Too hot to ride

[Austin Prefect]

I've tolerated temperatures of 30 or so when commuting. But an intended fun ride at the weekend stopped being fun once the temp got into the high 20s, that's despite a mesh jacket. What does everyone else do? Presumably if you tour Spain in the summer it gets even hotter and you can't leave your waterproofs behind all week.

[Donbot]

Shorts and T-shirt.

[Speed addicted]

We toured Germany and surrounding countries during a heatwave (in early June), it was 40C.
As a ginger Scotsman I was melting. Tte fact I was wearing full leathers really didn’t help.
Standing up at 90mph just let more hot air in. What we mainly did was stop really often got more water!
The locals were mostly in shorts and t-shirts.

If you’re finding it too hot in a mesh jacket you’re getting into evaporative vests territory. The budget version is pouring water over yourself every time you stop.

Or go at times of the year when it’s not 30+

[Biker9090]

Jeans and a t shirt.

Yes, I'm fully aware of the risks - I simply dont care when it gets that hot (and neither does the vast majority of the rest of the world).

[cliffords]

I have been trying a mesh jacket. I am not convinced it's a game changer.
I hate the bike in hot weather. Most comfortable temp is 17 degrees for me personally.
I like autumn and spring riding. I even like a short bit of very cold . I hate the hot stuff. Not using the bike right now .
Northern France last year on way back to tunnel it was so hot I was loosing concentration.

[Bob_Defly]

High 20's?!? Ya big pussy!

It's pretty much over 30C all Summer here, I just ride in a vented jacket no problem. Sunday & Monday it's going to be 45C including humidity, I won't be riding then...

[Salted_Peanut]

Bob_Defly said:

I just ride in a vented jacket no problem.

No pants or socks

[Drawweight]

You're not going fast enough

[Linksmas]

I wasn’t in a mesh jacket today and whilst it was hot it was my legs that were being cooked by the engine which were most uncomfortable.

[KurtFlew]

Speed up. Or go out later...love summer evening rides.

[Bob_Defly]

Salted_Peanut said:

Bob_Defly said:

I just ride in a vented jacket no problem.

No pants or socks

Just the jacket, let everything else blow about in the wind...

Like my buddy

[Mark_S1000RR_2010]

I have my standard kit. A Sub Zero base layer that must be knocking on for 20 years old now, a Rukka Forsair mesh jacket and mesh trousers and Knox summer gloves.

I’ve been in 38 degree heat in that and been okay. Not as protective as leather but a damn sight better than shorts n tee shirt.

I value my skin, muscle and bone. The right kit is on the market. You don’t have to spend a fortune, either.

[bogie]

A mesh jacket and "single layer" aramid jeans are fine for me. Done a number of Spain and Euro tours in last 10 years. Also did 2 weeks in the USA and for half that it was over 30C, even made it over 40C a couple of days in the desert. Most uncomfortable on an 1800cc air cooled V-twin, I was wishing I hired the Goldwing on those days

Going to Austria in a couple of weeks and will be wearing a mesh jacket, with liner for cool mornings. 1 piece waterproofs in case it lashes down on the way down.

[mrtomsv]

Kevlar t-shirt?

[itcaptainslow]

cliffords said:

I have been trying a mesh jacket. I am not convinced it's a game changer.
I hate the bike in hot weather. Most comfortable temp is 17 degrees for me personally.
I like autumn and spring riding. I even like a short bit of very cold . I hate the hot stuff. Not using the bike right now .
Northern France last year on way back to tunnel it was so hot I was loosing concentration.

Ditto, spring and autumn are my favourite bike seasons. Either that or summer evenings. Anything above 26 or so degrees (or with high humidity) I'm just plain uncomfortable and can't concentrate properly.

I haven't tried a mesh jacket but I'm considering giving one a go.

[black-k1]

I've ridden in Spain, the South of France and Italy when temperatures have been in the mid to high '30s. I still wear my BKS leathers though I don't zip them together and leave the front zip half way down. A few of the leather panels are perforated.

Don't get me wrong, it's still f**king hot and I sweat like a pig. I have to rinse out my suit linings every night but as long as there's a large amount of fluid going in, I don't have an issue.

[KobayashiMaru86]

Commuted today in an RST mesh jacket, Knox gloves and Kevlar Jeans. At 17c it almost felt chilly at speed but know it won't be later. But it still beats the commute in the car for time so I'll always do it. It's the humidity which is the hard part

[KTMsm]

Mesh jacket, kevlar jeans, vented gloves

Green laning I use a hydro pack - the ability to take a mouthful of water every few minutes is great in the heat

When it was high 30s I just set out at / before dawn and got my day in by 2pm - It did get a bit uncomfortable by then, like someone blasting a hair dryer in your face but I had a lot of places I wanted to ride

I don't see a T-shirt is much cooler than a mesh jacket and whilst many locals on mopeds are wearing T-Shirt and flip flops, the locals on big bikes I saw in the mountains were fully kitted up

I guess it's because I regularly come off when riding off-road that I want ATGATT even when I'm on road

[HybridTheory]

10 minute ride to work….shorts and leathers…..feels beautiful

[Speed addicted]

itcaptainslow said:

Ditto, spring and autumn are my favourite bike seasons. Either that or summer evenings. Anything above 26 or so degrees (or with high humidity) I'm just plain uncomfortable and can't concentrate properly.

I haven't tried a mesh jacket but I'm considering giving one a go.

So, Scottish summer essentially?
I live near Aberdeen so being too hot on the bike is a pretty rare thing!