Got a question for you guys... I've got a MotoGP Grid jacket (on the second one now) and have had one since I got my bike. My problem is the forearm/elbow armor.

On the first jacket, I wore it for about 2 months for maybe 3-4 hours total a week. Always hang it up when I'm not wearing it, never wore it unnecessarily (eating at a restaurant, walking around the mall with the wife and kids :? ), never roughed it up. For some reason the elbow started falling apart, then the entire armor piece started breaking into pieces over the next day. Took it back to the shop I got it at and they replaced the jacket.

Jacket #2, I've been wearing a little less lately as its been too hot even at midnight to be wearing a whole lot of anything. Had it for about 3 weeks and the elbow armor snapped again. Going to try and take it back to the shop again and see if I can get it replaced or if they can even do anything about it (probably not).

I know its a design flaw with the armor, and because its swen in instead of removable, i'm pretty much screwed. Basically, the elbow piece is not an actual "cup" for the elbow, but a tabbed piece attached to the forearm guard that just kind of sticks up.

Any suggestions?

BTW as an automatic threadjack, I've got a spreadsheet I've been keeping for gas milage that I need to polish up for ya'll's perusal.

The product's intended purpose and durability simply isn't being met. If they are any kinda shop at all, they should be able to at a minimum credit you towards another jacket. But I will tell you that I ran into the same thing with some relatively expensive shoes and the store, after exchanging the first pair, didn't do anything. That was long ago and a good lesson learned. Sometimes a name means quality, and other times it's just "a name."

BTW, if you get your money back, keep some of it and go to newenough.com. There stuff is closeout cheap and they're easy to deal with.

Good luck.

Troy is right. Get your money back or get the shop to let you cop a different style of jacket. If it breaks by itself, what good will it be if you went down? Also, I know it's hot, but I seriously would reconsider that whole not wearing any armor thing. Even if you have to get that little armor in nylon thing the motocross riders wear with a long sleve lycra jersey - something.

Also, mesh. It's not much, but it's better than nothing, and still saved my elbow at a 0-MPH drop.

Just out of curiosity, I could be interested in the same jacket... which one was it?

Sounds like to need to buy from a different company... but whatever you do, don't go running to ICON....

ICON SUCKS!!! (been wanting to get that off my chest for a while now)

leather is hot, but stick with leather, i've had my Shift jacket for about... almost 2 years now, used it nearly everyday, i've never cleaned, or treated the leather (apart from riding in the rain, which helps remove bugs.) Not a single stitch is messed up, nothing, still 100%.

I can't stress this enough.... don't buy from that company anymore, sounds like trouble to me... oh yeah, and STAY AWAY FROM ICON!!!!

Which jacket do you have, Sid?

I agree, Ikon does suck.

I've had a few Joe Rocket jackets and they have held up well. The only beef I have is that the pocket zippers tend to get stuck in the overlap fabric a lot. Not a big deal just annoying.

I agree, Ikon does suck.
I had a salesman at a Cyclegear walk me over to an IKON jacket and showed me a patch that was sawn in on the inside. The patch said something to the effect of "this jacket is a fasion item and is not meant to be worn as protective gear".

Yes. I'm serious.

The patch said something to the effect of "this jacket is a fasion item and is not meant to be worn as protective gear".

Yes. I'm serious.
Wouldn't doubt it for one minute. Here at work we have UL inspections for new equipment...remember the first one ever as I was very nervous because I saw so many issues with the equipment that I seriously wouldn't use it myself... the inspector said "We can fix just about any issue with a label..." Passed with flying colors and 4 additional 1x4 labels...

I'm very pleased with my Frank Thomas leathers. Good thick cowhide, armored where appropriate, and a good price. Plus they are perforated which is good for the heat down here.

I agree with SID -- stay with leather if you possibly can. Fabric doesn't give you a quarter the protection, even if it is armored.

I agree with SID -- stay with leather if you possibly can. Fabric doesn't give you a quarter the protection, even if it is armored.

I call bullshit.

Well, not necessarily: it could be the case textile gear provides 1/4 of the protection of leather, but if you only need 1/8 of the protection of leather on the street, why not go with the lighter, cheaper waterproof textile?

Besides, you can't get a Roadcrafter in leather, and if you can't get in and out of your riding gear in under 10 seconds it's crap. ;)

Besides, you can't get a Roadcrafter in leather, and if you can't get in and out of your riding gear in under 10 seconds it's crap. ;)
What's the point of picking up chicks at a biker bar if you can't get your gear off fast enough to get your gear off. :lol:
iz funny good yes?

