If you feel like you've been paying a lot more for clothes lately, you are not wrong. Reports from consumer groups are that clothing prices have risen 10-20% this year and will continue to climb as cotton prices grow and emerging markets like China create additional demand. As an additional side effect, you may notice the quality of your clothing going down. I was looking for a casual, "knock-around" jacket for the Fall weather that might be used for occasional motorcycle rides (I'm looking for a cycle-specific jacket but that's another story). Along comes Cycle Gear and their Street & Steel brand.
The Asphalt Police jacket is a full-grain leather classic motorcycle jacket that is priced at a staggering $60! I have been quite satisfied so far. Considering that similar jackets from value-priced manufacturers and retailers (I'm thinking of the Alley's famous $99+ jacket) are almost twice the price, I had to check out this jacket. Overall, I am pretty satisfied. The leather is full grain and quite heavy, being around 5-6 pounds for a size 40. The zippers are beefy YKK. Unlike most jackets at this pricepoint, it doesn't have a crappy zip-out liner with some horrible fiber batting. It has a pretty simple nylon diamond-pattern liner that is attached directly to the leather. In addition to the exterior pockets (2 zippered hand warmer, a snap change/small cellphone pocket and a zippered chest pocket) there is a single inside pocket. The jacket is cut like a classic cycle jacket with extended sleeves and a belted waist.
Final summation? For $60, it's a great jacket for casual wear, for someone looking for a non-technical riding jacket or for someone who just wants a jacket for occasional rides. There are certainly better jackets on the market but this one is a steal.
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I wrote the above review a while back. Since then, it's been my go-to jacket for casual/daily wear and it's seen a few short rides in my hood. I am pretty pleased with my purchase and have noticed no stitching problems. I'm a stay-at-home dad to an 18 month old daughter so it sees a variety of conditions from play dates to errands to a few rides. I wear a 38 suit jacket and a size 40 in this jacket allows me to wear it solo or with a stout hoodie and thermal with it. All I need is to get some patches on it and keep breaking it in for spring.