Hey guys,
I'm in the market for a new helmet and a jacket.
What do you guys wear? Also Gloves, Boots?
Recommendations are always helpful!

I'm mostly going to be doing city riding 30-70mph. The weather here varies a lot (Central IL) and I want to be riding year-round. So I'm willing to spend a decent amount for a good jacket. ($400 absolute max)

I'm looking at a white/silver type theme.

Jacket:  Icon Motorhead http://www.bikebandit.com/product/3838
or the Icon Acelerant Leather http://www.bikebandit.com/product/9835 
Both in White.

For a helmet I'm still looking, I don't want to spend more than $300, but I want it to be graphic.
Looking at the Icon Mainframe Legion (Silver Dragon) style helmet.
http://www.chaparral-racing.com/Chaparral/product_family.asp?0=dept.asp,dept_id=2009%26menu_id=%26Tree=,Icon+Helmets&1=dept.asp,dept_id=3914%26menu_id=%26Tree=0,Icon+Mainframe+Helmets&family_id=11699&gift=False

I'm not necessarily biased to icon, I just seem to like their style.

Also if anyone has anything for sale let me know!
Sizes Helmet = M Jacket = M

Thanks!

Hi there,

Central IL here, about 2 hours south of Decatur.

I ride year-round in leather gear.  My jacket, a Vanson "MKII Cobra" is perforated on the front with adjustable vents inside the front chest.  The arms have vents as well.  This is fine for summer riding on a naked bike if you have a decent heat tolerance.  Choose light colors, obviously.  White and silver would be a good choice.

During the winter, I wear a heated jacket under my leather along with heated gloves.  For short hops of 5-10 miles at 45-55 MPH you can get away with a couple of sweatshirts and thick lined winter gloves into the high 20's.  After that, or for any extended highway riding, heated gear is the way to go.  I use my heated gear up into the mid 50's for interstate riding. 

My pants are the Vanson Sport pants, fully perforated and sized just a little large.  They're plenty well vented in the summer.  In the winter I wear a pair of women's snow pants under the leathers.  Why women's?  Because you need a size that fits as tightly as possible.  At-size snow pants are waaay too baggy to fit under leather.

As far as helmets, don't buy on looks.  Instead, concentrate on buying a helmet that fits properly and is of good quality.  Nothing will affect your riding pleasure more than a poorly fitting helmet, I think.  The only way to fit a helmet is in person at a store with a large selection.  Bring a cloth tailor's tape measure and measure your head carefully according to the fitment instructions for each brand.  Then, start at the recommended size and try on a bunch of lids.  Eventually you'll narrow down the choices.  Then, when you think you have the lid you want, wear it around the store for at least a half hour.  As you know, it takes a while for pressure points to show up.

Anyway, that's a few thoughts for ya.  Can't really speak to the Icon brand, I've never worn it. 

I currently have the following:
Sumer Jacket: older Teknic mesh something or other- given to me so I don't know the model, but it is great in warm temps, and really no hotter than no jacket at all in 100deg + weather

Fall/Winter Jacket: Tourmaster Pivot 2 ($150 just about everywhere) lots of clever features, windproof, waterproof, warm liner, haven't used it in temps below 50deg yet but should be plenty warm and is roomy enough I can add another layer if need be. Oooo! just went on sale here:http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/1/39/8982/ITEM/Tour-Master-Pivot-Series-2-Jacket.aspx

Pants: Scorpion Deus Pants ($150) Very comfortable in very hot weather (100+) and good without the liner down to about 65deg or so, colder than that and the liner will take them down to at least 50deg. (hasn't been colder than that yet)
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/1/40/13682/ITEM/Scorpion-Deuce-Pants.aspx

Gloves: Teknic Chicane bought on closeout ($30) and are very good, never seem to get too hot but are a full leather gauntlet glove. On closeout here:http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/1/37/3152/ITEM/Teknic-Chicane-Gloves.aspx

Helmet: Scorpion Exo 700. Helmets are tricky because you really have to buy according to what comfortably fits your grape rather than by looks. That said the Exo 700 can be found on close out for cheap, has an anti-fog lens that works well, is Snell certified, reasonably light and fairly quiet. Best deal I found was here:http://sportbiketrackgear2.homestead.com/exo700helmets.html

Down at the bottom they have the Fury, Raider, and Geronimo graphic styles on closeout- you can get a helmet with smoked lens shipped for $185.

Boots: Haven't bought any motorcycle specific ones yet, but my 8-eye Dr. Martins seem to be getting it done, and they have one of the best non-slip soles ever to be stitched to a shoe, totally impercious to pil, grease, coolant, soap...anything slippery.

Hope that helps

I really love the tourmaster/cortech stuff for winter riding.  The joe rocket alter ego x.0 or whatever version they have now is a great jacket just all around.  Its a 3/4 length, waterproof, windproof, and converts to a mesh with a few zippers.  I'd look into that one.

I like the orange dragon helmet.   

personally i don't think any one brand name is best or worse than any other.  just make sure that the stitching is good, i learned that the hard way.  especially stitching around the fingers and the baby finger.  make sure there is Kevlar or other armour.  you can't go wrong with leather plus armor but the textile jackets offer better wet weather protection.  my self i have 3 pairs of gloves, two helmets, a leather armor jacket and a light weight perforated textile armored jacket.  make sure that they have wrist and waist bands.  both can roll up in a crash which takes away some of the protection.  i also have a textile armor pants for wet weather and cold weather.  the zipper into both my jackets and provide great protection.  hope this helps.

hey guys,
just thought i'd post an update.

I went with the Icon Motorhead Leather Jacket - in white.
Got it form Oneida Suzuki for $267.99 + s/h ---bike bandit and other places have it listed at $350!
Heres the exact link: http://www.oneidasuzuki.com/store/parts-accessories/icon-motorhead-jacket.html

I went with the Icon Mainframe Legion Helmet -- in silver
Got it from Chaprral-Racing for $149.97 -- normally listed at $280+ everywhere else!
http://www.chaparral-racing.com/Chaparral/product_family.asp?0=dept.asp,dept_id=2009%26menu_id=%26Tree=,Icon+Helmets&1=dept.asp,dept_id=3914%26menu_id=%26Tree=0,Icon+Mainframe+Helmets&family_id=11699&gift=False

And lastly I picked up a pair of the Joe Rocket Jordan 2k7 Street Gloves -- in white
http://www.chaparral-racing.com/Chaparral/product_family.asp?family_id=15709&gift=False&mscssid=FD277E3F884A4D0C8C64C9974D36DD20

I'll post again in a week or two with a review of how the gear holds up in different weather conditions....so far its been pretty nice here -- 80/50 h/l
Thanks again for the suggestions, and I hope I can do the same for someone else.
The icon helmet deal IMO is a steal if anyone is looking for a helmet they have a couple Large sizes left, I think i got the last Medium.

Hell, id be happy if i could find a liner for my joe rocket textile jacket

I've got a medium Joe Rocket textile jacket with liner (vest, not full sleeves) I'd like to sell.  Worn twice.  Has pockets for armor.  Back pad included.  It's the Ballistic series, but I'm not sure exactly what the name is.