I'd would like to hear some feedback from current or former owners of Joe Rocket Speedmaster gloves, specifically how well or how poorly they have held up for you.
I bought a pair July 2003, which makes them just over a year old at this point -- 53 days beyond warranty to be exact. I really like the gloves as they fit me well, are quite comfortable, and are vented. I am, however, a little disappointed in their durability. I'm not a racer, but do hit the track a few times each year. Other than that, these gloves have just been used for your average run of the mill street riding. They have never experienced a crash. In short, I really don't feel that they have been subjected to harsh conditions or use.
That said, the silver coating on the knuckles began flaking off long ago. While a bit of a disappointment, it is strictly costmetic. This morning however, I noticed a split/rip/tear in the palm of one of them. Upon closer inspection I discovered that there are several places where the leather has small holes/tears -- generally, but not always, near seams.
I realize that gloves wear out and need to be replaced, but considering that these are JRs top of the line professional race glove, I really expected them to hold up better than this under relatively tame conditions. I have older cheaper gloves that have been through a lot more than these that are in better shape.
My question is whether my experience is "normal" or if it is out of the norm for these gloves. If this is normal, I'll just toss them and move on. If my experience is unusual, I'll probably drop JR a note about them.
Thanks in advance for your feedback!