EB’s Save Your Bacon ICON Gear Review
Icon Brammo Rider Steve Atlas BTW Picture Borrowed from RideIcon.com
Brammo manufactures some of the most advanced electric motorcycles in the world. Obviously it goes without saying that I am a huge fan. I am also a huge fan of Icon motorcycle gear. Icon creates some of the best motorcycle gear available, I have even crash tested some of their gear and have only good things to say regarding my experience with their products. Both companies combine style, performance, and innovation, and both are US based companies out of Oregon. Whats not to like about these guys? That said, I was elated to discover earlier this year that my favorite motorcycle company and my all-time favorite motorcycle gear company were working together to form Team Icon Brammo!
While I cannot give a personal review of Brammo’s wares (yet), I have decided to put together a review of my Icon gear and my experiences over the last 5 years of ownership.
My Icon gear:
Domain Decay Helmet: This helmet represents my first experience with Icon gear and basically sold me on Icon products. I bought this brain bucket new on ebay about 5 years ago. The design of the helmet, the (slightly morbid) graphics, and matte finish make this helmet unique and it really stands out, which is a good thing. There are plenty of intake and exhaust vents that can be opened and closed to allow air circulation on hot days… for this reason the helmet is much more comfortable in on hot summer rides than the HJC it replaced. On colder days had no issues with visor fog even with all the vents closed. Just a fantastic helmet overall. The only negative I can think of would be that the liner is not removable, and therefore cant be laundered, but after 5 years (about 25,000 miles) it hasnt been an issue, the liner still looks and smells relatively clean. Awesome helmet.
Pursuit Gloves: My second Icon purchase. First of all, these gloves tend to run small. Perhaps I just have long fingers, but the size large gloves that I tried on the fingers weren’t quite long enough so I went with the XLs which fit nearly perfect. The glove were quite comfortable from the get go, but now that they are broken in, I can hardly notice that I am wearing them. Grip feel is great, the perforation definitely helps in hot weather but naturally my hands get a bit chilly on cold rides… for cold weather I just throw on my Knox Biomech gauntlets, but Id say that for 90% of my rides I just wear the Icons as they are just a bit more comfortable and easy to put on.
Accelerant Jacket: This jacket has serious street cred, google it. Lots of stories on the interwebs about people walking away from high speed mishaps with only bruises and broken egos wearing this jacket. I kid you not, this jacket is the stuff of legends. Thanks to some strategically placed gravel, that sent my bike and I sailing across a busy intersection, I got a chance to crash test the jacket first hand. After that 30mph low-side I was back on my feet and inspecting my myself for bodily damage that wasn’t there. To my disbelief, I had sustained no injuries… bike was a different story, but my gear held up very nicely and Im still wearing the same jacket, its just a little scuffed in some areas as were my icon pursuit gloves that kept my palms from getting rashed. Luckily my helmet never hit the ground.
Trust me this is the only jacket you need on the street (get a onesie for the track) as it has a removable liner for hot and cold weather riding along with zip-able vents for air flow on the hotter days. Padding and titanium(!) plates in all the right places, you absolutely can’t go wrong with this jacket.
Now this stuff isnt cheap, but it also isnt all that expensive either, and the protection and quality Icon gear provides is priceless. IMO you get MORE than you pay for. Be sure to check out Icon’s online catalog here: www.rideicon.com While your there sign up for Icon’s free magazine, Limiter, where the Brammo Empulse RR and Steve-O make an appearance in the latest issue.
Also, if you plan to buy any motorcycle gear online, I highly recommend these guys: sportbiketrackgear.com The customer service is top notch.
Cool writeup. Gear can be very personal, as is how the question how much is necessary. Only thing I’ll add re: Icon and all others is look for safety in your safety gear. Just because it’s sold as motorcycle gear, it’s not always the safe product in the line or the class. If you like the look, but discount the safety it’s bringing, you could underprotect.
I’m thinking of Icon’s now discontinued(?) Bombshell women’s boots. They had a huge f-me pump heel, and frankly look like you could have an accident without a bike in proximity, without really providing the protection you see in boots made to crash. However, I met a woman who rides with them as they’re leather and she needs the lift they give her ’cause she’s short. If it were me, I’d get 1″ sole extensions put on proper race boots that are flat, but it just goes to show, you need to shop your gear carefully, because if you buy it right and ride safely, it’ll be with you a long time. I prefer gauntlet gloves in favor of shorties too. Icon seems to have helped assure lots of new riders that shorties are a reasonable length, but I’ve only read otherwise. And don’t forget some pants. Jeans don’t prevent skin grafts, so invest in overpants and hang them up with your other gear when you get to your destination.
“Jeans don’t prevent skin grafts, so invest in overpants and hang them up with your other gear when you get to your destination.”
Great point, I was wearing some Kevler re-enforced cargo pants (Draggin Jeans Brand) at the time of my lowside that I mentioned, saved my ass… literally.