Olympia Alpha Mesh Tech Jacket

U.P.rider

I M A UPR
Joined
Jul 26, 2011
Messages
208
Location
Eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan
I recently purchased a Olympia Alpha Mesh Tech Jacket which in our early season weather (Mid 30's to 40* today) I have been able to ride without the thermal liner and just a LS Russell Dri-Power shirt. Today the wind was blowing 15-20 MPH and it was a cold east wind but the jackets water/ windproof liner did it's job keeping the 40* weather at bay.
Admittingly I am generally very tolerant of cold temps anyways then add to that I have been conditioned to the winter weather for the last 4 months so YMMV.
I bought the mesh jacket since I will be trying the S10 off-road and for a possible trip down to the Smokey's which I sure would be a little warmer than the weather here in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
The jacket kind of surprised me as to how warm it kept me so that is a bonus in my book. I'll report back if there is anything noteworthy with the durability (not expecting any issues as it looks to have quality workmanship) issues with wet weather or if it does it job by keeping me cool as I hope it will.
 

SHUMBA

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 29, 2018
Messages
1,242
Location
ONTARIO, CANADA
I recently purchased a Olympia Alpha Mesh Tech Jacket which in our early season weather (Mid 30's to 40* today) I have been able to ride without the thermal liner and just a LS Russell Dri-Power shirt. Today the wind was blowing 15-20 MPH and it was a cold east wind but the jackets water/ windproof liner did it's job keeping the 40* weather at bay.
Admittingly I am generally very tolerant of cold temps anyways then add to that I have been conditioned to the winter weather for the last 4 months so YMMV.
I bought the mesh jacket since I will be trying the S10 off-road and for a possible trip down to the Smokey's which I sure would be a little warmer than the weather here in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
The jacket kind of surprised me as to how warm it kept me so that is a bonus in my book. I'll report back if there is anything noteworthy with the durability (not expecting any issues as it looks to have quality workmanship) issues with wet weather or if it does it job by keeping me cool as I hope it will.
What gloves R U wearing? Does your Ten have heated grips?
I'm somewhat south of your location here in Southern Ontario. Still pretty cold down here as well. Only 4 C (37F) and a high of 8 C (42F) and rain. Let me see, Cheboygan Petosky Iron Mountain Escanaba, nice countryside up there. Easy to get to via I-75, great road.
Think I'll sit it out until tomorrow as the weather looks a little better.
On really cold days, I just layer up my clothing and slip on a pair of fleece lined leather gloves over top of my summer riding gloves.
My jacket is a hi-viz Oxford Montreal and it keeps me dry as long as I remember to zip up the inner zipper.
Ride safely.
SHUMBA

Sent from my SM-T380 using Tapatalk
 

BaldKnob

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 11, 2012
Messages
776
Location
SENC
I live 5hrs east of the Smokys and my mesh stays in the closet until it warms into the 70’s!!! so yeah, you’re conditioned.
 

Davesax36

Active Member
Joined
Jan 26, 2016
Messages
588
Location
Spring Hill, TN (Nashville ish)
Just so y'all know. U.P. Rider is not affected by weather. When we went to Newfoundland a couple years ago, he rode in rain, heat, cold, rolling fog, and whatever other meteorological wonders you can think of with his leather jacket with the panels zipped out of the sides. Some of that was not on purpose, but I was constantly trying to keep myself comfortable zipping and unzipping vents and he just kept riding.
 

SHUMBA

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 29, 2018
Messages
1,242
Location
ONTARIO, CANADA
Just so y'all know. U.P. Rider is not affected by weather. When we went to Newfoundland a couple years ago, he rode in rain, heat, cold, rolling fog, and whatever other meteorological wonders you can think of with his leather jacket with the panels zipped out of the sides. Some of that was not on purpose, but I was constantly trying to keep myself comfortable zipping and unzipping vents and he just kept riding.
Yikes! Sounds like Iron Man
SHUMBA

Sent from my SM-T380 using Tapatalk
 

SHUMBA

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 29, 2018
Messages
1,242
Location
ONTARIO, CANADA
Yikes! Sounds like Iron Man
SHUMBA

Sent from my SM-T380 using Tapatalk
I like to be comfortable when riding. If you are cold, then your reaction time is compromised = potential danger.
If I get cold, the first that happens is I have to stop and pee.
SHUMBA

Sent from my SM-T380 using Tapatalk
 

U.P.rider

I M A UPR
Joined
Jul 26, 2011
Messages
208
Location
Eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan
What gloves R U wearing? Does your Ten have heated grips?
I'm somewhat south of your location here in Southern Ontario. Still pretty cold down here as well. Only 4 C (37F) and a high of 8 C (42F) and rain. Let me see, Cheboygan Petosky Iron Mountain Escanaba, nice countryside up there. Easy to get to via I-75, great road.
Think I'll sit it out until tomorrow as the weather looks a little better.
On really cold days, I just layer up my clothing and slip on a pair of fleece lined leather gloves over top of my summer riding gloves.
My jacket is a hi-viz Oxford Montreal and it keeps me dry as long as I remember to zip up the inner zipper.
Ride safely.
SHUMBA

Sent from my SM-T380 using Tapatalk
I am wearing an old pair of uninsulated armored gloves(see below), which I had liners in the tank bag but didn't need them. I do have a pair of A-stars Stormwatch goretex insulated gloves but rarely wear them since they get a little hot and can't imagine I will need them with the factory heated grips. I have been running the grips on the 1 or 2 setting in this weather. This year I am looking for a pair of armored pants/ shorts to wear under my riding pants since it's cooler than wearing the armor in the armored pants and adding another layer of bulk and overheating. I'm thinking of going with Bohn cool mesh.

