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Gotz a decent jacket now but not leather so I always feel nekkid. Finally going for the gusto to try and get the best jacket possible .. my initial wish list search was (hopefully) for:

- Obviously good but subtle looks that you can even wear elsewhere without looking like a total m/c dork .. no slap happy jordan/sponsor/brand logos slapped all over the jacket
- Preferably some reflective stripes/patches or someting for better visibility
- 100% "full grain" leather (non of that mixed stuff)
- Quality double/triple stitching in critical areas
- Zipper vents &/or perforated / removable liner for hot/cold weather riding.
- Pockets outside (toll change sucks)
- Decent armor protection throughout AND back protection (NOT foam, or at least a compartment for hard armor to replace it with)
- <$500

The list quickly eliminated most of the popular brands most sites carry and only left brands such as Dianese, Vanson, etc.. but most of theirs still lack some stuff off the above list and are >$700+

The Alpinestars MX-1 is the closest one I've found (still lacking in a few areas but seems top quality) ... I don't mind doing the high_revs thing and eating ramen noodles for a while but just wanted to see if anyone here had any experience with this jacket or has any other suggestions of where/what to look for. thanks.

There's goes the money I was saving for my gold grill set

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Mawfaki # .5

02 CBR954rr 2 Bro's; PC3; Zero Grav; Corbin Seat; Throttlemeister; etc...

alternatives:  A* TZ-1.  $255 on ebay. 

had mine since i started riding on the street... err 3yrs i guess (wow it seems a lot longer).  while it doesnt come w/ the backprotector like the MX-1 (prob y that one is much more expensive also), its still a great jacket w/ all the other protection.  yes it has the standard pocket for a backprotector like all A* jackets.  atleast u get to choose wat backprotector u want, since i hear the A* ones are very uncomfortable. 

seems like the only other difference btw the two jackets is the fit.  the TZ-1 arms arent exactly race-replica fit so its very comfortable for street use.  also, the neck comes up higher so i hardly ever freeze. 

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Naked 93' F2...... RIP -- 04/12/07
04' 600RR Black - currently stuck between track and street usage
- Brembo Master, Sato's, & Ohlins out back

haha kewl... can i get more peeps doing the ramen thing!  say oooooooo .... oooooooooooooooo

but seriously, a*star jackets are nice, though as stang says, some of the recent models are now becoming a little loose. probably cuz a*star want to get it as a fashion trend also. who wants to walk around slouched with arms spread on the side like the hulk. my TZ-1 fits fine, but a little more snug than the Stunt. I was thinking of the Stunt at the store (and almost went with it) because it was a little looser. it's a PITA to put wallet, garage remote, etc. on the jacket because it's snug (but i did put on more weight, even back then when i bought it, i can't really put a remote on the pocket). so that'll fail your toll change test.

now... snug or loose? i went with the former just from a protection perspective, thinking the snug would be less likely to snag on a fall. but yes, the backprotector will bring up the price. but if you have one already, i'd look for a comparable model and fit as the mx-1.

also, it's hard to get a jacket with the majority of the stuff you're looking for. usually, leather jackets don't have vent holes (pita#1). it's either perforated or none.

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"Leaders are like tea; put them in hot water to find out how strong they are." Anonymous

yeah dudes, the tz1 looks like a good jacket and i considered it (still haven't ruled it out) but it doesn't seem to have any ventilation ... don't you guys burn up in that jacket on 90˚+ days?? If I can get the extra back protection and some extra ventilation for not much more $$'s I'm going that route.

stang, when you say $255 ebay, you talking about new or used? I'm not comfortable buying used gear but from what I see, the going rate for a new TZ1 on sale seems to be around $350.

high_revs:

also, it's hard to get a jacket with the majority of the stuff you're looking for. usually, leather jackets don't have vent holes (pita#1). it's either perforated or none.

You're telling me!! I thought it'd be a quick search and then hours and hours later I came to that realization so I thought f it, I'll just bend over and pay the serious $'s and get what I want and be done with it ... and then I find out even the "serious" brands like Tiachi, Vanson, Dianese, Kishitani (sp?) etc.. that charge $700+ still don't have the majority of what's on my list .. looks like it'll have to be 2 different jackets which is what I was trying to avoid.

Thanks for the input guys. I'll let you know what I end up going with (still haven't decided yet) .. off topic btw, motorcycle superstore has a "price gurantee" where they say they'll match any price as long as you send them the link to the ad .. I didn't want to deal with ridergear but they had the jacket with a coupon code to get 15% off on their web site. i sent it to mcsuperstore and they responded with "sorry, we don't match coupons, listed prices only" !!! WTF kind of price match guarantee is that !??!?!?!?

