Like the stampeding hoofs of a thousand horses, the chain rained down. Relentless, methodical. The hand, clad in black layered leather and riveted titanium plates, worked its brutal magic. At once ethereally united with the chain, yet somehow distant. Durable leather construction. Floating titanium knuckle armor. Riveted palms. Leather Construction Floating Titanium Knuckle Armor Riveted Palm with Nomex Heat-Shield Backing Expansion Panels in Critical Areas Precurved Palm and Fingers
Overall rating
2/5
Interfered with smooth shifting -important read!!!
PostedMay 2, 2012
samyama
From Menlo Park
State:CA
Rider Type:Moto Enthusiast
Age:45-54
Gender:male
Bang for the Buck
4/5
Style
5/5
Comfort
2/5
Protection & Durability
4/5
Air Flow
4/5
Features
3/5
first of all - i LOVE Icon gear. all of it, except these gloves...
so, yes - these are super-sharp gloves...edgy and bold and all that. i was seduced by the look, for sure. they are also very well made and put together, hence my favorable "star" ratings i was totally bummed out, however, when i began to ride with them this morning. the gloves felt very, very wrong.
besides the obvious need to break in new gloves, i found them to completely interfere with the operation of the clutch lever. the gloves are quite thick; several layers of leather are needed for all that bling...as another reviewer stated, there was fairly significant discomfort in-between fingers, but the strangest aspect was the thickness prevented smooth shifting with two fingers on the lever. almost as if there was too much glove inbetween the lever and the bar and couldn't engage enough. grabbing a handful with all fingers worked ok, but i don't ride that way and i bet you don't either.
believe it or not, i stalled the bike twice in the first 10 minutes of my ride because i could not engage the shifter accurately. doh!!! my hand felt like it had metal digging into my skin (it was!!!) and the grip felt bizarre due to the massive thickness.
i rode straight home, got out my fave Dainese gloves, got back on the bike and was totally relieved and happy to have my "feel" back. all the stated issues disappeared instantly.
perhaps, some of you won't have this issue, but i wanted to alert you to the significant awkwardness (and possible danger) riding with these gloves.
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