The Big Bang Jacket from Joe Rocket provides textile comfort and protection for those seeking sportbike style.
Big Bang conjures up big images: The beginning of the universe. Life, strike that, existence and reality as we know it. A motorcycle jacket...
Okay, okay, while the new
Joe Rocket Big Bang Jacket didn't explode in a nanosecond into a new universal cosmos, we did find the '08 JR design does deliver a quality, comfortable textile jacket for the sportbike masses.
We couldn't find any complaints about fit on the Big Bang. While the textile design doesn't feel as comfortable or protective as good leather, once we snapped forearm sleeve adjusters and cinched down the Sure Fit adjustable waistband we were good to go. Like most textiles it feels very light, even lighter once we figured out the big lumpy thing on our back wasn't a back protector but a folded away liner, which is Velcroed in place and easy to remove.
"Being textile, you might think that wind would penetrate the Big Bang Jacket easily, but that's not the case. Zip it up tight, close the vents, and you've got solid protection from cool night air," said Motorcycle USA's Cruiser Editor, Bryan Harley.
Although it feels light, the CE rated elbow and shoulder armor should be strong enough to deliver the protection you'd need in a worst case scenario. We say it every time we do one of these product reviews, but we're sorry, we didn't test the crash-abilty of this design. Maybe once we get the budget of a Consumer Reports and some high-tech crash test dummies, or college interns… Enthusiastic 20-year-old English majors sliding across pavement at 40 mph to test the armor ratings for 0.5 credit hours. Huh, we'll make some calls, but until then we'll just have to trust the CE rating claims.
Overall wearing the Big Bang jacket is an enjoyable experience. One issue we did encounter was when the sun really beat down on us during our summer tests the all-black design was a hot box. Riding at speed with the vents down helped remediate the problem, but our all-black scheme and wilting summer temps were a brutal combo at times. On the plus side, close the vents, zip in the liner and you have nice-looking jacket when it gets chilly out, making the Big Bang a versatile design.
The dark Joe Rocket Big Bang jacket is a solid textile jacket and lets the world know you're riding for the Rocket brand.
In spite of its almost dark design, the white lettering, stripe and Joe Rocket shoulder patches do stand out for visibility. The reflective stripe and "ROCKET" lettering on both front and back stood out in particular, so fashion-conscious riders will be advertising the Rocket brand wherever they may roam.
"What's great about the Big Bang Jacket is that the large Joe Rocket lettering across the chest and back and the logos on the sleeve are all reflective, making the jacket highly visible at night. Riders love to put patches on their jackets, and the Big Bang Jacket is styled in the vein of this popular trend," Harley said.
Fit and finish was on the Big Bang is rock solid. The zippers never caught and don't feel like they ever will. An eight-inch zipper is located in the back, so you can team up the jacket with an accompanying Joe Rocket riding pant or sew in the accompanying insert to another design.
With its $175-190 MSRP the Big Bang isn't the cheapest textile jacket on the market, but a competitive option when you look at all the designs well beyond the $200 mark. The Big Bang is available in sizes from S to 3XL. If you're looking for the latest Joe Rocket bling, the Big Bang won't create a whole new universe for your riding consciousness, but it's a solid pick and we give it our endorsement.
Buy It Now: Joe Rocket Big Bang Jacket
MSRP: $175-190
For More Info: www.joerocket.com
