Kemimoto Motorcycle Jacket Tested: How Airy Is the Mesh in the Heat

• Seven removable protectors for the back, chest, shoulders, and elbows, all CE Level 1 certified
• Outer material made of 88 percent polyester and 12 percent spandex, with noticeable stretch and a silicone-coated waist hem
• Matching summer gloves with ABS knuckle protection, ventilated inserts, and touchscreen coating

In peak summer heat, many riders reach for gear that offers barely any protection anymore. Mesh jackets try to combine both: mesh fabric for airflow, protectors for the worst case. Kemimoto brings this concept to the budget segment. The tested combination of summer jacket and sport gloves shows how well that works in everyday riding.

How Much Air Does the Mesh Jacket Really Let Through?

Airflow is the jacket’s biggest strength. Even at a standstill, say at a red light or waiting in the sun, there’s no noticeable heat buildup. Once you’re moving, the wind cuts through the mesh fabric with almost no resistance.

The riding feel comes remarkably close to riding without a jacket at all, just with full protector coverage on your body. On very hot days, that makes a real difference compared to a classic textile jacket, where you quickly start sweating through. The weight stays correspondingly low, and the jacket folds down small enough to carry along as a spare layer.

The high mesh content brings one practical consequence: the fabric is open enough that you can see through it in places. A shirt or base layer underneath is therefore the better choice and barely limits ventilation.

What Protectors Are Built Into the Jacket?

The jacket comes with seven protectors: one for the back, two for the split chest area, and two each for the shoulders and elbows. That covers all four classic protection zones, which is far from a given at this price point.

All the inserts are removable and shipped separately, so they need to go into their designated pockets before the first ride. That takes only a few minutes and has the advantage that the protectors can be taken out again anytime for washing or replacement.

What stands out is how thoroughly the inserts are labeled. The manufacturer rates the protectors as CE Level 1, and the certification marks on the inserts confirm that for each zone individually: the chest protectors carry the mark for EN 1621-3, the standard for chest protectors, in Type A and Level 1. The shoulder and elbow protectors are certified to EN 1621-1:2012, also in Type A and Level 1. The back protector follows EN 1621-2:2014 in the CB version for the central back area, sized for a back length of 33 to 38 centimeters.

The inserts also carry additional temperature markings. A T with a minus sign indicates a passed test at low temperature, a T with a plus sign a test at elevated temperature. Both appear on the fitted protectors, so the padding has been tested across a wide temperature range.

To put this in context: these standards rate the protectors, while the garment itself would fall under EN 17092 with classes A through AAA, on which Kemimoto makes no statement. Mesh jackets typically land at a simple A there by design, since the mesh panels count as zone 3 and aren’t tested for abrasion resistance at all. For summer riding on country roads, the combination of full protector coverage and maximum ventilation is exactly the trade-off this category of jacket is built for.

How Does the Jacket Fit While Riding?

The fit is deliberately close to the body without being restrictive. The spandex content provides a slight stretch, the material follows your body shape, and keeps the protectors reliably in place.

In the shoulder and neck area, the fabric flutters a bit at higher speeds, though it’s not distracting while riding. More importantly, that flutter doesn’t transfer to the helmet. On some jackets, your head starts to vibrate at high speeds because wind resistance travels up through the collar. That doesn’t happen here.

Two design details help with this. The lower jacket hem is elastic and lined on the inside with a grippy silicone coating that keeps the waist from riding up or flapping in the wind. Each cuff has a thumb loop. That keeps the sleeves in place so they don’t creep upward while riding. In a crash, that pays off twice over, since shifted sleeves would knock the elbow protectors out of position.

Material, Features, and Care

For storage, the jacket offers four pockets: two zippered outer pockets on the sides plus two inner pockets. That’s enough for a phone and keys, and the zippers keep the contents in place while riding. The jacket also has double reflective stripes for visibility at dusk and in the dark.

Care instructions are modest. Recommended options are a wash bag with a gentle machine cycle in cold water, or hand washing in cold water, followed by air drying. Ironing, bleaching, dry cleaning, and wringing are all ruled out. That makes sense for fine mesh fabric, since the structure is sensitive to heat and mechanical stress.

The size label lists the European size alongside US and Asian equivalents. The country of manufacture is listed as China. The manufacturer provides a 90-day warranty against manufacturing defects.

What Can the Summer Gloves Do?

The matching gloves follow the same idea: plenty of ventilation without giving up protection. Plastic reinforcements sit over the knuckles, some with air vents backed by mesh on the inside. That lets the wind flow directly into the glove.

Knuckle protection is made of ABS plastic. An additional, thicker hard-plastic insert sits over the knuckles and on the back of the hand. The palm is double-layered and reinforced with leather at high-wear points, plus a heavier pad on the heel of the hand, exactly where a crash first makes contact with the ground. Silicone gel on the palm improves grip on the handlebar, and the glove closes at the wrist with a hook-and-loop strap.

In summer use, the airflow is the biggest surprise, especially given the substantial reinforcements. The gloves stay comfortable to wear even at high temperatures, fit well, and feel cleanly made. That matches the picture from customer reviews: over 750 ratings average 4.5 out of 5 stars, with 71 percent giving the full score.

How Well Does the Touchscreen Function Work?

Operating a phone or navigation works reliably without having to take the gloves off. The thumb and index finger are coated with conductive material at the tips, which is enough for map views, music controls, and answering calls.

One detail that rarely gets mentioned: the gloves are certified to the Global Recycled Standard and are made of at least 50 percent recycled material. That was verified by Bureau Veritas.

Availability, Sizes, and Discount Code

The jacket is available in sizes M to 2XL, the gloves in M to 3XL. For the gloves, the manufacturer explicitly recommends ordering one size up. Besides black, it also comes in red, orange, blue, and green, though the color options aren’t consistently available.

In Kemimoto’s German shop, the code MOTORRAD gets you a 30 percent discount on jackets, gloves, shoes, and apparel. Shipping is free, delivery time is listed as five to eight business days, and there’s a 45-day return policy. That puts this jacket-and-glove combination in a price range where mesh gear with full protector coverage is otherwise hard to find.

Frequently Asked Questions