:lol: :lol: :lol: ...yes...iz funny good...

I call bullshit.

Well, not necessarily: it could be the case textile gear provides 1/4 of the protection of leather, but if you only need 1/8 of the protection of leather on the street, why not go with the lighter, cheaper waterproof textile?

Skier, you can slide just as well on a "street" as you can on a track. Ever slid down an asphalt road? I have, at 45 mph. Leather protects against sliding injuries. Mesh and fabric don't protect at all.

Skier, you can slide just as well on a "street" as you can on a track. Ever slid down an asphalt road? I have, at 45 mph. Leather protects against sliding injuries. Mesh and fabric don't protect at all.

I don't think anyone would argue that leather is the best protective option. But I'm not sure it's true to say that fabric doesn't provide any abrasion resistance. I'd agree if you're talking loose mesh, t-shirt and regular jeans, but not purpose-built textile gear. Maybe I'm misunderstanding?

It provides *some* protection but it is far below the protection offered by leather.

The protection in fabric garments is a tradeoff - you get (usually) more versatility, especially for temperature extremes, but at the expense of less protection for sliding falls. The armor in fabric garments is there in part to offer a bit of extra sliding protection.

I've used a 'Stich - in fact I still have it in my closet. It is a great garment! But make no mistake, it cannot offer the protection that leather can, under any kind of possible danger.

I respect your recommendation of leather and experience with it. At the same time, I've known riders who swear by textiles after their experiences. Textiles absolutely provide less abrasion protection than leather, no question. That said, at normal street speeds, I'm not convinced it's fair to refer to quality textiles as inadequate.

For example, it'd certainly be better protection in my car to have a full rollcage and safety harness, but is it really a must-have for my commute? Not to me.

I'd like to get full leathers at some point, but my original $1000 budget for all of my gear just couldn't fit it.

Textiles absolutely provide less abrasion protection than leather, no question. That said, at normal street speeds, I'm not convinced it's fair to refer to quality textiles as inadequate.

For example, it'd certainly be better protection in my car to have a full rollcage and safety harness, but is it really a must-have for my commute? Not to me.


That's my stance. The versatility of textiles far surpasses the benefits of leather for my riding.

Purpose-built textiles, specifically Cordura nylon, offer plenty of protection for the street. A majority of crashes occur at lower speeds where the additional abrasion resistance of leather don't come into play, but the ease of use and superior weather resistance of textiles come in to play far, far more often.

That's a fair statement, Skier. As long as people understand that fabric is not as protective as leather, and that they are designed for other purposes (cooling or versatility, mainly) then people can make a proper choice as to what protection they want.

I think that's the gist of it, Sachi. Those of us who don't have leathers didn't buy them because we don't know they're (much) better...we bought them as a compromise for other reasons (price, weather, actually being able to make themselves wear it every single ride...etc). ;)

I agree, Ikon does suck.
I had a salesman at a Cyclegear walk me over to an IKON jacket and showed me a patch that was sawn in on the inside. The patch said something to the effect of "this jacket is a fasion item and is not meant to be worn as protective gear".

Yes. I'm serious.

There's a patch like that inside my helmet. Just kidding.

I've never heard anyone who's been down say "I could have used less protection."

I saw a bike salesman with a nasty scarred abrasion from wearing short gloves and crashing. I bought gauntlet gloves. I crashed a dirtbike on the street when I was a teenager, jeans ripped to shreds. I try to wear something beyond jeans. Learning the hard way is not always the best way to learn, obviously. But a scar reminds you.
Full leathers have the most protection, no question. Full leathers are not really socially accepted here, so if you commute it does not really work.
So most of us comprimise at different levels. That is ok. Each individual makes their own choices and their own rationalizations. No matter the level of gear, motorcycles are dangerous. Up to us to decide acceptable risk.
BTW I rented a Harley and they specifically told me I had to have boots, long pants, and a DOT helmet to pick it up. It was refreshing!

Each individual makes their own choices and their own rationalizations.
Word :thumbsup

Just don't be lying to yourself.

You stripped it down pretty well.
rationalization=lying to yourself

Oh and yesterday, I scored some Alpinestars SMX boots on craigslist for $60. Used several times. That was a real weak spot in my gear, as I was wearing police uniform boots with cordura and rather thinnish leather.