Joe Rocket GPX 2pc Suit

4055 Views 19 Replies 1 Participant Last post by license2ill, Oct 16, 2006

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Discussion Starter · Sep 21, 2004

Wondering if anyone here has had experience with the Joe Rocket GPX suit. I've done a search and not too much info on them. I'll be purchasing a new 2pc suit for next season as ours is almost over here in Canada

Besides the Joe Rocket I've been interested in the Alpinestars TZ-1 or GPU 2pc suits.

From a price point the Joe Rocket is cheaper than the Alpinestars. Also adding that Joe Rocket does not use CE protection body armour as the Alpinestars does.

Just want to know some feedback on quality, protection etc....

For those who don't know what the GPX looks like here is a link:
http://www.newenough.com/joe_rocket_2004_gpx_2pc_suit_page.htm

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Discussion Starter · #2 · Sep 21, 2004

I can't speak for the GPX, but I did buy the Blaster jacket and it was first rate in quality. I also have a 2pc AGV suit that is also very good.

G

Discussion Starter · #3 · Sep 21, 2004

I have a 2 piece GPU that I purchased recently and am very happy with it. I haven't crashed with it, but it seems to be very good quality for the price. I got it from www.cal-sportbike.com, one of our sponsors. Todd was very helpful and I got the Fireblades.org discount. I think it came out to $550. :thumb:

G

Discussion Starter · #4 · Sep 22, 2004

Thanks guys

Any more info is much appreciated

G

Discussion Starter · #5 · Sep 23, 2004

Well, Just went down with Joe Rocket gear on and held up pretty well. Wasn't going really fast but the leather on the pants held up real well . I don't have their suit but if their suits are anything like their blaster pants or jacekt, I would totally recomend them.

G

Discussion Starter · #6 · Sep 23, 2004

JWHT said:
Wondering if anyone here has had experience with the Joe Rocket GPX suit. I've done a search and not too much info on them. I'll be purchasing a new 2pc suit for next season as ours is almost over here in Canada

Besides the Joe Rocket I've been interested in the Alpinestars TZ-1 or GPU 2pc suits.

From a price point the Joe Rocket is cheaper than the Alpinestars. Also adding that Joe Rocket does not use CE protection body armour as the Alpinestars does.

Just want to know some feedback on quality, protection etc....

For those who don't know what the GPX looks like here is a link:
http://www.newenough.com/joe_rocket_2004_gpx_2pc_suit_page.htm

Back in June I took a "little" tumble down the track at Mid-Ohio. Had on a 2pc GPX suit. After all the flipping and rolling the suit didn't have as much damage as I woulda thought. The seams were split only a little in both elbows. The main damage was a split seam in the back of the pants, where the elastic turns into leather. Did not have one bit of rash after it was all over. The suit got all scraped up, but who cares after that, right? It did it's job, and I have a large debt owed to Joe Rocket and especially Arai.

:twocents:

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Discussion Starter · #7 · Sep 24, 2004

Fivestar: Roughly how fast was your "liitle" tumble, approximately how fast were you going when it happened? I'm glad the Joe Rocket leathers held up for you and you were not hurt with any rash. I guess seam splitting happens regardless of what suit you buy, some just break faster than others.

I'm just curious why the Alpinestars is so much more money than the Joe Rocket. Wonder if there is any difference in quality of the leather. Only thing I can think off is the armour is dual density on the GPX whereas you get CE on the Alpinestars.

Thanks for the info

G

Discussion Starter · #8 · Sep 25, 2004

JWHT said:
Fivestar: Roughly how fast was your "liitle" tumble, approximately how fast were you going when it happened? I'm glad the Joe Rocket leathers held up for you and you were not hurt with any rash. I guess seam splitting happens regardless of what suit you buy, some just break faster than others.

I'm just curious why the Alpinestars is so much more money than the Joe Rocket. Wonder if there is any difference in quality of the leather. Only thing I can think off is the armour is dual density on the GPX whereas you get CE on the Alpinestars.

