Total Motorcycle Community Forums

I decided to get it from newenough.com. I thought it was a pretty good deal.

http://www.newenough.com/joe_rocket_com ... t_page.htm

Textile jacket, waterproof, removable liner, lots of vents...I couldn't get the yellow I wanted (for visibility0) so I ended up with red instead. I would've gone for all black, but I'm not taking that risk, especially since I might be riding at night.

My question: I ordered the large, but when I measured myself, I came out to be a medium-ish size. I have long arms, but I'm small in the chest (gotta start working out...). Did I make the right choice? They have a good return policy, so it won't be a problem, but when I receive the jacket, what should I check for?

I believe that when I sit down and hold my arms out (as though I were holding handlebars), the sleeves should meet the top of my wrists, nothign else. The jaket should fit well, with no real loose spots, yet I shouldn't be constricted...I'll have to try this with clothes on. Anything else I should check? I should've gotten the medium, because I'm sure it's easier to tell whether it's too small than whether it's too big...how can you tell that a jacket is too large?

Sorry about all the questions. I seem to be really good at coming up with them - I'm keeping you guys on your toes!

Thanks.

I have a similar issue with any non-tailored clothing, especially jackets.


My shoulders are very broad with long arms. Deep chest. The issue comes with the rest of me. My torso tapers down pretty drastically. I'm a 43R or L depending but with a 32 or 33 waist.

As long as the armor is in the right spots and it doesnt seem like it will shift a bunch, you should be ok.

But yes, in the event that you need to return it, newenough is stellar

The arms are most important for fit, and it looked like it had adjustable "arm girth" fittings. A little big on a standard wear jacket is good so you can layer underneath it if you have to - I occasionally have to layer under my full-on winter jacket

The only problem I have with a bulky chest/gut area on a jacket is that I have to look between my body and arm to see anything in my mirrors. In a t-shirt, it is no problem, with the winter jacket I have to do some "motorcycle yoga" to see what is behind me.

Post how you like this company if you have a chance - I am occasionally wary about shopping at online store I am not familiar with.

--Dave

The most important elements of fit to me personally are that armor/padding sits where it should and will stay there during a tumble. This is often accomplished with adjustable straps on a textile garment while leather garments seem to rely more frequently on snug fit (though you will see straps on some leather models as well).

Other than that, you obviously don't want an excessively loose garment that will ride up and expose skin in various places (forearms, midriff) during a slide. A pant zipper helps with this but shouldn't substitute for proper fit (again, "proper" is realtive to the style of the jacket and your intended use, whether touring/cold/wet riding that will require layers, or use as a stand alone jacket where you would want it as snug as possible).

This is why clothing is one of the things that I will NOT purchase online.

There are only 2 times you should buy clothes online:

1. You try it on in a store and can find the EXACT same item online.

2. You order something customized where they require all of your measurements.

If you order clothes online without conforming to one of those 2 things, you're always taking a risk that something won't fit.

Dragonhawk wrote:This is why clothing is one of the things that I will NOT purchase online.

There are only 2 times you should buy clothes online:

1. You try it on in a store and can find the EXACT same item online.

2. You order something customized where they require all of your measurements.

If you order clothes online without conforming to one of those 2 things, you're always taking a risk that something won't fit.

I've ordered a ton of stuff online and never had to send anything back because it didn't fit, interestingly. I don't see it as that big of a deal. I'm a medium, 34/31, 9. Buying those sizes always seems to work out just fine for me.

Boys have it too easy.

*shakes fist at women's sizing*

Nalian wrote:Boys have it too easy.

*shakes fist at women's sizing*

That's the price you pay for having bodies that are curvy and beautiful as opposed to lumpy and utilitarian.

Dragonhawk wrote:This is why clothing is one of the things that I will NOT purchase online.

There are only 2 times you should buy clothes online:

1. You try it on in a store and can find the EXACT same item online.

2. You order something customized where they require all of your measurements.

If you order clothes online without conforming to one of those 2 things, you're always taking a risk that something won't fit.

well, sometimes the deal is so good that you take the risk.

i 'risked' having to return a $400 jacket if it didn't fit.

the risk of having to tape a box back up and contact newenough for a PREPAID return was worth the $230 i saved...i got the jacket for $170.

i figure 15 minutes of my time is worth $230

hey, i DO support my local shops.

but when i can get something on closeout for over HALF off what I can get it for at my local...

well, it's worth the 15 minutes to waste on returning it if it doesn't fit.

of course not all online shops have return policies like newenough...

Indeed. As Dragonhawk said, when pirce is an issue you might have to make some sacrifices. If I hadn't gotten the jacket online, it would've been approximately $250, if not more due to markup. I got it for $80, plus shipping.

Jacket arrived at my door today. Good shipping, came in exactly three days. The jacket itself came packaged pretty well, I think - everything came intact.

The jacket itself, I think, is fairly good quality - nothing you'd race in or anything, or attempt to slide around in to test its durability, but it will definitely suffice for a good amount of protection while riding in average conditions. Exactly what I'm looking for.

I checked the stitching - around the shoulder and arms, there are only single rows, not double rows. Is this bad? I mean, I don't think it will really be an issue, but next time, should I lok for a double row of stitching?

The color's good. I kinda wish I'd gone for the black, since I like black jackets, but I know that the red is a much better chocie for visibility, especially since it's got a white stripe around the shoulders.

As for fit...this is where I have questions.

If I'd goten the medium, I wouldn't have been able to zip it up. The sleeves fit perfectly, but the waist is a little large, along with the stomach/chest.I can take in the waist with the velcro straps, but the chest has a bit of play. I don't think the chest is a huge problem, because when I raise my arms as I would to hold the handlebars, the bulk stretches out - I guess you need that for mobility. I'm just a little worried about that extra play when I don't have my arms out. Woulnd't want the road to catch me.

The armor seems to be in the right places - even more so with the sleeve adjustments pulled in. The shoulders aren't that flexible, which I suppose is normal, but when I'm in riding position, they should cover my shoulders, right? They do, but they rise a little, since my arms are up. I hope this is alright.

It has less vents than I thought it did. One bicep vent on each sleeve, and two back vents, and that's it. The sleeve cuffs are zippered. Since the climate here is usually warm, I wonder how this will fare. The sleeve armor seems to fit quite well, I think.

Overall, the jacket is snug in some places, loose in others...but it fits fairly well. It's a little more snug than I'm used to, but I think that's good, since i wear pretty large jackets not meant for someone my size. When I sit, and hold my arms out, I don't seem to have any problems or excessive play, except for the extra space in the chest. The straps on the sleeves and the velcro waist straps make the fit more precise. The neck hole is a little large (as in, it doesn't hug my neck when it's in at the full position...good? bad?) and the shoulderpads are a tad lower than I'd expected, but the smaller size wouldn't have fit, I don't think.

Tried it without the liner, and it's a little more flexible, more comfy. Not as snug, but still an excellent fit.

Opinions? Advice? This jacket has a lot of stuff I'm not sure about, like the loop at the bottom of the jacket - where does that go? I know the zipper at the bottom is meant to connect to pants...I have a chest pocket, which doesn't seem very purposeful...I'm new at this.