Opinions on ICON brand riding gear?

contingencyplan

My local dealership where I like to buy all my gear recently restocked their showroom so that the only sport-themed riding jackets they now stock are all ICON brand. I've never owned any ICON brand gear before other than a pair of boots which were comfortable and seem to be of good quality. Because I like the place I want to continue to give them my business, but before I start dumping money into a brand I have no experience with I'd like to hear it from you guys. Anyone have any experience with the brand? How is their quality? Anybody ever gone down in one of their jackets? If so, how did it hold up?

*Note that they can order other brands, they just only keep ICON brand stuff in the showroom. I also want to say that I tried on the Overlord and Motorhead jackets and they both fit very comfortably, with the Overlord being a little bit more restrictive in movement (which it's supposed to be as it is a race-cut jacket).

Zosimah

Icon is an entry level gear brand owned by Parts Unlimited. There are quite a few folks who think they spend more on marketing than they do on manufacturing. There's a reason your local shop is only carrying Icon. The stuff sells. Stocking gear is really really expensive for shops and with the current economic situation many shops aren't going to risk mid level lines that might not move.

I don't think they are including d30 armor in the jackets/pants this year, could be wrong, but I know they sell replacement armor and impact vests/strap on stuff that is d30. I'm pretty sure most of the current line meets the CE:1997 standards and the back stuff is most likely level 1 CE:2003.

What are you riding in now/in the past? It's really hard for most folks to step down in quality. If you are used to Dainese, Alpinestars, Ku****ani, you are going to be disappointed. Once you've had the good stuff...well, you know.

The amount and type of riding you do, location, etc will determine if this is the brand for you. Their textile line has more variety the last time I looked.

I don't have the accident photos handy, but not too long ago there were a string of accidents in which their helmets were reported to cause as many injuries as they prevented; stuff like chin bars breaking off and impaling the rider. It's hard to be definitive on stuff like that, though. It's anecdotal at best, but food for thought.

contingencyplan

Icon is an entry level gear brand owned by Parts Unlimited. There are quite a few folks who think they spend more on marketing than they do on manufacturing. There's a reason your local shop is only carrying Icon. The stuff sells. Stocking gear is really really expensive for shops and with the current economic situation many shops aren't going to risk mid level lines that might not move.

I don't think they are including d30 armor in the jackets/pants this year, could be wrong, but I know they sell replacement armor and impact vests/strap on stuff that is d30. I'm pretty sure most of the current line meets the CE:1997 standards and the back stuff is most likely level 1 CE:2003.

What are you riding in now/in the past? It's really hard for most folks to step down in quality. If you are used to Dainese, Alpinestars, Ku****ani, you are going to be disappointed. Once you've had the good stuff...well, you know.

The amount and type of riding you do, location, etc will determine if this is the brand for you. Their textile line has more variety the last time I looked.

I don't have the accident photos handy, but not too long ago there were a string of accidents in which their helmets were reported to cause as many injuries as they prevented; stuff like chin bars breaking off and impaling the rider. It's hard to be definitive on stuff like that, though. It's anecdotal at best, but food for thought.

I have never owned a "high end" brand jacket. I have a Shift one-piece leather track suit. The only leather riding gear I've owned in the past were two Scorpion jackets, both of which are now way too big for me. The only jackets I have to ride in ATM are textile and mesh. I have a Tourmaster textile jacket that is good for cold to moderately warm temperatures, and a Speed & Strength mesh jacket for anything hotter. Last year this dealership stocked ICON, Joe Rocket, Fieldsheer, A*, Speed & Strength, and Cortech/Tourmaster jackets. This year I go in and all they're stocking in the showroom is ICON for streetbikes. They still have a wide variety of helmets they stock as they have no intention of discontinuing Shoei, Scorpion, Speed & Strength, or HJC helmets, but their jackets and gloves are now strictly ICON in the showroom. I have no intention of purchasing an ICON brand helmet as they don't seem to fit my head nearly as well as the Scorpions, Bells, and Shoei's I've tried on, but I was looking into the jackets.