Joe Rocket Phoenix Jacket

[replaced]

I posted this evaluation 1 year ago on Howboucha.com for my Joe Rocket Jacket. Below is the year after evaluation:Joe Rocket Phoenix Jacket



Evaluation by Brendan Kearns
2002 Suzuki V-Strom
1997 KLR 650 and a bunch of others


April 28, 2002

I discovered this cool new product a few weeks ago while on a business trip to Kansas City.

Since I just purchased a new Suzuki V-Strom, I had to skip the b.s. of the airport, and decided to ride the 450 mile trip on I-70. I am glad I did, because I got to hang out at the ultra hip KC Plaza in Kansas City on my new machine. This is the place where all the cool people hang out, and of course it wasn't complete until I arrived on my V-Strom.

Okay, enough of the b.s. After talking to Rick, a great guy on a GL1500, about 10 sport-bikers pulled up to hang out. All of them were wearing the Joe-Rocket jackets, and they all raved about the quality and function. It looked like a Joe Rocket Motorcycle Gang. Spooky!

The purpose of this revolutionary jacket is to provide the
protection you need if you decide to go body surfing across the asphalt, but remain cooler on a hot day. The air flows right through the mesh style fabric, which of course allows the jacket to breath.

I purchased mine from Bloomington Harley Davidson-Buell Aprilia this week, and wore it on two 60 degree days. My suggestion is that you don't wear it on days like I did. It is freaking freezing. I did put on a long sleeve shirt the second time, and it still was cold.

This jacket is definitely cool! When it gets warmer out, I will update this evaluation to let you know how it does on a hot day.

The first time I put it on, I couldn't believe how strange it felt. The padding shifts around a bit, and feels creepy. Once you are on the bike, you do not notice the jacket.

I purchased the grey-black jacket to match my V-Strom, and I have had several comments like the guy at the gas station "Man, that is too awesome. It looks like chain metal, you know, the kind that guys wear to keep them from getting bit by sharks". Now I know that I am officially cool when I wear my Joe Rocket Phoenix jacket.

The jacket retails for $139.00, and I consider it a good buy for the money. More information can be found at www.joerocket.com

B.K.
__________________________________________________ __________

6-23-03 Update

I still like it. Something I would change securing the padding in the arms better, and re-evaluating the sleve-wrist velcro strap.

I was recently caught in a storm while wearing the jacket. I did get wet since the jacket is made of mesh, but it wasn't painfull, actually refreshing since it was warm out.

There is an enhanced version out, and I understand it is cheaper than the $139.00 intro price.

Brendan


http://www.howboucha.com/115.JPG

[rider1951]

I bought the set last month. I bought last years jacket for 78.00 from New Enough Leathers. I like both the pants and the jacket a lot. I also bought the new liner and it works great for the cool mornings and evenings. It is suppose to be waterproof but I have not try that part yet.

[Bandit Man]

I recently bought the Joe Rocket Phoenix coat. It seems to work well with temperatures as low as the high 60's and anything higher. It feels good to get a breeze through and also have some protection just in case. I also bought the liner that is supposed to be waterproof but I haven't had to try out that feature yet. It could be used to make it a little bit warmer if the temperatures get below the mid 60's. The jacket does feel a little weird when first putting it on, but that feeling is quickly gone when you start riding. It is definitely worth looking at. The First Gear Jacket is also nice, it was a toss up for me between these two coats.

[Flyingyogi]

Well, I started riding in Arizona. The jacket is exactly what I wanted for HOT weather (100+ degrees) riding. Considering it is a "dry heat" in Tucson most of the year, it feels good if you soak your T-shirt in water, then the jacket and about 80+ mph. Now that I am in Oklahoma, I still like it. At least here's some humity to make the wind feel cooler then the air. In Arizona when the wind blows it feels like someone is holding a hair dryer in front of your face.
As for the protection of it, I swear by it, it did save my elbow when I laid my bike down (no, not the strom).
If anybody is interested, here is a website that sells it for $69.99
http://www.motoxoutlet.com
Not that I am promoting the site, but it is the cheapest that I have seen sofar.

[hondasarge]

That is a pretty awsome price! :shock:

I wonder if they are blowing out their current stock because the new Phoenix jacket is supposed to be released in the next couple of months? But if it's like the rest of the JR releases, it'll be on back order for the first 3 months after that :lol:

Anyhow, has anyone that owns the Phoenix jacket tried out the dry liner thing they sell for them?

[Woofy]

I have the jacket and the pants. My only complaint is that the pants don't come in a long length, so my tall-as-hell Sidi On Road Sympatex boots are a must.

With just socks, boots and nothing else but the jacket and pants zipped together, it's as close to riding naked as you're gonna get without risking hideous injury or arrest. Absolutely fantastic on hot days, but for long rides I take along additional windproof gear just in case the temperature drops.

[firefighter3230]

I got the all mesh joe roket jacket and I realy like it I have rode in weather droping in the mid 40's but that is with a thurmal and a rain liner and a flease jacket under it but i still want to hear some kinda how did it work out stories like I went down a 70 and it worked well or I went down at 50 and I had to have skin grafts over 50% of my torso?

[firefighter3230]

and yes my sold with the dry liner and it is water PROOF but is just like wearing a vinal jacket it will work for a great wind breaker for the cold days if you also wear a fleas but it is no means a winter jacket it will just get you through part of the fall and spring

[Bisbonian]

I didn't like the way the "armor" moved around in its pockets, it never seemed to stay where I wanted it to.

I bought a BMG "Adventurer" jacket last year, full textile with no mesh. Evidently those Europeans know how to put vents into clothing, riding in Phoenix I found it to be just as comfortable temperature-wise as the mesh jacket ever was and the armor seems to be much nicer.

Sure it's a little more expensive than the JR gear but I sure like it a lot better.

[seewhite1]

not only does it look nice but it will protect you when you crash...at least at 50mph. crashed last winter while wearing a rocket phoenix jacket and i was spared from any broken bones or road rash on the elbows, back, and shoulders. the jacket was shredded up pretty good so you crash once at a decent speed and you have to buy a new one.

i ride to work year around, rain, heat, cold, so i've 'field' tested the jacket quite a bit. nice thing about the mesh jacket is you can stay cooler in the summer when you take out the liner or warm in the winter with the liner in and fleece jacket underneath. it is waterproof but the mesh soaks up the water and makes the jacket heavier. biggest gripe i had when it rained was water would run down my jacket and into my gloves...miserable feeling. other than that, it's a great inexpensive jacket.