- Jun 5, 2019
As I currently have an old Fly Racing mesh jacket I noticed that it's seen better days. (About 5 years old) I wanted a jacket with armor that would be as close to a shirt as possible. This Florida heat has been unbearable with temperatures in the high 90's (feels like 104 degrees F) and humidity at 65% and higher. (It was 82 degrees F at 5:30 am!)
I came across the new Fly Racing mesh summer jackets and liked the white/black/hi-viz model. And at $99 I figured this may be a decent buy. They had one at my dealership so I rode down with my gift card to get it. While there the new parts guy rang me up. I paid and was ready to head out when the parts manager came out and said he would sell me a better armored Japanese jacket and give me the same price. So...I tried a few on and what I normally take in a size MED I had to go up to an XL with the Japanese brand. Nice jacket but didn't like the high collar and the colors were ugly.
He then showed me 2 different Joe Rocket models, one for $134 (Velocity) and the other for $299 (Radar Dark). Although the Radar is REALLY nice I already have a warm weather jacket and didn't really want to throw down another $100+. I wound up with the Velocity - in RED, of course! - and the ride home was really nice. The best part...after taking it up to the counter the new parts guy did the transaction, put the jacket in a bag and said I was good to go. Then the parts manager asked if he had compensated for the additional $35. He says he thought the Joe Rocket was the same as the Fly Racing. The parts manager says, "Ahh, don't worry about it!". Now I stood there and told them I had no problem paying the difference. He said I was good and that they just weren't going to make anything from the sale. I asked again but he said everything was fine! (This is why I shop here and have bought my last 3 brand new motorcycles from them!)
http://www.joerocket.com/mesh-jackets/velocity
REVIEW:
As stated, I only rode it home but I had no issues with the jacket riding up into my chin/neck area which I hate. I really like the colors, red and black, and it complements my bike pretty well. The zippers are really good and durable. My concern would be the cuffs as there's no velcro to secure the wrists. There is only a zipper on each arm that goes from the forearm to the wrist. The ride home it stayed secure and didn't ride up my forearm. (I may sew a strip of velcro on each cuff to go across the zipper to keep it in place if I have any issues.)
The armor is not top of the line but it's much better than the Fly Racing jacket, which is pretty much foam. It has back, shoulder, and elbow armor and ribbed padding.
There's a small strip of soft microfiber around the collar. And there's slide-resistant sleeves at the outside of the arms, so it's not all mesh. In addition, from what the parts manager explained to me, is that Joe Rocket's mesh is much stronger than the Fly Racing and will "help" in case of a slide.
It has a waterproof liner that, although most riders don't even bother - including me!, is very thick! Much thicker than the Tour Master that I own. This Joe Rocket liner, I really think it will waterproof you! Granted, because of the low collar you're probably going to get wet anyway. The liner is also very easy to get in and out of the jacket. There's velcro tabs instead of buttons and zippers. And because of the rubber-like material it's made out of it slides in and out of the jacket very easily.
Finally, it's got a tail that will cover your backside as well as buttoned loops for jeans and cycle pants.
I'll update this review if there's anything that comes up - better or worse. But for the price point and what I wanted it for I think I have a winner for a perfect, long-lasting summer jacket!
Below is the Fly Racing one I was looking at:
I came across the new Fly Racing mesh summer jackets and liked the white/black/hi-viz model. And at $99 I figured this may be a decent buy. They had one at my dealership so I rode down with my gift card to get it. While there the new parts guy rang me up. I paid and was ready to head out when the parts manager came out and said he would sell me a better armored Japanese jacket and give me the same price. So...I tried a few on and what I normally take in a size MED I had to go up to an XL with the Japanese brand. Nice jacket but didn't like the high collar and the colors were ugly.
He then showed me 2 different Joe Rocket models, one for $134 (Velocity) and the other for $299 (Radar Dark). Although the Radar is REALLY nice I already have a warm weather jacket and didn't really want to throw down another $100+. I wound up with the Velocity - in RED, of course! - and the ride home was really nice. The best part...after taking it up to the counter the new parts guy did the transaction, put the jacket in a bag and said I was good to go. Then the parts manager asked if he had compensated for the additional $35. He says he thought the Joe Rocket was the same as the Fly Racing. The parts manager says, "Ahh, don't worry about it!". Now I stood there and told them I had no problem paying the difference. He said I was good and that they just weren't going to make anything from the sale. I asked again but he said everything was fine! (This is why I shop here and have bought my last 3 brand new motorcycles from them!)
http://www.joerocket.com/mesh-jackets/velocity
REVIEW:
As stated, I only rode it home but I had no issues with the jacket riding up into my chin/neck area which I hate. I really like the colors, red and black, and it complements my bike pretty well. The zippers are really good and durable. My concern would be the cuffs as there's no velcro to secure the wrists. There is only a zipper on each arm that goes from the forearm to the wrist. The ride home it stayed secure and didn't ride up my forearm. (I may sew a strip of velcro on each cuff to go across the zipper to keep it in place if I have any issues.)
The armor is not top of the line but it's much better than the Fly Racing jacket, which is pretty much foam. It has back, shoulder, and elbow armor and ribbed padding.
There's a small strip of soft microfiber around the collar. And there's slide-resistant sleeves at the outside of the arms, so it's not all mesh. In addition, from what the parts manager explained to me, is that Joe Rocket's mesh is much stronger than the Fly Racing and will "help" in case of a slide.
It has a waterproof liner that, although most riders don't even bother - including me!, is very thick! Much thicker than the Tour Master that I own. This Joe Rocket liner, I really think it will waterproof you! Granted, because of the low collar you're probably going to get wet anyway. The liner is also very easy to get in and out of the jacket. There's velcro tabs instead of buttons and zippers. And because of the rubber-like material it's made out of it slides in and out of the jacket very easily.
Finally, it's got a tail that will cover your backside as well as buttoned loops for jeans and cycle pants.
I'll update this review if there's anything that comes up - better or worse. But for the price point and what I wanted it for I think I have a winner for a perfect, long-lasting summer jacket!
Below is the Fly Racing one I was looking at: