Personally, I'm not into the whole "fear and intimidation" aspect in a lot of today's motorcycling gear. I have never donned flames, bones, or skulls. However, I am a realist, and I know this is a marketable aspect of our sport.
Icon's Men's Skull Leather Motorcycle Jacket plays this marketing trend to the hilt. The jacket sports a stylized skull on the front, a skull and chain on the sleeves, and a large gothic Icon logo and crossed bones on the back. I am terrified just writing this review!
OK… my personal bias aside, this is a high quality jacket. I have owned two Icon jackets in the past - one textile and one leather, and both were very well made. There are features that make the Skull jacket technically desirable. It is made of premium leather and offers a solid mix of venting, both through perforations and shoulder vents. It has a full-sleeve removable liner for cooler weather. Most importantly, is well fitted with CE armor. It has the requisite CE armor in the arms and shoulders, but unlike many other jackets, it includes CE-approved armor in the back rather than just a foam pad.
If the style suits you, this jacket is certainly premium protection.
