having to stop every hour to thaw out.
I can't speak from personal experience, but my friend and coworker rides a Ruckus year round and he has a leather jacket that he ditches when it gets cold. He says it'll take a waterproofing spray really well if your treat it and take care of it, but it's not that great as a windbreaker and abysmal for warmth.

That being said, he's old school/gearing on the really cheap and his jackets are just jackets and not meant for riding specifically- I think any you would buy from leather up would at least have inner liners that would keep you warmer than that, but I don't know HOW warm, or protected from the rain or wind.
I'm not sure I agree with your friend. I have this jacket:

It blocks wind incredibly well. I also has a zip-out liner for warmth in the winter. With the liner out, it's actually much cooler than I would have expected for warmer weather riding. It also has zip-open vents and a mesh lining for warmer weather. When I know it's going to be cold out, I'll reach for my leather over my textile. But if there's a chance of rain I'll grab my textile. My textile also has armor whereas my leather doesn't.

The only drawback of my leather jacket is it has large openings around the wrist, so wind can get in and chill your arms. It's great for warm weather, but not for cold unless you have gloves with long gauntlets to go over the openings to keep wind out.

Nice! What is it called?

Edwub · Post by **Edwub** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 12:00 am

pugbuddy wrote: Nice! What is it called?

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/3/ ... acket.aspx