The pads can take a beating pretty good. It's better them, then your skin.....I've had them in my leather jacket and you really can't tell they are there. I had to take out the elbow pads for casual wear as that was the only thing that bothered me. If you go down, you may mess up the mesh part, but you'd mess up leather too.

This winter I'm bound and determined to ride a sled down a hill near my house. It's a mile almost straight down. Well maybe not straight down, but pretty darn close. One of those hills that if you don't gun it at the bottom, you will not make it to the top in snow.
I'm lining my butt with those pads.......

 

I'm lining my butt with those pads.......

I used to line my butt with old newspapers before getting a whipping.

Todays kids probably 3D print butt guards....

 

Well I hope armored mesh jackets aren't just an advertising gimic, as I picked one up just recently and am a "surprised convert" to the idea. For way too many years I've admittedly rode too many 'hot day' miles wearing just a T shirt up top because my full leather jacket would have me melting.

I've found that wearing the mesh jacket is actually COOLER than wearing just a T, and have sort-of believed the advertising the elblow/back armor is gonna help me if the ride goes bad..

Mine is a Joe Rocket jacket too, and no I don't know of any "real life" success stories. I don't know any dismal failure stories either though!

 

Just my take, but it worked for me. I was the victim of a left turn cager a couple of years ago. I was wearing a t-shirt and a Firstgear adventure mesh jacket very similar to this: (sorry, can't post links yet, Google it) . I went down and slid probably 50-60 feet across the intersection. The jacket was torn or otherwise worn pretty bad, non repairable, but the only road rash i suffered is where the jacket rode up on my side and my skin was exposed directly to the road. (in fact I own the jacket in the link, they quit making the one I went down in. This is probably the replacement for that model.) Anyway, my faith in mesh went up that day, but of course, ymmv...

 

Mesh

A good mesh jacket does work. My wife has been down twice in the last 3 years. The 1st accident was an end over end at 55 mph. She walked away with a small abrasion on her shin.(she also wears mesh pants). The second accident she was hit from behind and slide down the highway. Again, she had a small scratch on her forearm. Do they protect against road rash? Yes.

With that said, no jacket is going to protect you from impact injuries.

 

I hope I never find out, but I do wear a mesh jacket in the summer. IMO, anything is better than a T shirt as far as skid protection. It may not be as protective as leather or non-mesh, but I'm not couldn't stand the heat then. A lot of people have asked me if I'm not sweltering in my mesh jacket, but IMO it is actually cooler than a T shirt alone as long as I'm moving.

 

Mesh is fine, as long as you arent riding at race speeds. IMO, for street riding, mesh provides acceptable levels of protection and Id take a quality mesh over a cheap leather jacket.

 

Same here

 

Mesh is better than nothing. My instructor told us in my BRC that concrete loves skin. Guess what? I believe him.

 

I have actually slid across the pavement wearing a Firstgear Rush model mesh jacket. It was a basic lowside at roughly 50 MPH. The right sleeve was ripped up but there was no damage to myself. I can't speak to the protection capabilities of any of the other brands, but I would feel that any quality brand would do well.
As far as my "review" of my own experience, I ordered another Firstgear Rush jacket the next day. The mesh jackets are a "one and done" thing in terms of taking damage, but well worth purchasing for what they do for you.

 

In 2008, my wife and I hit a deer in Michigan at about 55mph..... damned thing put us down in a long sliding fall.... I remember hearing all the plastic breaking (Honda Goldwing 1500) and thinking, "Damn, this is gonna be expensive!" And then it was lights out. Four broken ribs, a concussion, and a punctured lung for me; and my wife had a concussion and almost lost her left hand (put it down instinctively to hold up that 850 pound motorcycle). We spent five days in the hospital..... but healed all up eventually.

When we went down, we were both wearing First Gear mesh jackets, Kevlar jeans and G-Max helmets (which saved our lives)..... while we had extensive trauma injuries, we had no road rash at all from the long slide, none. Our jackets were nearly worn through in places, but they remained intact and protected us from possible skin grafts...... After getting out of the hospital, I immediately replaced both jackets, and then bought mesh trousers. It's all we wear, and we tour 15-20K a year.... we have a layering system of rain gear, fleece, etc., which we use over and under the mesh, but the mesh is our foundation. In our minds, anyway, mesh riding gear is not a waste of time.

An after thought: In really, really hot weather, we will soak our t-shirts in cold water, like the run-off from the cooler on our motorcycle camper (!), and wear them under the mesh.... if the humidity isn't too high, it works like an evaporative air cooler and will keep you astonishingly comfortable at 100 plus degrees.....just sayin'......

 

I weren't down at about 25 mph wearing a built mesh jacket. It was a cheaper model but it did work to stop the road rash an the armor did help. I did bruise but no rash. I am now going to step up to a little higher end one just for the bells an whistles. I will say it will keep you cooler then a say t shirt. The sun can cook you skin. Yes, I would recommend wearing one.

 

I went down in a ditch - high side. 7 ribs, collapsed lung, broken collarbone and head and neck injuries, but no rash in my rush mesh. I have another one.

 

I went down last month in a Tourmaster Flex Series 2. It was almost 100 degrees and had it broken down. But it wasn't the mesh portion of the jacket that took all the damage. It was the material on the shoulder, elbow and hip. If its the same material as the shell then its called 600 denier Carbolex®. Had holes in it at only 25-30 mph fall/slide. Glad it had the CE approved armor. I'm gonna try leather next. I hope it doesn't turn out to be a bad decision. Got the Joe Rocket Super Ego Leather Hybrid. Be here next Thursday. Hopefully my MC will be fixed and out of the shop by then. Should be. Ordered the parts last Friday.

