thanks for the tip on Icon. too bad, i liked that jacket, too h:

although, better to wear that jacket than to ride in a t shirt like i normally do h:

 

Helmets:
High-End: Arai, Shoei
Others to Consider: Scorpion, HJC
Definitely look for new DOT & Snell approved

Jackets:
High-End: Spidi, Dainese
Others to Consider: Cortech, Joe Rocket, Shift, Alpinestars, Firstgear
Look for elbow, shoulder, & back armor. Jackets should be snug, not loose or constricting. Leather is the best, but a mesh or textile is necessary for when the temps start to rise.

Gloves:
Good Brands: Cortech, Alpinestars, Joe rocket, Teknic, Olympia, Held
I like Leather gloves with hard armor over the knuckle and a long gauntlet to go over the sleeve of your jacket.


Boots:
Best Brands: Sidi, Oxtar, Alpinestars
Others to consider: Cortech, Tour Master
You want hard armor in the heel, toe, and ankle. Combat boots or construction boots may be decent for around town, but if you go down on the highway they'll burn through or fly off way too easy.

Pants:
Jeans: Draggin, Shift, Alpinestars
Overpants: Joe Rocket, Olympia, Cortech
Heavy Jeans and Motorcycle specific jeans are decent around town, but again at higher speeds they'll provide very little protection. Get a decent set of overpants with armor in the knees and on the hips.

My gear list is as follows:

Arai Vector Helmet $400
Cortech Magnum Leather Jacket $200 on closeout
Cortech HRX Leather Jacket $160 on closeout, mesh for the hot days
Cortech Scarab RR Leather/armored gloves $75
Olympia Airglide 2 Overpants $190
Alpinestars Black Label Motorcycle Jeans $100
Sidi Way Tepor Boots $150
Oxtar Jupiter 2 Boots $140

You can spend a crapload on gear. I'm a bit scared of falling off, so I haven't skimped and have gotten as much gear with as much armor as I could, and it's cost me over $1400 so far. I'm looking for a nice armored insulated glove for winter riding, but those are hard to find. Will probably pick up the Alpinestars Vega Drystar glove.

Edit: Check out www.newenough.com. That's my favorite online gear site. They've got good prices, fantastic customer service, great pictures, great descriptions, and a good closeout section.

 

Move to Motorcycle section.

 

ahahahahahaha you a mod now craig

 

i gots a alpinestar tz-1 jacket for sale if ur interested

 

snell 2000 or better, so you can autocross too

 

i would like a jacket that looks like that if it wasnt all logo'ed up

 

That's going to be tough to find. The logos on that jacket are relatively unobtrusive compared to a lot of jackets. Alpinestars is a pretty storied, highly regarded brand though, so you wouldn't look like a poser wearing an A* branded jacket.

I like a lot of A* jackets, but they're too narrow in the shoulders for me. I have yet to find one that fits.

 

meh, in the standard/cruiser market, it is much easier.... and since i dont ride a sport bike.... it wont look out of place

 

True, but most of the "cruiser" styled jackets don't seem to have all of the armor (back, elbows, shoulders) that I look for in a jacket.

This is my leather jacket (except not perforated):



...and my mesh: