Posted by Tweak on May 2, 2006, 2:34 pm
lubecki@hotmail.com says...
> Venture Rider wrote:
> > On Sun, 30 Apr 2006 19:24:26 -0500, Dean Hoffman said:
> >
> > > I've read comments
> > >that say these type jackets are as comfortable as riding with a T shirt.
> >
> > Until you hit the pavement.
>
> Not really. Sure, a mesh jacket won't protect you nearly as well as
> leather in a 100mph crash. But it should do OK at reasonable city
> commuting speeds, and it's certainly much better than riding in a
> T-shirt.
>
> There are also various flavors of mesh jackets. Joe Rocket Phoenix is
> probably the flimsiest of them (and of course flows the most air), but
> a Vanson textile mesh jacket will give you much more protection (and be
> hotter).
>
> Gniewko
>
I have a Kobe jacket which looks like the top half of a set of their 1
piece suits with the non-impact areas replaced by mesh. Thick leather,
real armor, etc..
--
Tweak
Posted by .p.jm on April 30, 2006, 9:02 pm
On Sun, 30 Apr 2006 19:24:26 -0500, Dean Hoffman
> kyle.kvech@gmail.com wrote:
>> For all intents and purposes, I'm new to street bikes and was
>> considering getting one to save on my daily commute. (I used to have a
>> dirt bike when I was little and loved it, but I know that's not the
>> same thing.) My situation is; I live in Tucson, AZ where there are
>> 300+ days without rain, and it rarely gets below the 50s during the
>> day, even in the winter... So the majority of the time I would be able
>> ride to work, including most of the winter. Right now I have a
>> gas-guzzling SUV that I was planning on getting rid of, but would
>> really like to keep. The reason being; I drive about 1,500 miles per
>> month, almost all of which is city/rural/stop & go, and it is costing
>> me a fortune.
>>
>> With that being said, saving money isn't the only reason I'd like to
>> get a bike, but me getting one would be contingent on being able to
>> save money with it. We just moved here from Maryland, and it's so warm
>> and sunny most of the year I think it would be fun to use a bike for my
>> commute.
> Rest cut.
> I've had 4 bikes, none larger than my present 800 cc. Suzuki
>Volusia. Gas mileage was about 45 on all of them. There are plenty of
>cars around that will get you 30 mpg.
> Tires usually last me about 10K to 15K miles. A new set for my
>Volusia will cost me about $225. The rear tire will have to be
>replaced about twice as often as the front. I chose to replace both
>this time.
> Insurance can be a big issue. Talk to an agent about a specific model
>before buying. I guess sport bikes can cost a fortune to insure
>compared to cruisers.
> I don't know that there is a whole lot more maintenance on bike motors
>than on car motors. Some bikes have valves that need to be adjusted
>periodically.
> Mesh protective wear is available. It's supposed to do the job but
>be a lot cooler than leather. I have a jacket made by First Gear for
>example. It hasn't gotten a hot weather test yet. I've read comments
>that say these type jackets are as comfortable as riding with a T shirt.
One would think so. But with armor built into elbows,
shoulders and back, that's gotta be pretty good protection.
Of course, any gear is only as good as the gear you have on at
the time. If it's hot and you leave your leathers home, they suck.
Tourmaster has some reasonably priced stuff that looks well
On Sun, 30 Apr 2006 19:24:26 -0500, Dean Hoffman
> kyle.kvech@gmail.com wrote:
>> For all intents and purposes, I'm new to street bikes and was
>> considering getting one to save on my daily commute. (I used to have a
>> dirt bike when I was little and loved it, but I know that's not the
>> same thing.) My situation is; I live in Tucson, AZ where there are
>> 300+ days without rain, and it rarely gets below the 50s during the
>> day, even in the winter... So the majority of the time I would be able
>> ride to work, including most of the winter. Right now I have a
>> gas-guzzling SUV that I was planning on getting rid of, but would
>> really like to keep. The reason being; I drive about 1,500 miles per
>> month, almost all of which is city/rural/stop & go, and it is costing
>> me a fortune.
>>
>> With that being said, saving money isn't the only reason I'd like to
>> get a bike, but me getting one would be contingent on being able to
>> save money with it. We just moved here from Maryland, and it's so warm
>> and sunny most of the year I think it would be fun to use a bike for my
>> commute.
> Rest cut.
