Keeping cool on a bike?

[Pricey12]

So now we finally seem to be experiencing summer I was wondering what you guys do to help keep cool on when riding. I have all the vents open on my helmet, have a fairly lightweight Furygan textile jacket and vented summer gloves, but still sweat like a marathon runner. It's better when on the move, but as soon as I stop I'm soaked in sweat pretty quick. Even getting my gear on before getting on the bike is hot work. Don't get me wrong, I like the summer weather, I was just wondering what everyone does to help keep cool (er). Any tips on summer gear, etc appreciated.

[MisterTommyH]

Don't stop.

Simples.

[Pricey12]

Don't stop.

Simples.

Lol :p

[maviczap]

Jump in the sea :D

[Pricey12]

Now I'm almost envious of the idiots who ride in shorts and tshirt. Not enough to do it though as I want to keep my skin...

[DJ123]

My helmet is white, my jacket is mostly sand coloured with some black & my trousers the same. MY jacket has 6 vents on it-2 on the sleeve, 2 on the chest & 2 on the back which create a good passing through breeze. At lower speeds I *sometimes* unzip the top of my jacket an inch or 2 to allow more of a breeze in. I don't get uncomfortably hot in my gear, even wearing jeans and a t shirt underneath it all. This was tested to the extreme in France at the MotoGP, sat on the bike between 1000's of other bike for an hour in 30+ degrees in direct sun light . . . .

[maviczap]

I'd rather sweat my socks off than spend the rest of my days permanently disfigured & in discomfort.

Its bad enough if you have a prang whilst wearing full gear

[Pricey12]

My helmet is white, my jacket is mostly sand coloured with some black & my trousers the same. MY jacket has 6 vents on it-2 on the sleeve, 2 on the chest & 2 on the back which create a good passing through breeze. At lower speeds I *sometimes* unzip the top of my jacket an inch or 2 to allow more of a breeze in. I don't get uncomfortably hot in my gear, even wearing jeans and a t shirt underneath it all. This was tested to the extreme in France at the MotoGP, sat on the bike between 1000's of other bike for an hour in 30+ degrees in direct sun light . . . .

In hindsight, perhaps buying all black gear was not the best idea...

If have seen mesh type jackets, but not sure if they merit the cost as our hot weather tends not to last more than a week or so at a time if we're lucky.

[Pricey12]

I'd rather sweat my socks off than spend the rest of my days permanently disfigured & in discomfort.

Its bad enough if you have a prang whilst wearing full gear

Very true.

I must admit I do tend to wear regular jeans while riding which isn't the best idea. Will be investing in some forcefield knee protectors soon though.

[embee]

For my trip to Spain in June I invested (admittedly a lot :oops: ) in Halvarssons safety jacket. I already had their mesh overjacket to go with it, and got a waterproof overjacket to make up the full set.

The mesh+safety jacket work brilliantly, temps anything above 20C are fine, and in the 25-30 range it is bliss.

Expensive bliss.

Best bang for buck is some vented gloves, make a huge difference.

[Pricey12]

Best bang for buck is some vented gloves, make a huge difference.

These I do have thankfully. I've got some Furygan summer gloves that are vented. They do work well. My hands are about the only part of me that doesn't sweat.

[carelesschucca]

I got myself a nice vented Triumph Falcon jacket for the trip to Spain that I've been wearing all the time in this summer. Its been brilliant and it was only £50 from world of Triumph.

[littleoldman2]

Just been on the World of Triumph site and it wont let you choose a size. I'll give them a call tomorrow. I've got Triumph textiles and they are terrific.

[Mako]

Sweating like the nuts at the moment. Dripping before I even get to the bike.

[DJFridge]

My jacket is an RST Adventure (Pro 2 I think) which has three layers. Once the inner warm layer and middle wind/waterproof layer are out it's fairly cool on the move. It's sort of sand coloured which helps and has vents all over. The arms are actually removable (they unzip like a 1980s ski jacket) but I, like you, value my skin too much to have tried it.

