Joe Rocket Phoenix 5.0 Men's Mesh Motorcycle Riding Jacket

I desperately needed an new mesh jacket, my old Frank Thomas jacket was a good 12 years old and completely worn out. I searched around the 'net and read a lot of reviews. I settled on the Phoenix 5.0 due to the high ratings, airflow, and Amazon actually had a Large/Tall in stock compared to other sites. I purchased the jacket in mid October 2016.I am 6'1" and 180 lbs., with a 43" chest and long arms. I felt I needed a tall size, as the Large Frank Thomas sleeves were too short. The Phoenix fixed that problem, the tall arm length is great. The wrist zippers on the Phoenix need to be changed, as they unzip an inch or two when riding. They need locking zippers on the wrist. The sleeve fit can be adjusted quite well with the straps, which have 3 positions. The waist straps have Velcro and are adjustable through a wide range, so a good fit is found there.I knew going in that the body would be longer too, and that is a small issue because of my riding position. Be sure you really have a long torso if you think you want a tall. I ride a "Standard" style bike, (Kawasaki KZ) so I'm more upright, and I find myself sitting on the bottom backside of the jacket. If I pull the bottom out then it bunches up at the shoulders a bit, not bad but I noticed it a few times. If you ride a bit leaned over, or a sport bike, then this should not be an issue. This is not a big deal and not worth taking a star away, but if a jacket maker anywhere makes a jacket with long sleeves and a regular body length, I'll be all over it.The mesh is very free flowing, and I love it. Living in Oklahoma leaves most riding days in the 90's or 100's during the summer, and you can still find 80+ degree days in October, so a free flow jacket like the Phoenix 5.0 is really needed. The chest and sleeve mesh is wide open and flows so much air, it feels like you have no jacket at all. The few spots that have textile do not block enough air to make a difference. Wearing this jacket keeps me cooler and more comfortable than wearing no jacket, as it keeps the sun and wind off my body. I'm surprised that some riders can't believe this, they think they stay cooler wearing nothing. Not true.The rain liner zips in and also has snaps that hook to loops in the neck, waist and wrist area. It is very secure. The zipper is offset to one side, which I think is a way to keep rain from getting in. I had a little issue with the rubber liner getting stuck in the zipper a few times. I need to be careful and slowly pull up the zipper and watch what I'm doing here. The zipper didn't damage the liner, thankfully.I rode in 60 degree weather with a light long sleeve shirt and the liner, and was plenty warm. I haven't ridden in the 50's yet, but there is enough room to wear a sweatshirt and the liner, and it would be snug but I think it will keep me very warm. For my location this means it's a 3 season jacket, and makes it an even better bargain.The padding fits the jacket well and doesn't move around in the wind like my old jacket did. I know I had a few issues with the zippers but I feel that is not enough to knock a star off, and I'm ok giving a 5 star rating. This jacket has impressed me so much compared to my old one! At $152 bucks for a jacket of this quality, I feel I got my money's worth!

For those of us who grew up with leathers, this jacket is a godsend in the hot Texas summers. It's not that warm, even with the liner in, so I wouldn't use it as a winter riding jacket. But even with the body armor, it lets a nice breeze through and is comfortable in warmer weather.It seems pretty well made, also. I didn't see any horrendously poor stitches. The zippers are a little stiff -- and the liner is zip out. But perhaps as the thing gets older, it'll break in a bit.I have been caught in the rain in it, and it's about as waterproof as most rain slickers if the liner is in. If the liner is out, you're going to get wet.For the amount of body armer, it's quite comfortable. It's not my "go to" jacket for anything other than riding. But it's a great jacket on a bike.I did take some issue with the branding, which was really over the top. But it only took a seam ripper to remove the "ROCKET" patch from the lower back and the two oval "Joe Rocket" patches from the shoulders. Having done that, I had a tailor sew on a vintage patch for the bike I ride (an old Norton). And I get compliments on that.I'm somewhat long torsoed, and the jacket was a tad short for my body. I do wish it were a little longer, but that may just be me.For the price, it's kind of hard to beat. And I chose to buy it when somebody in my local riding group showed up a a meet-and-greet with one that had a hole in the shoulder from where he went down in it at 45mph and skidded about 400 feet with no damage to him and minimal damage (other than the torn shoulder) to the jacket.Overall, I'd buy it again at the price point offered. And I'm in the market for something I can use to keep me warmer riding in the cooler months.UPDATE:I'm giving the jacket a 5th star. Over the weekend I had a teenager in a pickup truck make an illegal left turn into me, and I had to lay the bike down. I'm convinced it was the body armor that kept me to a broken arm and two broken ribs. And aside from some scuffs, the jacket itself came out of the ordeal in perfect shape.