MC Tested: Icon Rogue Jacket

Unless you're seriously metro, fashion is more important to your girl than it is to you. The fairer sex looks for different things in a riding jacket. Things like a tapered cut that accentuates their curves and that most important factor of all: a long look in the mirror followed by a cheery, "It's cute!"

Uh-huh. Enter the Icon Rogue jacket. Styled like something worn by the Beatles circa Sgt. Peppers, it looks more like vintage designer wear than modern riding gear. But it's made from heavy-duty canvas with thick leather at the elbows and shoulders backed by CE-approved armor. Thoughtful touches include the St. Christopher's medal tucked inside the breast pocket and zipper pulls that read "Brake" and "Clutch" on the appropriate sides. Striped like grandma's dish towels, the liner is said to be made from genuine cotton.

That liner is also sewn in, which kicks off our laundry list of criticisms. First, in spite of the two zippered vents in front, this jacket is hot. And Icon's solution, while sexy, ain't exactly safe: The lapels fold back and the waist section zips off below the belt. This could make your girl a hit at Bike Night, but hopefully she won't actually ride with her cleavage and midriff bared. Second, the jacket is closed with buttons instead of a sturdy zipper. And last, the black color fades to gray after exposure to sunlight-though this isn't an issue with the Indigo-blue alternative, which over time comes to resemble a well-worn denim jacket.

Opinions were divided on the angel-wings patch above the right breast and the "Ride Among Us" patch on the left shoulder, but those come off fairly easily. Not so the huge "Icon Moto" script embroidered across the back. So much for subtlety...

Be that as it may, the women riders we know love this jacket-especially when riding somewhere they don't want to look like they just stepped off a motorcycle.

Icon Rogue Jacket
Price: $250
Contact: Icon
www.rideicon.com

Verdict 3 stars out of 5
Undisputedly cute, but better suited for the occasional passenger than the dedicated rider.