Thanks for the info

Not quite sure of the speed. I'd estimate around 50-65 mph maybe, but that's just a guess. I was highsided off of turn 11. Nasty spill, then got run over. It held up good IMO. My elbows were BLACK for about 3 weeks after, but they weren't broken. Some harder armour would have been better there I guess. But like I said earlier, I'm not about to complain about the suit. It did it's job, and I'm gratefull for that.

:twocents:

G

Discussion Starter · #9 · Sep 25, 2004

Wow a highside, damn! Ya thats the only thing with the GPX is the damn armour, I have a Alpinestars TZ1 jacket now and it has the CE armour and is great. I love the styling and price of the GPX though. How do you find the suit in warm weather?

G

Discussion Starter · #10 · Sep 25, 2004

JWHT said:
Wow a highside, damn! Ya thats the only thing with the GPX is the damn armour, I have a Alpinestars TZ1 jacket now and it has the CE armour and is great. I love the styling and price of the GPX though. How do you find the suit in warm weather?

Unfortunately, I had gotten the suit over the winter. Only used it a handful of times before my accident, and that was back in June. It was decent, as I remember.

G

Discussion Starter · #11 · Sep 28, 2004

I have the one piece GPX and love it...for my odd measurements it fits perfect. Comfort and hot weather venting are years ahead of my Teknic two piece...The armor is not CE and I hope I never have to test it but I "feel" safe. This suit is noticably heavier than my Teknic two piece, (which has CE armor). As a side note...I'd look seriously at a one piece versus the two piece...not nearly as much convienience vs. comfort as you might imagine. Hope this helps some.

J

G

Discussion Starter · #12 · Sep 30, 2004

Ya I've talked to a couple of people with Teknic and none of them are happy. Most compalaints are with the leather and stitching not holding up in minor accidents. I believe they were mostly the Teknic Violators that were being complained about. Dunno maybe Teknic has a better quality one.

Yes I need something that will be somewhat comfy in hot weather cause the summers here are freaken hot sometimes. Great thanks for the info and btw do you think having CE protectors are better than the dual density stuff??? I mean if you were to hit something how much impact does CE absorb than the dual density padding??

Thanks again.

G

Discussion Starter · #13 · Oct 13, 2006

Hi there,

I've just posted another response to another string with the following about my GPX one piece;

I was just scootin' around (actually hunting for the best place to buy a new Berik one piece suit as it happens) when I came accross your comments about Joe Rocket gear (which is what I've done a good job of getting rid of by sending it down the track earlier this year).

I actually had TWO (track) offs within 20secs of each other on my 2000mile old K5 Gixxer750 (hmmm a good start to a tale me thinks). The first of which was a simple 80mph low side slide on a right hander with little consiquence. I was quite happy with that one to be honest, the bike took a fair old scratching even tho it was "protected" by R&G frame crash bungs & the foot peg snapped off but on picking it back up again I was back on the gas & back up to pace. A double apex left hander opened out to a lkinked (to the left) straight & at the point of apexing the kink a friend we ride with tried nipping up the inside with the unfortunate result of T-boning me which high sided me off the left side of the bike...this time nearer 120mph(ish). No sliding this time, it was my time to tumble, & tumble I did, for some distance...sky, tarmac, sky, tarmac, sky tarmac etc. etc. The bike slid for a measured 165m & did it's best to deposit the entire contents of its engine oil all over the track (nice). Quite a bit more scratching, worn through engine casing, a few more bent & broken bits later & it was all over.

After all this, the only real physical damage to me was a small hole in my right wrist down to the bone & a severe case of wobbly legs. However, the leathers are a different matter. I seem to have had a very similar experiences to you all with the seams exploding in an alarming manner.

I appreciate that we can't expect leather to perform miracles & each accident is different involving different dynamics (I'm 6ft 4in & 14.5st or 193cm & 92kg so I'll've hit the tarmac reasonably hard) but I was suprised to the extent to which the suit gave up. I thought there would be more wearing of panels & less ripping of seams.

