Ralley 2 jacket in Africa
 

I'll be travelling through Africa September through December and plan too use my Ralley 2 jacket. Wondering if anyone has used it with the sleeve removed? It's obviously a risk but I expect the temps to be 30 C or more most days. Phil

I'll be riding Africa (east side, Jo'burg to Egypt) as well from October to March with two jackets -- a Tourmaster and a Fox Titan flak jacket.

That flak jacket is awesome for high heat. I did Morocco to Cape Town a few years with the same setup (flak jacket was a RockGardn, but same deal). Sooooo nice getting freeflow ventilation through the flak jacket mesh while still having decent protection. I found myself wearing it 50% of the time at least.

Riding in a motorcycle jacket without sleeves, heh, now that's gotta feel weird... :eek:

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Pressure suits like the Fox Flak, Dainese, Alpinestar or several others, are probably the best protection you can get ... yet still have enough air flow to survive.

But always alternatives for heat. I would NOT ride without sleeves unless you add Elbow guards. Lots of crashes involve forearms, hands and elbows. Protect them.

For years I rode dirt bikes with ONLY elbow guards and gloves up top and my Camel back as my
back protector. (better than you might think!) Of course I wore knee and hip pads too. But no chest or back protector.
I raced this way. Not smart really, but it can be done. (TIP: Don't crash too hard!)

In high heat/humidity full mesh is the go ... but no full mesh gear offers the protection of the Fox (or other) pressure suit. The problem is packing it when it gets cold and you must revert to your "other" riding jacket.

You "could" just use the pressure suit only and add layers over it. Like a light enduro rain jacket with a few layers of Merino wool sweaters? Might work?

So many approaches here. So much depends on weather.

Once place I found I was not happy wearing a pressure suit was in very tough, slow going on single track trail. Too hot. But I'm out of shape, overweight.

If one were in good shape, well hydrated and strong ... then you really can't beat Ride Far's set up for REAL protection. The beauty of the pressure suite is how the armor is held tight to your body. So when you crash it's where it should be to protect you. Built in Padding in jackets and pants can never do this properly.

I wear mesh dirt bike pants with Dirt bike style knee guards. ONly way to go.
Also, padded shorts to protect hips, tail bone, thighs. These ARE HOT and get really really nasty if you don't wash them everyday. A problem for me.

If you can keep moving, even 20 MPH, you'll get enough air flow to stay a bit cooler.

bier

I had R2 on Trans-Africa both ways, worked fabulous. It's a nice light superbly aired and breathing jacked giving you decent protection while doesn't drain you like many pressure suits tend to or giving you exposed spots for nasty African sunburn. Most of the time I had the liner removed, but at times I needed it much - i.e. Ethiopian mountains, Namibian nights etc cold dert or high altitudes. The thin Gore Tex liner takes so little room while brings so much help why leave it home?

Good advice. Sun- and windburn is a real danger depending on when and where you ride in Africa, causing dehydration which leads to concentration issues and worse.

I prefer evaporative vest under Rallye jacket with all vents open, when hot.



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