Joe Rocket Speedmaster Gloves
After five years without scrapes, slides or tears in his favorite but dated Olympia Kevlar gloves, Editor Plummer finally lost them and needed a new set of hand protection. Enviously peering at the spiffy new Dianese carbon-reinforced gloves so many pro racers use these days, he set out to find a pair and just about had a coronary when he saw the $300 price tags. After picking up a set of Joe Rocket Speedmaster gloves, Plummer couldn't be happier.
"These gloves rock."
The Speedmaster gloves look cool, fit extremely well, and have many advanced features such as steel-mesh-backed ventilation holes on the outer "front" part of the fingers as well as on the wrists. The vents work well and are a blessing at the racetrack on a warm day. However, such vents limit these gloves to warm-weather duty, and would definitely scoop up a lot of rain on wet days. A set of plugs would've been nice -- that way you could waterproof the gloves with leather protection and stay dry for short stints in the wet.
Carbon fiber overlays wrap around the knuckles while a round disc covers the base of the thumb and a strip lines the outer palm -- all the major grind zones are covered. Additionally, leather-covered pads are stitched over the metacarpal area as well as over the inside, outside and top of the wrist. A double layer of leather is sewn over the palm, and it's supple and not noticeable while riding. Additionally, the outer pinkie/wrist area on each glove has an extra layer of double-stitched leather.
Made of cowhide and kangaroo leather, the quality of these gloves seems on par with units costing twice as much. They offer excellent protection, don't bleed ink all over you, and are comfortable even for people with sensitive hands, like our own Plummer who is always whining about carpal tunnel pain since bad gloves send nasty, "needle-prick" sensations up Plummer's arms. And, given the amount of crabbing he does about this, we suspect it's it might be painful for him to wear bad gloves. But you never know, he's been crotchety lately.
While we didn't crash-test these Speedmasters and can't report on their true worthiness in that area, the gloves are comfortable, look cool, and seem to provide excellent protection. If you've crashed in a set, let us all know in the feedback area below.
"These gloves rule and they're cheap," rants Plummer. "But I'd be equally happy with the 2000-model gloves that are less than half the price." Yes, Brent, we know you like them. Shut up now. Those of you who weren't put-off by Brent's undying love for these gloves would do well to buy them if you're looking for mild-weather protection in an attractive design. We bequeath upon them our coveted four 1/2-star rating.
Motorcycle Online Rating: **** 1/2
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