Lighter Textile Jacket

[Lutin]

Right then folks, I'm after some recommendations for a lighter textile jacket than my Hein Gericke Cruise GTX.

The HG jacket is fine (other than a bust zip closer on the left sleeve) but with touring in France in late July, I think that it would be a tad warm. Yes, it does have vents and, as always with bike gear it seems, it is black. Not the best colour for sitting ona bike in the sun.

So, what do you boys and girls recommend?


Oh, and I've about four weeks to get it sorted.

Yeah, I know, last minute.


And being in Ireland doesn't help either............

[Jasext]

Difi ventura ,great jacket for all weathers,choice of 3 colours

Riderz, motorcycle clothing and accessories

[pete h]

I'm currently alternating between a rukka marco jacket excellent quality, completely wind & waterproof but a bit pricey at £450, mind you I suppose in the scheme of things that's sort of comparable to the cruise gtx. I got mine for £100 less at the nec show

Most days I use a Dainese dtec jacket that I don't think is on the catalog anymore, but the closest to it is the Dawson D-Dry, removable lining, armoured shoulders and arms, had to buy a wave back protector separately for it, but it slots into a zipped compartment in the back that holds it in place really well. I bought it last year from the Hein Gerickes in Leeds, I think three or four of the stores were trialling selling dainese stock, but if you want something from a store that doesn't have it they'll get it shipped - my jacket was posted down from glasgow within three days.

[cbrpaddy]

I have some Bmw Savannah kit which works great in the heat, but it's expensive and I don't have the waterproof inners so carry a two-piece throw-ons in case of rain. It is good, but by christ if it's anything less than about 18c I nearly freeze to death.
Plenty of makers make mesh/airflow summer jackets now and at a fraction of the bmw kit, check out RevIt, hein-gericke etc.

[steveR]

I use a Revitt mesh sports cut jacket for real summer weather (over 25C) but you do need to carry a lightweight overjacket for cooler or wet spells

Sadly, it appears to have shrunk a bit over winter as I am sure it was not this tight last Summer....

[pete h]

Forgot I also have an Alpinestars T-Dyno jacket sitting in the cupboard for summer days out, the lining is removable, a back protector fits easily under it, the collar is high enough to deflect bees and stones away from your throat, it's showerproof, and for £10, the hein gericke store in leeds sent it to a sewing person who fitted a compatible zip for attaching trousers.

[Farky]

Ive got a Revitt jacket and trouser combo which both have a removable waterproof liner which also keeps a fair bit of wind off you too.

Excellent kit for the price, perfect for summer on its own, stick the liner in ifits around 15deg (NornIron average) and just add a windproof/thermal mid layer if its closer to 7/10deg. Below that you get cold easy in it.

Wore it all weekend whilst over in Omagh around May BH with no issues, ride through storms in good weather or add WP suit if its continuous rain - good thing is that constant rain can also be mild weather and the summer suit under a WP suit means you can breathe and not sweat as much.

Typhoon Jacket and Mistral Trousers. Trousers also come in 3 dif lengths which is excellent for the price also. Should be about £190 for the jacket and £110 trousers - they also do the cheaper Air jacket, no liner through, pure summer only.

[Lutin]

Think I've got it sorted now. Ordered myself a HG Air II Jacket for the princely sum of £50, down from £90, which arrived yesterday.

Details here - Hein Gericke (UK) Ltd.

It's definitely lighter than my HG Cruise GTX, even if it is still predominantly black. Not waterproof, so I'll have to take my one piece oversuit when we go to France in July - for the trip TO the ferry, of course.

Can post piccies if anyone is interested.