IMG_3951[1].JPG
 

U.P.rider

I M A UPR
Joined
Jul 26, 2011
Messages
208
Location
Eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan
I like to be comfortable when riding. If you are cold, then your reaction time is compromised = potential danger.
If I get cold, the first that happens is I have to stop and pee.
SHUMBA

Sent from my SM-T380 using Tapatalk
My leather jacket is a Joe Rocket Sonic with thick leather. I used to backpack so I know the importance of the materials you wear next to your body and benefits of layering. I have a large frame and at 5'11" I weigh in at 270 lbs. so that helps me retain my body temps, while I haven't lived all my 60 years here in the U.P. I spent my first 16 years and my last 19 years here so I am fairly well acclimatized to colder weather. I lived in Atlanta, GA,, New Orleans, Washington state (Oak Harbor) and a almost 20 years in Flushing, MI. so I have had some experience with very hot muggy climates as well, which is why I purchased the mesh jacket. I wore my leather while I rode my Vmax on the Tail of the Dragon in '13 and it was way to hot for that jacket so I did not want to repeat that experience.
 

SHUMBA

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 29, 2018
Messages
1,242
Location
ONTARIO, CANADA
What gloves R U wearing? Does your Ten have heated grips?
I'm somewhat south of your location here in Southern Ontario. Still pretty cold down here as well. Only 4 C (37F) and a high of 8 C (42F) and rain. Let me see, Cheboygan Petosky Iron Mountain Escanaba, nice countryside up there. Easy to get to via I-75, great road.
Think I'll sit it out until tomorrow as the weather looks a little better.
On really cold days, I just layer up my clothing and slip on a pair of fleece lined leather gloves over top of my summer riding gloves.
My jacket is a hi-viz Oxford Montreal and it keeps me dry as long as I remember to zip up the inner zipper.
Ride safely.
SHUMBA

Sent from my SM-T380 using Tapatalk
Here's a good glove It's a heated glove
SHUMBA


Sent from my SM-A520W using Tapatalk
 

Cycledude

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2016
Messages
3,997
Location
Rib lake wi
30-40 degrees is usually no problem for me either but I would definitely be riding with the insulated liner installed.

3-4 years ago I bought a Olympia Airglide 5 jacket that I really like but the collar is a little to tall and wears on the bottom of my helmet liner so I had to quit using it when riding. I’m wondering if yours does that ? That’s the only motorcycle jacket I’ve ever owned that had that problem. Other than the collar rubbing issue it’s a great high quality jacket.
 

U.P.rider

I M A UPR
Joined
Jul 26, 2011
Messages
208
Location
Eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan
30-40 degrees is usually no problem for me either but I would definitely be riding with the insulated liner installed.

3-4 years ago I bought a Olympia Airglide 5 jacket that I really like but the collar is a little to tall and wears on the bottom of my helmet liner so I had to quit using it when riding. I’m wondering if yours does that ? That’s the only motorcycle jacket I’ve ever owned that had that problem. Other than the collar rubbing issue it’s a great high quality jacket.
After having worn this jacket a while the collar is kind of tall as you mentioned but maybe not so much to not wear it going forward. It does occasionally catch when turning my head to the right on the helmet strap (Shoei Qwest), the strap loops back on itself to a snap to keep it from flapping in the wind. Pointing out another minor nick is all the zippers for liners which end up being a fiddley but a necessary result of the design and versatility of the jacket. Once the weather warms and I'm wearing just the mesh part jacket it will be fine, I'm going to say at this point.
On the glove front I did pickup a new pair of Alpinestars Highlands gloves which has a lot more protection than my old gloves but not as much airflow which should be ok, but might have to pickup a better vented glove for the hot part of summer weather. The electric gloves would be nice if I didn't have heated grips but generally cold weather where I will need the added heat generally comes with snow and ice which I don't normally ride in.
 

U.P.rider

I M A UPR
Joined
Jul 26, 2011
Messages
208
Location
Eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan
Today I did a short 90 miles ride, since it was in the 50's I took the windproof liner out to ride in just the mesh jacket and mock turtleneck 1/4 zip synthetic shirt. I jacket worked well and even though I could feel the wind coming through the mesh the 1/4 zip shirt kept my skin warm. The issue with the collar was much less of a issue w/o the liner in, the Velcro collar closure stayed closed the whole trip so that bodes well going forward. I'll carry the liner for more local trips but for the multi day/ week trips I will instead carry my Tourmaster 2 piece rain suit since it works very well.
The Alpinestars Highlands gloves are slowly breaking in and fitting better with each ride.
 

cyclemike4

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2016
Messages
815
Location
ky
Hey U.P. Rider. I have a Tourmaster mesh jacket. My jacket with the liner and rain guard in it is very warm. I really like it. I start using it without any liners in the 50 degree temperatures. I do have a sweat shirt I use under it till it warms up a bit but with the liner in it no rain guard and that sweat shirt I am good down to the upper 30's. It is very versatile jacket for me. Of course I handle cold better than heat.
 
Top