Joe Rocket Ballistic Series Alter Ego Jacket

The new 2010 Joe Rocket Alter Ego Jacket, part of the Ballistic Series, is the new everything jacket. The versatility of the Alter Ego has so many applications you would think it was designed as a touring jacket - which it can be, but it is designed for the everyday rider who wants it all.

When preparing to head out for a ride it is easy to adjust to the conditions if you know them ahead of time (and you have several jackets) - but what about those situations where changes occur when you least expect? Have you ever found yourself on a weekend ride and the weather changes from mild overcast skies to blistering heat? With the Alter Ego simply remove the sleeves and open the vents to convert the jacket into an armored mesh jacket. Or how about a beautiful sunny day that turns into a rain-filled afternoon? Zip in the water-proof liner to keep yourself warm and dry. These are a few examples of the versatility of the Alter Ego.

style

The Alter Ego comes in several colors, including the newly popular lime-yellow (pictured above) that screams visibility. The jacket avoids the 'flavor of the year' style and sticks to a simple but good-looking design.

features

Where do we begin? This jacket has numerous features which is definitely it's biggest selling point.

The jacket has removable sleeves that when taken off, expose the mesh textile material underneath which still leave the armored parts of the jacket in-tact.

Two chest vents can be opened up for greater airflow as well as two back vents that can also be attached together to ensure they remain open.

A removable water-proof liner will keep you dry in rain.

All zippers are YKK - a world renowned zipper manufacturer.

Like most Joe Rocket jackets, the Alter Ego has elastic buttoned sleeve adjusters that tighten or loosen the arm area of the jacket as well as a waist adjuster to ensure a snug fit around the jacket. A note to detail, these fasteners are located on both the mesh sleeves and the outer textile sleeves.

At the rear of the jacket, an 8 inch zipper allows for any Joe Rocket pants to be attached, including the matching Alter Ego Pants. Don't have a pair of Joe Rocket pants? No problem. In addition to the zipper, belt loops allow you to attach any other motorcycle pants that have belt loops.

safety

The standard issue CE certified armor is located in the shoulders and elbow areas. A foam back pad will also provide the rider with some back protection, however, we recommend swapping this out with a CE certified back protector, which the back pocket does allow for.

A reflective strip runs along the arms and back of the jacket for greater visibility.

quality

The outer shell is made of Joe Rocket's trademarked Rock Tek material - a solid textile material.

As previously mentioned all zippers are made of world renowned YYK zippers.

The stitching is well done and the fine details of this, although nothing 'mind blowing', are of good quality.

show me the money

The jacket runs for USD $339.99

overall value

If you prefer the convenience of having one jacket for all riding conditions - the Alter Ego is a must. Being able to convert from an armored mesh jacket, to a rain jacket, to a casual jacket - is convenience at its best. The choice of implementing YKK zippers was certainly a sound one and is one of many examples of the quality improvements made. The one downfall is that the jacket must be taken off to remove/re-attach the sleeves when transforming the jacket into the mesh version - but that is understandable. If you only want to buy one jacket and plan on riding in several types of conditions - the Joe Rocket Alter Ego jacket is certainly a must have.

rating

• Style: 5/10
• Features: 10/10
• Safety: 8/10
• Quality: 8/10
• Price: 10/10
• Overall Value: 9/10