| Author | Message | ||
     Xl1200r |
Trying to decide on a new Jacket. I'm looking for something a little racy and aggressive, but not a race jacket. This needs to be comfortable for all day, and I don't want all kinds of crazy graphics all over it. I don't do track days, so I don't need some top of the line race replica item. This needs to be a good full-season jacket. I've narrowed it down to 3: ICON Motorhead - $259 ICON Daytona - $259 Vanson Corsair - $300 I'm leaning towards the Vanson - more classic styling, and I've been hearing good things about them (I'm not familiar with their stuff). If the quality is that much better than ICON's, the $40 price difference is negligible. Any thoughts or input? Any other possibilities? | ||
| Disturbed |
http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/384 2/244484.html?1166463133 I was looking at the Icons and then stumbled onto the FXRG jacket. After making the purchase i can't be happier. MUCH more comfortable than the Icons and every bit as safe, or safer. Be sure to read the Motorcycle Daily review. Cord | ||
| Xl1200r |
An FXRG jacket would be my first choice, but I am in no position to spend $600 on a riding jacket. | ||
| Diablobrian |
The Vanson is the highest quality of the three you listed. The Icon brand is not even in the same league as Vanson. That's my opinion on it FWIW. | ||
| Disturbed |
An FXRG jacket would be my first choice, but I am in no position to spend $600 on a riding jacket. it wasn't in mine either. I asked the local dealer if they had any sales coming up. They gave me a day to come in and 20% off. $476 out the door. | ||
| Xl1200r |
$476 is still pricey. I really can't spend more than the $300 for the Vanson. I'm not saying there's no difference in quality or anything, but there are just other places I'd rather spend that much cash. | ||
| Djkaplan |
I spent over $500 for my Vanson - worth every penny and I'd buy another one in a heartbeat. They came by their reputation honestly, I can attest to that. The quality of your jacket isn't something you want to be concerned about when you take a swan dive into the asphalt. | ||
| Xl1200r |
The quality of your jacket isn't something you want to be concerned about when you take a swan dive into the asphalt. This is absolutely true, but I guess what I'm getting at is I'm not sure if I'm going to see a quality difference (read "safety difference") between a $300 Vanson and a $600 FXRG. It sounds as though I will see a difference with either of these compared to the ICON stuff, but I'll need to see it person. I have an ICON helmet and have been VERY pleased with it so far. | ||
| Diablobrian |
A Vanson can quite literally last you a lifetime with the free repair service that comes with it. If you pop a seam on the Icon you are just out of luck. There is more difference between the two brands than meets the eye. It's the difference between an investment and something that is disposable. The difference in price disappears when you consider the long view. | ||
| Xl1200r |
^^ I was unaware of the lifetime repair thing with the Vanson jackets. Not having actually seen any of these jackets, I've more or less settled on a Vanson, though I'm not sure which one. There are two that I like that fit in my price range - The Corsair (7VE3) and the Cobra 3 (COB3). The Cobra looks to ventilate MUCH better, but lacks any pockets and uses soft armor as opposed to the CE armor in the Corsair. Oh, decisions decisions... Does anyone have any experience with either of these two Jackets? | ||
| Justin_case |
Vanson is Made in the USA. Fall River,MA. | ||
| Az_m2 |
Does the FXRG jacket have a big HD logo on it? I could not tell by the pics on the net. Thanks. | ||
| Thespive |
No big logo on FXRG. The textile FXRG is my daily jacket, tons of features, well-made and LOTS of awesome features - in addition to being comfortable. I love it. When I am not commuting or wearing a backpack, my jacket of choice is my Vanson/Buell logo jacket, with the back pad and armor that I added, wonderful jacket as well. Highly recommend both. -Sean | ||
| Az_m2 |
Thanks Sean | ||
| Xl1200r |
