Help Me Pick Out a Jacket

[fishball]

Another mistake during the move.  I only packed my mesh jacket and even with the liner and layers it is a bit cold for spring riding.  Won't see my other gear until June so with that in mind I started looking at other jackets I've got it narrowed to three right now.  I made this graphic to show what my helmets look like with the new jacket mostly because I'm obsessive that way.



The Joe Rocket Atomic 4.0 Jacket
- textile
- fully armored
- removable liner
- best price
- can buy locally

The Joe Rocket Twist Jacket
- leather
- no armor but sewn-in pockets are part of jacket to add your own
- removable liner

The Icon Daytona Jacket
- leather
- armored
- removable liner
- the red dyed leather is very visible

[LOKi]

I like lighter colored jackets. Although the white one I have I will admit wasn't such a good idea. Not white any more. But the dark colored jackets are hot during the summer. But where you live I guess its not such an issue.

I like the twist there. No big labels and is leather. Get some good pads for it.

[hockeyhawk]

I like the Icon and the Atomic, I would go witht the Icon I think. All 3 are nice though.

[JB1290]

Personally, I like the Icon.

[Hangster]

I like the Joe Rocket twist

[TDodge7]

I like the top middle

[fortyhourdays]

I like the Joe Rocket Twist.  Add the armor and you're good to go.

[praetorian]

another option..... I just recieved this one in gray/blue....it is a GREAT jacket.....at an unbelievable price...

regular is $200 and I got mine for $59.99 plus shipping...

Link to insanly cheap Joe Rocket Jacket

There is also THIS LEATHER SCORPION Jacket (quick picture below) for only $89

[Tryvelcro]

All that graffiti on the Icon is distracting & takes away from the sex appeal.

Just sayin.

 

[Burgi]

All that graffiti on the Icon is distracting & takes away from the sex appeal.

I was thinking just the opposite. Big logo across the chest draws your eyes up and away from the gut. Not that fish has a big gut. 
I don't like black motorcycle jackets, more color, more visible, less chance of a squished fish? I also agree with Loki on black and hot in the sun.
Down side, I am not a big fan of leather moto jackets. I hated the one I had, it was way heavy. Felt like I was dragging an extra 40 lbs around with me when I had it on.
I am going to have to remember the" I packed my gear and can't find it" excuse for new gear. I think I have used all the rest. 

[Tryvelcro]

All that graffiti on the Icon is distracting & takes away from the sex appeal.

I was thinking just the opposite. Big logo across the chest draws your eyes up and away from the gut. Not that fish has a big gut. 
I don't like black motorcycle jackets, more color, more visible, less chance of a squished fish? I also agree with Loki on black and hot in the sun.
Down side, I am not a big fan of leather moto jackets. I hated the one I had, it was way heavy. Felt like I was dragging an extra 40 lbs around with me when I had it on.
I am going to have to remember the" I packed my gear and can't find it" excuse for new gear. I think I have used all the rest. 

Oh, I like the chest.  I don't like the crap down the arms.

[Bumblebee]

All that graffiti on the Icon is distracting & takes away from the sex appeal.

It looks like a billboard advertisement on a football jersey. They should pay you to parade their logo around like that.
No armor in the 2nd one? What's up with that? The ground is insanely hard.
All the joe rocket stuff that I've seen is waist length jackets that barely cover the lower back. Personally I prefer the full length jackets (3/4 length or whatever they're called) that can be zipped to the pants.
I'd go with the atomic if there were no other choices anywhere. Is price a primary factor?

Keep looking.

Rant On:
And what is it with crash gear anyway? Too much of it is covered with logo's or fruitcake colors and pscyho patterns. It's like most places designed the gear then went "oh, we need to add some kind of color to this and these stripes looked really cool on a race car once and oh heck just patch something together with whatever is in stock and make sure the nonartistic colorblind guy does all the work." That's not always the case however most stuff in the motorcycle shops tend to be that way...especially the hideous offroad stuff.
It's really not that hard to find someone out there who could design sensible patterns that would be presentable in polite company. Heck, I'll contract my costuming design skills to them if they'll let me.
Rant Off.
<--- Snobbish Renaissance and Post Elizabethan to 1880's theatre costume designer. 

[Moustache]

And what is it with crash gear anyway? Too much of it is covered with logo's

+1

Cannot stand this about MC Jackets

[ariwhiteboy]

The atomic looks like a good jacket, depending on your budget and opinions of High-Viz yellow I can personally reccomend the Epic Jacket , very warm and water resistant with lots of great features.

Oh, I like the chest.  I don't like the crap down the arms.

  Wait...what are we talking about again? 

[Falban]

Hi fish,
For the budget's sake I'm with the Atomic 4.0
Really, though, I'm writing to plug BMG's Mercury textile jacket which I wear and love.
Here's the BMG link:
http://www.britishmotorcyclegear.com/mercury-jacket.asp

and here's an external review from webbikeworld:
http://www.webbikeworld.com/r3/belstaff/belstaff-mercury-jacket.htm

(Plus it comes in red ) 

Just some food for thought.  Happy retailing! 