> I've had 4 bikes, none larger than my present 800 cc. Suzuki
>Volusia. Gas mileage was about 45 on all of them. There are plenty of
>cars around that will get you 30 mpg.
> Tires usually last me about 10K to 15K miles. A new set for my
>Volusia will cost me about $225. The rear tire will have to be
>replaced about twice as often as the front. I chose to replace both
>this time.
> Insurance can be a big issue. Talk to an agent about a specific model
>before buying. I guess sport bikes can cost a fortune to insure
>compared to cruisers.
> I don't know that there is a whole lot more maintenance on bike motors
>than on car motors. Some bikes have valves that need to be adjusted
>periodically.
> Mesh protective wear is available. It's supposed to do the job but
>be a lot cooler than leather. I have a jacket made by First Gear for
>example. It hasn't gotten a hot weather test yet. I've read comments
>that say these type jackets are as comfortable as riding with a T shirt.
One would think so. But with armor built into elbows,
shoulders and back, that's gotta be pretty good protection.
Of course, any gear is only as good as the gear you have on at
the time. If it's hot and you leave your leathers home, they suck.
Tourmaster has some reasonably priced stuff that looks well
designed for riding.
> Dean
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Posted by BobN on April 30, 2006, 8:30 pm
I second the recommendation for a small car - Honda Civic, small Toyota or
similar, with A/C. It gets really hot in Tucson and you'll be very
uncomfortable riding in that heat. If you run the numbers, you'll find that
the gas savings will not pay for the purchase and insurance on even a cheap,
old bike for several years.
Posted by lubecki on May 2, 2006, 1:36 pm
BobN wrote:
> I second the recommendation for a small car - Honda Civic, small Toyota or
> similar, with A/C. It gets really hot in Tucson and you'll be very
> uncomfortable riding in that heat. If you run the numbers, you'll find that
> the gas savings will not pay for the purchase and insurance on even a cheap,
> old bike for several years.
It depends on how long your commute is (duh). If you drive 4 miles to
work then yeah, it will take a long time to realize any savings. But if
your commute is longer it makes more sense. You can get a good commuter
bike for $2000, and get liability insurance for $200/year (maybe even
cheaper in AZ). $2200 is 700 gallons of gas, so if your SUV gets 15mpg
and your bike gets 50mpg, the bike will pay for itself in 16,000 miles.
If you have a 32-mile commute each way (as apparently plenty of people
do), you'll break even after a year.
And of course bikes are way more fun than cars, and that's got to be
worth something.
-Gniewko
Posted by kyle.kvech on May 2, 2006, 5:51 pm
"It depends on how long your commute is (duh). If you drive 4 miles to
work then yeah, it will take a long time to realize any savings. But if
your commute is longer it makes more sense. You can get a good commuter
bike for $2000, and get liability insurance for $200/year (maybe even
cheaper in AZ). $2200 is 700 gallons of gas, so if your SUV gets 15mpg
and your bike gets 50mpg, the bike will pay for itself in 16,000 miles.
If you have a 32-mile commute each way (as apparently plenty of people
do), you'll break even after a year.
And of course bikes are way more fun than cars, and that's got to be
worth something."
Yeah, my commute is 18 miles each way, so that's 36 miles a day. A lot
of hills and my SUV gets around 11MPG. So that's about 3.27
gallons/day and about $47/week. If I get 50Mpg on a small bike that's
.72 gallons/day which would be $10.44/week. So $2,444 for the SUV at
the end of the year, and $543 for the bike.
This is strictly my drive to work, and is assuming a gas price of
$2.90. I'm sure gas will keep going up this summer too...
Seems quit attractive to me, as does getting to ride to work.
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> > On Sun, 30 Apr 2006 19:24:26 -0500, Dean Hoffman said:
> >
> > > I've read comments
> > >that say these type jackets are as comfortable as riding with a T shirt.
> >
> > Until you hit the pavement.
>
> Not really. Sure, a mesh jacket won't protect you nearly as well as
> leather in a 100mph crash. But it should do OK at reasonable city
> commuting speeds, and it's certainly much better than riding in a
> T-shirt.
>
> There are also various flavors of mesh jackets. Joe Rocket Phoenix is
> probably the flimsiest of them (and of course flows the most air), but
> a Vanson textile mesh jacket will give you much more protection (and be
> hotter).
>
> Gniewko
>