Busted and Broken - Young Drivers

A 17-year-old girl pulled out in front of me as I was riding my 06 Buell Lightning home from work last Friday.  She ran her stop sign and crossed over the street I was riding down, and didn't even see me. I crashed into her passenger side fender, was thrown over the handlebars and about 10 feet up in the air according to witnesses. I landed on my pelvis, then rolled/skidded onto my head and shoulder.

I was wearing my Icon Mainframe helmet, Icon Pursuit gloves, a set of Icon FieldArmor shin and knee guards, and my Icon Accelerant boots.

The helmet took the brunt of the impact from the road, but the FieldArmor guards saved me from getting road rash on my legs, and don't have a scratch on them.  The gloves are also perfect, and saved my hand skin 100%.

I ended up with a severely broken pelvis and some bruising, but the Icon gear definitely saved me from becoming a vegetable, severe road rash, or having facial surgery. I cut my nose on my sunglasses and ended up with two black eyes as well. My leg was in traction for 4 days, and I am having surgery this afternoon to repair my pelvis.

Leo K.

Superduty 4

Pssst, hey, yeah you, the guy who rode the moto to work today. We know you love being that cool guy at the office - the rebel - the one who laughs at danger. But what do you do when your bike is outside and that new intern can’t hardly even notice your incomprehensible sweetness? Well my friend, that is where the nubs come in. Shifter nubs like those on the toes of the new Super Duty 4 boots. They give that subtle moto hint that you’ve been looking for. The visual message that says ‘hey, I’ve got a motorbike and I need special boots to interact with its complex controls’. Which she reads as ‘any guy with skills (and boots) like that, I want now!’ Who knew it could be this easy? Nubs my friend, nubs.

Polaroid Fame - Take 2

Icon Saves Face

We are asked on a repeated basis - "Why don't you guys put your killer graphics on an Icon open face helmet?" This question is usually followed by "You'd sell a ton of them!" Yes, we know open faced lids are all the rage right know. Yes, we probably would sell a ton of them. Yes, we are aware that other 'mainstream' brands are producing 'sweet' retro versions of their old 70's open face helmets. The fact is we refuse to make any type of helmet other than the full face variety. Team Icon has crashed - many times in fact. We have personally experienced grinding our chinbar and eyeshield across the pavement. And we are not alone. We receive daily emails, many reposted on this blog, that show our customer's helmets after the exact same type of face grinding accident. We therefore, as a matter of principle, will have no part in producing anything other than full face helmets. Don't get us wrong - we're not here to preach. Wear a helmet - don't wear a helmet. Buckle your seat belt or say screw it. It's your life (and your face) - do whatever you like. At the end of the day the Icon staff wants to rest assured that we have done everything possible to make and sell the most effective helmet.

When life knocks you down make sure to keep your chin up

X-Games Outtakes

Field Armor vests turn up in the most unusual places. Actually having them show up at the Xgames doesn't seem unusual in itself - except that they are being worn by the production crew. You know your filming a serious event when even the grips and cameramen are wearing body armor.

The 2010 Icon Motosports Fall Collection

The brotherhood of the wheel. A cross-cultural blending of like minded riders hellbent on pushing the performance envelope. Some define it as 'stunt', some call it 'street', some just call it 'reckless' - whatever term you choose the game is the same. Motorcycles operated at the very limits of possibilities.  Icon has been at the forefront of this emerging market since we stepped on the scene. Like our customer base, we continue to rapidly evolve our gear through ever changing demands and styles. But always designed with Icon's core mission of protecting the rider. Whatever you choose to ride - just ride it hard and Ride Among Us.

Check out the entire 2010 Fall Collection 

Sideburn

The latest issue of Sideburn will be available on August 19th. In case you've been in a coma for the last couple of years - Sideburn is the boutique magazine with a singlehanded mission to revive the sport of flat tracking. Filled with great articles and pics, it's well worth the price of admission. 

Help keep CMYK alive - check out Sideblog to order a copy of Sideburn#6 today

Bolivian Street Team

The party don't start until the XL250 boys show up. This is why we never talk smack to dual-sport riders. Though they may appear harmless and slightly kooky - they will go completely shillelagh without a moments hesitation. 

The standing drop-kick is so often overlooked as a social ice breaker

On Any Sunday

Most people have a favorite ride. A road and a bike - maybe real, maybe imaginary. A route where they are at peace with themselves - where they are at peace with their life. It doesn't have to be a twisty two lane backroad. It doesn't have to be a slab of post-war interstate. It doesn't have to be a  knee dragging exploit on the local track. Or even a gnarled up section of single track. Some of the best rides can be found right outside the garage door. An average American neighborhood, a well worn Honda Trail 70, and the freedom of the open suburban road. Blasting through your hood on a warm Sunday evening as the light sets on another sun bleached weekend. Click it down into third the speedo reads all of 35mph - fast enough. Your favorite ride doesn't have to be complex, far, or daunting. It can be just a simple minibike adventure that peels back a decade or three from your life - reminding you why you got into motorcycling in the first place. 

Forever two wheels.