 

600 denier Carbolex, hmmmmm...that's what my Jacket (Fieldsheer aqua sport 2) is made out of too. Mine has the armor too, I hope it works if I need it. I could care less if it's in shreds afterward as long as I'm not.

 

At the risk of being redundant, I'll just say that I like protection, ANYTIME I ride. What you choose for the type of protection, is "buyer beware."

I have a mesh jacket (Bilt) that has multiple layers (including a zip-out liner) and lots of breathability. It has pads in the shoulders (I'm STILL trying to figure THAT one out, because I'd think I would land on my arms more than the tops of my shoulders) and in the elbows.

They don't cost all that much. I think I paid $100.00 for mine, on Sale at Cycle World. It's about as close to a "Power Ranger" outfit as I'm willing to go.

I have "leather" for the rest of the riding season (the jacket, not just a "vest").

-Soupy

 

I sure hope it is not advertising hype. I have a Joe Rocket mesh with the armor at critical points and expect it to perform if I ever go down while I have it on. I don't care if the mesh itself survives.

 

I have had great use, since 2008 ? of First Gear Meshtex.
Ok its just about clapped out now, but hopefully it will last another season.
Beware one thing !
Do not get fooled by the armor in a mesh jacket !
You might have to remove sleeve armor!
I wear Strap On, forearm and elbow protectors, as well as knee & shin.
(mine are Dianese.)
Because, the nylon mesh will melt away, in any kind of slide.
That, will allow the armor to slide round and flap in the breeze, while YOU wear away SKIN & BONE as you merrily slide along.

As previously stated, it does not matter what you wear, if you hit something hard. Then bits inside, break or get amputated !

On a different note, but still on "Nylon" Jackets. Having sailed a lot of ocean miles, I do know how fast the sun can destroy the integrity of Polypropylene & similar man made ropes, So ideally, a Man Made Fibre Jacket should probably be changed every 5 yrs or so.

Ok this was in a Moto Mod Suit, not mesh.
http://www.motorcycleforum.com/showthread.php?t=97227
Take Care Out There

 

appreciate the solid feedback here from two riders
about FirstGear mesh jackets

that's good enough for me
I will buy one

thanks,
dT

 

I too hope it is not hype, but as previously stated, it is better than a tee shirt. The thing I like about my mesh jacket is it actually keeps me cooler in hot weather than without. The vents are on the inside of the sleeves and direct the air on to my chest, the flow then exits out the back. (Olympia Air Glide)

Hey Cousin Jack - glad to hear the two of you recovered and it seems like you are both still riding. Good for you.

 

It going to be better then a T 4 sure.....
I wear a stay dry long sleeve T under mine, and a leather vest over it....
In hopes it will be better then just a T if it ever happens i have to go down....
Kevlar jean pants.....

 

Given how well just street clothes protected me, it stands to reason that mesh and foam would do even better. When I low sided and slid at 40 mph, what was covered in cotton faired far better than what wasn't. I no longer leave my jacket at home, and now wear the pants to match.

 

This is a good site to check out. The Mesh gear documented here held up really well in real life crashes:

http://dontai.com/wp/2010/06/03/does-motorcycle-mesh-gear-melt-in-a-crash/

I wear Olympia Airglide Jacket and Pants.

With the layers out they vent a lot of air. I would rather wear gear that is comfortable which I will actually wear. Yes, leather would be better in a crash. However, mesh will provide some protection and I usually wear strap on knee protection and sometimes extra elbow armor as well. Other than that the Cordura fiber and CE rated armor should alleviate some of the damage I would get if I were not wearing any gear.

 

I suppose I am a bit more old fashioned when it comes to gear. I wear a leather coat (when needed) boots, and gloves. Most of the time I wear a helmet but sometimes don't (is a choice in Minnesota) and I know it is dangerous thank you.

Sometimes I wear a tank and such so that is me.

I never see myself wearing a mesh jacket. Just not for me.

 

I had a slow speed crash last Memorial Day while wearing a t-shirt and jeans, result was three cracked ribs, partially collapsed lung and road rash all up and down my right arm. Maybe a jacket of some type whether a mesh with pads or a jean jacket would have greatly reduced the rash but the rest were impact injuries. I don't think any amount of padding or armor will stop all injuries but will help at least reduce some of them.

 

Only ridden a moped with one here(The exact Joe Rocket jacket the OP linked to.), up to about 45MPH, and put the bike down at 40MPH one time, the jacket definitely saved my right arm some serious damage. Broke the zipper and wore the material pretty bad, but definitely helped. Also, I hit sand once and dropped the bike, and I probably would've shattered my elbow, but the pad protected me.

Definitely you'll be far better than no jacket if you go down, if you're going 75 on the freeway, I can't speak for, but it's better than nothing I guarantee. What I'm interested in is this vs other materials, which I can't speak for.

 

I bought a mesh jacket for $50 on Ebay and it saved my bacon this weekend. I would have died of heat stroke in my other jacket today. 2 hours to go 30 miles coming back into the city.

 

Very helpful thread here (no pun intended) as I just purchased a First Gear Tex Mesh jacket. Probably will also get an Olympia Dekar Dual Sport Textile Jacket, and I have a mentor friend who has a new jacket she bought for her son who moved away and doesn't want it (tag still on the jacket.)

Additionally, I love your tag line...."Dress for the crash. Not the ride."

Great site here....

 

Pro Mesh Motorcycle Jacket from jackets4bikes.com has providing protection like motorcycle leather jacket. Double density armor on back , shoulder and elbow with injection molded plastic outer shell on shoulders and arms. Padding on front and back is something extra which add comfort and protection at it maximum. I don't think so i have seen such a good jacket in $99.