Recently purchased a harley leather passing link jacket, haven't had a chance to take a ride with it yet but it fits like a glove and seems very well made. Can't decide if I should buy the armor pads for elbows and shoulders though. Coming from the sport bike world (traded in my hayabusa for street glide), my leather jacket I wore by icon had some serious armor and felt like I could barely move my arms sometimes, but probably needs to be pretty thick for a 100 mph slide! Are the add on armor pads for the harley jackets worth it, and are they very noticeable? From the pics on harley's site they look pretty thin. Never had an accident in 10 years of riding but don't want to chance my luck and figure I need to start wearing gear, other than a tshirt!

 

Any armor is better than none. I can't speak for the harley stuff but all my jackets have it. Got in an accident last year. No dammage on the top side

 

I have/had a Joe Rocket Alter Ego jacket with armored shoulders, spine, elbows, and forearms. Is it more bulky than a non-armored jacket? Yup. Did it save my right arm when I crashed last month? Yup.

 

Get the armor.

Anything is better than nothing, which, I assume, describes the little foam pads your H-D dealership will sell you for $50 for a set of four.

Or, get EN-CE spec armor anywhere on eBay or Amazon, or through any reputable online motorcycle store.

 

the precurved stuff is more comfy when on the bike, less comfy when off the bike.

so I have both types.

Mike

 

Mike, do you fall over often?!

Couldn't resist......

 

You'll only miss the armour when you wipe out.

 

I've had pretty good luck moving armor between jacket brands. Currently running the armor from a Frank Thomas jacket in a Harley mesh jacket. Works fine. If you still have the Icon, I'd try swapping the armor first.

 

Better to have and not need.....you get my drift.

 

The armor that HD uses is much more comfortable in use than the molded armor that is in most sport bike jackets.