[fishball]

Thanks everybody!

All that graffiti on the Icon is distracting & takes away from the sex appeal.

The Joe Rocket Twist jacket has the word "Rocket" on the sleeves as well, just can't see it in this photo.

Is price a primary factor?

Not really primary but important.  I guess I would use the formula of most appealing jacket to me at the best price.  If I were to assign a number I would like it to be no more than $200 but I don't need to spend that much.

Keep looking.

I may but I think I've exhausted everything that interests me in my price range.

Rant On:
And what is it with crash gear anyway? Too much of it is covered with logo's or fruitcake colors and pscyho patterns. It's like most places designed the gear then went "oh, we need to add some kind of color to this and these stripes looked really cool on a race car once and oh heck just patch something together with whatever is in stock and make sure the nonartistic colorblind guy does all the work." That's not always the case however most stuff in the motorcycle shops tend to be that way...especially the hideous offroad stuff.
It's really not that hard to find someone out there who could design sensible patterns that would be presentable in polite company. Heck, I'll contract my costuming design skills to them if they'll let me.
Rant Off.
<--- Snobbish Renaissance and Post Elizabethan to 1880's theatre costume designer. 

I get your point but I think there are so many variety of jackets there really is something for everyone.

I stopped by the bike shop today to look at the Atomic 4.0.  It fits just about perfect and the price is well under the cost of the other two so I will most likely buy that one.  Plus it comes fully armored which is a big plus.  Though I think if I wouldn't be concerned with budget I would get the Twist jacket, it has a retro cool look that seems to fit the Nighthawk really well.

[TDodge7]

Have you seen the tourmaster coaster air ? It's also got the retro look but with all the armor

[Hawks_Nest]

+1 for Icon Daytona Jacket. I have one (Yellow). That's my choice jacket among six (Tourmaster Transition(yellow), Icon Motorhead, Astars One-o-One and Spinner, finally BMW riding suit). Heavy but very comfortable. The leather is thick but not so stiff. I take this jacket even the temperature exceeds 90 deg. Very good ventilation.

If the look finds you offensive, it is doing the job. You need to be seen first: defensive riding.

[fishball]

Hawks_Nest how do you find the fit of the Daytona?  I'm skinny and I've read that it is a loose fit jacket.  If it's too loose, especially the arms it may not work out for me.

[Hawks_Nest]

Hawks_Nest how do you find the fit of the Daytona?  I'm skinny and I've read that it is a loose fit jacket.  If it's too loose, especially the arms it may not work out for me.

Yes, I guess it is 'loose fit'. It is not as snug as Aplinestars jackets. I am 5-7 and 140lbs (31 waist) and wearing medium size jackets. Some room in the arm area. However, the leather is thick so I don't feel flapping at highway speed.  There are three snap buttom positions in the waist. You can also use the size zipper to expand. So you may find comfortable waist fitting.

I've been struggling with this link this evening. Somehow, I cannot rotate the image in the imageshack. If you PM me, I can send you higher resolution pictures.

[Hangster]

Fixed

[fishball]

Thanks Hawks-Nest, those photos are great.  And thanks Hangster for flipping them around.  I still like the jacket but it is looser than I like to wear.  I'm 5'11" and have a 32" waist, I would like the waist and arms a bit tighter.  Do you have the waist cinched up all the way in the photo?

[fishball]

And thanks for the find Tdodge, I've seen the Tourmaster jacket before.  I like it but not near as much as the Twist.

[Hawks_Nest]

Thanks Hawks-Nest, those photos are great.  And thanks Hangster for flipping them around.  I still like the jacket but it is looser than I like to wear.  I'm 5'11" and have a 32" waist, I would like the waist and arms a bit tighter.  Do you have the waist cinched up all the way in the photo?

That's in the midway setup. You have another set of snap buttons to cinch up another 2" (1" each side). You can even add another set of snap buttons in the jacket. It is a very easy job.  I like to wear my clothes a bit loose. BTW, I am wearing 40S dress jackets.

Thanks, Hangster. How did you do it?  I rotated original photos and uploaded them to ImageShack. Once in its website, it rotates to back in landscape mode. Frustrating.

[Hawks_Nest]

Hi fish,
For the budget's sake I'm with the Atomic 4.0
Really, though, I'm writing to plug BMG's Mercury textile jacket which I wear and love.
Here's the BMG link:
http://www.britishmotorcyclegear.com/mercury-jacket.asp

and here's an external review from webbikeworld:
http://www.webbikeworld.com/r3/belstaff/belstaff-mercury-jacket.htm

(Plus it comes in red ) 

Just some food for thought.  Happy retailing! 

Hi, Falban,

I just remembered the duck (your avatar). I've wondering where I saw it. That's the Duck in Riverhead, right? I visited there when I was in college around 1984. Gosh, it was 27 years ago.  I went to Stony Brook. Glad to know it is still there. I heard that the area was famous with duck farms.  Duck farms still there?