Awise man once said, "It's not a matter of if you are going to fall off your bike, but when you are going to fall off of your bike." Enlightened by that little nugget of knowledge, you might want to trade in the half-helmet and tennis shoes you've been wearing while tearing up the streets to something that will protect you from the asphalt grinding away at your flesh while you Superman down the freeway at 80 mph. Can you say minced meat?
When I first landed this kickass job at HRBW, the only thing on my mind (other than work of course) was buying a motorcycle. The editors helped me find what I was looking for and I landed a pretty sweet deal. I purchased my first Harley about two months ago, and I literally left the dealer with a half-helmet, my classic Vans sneakers, and a hoodie. On the ride home I almost pissed myself because I was so excited. I had ridden before, but never on my own bike. I felt an overwhelming sense of pride and accomplishment. But you should have seen how pathetic I looked when I first started riding to work. The guys had a good laugh. First of all, Southern California winters don't hold a candle to other frigid parts of the nation, but it still gets a bit chilly at high speeds, so the wimpy little windbreaker and mittens I usually wore underneath my snowboarding gloves looked ridiculous and didn't really do the trick. After hearing a few horror stories and seeing some gnarly crash photos of riders who weren't properly outfitted, I knew that I needed to be better prepared in the event of an accident.
After making fun of my pseudo-biker look for two weeks, the guys finally took pity on me. They let me borrow some leather gloves that were extremely big-but were better than what I had-and an Icon jacket. I loved the durability and look of the jacket. It made me feel safe and secure, but it wasn't too bulky or cumbersome. So I decided to check out what else Icon had to offer so that I didn't look or feel like a total jackass. I came across some of the coolest gear on planet Earth.
The Motorhead jacket meshes classic styling with technical details that make it a versatile performer. The Icon "straight-cut" fit has broad shoulders, generous body, and ample sleeve length make this jacket comfortable in any riding position. Once I took this jacket on the road I was completely comfortable and more confident at higher speeds because I felt protected. The Motorhead is constructed of premium quality 1.2-1.4mm cowhide leather with a fully insulated, removable liner, and quickly adjusts to any riding condition. When I ride in the morning I keep the insulation in, and when I take off for lunch I remove it in a snap. The internal CE armor and six adjustable vents complete the package.
While I love the feel of the half helmet for neighborhood rides to the local shop or just to clear my head, I wanted something for longer rides and trips. I chose the Battlecry Alliance SS Helmet because it is breathable, protective, and it looks cool. The SS comes equipped with dorsal aspect super-vents that duct fresh air into the helmet-it gets hot in SoCal! To complete the flow dynamics, strategically placed exhaust vents evacuate the heat buildup. A resilient engineered polycarbonate shell is coupled with a dual-density styrene liner that meets DOT and Snell standards. The cheek pads can be easily removed. The comfortable Nylex lining and molded crown pad completes the interior. When wearing my half-helmet (parachute helmet) at high speeds, my neck would start to cramp up after about 30 minutes and I could literally feel my head departing from my shoulders. When I took the SS out for a spin I rode for about an hour with no discomfort whatsoever.
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The Motorhead Jacket is durable, lightweight, and is fitted with inserts in the elbows and
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The Battlecry Alliance SS Helmet is versatile, lightweight, and feels like you're wearing
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The Standard Boots are heavy duty, but don't weigh a ton. They lace up easily and are comf
I have seen a few guys around the office wearing leather pants to cut the wind on cold mornings, which is cool for them, but you'll never see the words: "leather pants" and "Jordan" in the same sentence (unless it's Jordan doesn't wear leather pants-ever). I am a jeans kind of guy, which is why the Icon Standard Pant works great for me. These jeans offer low-key protection meshed with a fashionable design. And, they aren't too snug in the crotch, which I like. They fit securely over the boots so that the pant legs don't blow up from the wind. On the inside of the pant is a reinforced knee, and triple stitching.
The Accelerant Glove is so sturdy you feel like you could punch through a brick wall (the key word here is "feel" like you could punch through a wall. Don't punch a wall. It hurts!). This glove combines textile fiber and thermoplastic rubber for the ultimate in lightweight knuckle protection. There's a zipper on the back of the hand for easy closure and removal, which enhances the glove's sleek design. The breathable ballistic nylon stretch panels and goatskin leather inlays make these gloves extremely comfortable. The Accelerant also cuts the chill factor and gives your fingers plenty of breathing room to move around which provides easy throttle, clutch, and brake lever maneuverability.
The Icon Standard Pants feel like a pair of your most comfortable jeans, but feature a rei
The Icon Standard Boots are a little more practical than the classic Vans, and so comfortable that they keep my dogs from barking. I like the fact that the weight of these boots doesn't inhibit movement. They blend the modern urban hiking boot with motorcycle specific features. The shift lever interface, internal steel shank and ankle protection separate this boot from your ordinary riding boots. They are also water resistant with a non-slip rubber sole so you don't slip when dismounting.
The Icon gear has given me more confidence on the road, and now I am a bit more preparedfor a trip up the California coastline or across the great plains of this nation.