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Mawfaki # .5

02 CBR954rr 2 Bro's; PC3; Zero Grav; Corbin Seat; Throttlemeister; etc...

Kewl,

I don't know how opposed to ezpass you are, but wouldn't that solve your pocket dilemma?  Then again, I don't think that part is that big an issue.  Anyway, just trying to help... Good luck in your search.

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Never follow, Never lead

www.myspace.com/nyansapo

it seems the $255 is brand spakin' new.  the TZ-1 model is kinda old, 3-4 yrs, so the price seems about right.  i think i paid 240$ for mine 3yrs ago cuz i bought my first bike from the same shop, so i got it 10% above cost.  so at 255$ they are still making money.

actually, i dont get hot on a 90deg+ day.  the arms are perf'd, the inside liner comes out, and u can jus unzip a few inches of the main zipper while leaving the main snap on and still be good.  sure u might sweat in traffic, but ventilation wont help that anyways.  leather will actually be a lot cooler than u think because it insulates u from the road heat while still breathing much much better than textile jackets.  on 100deg+ days, ill wear my Underarmor shirt to stay cooler w/ or w/out a cotton t-shirt over it but i could live w/out it.   

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Naked 93' F2...... RIP -- 04/12/07
04' 600RR Black - currently stuck between track and street usage
- Brembo Master, Sato's, & Ohlins out back

i've ridden in warm temps. but me on the duc, i'm hot enough (too hot sometimes). the a*star jacket cools me down.  

i do remember i sweat more in my textile (dainese) as stang says. and i wear underarmour under neath to help me slide off the jacket easier since the lining always sticks to my skins. maybe that's why?

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"Leaders are like tea; put them in hot water to find out how strong they are." Anonymous

NJ, I hear ya but I mainly use the toll roads when I'm visiting friends in areas with one .. I don't have to cross them often enough for the ezpass but I may still get one eventually.

Okay dudes, thanks ... after going back and forth on it forever I went ahead and ordered the TZ-1 and rode in it twice so far. Overall I'm happy with the choice so far and give it 1 and a half thumbs up .. except for a few minor gripes but I'll live so don't cry too much. :)

Yeah, I think this thing will be gosh darned hot (<= the family friendly version of what I want to say) for ATL stop and go urbanite traffic but I'll just get the underarmour as suggested and make do.

One quick question though .. they put a couple of reflective 3M microinjected logos in this jacket but none where I really think it has the most effect: ON THE UPPER BACK of the freakin jacket. It's all black back there .. is it just me or does that seem backasswards to anyone else?

Do you guys know anywhere that sells those reflective A*'s logos that I can have stitched in the upper part? Or any other suggestions .. other than "WTF u talking bout M8 GTFO of here?"

p.s. And "no", google was not my friend in this particular instance.

oh and p.s.s. / pw - I went ahead and paid the higher price and bought it from newenough for $350 because I'm scared of the ebay.

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Mawfaki # .5

02 CBR954rr 2 Bro's; PC3; Zero Grav; Corbin Seat; Throttlemeister; etc...

good call on newenough. i myself don't always take chances on egay, but i did get mine from a gixxer board sponsor actually.

for reflective stuff, i've not seen people make it and sell on egay. but worth a look. ifyou really want the A* logo, you may have to get it custom made at a local suit shot. yes, it's ass backwards. you can also guy those reflector thingies for your helmet, but i think i've seen some you can put on your jacket. if i'm in the area, i'll check helimots for you as that's where i saw something you're looking for.

a lot of mfr's don't put reflective piping or material on the jackets. it messes the kewlness factor.

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"Leaders are like tea; put them in hot water to find out how strong they are." Anonymous

oh, props to your functioning gray matter low_revs ... mah brains out of order i don't know why i didn't think of that. putting one on the helmet would be a good solution. I already have a chrome CBR logo on the back of it, I'll just replace it with a tacky reflective one.

don't go out of your way looking but if you happen across something let me know. I didn't necessarily want the A* logo but was just trying to have something reflective that will not look out of place. Actually if I could figure out a way to move the one on the back bottom of the jacket to the upper back, that would be fine but since it's micro-injected / stitched, I'm sure I would destroy the jacket trying to do something like that.

kewlness factor be damned, i don't want to mess up the beautiful clean asphalt around here with my splattered remains. they should all put some type of reflective stripes or something on the back even though Tahoe would not sport anything that's messes with the e-thug pose he throws at starbux. :)

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Mawfaki # .5

02 CBR954rr 2 Bro's; PC3; Zero Grav; Corbin Seat; Throttlemeister; etc...