Hey guys...stopped into the HD dealer and checked out the FXRG first hand. The leather version is just too much $$$, so I was looking at the fabric one. VERY nice jacket, and tons of features, just like everyone said. It was also very comfortable as long as you weren't in a crouched position - this is a problem since I have a Firebolt. I put the jacket on and climbed on a Firebolt in the showroom, and no matter what I did, the collar was pushing up into my chin. It's really too bad because I liked that jacket a lot. And yes, I tried the two-way zipper to no avail. I also stopped by a little shop near me that sells Vanson's stuff. VERY nice jackets as well. They did not have either of the models I'm interested in, but the quality is excellent. The sport rider series (the one's I'm looking at are in this series) are cut for a sport bike position, so the jacket fits awsome when crouched over. I'm pretty sure I'll be getting the Corsair. It seems to be a safer, more usable jacket. The front ventiliation on the Cobra is nice, but the guy at the shop has one and he says when closed up it does not block all the wind, and below 60 degrees or so it's a little cold. I was also able to see the ICON jackets - they're out of the picture... So for me, I'm thinking of getting the Corsair 2 ($299), and then for really hot days I'll pick up the VentMax ($75). (Message edited by xl1200r on December 28, 2006) | ||
| Az_m2 |
Got a new front tire mounted today at the dealer. Checked out the FXRG while I was there. It is a very nice jacket. Lots of features and looks to be very high quality. The textile jacket is also very nice, but I think I would spend the extra $200 and go with leather. | ||
| Tleighbell |
Sign in a BMW shop a few years back (when BMW was way ahead in terms of quality and price) "The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of the cheap price is gone." | ||
| Court |
Thank John Ruskin for the quote. | ||
| Tleighbell |
Thanks John. Hope I didn't mess it up too much. Maybe we could start a literary thread. | ||
| Xl1200r |
well guys, I ordered the Vanson Corsair 2... I'm hoping to have it by the end of next week, but I'm not holding my breath. | ||
| Wsplrll |
Newenough.com has some great Vansons on clearance. I would go that route. | ||
| Xl1200r |
I did check with newenough.com, but they didn't have the model I was looking for. I just went to Vanson direct. | ||
| Eboos |
I am kind of an Alpinestars fan myself. I have owned HD, Dainese, Alpinestars, and Vanson leathers, and I like my Alpinestars the most. Dainese is also great (used their stuff since riding XC mtb in 97), but the price is too high, and I couldn't find a jacket that I liked (would like to try a Bora jacket, but no one stocks them). I don't doubt the quality of Vanson products at all, but I really don't like the look or feel of them. I do not like how Vanson leaves the edges of the cut leather exposed. In my opinion, that gives them an unfinished look. As far as feel goes, my HD jacket wins hands down, but it doesn't offer crap worth of protection (not an FXRG jacket, has soft padding in the shoulders and elbows). I am ordering a Alpinestars MX1 jacket, a CE back protector and a set of Trackpants for street riding. My discount doesn't hurt either  | ||
| Diablobrian |
I'm currently wearing firstgear leathers. Their "speed freak" 2 piece suit is working very well for me and I got it for a great price from newenough.com. Vanson does the edges of the leather that way to reduce the thickness of the seams. It is supposed to improve the way the leather lays and the comfort while wearing their leathers. They see it as a design feature, not an unfinished edge.  If we all liked the same things the same way it would be a very boring world wouldn't it? I'm glad we have so many choices in quality leathers these days  The best leathers are the ones that fit and suit you well enough for you to wear them every time you get on your bike. (I had to wedge in an ATGATT appeal on this thread) | ||
| Xl1200r |
I don't doubt the quality of Vanson products at all, but I really don't like the look or feel of them. I do not like how Vanson leaves the edges of the cut leather exposed. In my opinion, that gives them an unfinished look. I did notice when I tried on the Jacket at the store, it was VERY stiff leather. Safe, but not comfortable. The jacket I ordered (Corsair 2) uses a softer leather. I'm guessing it's more like my current jacket which is ideal for me. I don't remember if the cuffs were unfinished on the jacket I tried on, but I know from pictures that the one I ordered has finished cuffs. | ||
| Surewin |
Good choice going with the vanson. Icon looks cool, but, Diablobrian hit it,"The Icon brand is not even in the same league as Vanson." Yeah, vanson is stiff when new. I threw mine in the dryer, no heat, with a bunch of towels when I first got it to help start the break in. Felt great once broken in. btw, I got my leather fxrg on clearance for $160. Great cold weather jacket and would have been worth retail, though I never would have thought so before buying it. | ||
| Xl1200r |
Freakin' a.... Vanson has my Jacket on backorder - turns out the one I ordered is made overseas, hence the much lower price vs. Vanson's other jackets. Looks like mid-Feb is the new date. | ||
| Xl1200r |
Okay guys - update... I decided to bag the Pakstani-made Corsair model, and got a U.S. made model instead. $200+ more, but worth it IMO. It shipped today. | ||
| Thespive |
Well worth it, you'll love the jacket. --Sean |
