Hey everybody! I’m back with a blog about another item from our own brand; Black. I’m pretty excited to show this one to you all, it’s brand new, looks great and I was really surprised to find out how affordable it is. Its the new Black Retro and Black Iconic Motorcycle Jackets- technically a two-for-one blog!
Its a style that’s coming back into fashion lately- when I look at this retro, designer style of jacket I really do think of large price tags. And that’s just for a jacket for the sake of fashion and without any protective features for us bikers. That’s the first thing I love about this jacket, it’s added the protection for bikers while keeping the designer price tag low.
The shell of the jacket is made from a tightly constructed Nylon, its very flexible and abrasion resistant so it will do well to break through the wind and keep you protected. The panels of material have been double stitched to ensure that this jacket is up to the task and to help prevent seams from splitting in an accident to keep you better protected. Beneath the shell the jacket features a waterproof liner as well so if you do find yourself caught in the rain the jacket should see you home dry.
It may seem silly to you but the zips are probably another favourite feature of mine. I’ve worn my fair share of jackets where the zips have had small pull-tabs, they’re difficult to get to because they’re hidden behind lips of fabric and the zips themselves are just thin and weedy. But on this jacket I have none of those gripes at all- the zips are genuine YKK and they’re a good size so I don’t feel conscious about trying to be gentle and not split them- they can take it. They’re out where they can be easily accessed and they have a soft leather pull tab on them, so you don’t even need to remove your gloves to get the zips open. Even the pocket on the left arm has one too.
Since I’m on about pockets, I suppose I’ll talk about all of them. There’s two front pockets on the jacket that are secured with a metal popper and they’re a pretty good size too- I can fit the whole of my lanky hands in them so I wouldn’t be too concerned about my belongings hopping out unexpectedly should I forget to use the popper. There’s also two inside pockets- both on the left side, one is a Velcro fastened pocket attached to the main jacket and the other is a zip-fastened pocket attached to the removable thermal liner. So you’ll always have an inside pocket whether you ride with the liner in to keep warm or out to keep cool. The inside pocket also has the washing instructions label on it so you know how to care for your jacket.
Another feature on the inside of the jacket- if you peek past the thermal liner a bit at the bottom, is a pair of belt loops. They’re made mostly of elastic and are secured with poppers so that you can put them around your belt, if you wear one, to keep the jacket from riding up if you have a riding position with a more forward lean.
Just above the belt loops there’s an opening for a back protector- the jacket has pockets for a full set of armour in the back, shoulders and elbows. However- you don’t really need to change the armour that’s in it. The jacket already has a full set of 5 piece soft armour installed that is CE Level 2 approved, is comfortable to wear and is some of the most protective armour on the market. I use the stuff myself and wouldn’t ride without it. I’ve already made a soft armour blog post on it too, if you want to learn more about it. The inclusion of this armour is also part of what makes this jacket such great value for money. Other jackets of a similar style and similar price tag, such as the Spada Air Force One jacket, are priced very similarly and yet only come with CE level armour in the shoulders and elbows with no back protector to speak of. The the Black Iconic and Black Retro Jackets are as safe as can be to ride home in right out of the shop.
Wearing this style of jacket is a pretty new thing to me, so there is another feature I’ve come to appreciate on them- The cuffs, waistband and collar. They’re just so comfortable and a really, really pleasant change from wearing jackets with stiffer cuffs and collars that can rub uncomfortably and feel a bit tight around the neck. Wearing the Black Icon and the Black Retro is just pure leisure in comparison. The cuffs also help to keep too much air flying up the arms but allows a little- the jacket doesn’t have anything in the way of ventilation with extra zips in select places but it doesn’t really need them and the fit isn’t super-tight to the body which allows plenty of air circulation beneath.
So why the two names- the Iconic and the Retro? The Iconic is the version with stripes just on the cuffs, waist and collar. A cleaner, simpler, classic look with clear roots taken from the pilot jacket style. The Retro is a more designer, stylish take on the look with a more retro flair in the form of stripes down the front and on the cuffs collar and waist. They make you go faster too, right?
Over all, my opinion of this jacket is nothing but positive. It’s a functional, comfortable and great looking jacket, perfect for the warm and dry weather, holds it’s own if the weather turns wet and I look forward to getting one of my own. The available colours will include black, dark blue and green for the Retro with an additional Silver for the Iconic jacket. So the hardest choice I’ll have to make about getting this jacket is deciding which colour I want it in. The jackets are available in sizes Small to 4XL – I can’t say for certain whether it’s a good idea for people to size up or not though- with jackets like this, I’m pretty lucky in that getting a Large size is always right for me. But if you find you tend to size up in other jackets, follow that trend and size up anyway. Alternatively, come in store, try one on and check yourself out in one of our mirrors- we won’t judge, we do it too.
Thanks for reading guys! Until next time!
-MattW at Ghostbikes.com
