RF1100
Alpinestars SP-1 Perforated Leather Jacket
Icon Field Armor Vest
My old RF900 was about 6 years old and matched my F4i so I figured it was about time I upgraded to a solid black.
I've warn it once, as always I wear earplugs but it does seem to have a bit of weird wind noise. I'm not sure if it stands out more because maybe it does a better job wind protection so the little weird high pitched sounds stand out more? As far as the air vents go, they for once seem to work. Normally I never know if they're open or closed so I just never use them, however with the RF1100 I can feel a difference, not much but it seems like a lot when normally I feel nothing.
The jacket is my new daily use jacket, I'm trying to stay away from the mesh jacket. I guess I'm getting old It's pretty heavy but it is what you'd expect from a leather jacket. It does have the hump on the upper back. First thing I noticed once I got on the bike is if I tilt my head back too far the rear of the RF1100 hits the hump, I guess in a sense it could be working as a neck brace. I doubt that's how they planed it but I guess it's an added benefit. There's no reason to lift my head back far enough to hit it unless I'm leaning over and trying to look up.
The Field armor vest is pretty light, fits my build very nicely, it has a lot of adjustments so it should fit most people very well. The back has a nice hard protective shell, the front chest protector is foam and then there's a thick piece of rubber on that. I tried the jacket with the back pad installed + the back protector, and also with the rear pad of the jacket removed + the back protector. I found that it really didn't make that much of a difference comfort wise so I'm leaving the back pad in place.
When fully suited up I truly do feel protected. So much in fact that the first backroad I hit I had to ask myself WTF was I doing. I couldn't believe just how fast I hit it. with out a doubt it bumped up my confidence. This is both a good and bad thing. I had to keep myself in check for the rest of the ride.
For anyone looking for a street use back protector. I really am happy with the icon piece. It was $119 locally and $100 online. It's a nice added piece of gear that wont break the bank.