All that said, I still melt at traffic lights! I wear thin lounge wear type trousers to stop my legs sticking to my armoured trousers and a thin long sleeve T shirt for the same reason. You can pay proper money for wicking summer base layers and they won't work much better. Certainly, IMHO, not enough better to justify the extra cost.

[ZER0]

I bought a Karrimor sports top from Sports Direct. It cost £6.00 I think and keeps me much cooler than when I was wearing a normal cotton t-shirt. I still sweat, but it wicks the damp away and drys really quick too.

And I'm wearing Kevlar lined jeans with pads at the knees and hips. Together with my RST textile jacket (with 6 vents open) , sports boots and vented gloves, I'm not too bad.

[JamesMio]

I finally gave in today and ordered up a mesh jacket. Yeah, it might only see 5-10 days use a year, but that just means it'll last me 10+ years (I hope!).

Will report back, but if it does the trick for a big sweaty lump like me, then there's hope for the rest of you.

[rictus01]

knox lycra armoured undershirt, teamed up with either a 55 BD or Denim jacket, Alpinestar octane gloves, either draggin combats or jeans, Army boots, Aria lid, works well as a combo.

[Dipper]

Spada mesh and leather jacket, Spada mesh trousers and and decent wicking base layers. All worked well in the 40 degree heat of Southern Europe last year.

[wyrdness]

Don't stop.

Simples.

This.

And ride faster to increase the wind blast.

[Pricey12]

I finally gave in today and ordered up a mesh jacket. Yeah, it might only see 5-10 days use a year, but that just means it'll last me 10+ years (I hope!).

Will report back, but if it does the trick for a big sweaty lump like me, then there's hope for the rest of you.

Will be interested to know how you find the mesh jacket. Tempted myself.

[yorkie_chris]

Take your screen off

[JamesMio]

Will be interested to know how you find the mesh jacket. Tempted myself.

I've been umm'ing and arrr'ing about buying one for years. Tomorrow we're doing a video/photo shoot on the bikes, which inevitably involves a fair bit of stopping, waiting, U-turning and doing the same short stint a few times until they get the right shot.

Me after a day of that in my normal full, heavy rig would not turn out pleasantly (for anyone involved), so I bit the bullet and went for it yesterday.

Doesn't solve the issue of massively betty swollocks like, but it's a start.

[JamesMio]

Well, that was pretty impressive. Ordered from SportsBikeShop at 2:45pm yesterday, package arrived at 11:30am today with one mesh jacket & d30 back protector enclosed.

Typically I brought the car to work this morning (had too much stuff to lug), but I'll give it a test ride this evening. Looks great, seems well made with decent armour in all the right places (now I've slotted in the optional back pad at least).

I went for one of these btw:

http://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/product_images/furygan_textile-jacket_genesis-claw-vented_red.jpg (http://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/195802)

Boss-man Dave's ordered a Held Tropic II, which also came really highly recommended but it's on a longer lead time - we'll let you know how he gets on with that too when it's here.

[Pricey12]

That looks good. Furygan is decent stuff.

[Jayneflakes]

I have one of these jackets (http://www.ghostbikes.com/products/2106-buffalo-coolflow-motorcycle-jacket.html) and even used it in Thailand where it was close to forty degrees every day and humid in the rain forest.

http://images.esellerpro.com/2189/I/210/71/lrgscaleBuffalo-Coolflow-2-Motorcycle-Jacket-Black-1.jpg

I also used vented gloves from Weiss and my Shoei helmet. There were days when it was baking hot though and all I wanted to do was curl up naked (not a pretty sight I can assure you, I was nearly dragged out sea by Greenpeace last time!) in the shade and sleep.

My other half has stated to me that as an instructor of instructors she has had the argument of always wearing leathers even on really hot days. She has said that you have to balance the danger of a crash with the danger of heat exhaustion. Thin leathers and biker jeans may not offer the protection a full suit, but if you can maintain control and not sweat to death, you will be safer.