Hope this is the right forum if not please move mods.

Have to buy an new helmet, jacket and a backpack.

I am a big Icon fan as far as lloks go.Can't say how they actually fit.I went today to get a new helmet.Either the Rf1100 shoei or about 6 diffferent Icon helmet options.Would have been more shoei options but the price is over my head except for the rf1100.

I walked into the dealership and my first choice was the airframe search and destroy.Priced it out on a couple of sites for $370.00 and in town another dealer had it for $425.00.Anyways they had 2 helmets left and one was a small for mylittle melon.They had it on sale for $289 so I scouped it up.Very happy.

Next on the list is a leather jacket.Anyone riding in Canada knows we have a pretty hot and humid summer but spring and fall get pretty cold.My old Joe rocket is to small so I have narrowed my jackets down to the Icon automag hero (black) for the cooler months and the Accelerant perforated(black) for the summer.

Only problem is I only have enough cash for 1 for this season.I don't want to roast myself for the summer and I don't want to freeze for the fall.Any suggestions on what jacket I should go for.As well how I can make it better for what it wasn't made for...ie perforated what can I do to make it a fall jacket etc.

Last I need a good backpack.Basically for work and carrying my lunch bag amd maybe a visor,or to the gym towel,weight belt clothes,shoes,or BJJ class having to carry my gi and towell or to everyones fav the beach.I really like the squad 1 backpack(without the arms) and second the merc day pack.

Again I welcome any opinions and appreciate the hopefully good advice

Cheers

 

Welcome aboard.

I mostly use my Icon Daytona all leather jacket year round. However, when its absolutely too hot, I'll use my Joe Rocket all textile (summer weight) w/ full CE armor. Granted, I wear these only for commuting & in-town riding. For twisty rides, I wear leathers. Anyway, Icon jackets tend to run large for their size. So go a size smaller than most other S-M-L-XL sized jackets. As for your quandy about whether to buy leather vs other...well, that's a personal choice but I look at it like this, I'd rather have the best protection vs comfort if having to choose btwn one or the other. Sweat wipes off, road-rash doesn't. Not to say that a textile jacket won't give you protection BUT it won't give you the protection that a leather jacket will. A perf'd leather jacket could be a good compromise, in that its full leather but has more ventilation. In the cooler mos, just layer more w/ a perf'd leather jacket to keep warmer.

I currently use two Shoei RF-1000's. The Shoei's fit my noggin better than any other helmet out there. Plus, they are high quality & extremely light weight. CycleGear has been running great prices on these since the new Shoei line has come out.

I use an *Icon Urban Tankbag* a great deal of the time. It doubles as a backpack & helmet carrier...great combo. So you could use it on your tank or wear it backpack style while riding. At $110, its a good deal. The nylon isn't as thick as ballistic nylon but mine has taken everything I've thrown at it so far.

Happy shopping to ya.

 

P.S...

I'm assuming you already have gloves. If not, I recommend the Icon Merc gauntlet-style gloves for daily wear. They're more of an all-wx type thickness but I've found them to be just fine in the warmer mos as well. Mine have been very durable. I wrote a review of mine some time ago. Outside of having to stitch up a fingertip that came open about a yr ago, they've been real troopers. There's too many glove options to count but just wanted to give you one opinion.

If you don't have boots, get yourself a good decent pair. They don't have to be riding specific if you can't afford it but you'll def want something that goes over your ankle.

Take care.

 

Here's the one I use. It has plenty of ventilation, which when worn with Underarmor works good in the Summer.
For the Fall, zip everything up & re-attach the insulated linner.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IE23a...layer_embedded

 

Personally I prefer Dainese. They make the best gear ever, as well as the most expensive one. The range of jackets\gloves\boots will satisfy anyone (well ok, maybe not the boots)
I'm running this jacket: http://www.cyclegear.com/spgm.cfm?L1...33541-691-44_G

If the money is a big issue and you can't wait to get something later, then you should go with ICON. I like that brand too. Bought a helmet and riding pants from them.
As far as back pack goes I'd suggest this one: http://www.rideicon.com/product_deta...=3129&id=11080

I don't link tank bags, but it's a personal preference, of course.

 

You can layer with a perf'd jacket. I rock a standard backpack when I was going to school and going to work. Its allways worked fine for me.