I am now wondering if I should try & persue some sort of compensation from the retailer I bought them from or if I should just be thankful I came away from as bad an off as I ever want to be involved in without worse injuries??? Reading of others having similar experiences makes me wonder if JR would be interested in our best efforts to test his gear in the field???

Any experience of Berik stuff???

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Discussion Starter · #14 · Oct 13, 2006

JWHT said:
Wondering if anyone here has had experience with the Joe Rocket GPX suit.

Yes. Mine met a similar fate to ZaskarHoppy's suit. It burst its seams.

CBR929RE

· #15 · Oct 13, 2006

no suit is immune to seam splitting. and each situation is going to be different. if you're really worried about all you can do is find a suit with double or triple stiched seams and as few panels as possible (yes that means it won't be as stylish).

don't think its just Joe Rocket. find the pic of Dani Pedrosa's Dianese leathers from his crash a few weeks ago. the knee blew out.

as far as the armor goes you can always buy different armor and switch it out. or take the armor out and buy one of those armored shirts such as the one by A*

G

Discussion Starter · #16 · Oct 16, 2006

Quite right about no suit being immune & every accident being different. Having my two offs within the same minute of track time proved that one clearly enough :O

I'll be on the look out for a suit with fewer panels this time (no more JR stuff for me). I've had the RS Taichi gear recommended & a few other makes but we don't get the same stuff imported over in the UK to you guys over there (& you've got some good lookin' gear too).

Perhaps I'll start bringing some of that stuff in myself...wonder if there'd be a market for it? I've only been able to find one UK stockists of Taichi so far!!!

G

Discussion Starter · #17 · Oct 16, 2006

ZH also look at the seam. A rolled seam is where they sew the panels and then roll one over and resew it. This provides not only a double stitch but one is protected. In addition to fewer panels (thus seams) the 'R' also had more rolled seams in key areas. EVERY seam that got busted on my original GPX was not rolled AND on the new one is

Two factors to watch for.

G

Discussion Starter · #18 · Oct 16, 2006

As far as fit goes, the Joe Rocket stuff seems to be for the vertically challenged and horizontally plentiful. I have a Speedmaster size 40 U.S. one piece and can grab hand fulls of leather around my waist, but it kills the nugs because the torso is too short. I should probably have a 42, but the waist would be ridiculous. Oh, I'm 5'10" 170 lbs.

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Discussion Starter · #19 · Oct 16, 2006

Uncle Jesse said:
As far as fit goes, the Joe Rocket stuff seems to be for the vertically challenged and horizontally plentiful. I have a Speedmaster size 40 U.S. one piece and can grab hand fulls of leather around my waist, but it kills the nugs because the torso is too short. I should probably have a 42, but the waist would be ridiculous. Oh, I'm 5'10" 170 lbs.

Eat more corn bread

But yes you are correct on the sizing it is for the more wooly amongst us :O

G

Discussion Starter · #20 · Oct 16, 2006

ZaskarHoppy said:
Quite right about no suit being immune & every accident being different. Having my two offs within the same minute of track time proved that one clearly enough :O

I'll be on the look out for a suit with fewer panels this time (no more JR stuff for me). I've had the RS Taichi gear recommended & a few other makes but we don't get the same stuff imported over in the UK to you guys over there (& you've got some good lookin' gear too).

Perhaps I'll start bringing some of that stuff in myself...wonder if there'd be a market for it? I've only been able to find one UK stockists of Taichi so far!!!

SInce you're in the UK:

Ride Triangles - Tells it like it is

Yes, pay close attention to the seam burst results for leathers. There are a number of UK custom leather manufacturers that are builindg their pieces up to CE high perfromance spec, all the best in those tests done by Ride, and the only peices avaialbale with full certification of the entire garment, not just the impact protectors. Crowtree, BKS, Celtic, Hideout, and a few others.

1 - 20 of 20 Posts

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