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  1. lina

    Brooks classic Cafe Racer jacket (44)

    I don’t know enough to be able to date this jacket, but seems on the later end of the classic Brooks era. Notice that it has the older label on the permanent lining but the newer label on the zip out lining. To me it’s in fantastic shape, with the only real flaw being the missing right chest...
  2. lina

    History of the "Cafe Racer" jacket.

    @Downunder G Man Love those springer forks!
  3. lina

    New old Buco J22 pics

    It’s real, and it’s spectacular.
  4. lina

    Planning my first jacket

    I always like shoulder gussets in a leather jacket. Even if you're not riding a motorcycle every time you reach for the handle on the subway, or bend over to pick up something, etc, you'll be glad you have them. I find windflaps to be a pain in the neck.
  5. lina

    New old Buco J22 pics

    One of the things I love about this board is that we’re spending as much time on this as if someone found what might be a Picasso at a yard sale and needs to get it authenticated..
  7. lina

    History of the "Cafe Racer" jacket.

    The black and white pick in that link from 1968 shows a guy on a Norton wearing what we would now definitely call a CR. That’s slightly late (early to mid 60s would have been the peak of the rockers/kaff racers), but even if they don’t mention kaff racing I think it’s implied. Not sure what...
  8. lina

    History of the "Cafe Racer" jacket.

    I don't know, Vanson has a whole category called "cafe racer motorcycle Jackets." And they say: "Rockers (or Ton-up Boys) and their leathers were a beacon to bikers around the world. Cafe Racer jackets referenced this in the lifestyle of motorcycle enthusiasts that took pride in modifying...
  9. lina

    History of the "Cafe Racer" jacket.

    I notice that Rin Tanaka and Derek Harris (of Lewis Leathers) did a book together published in 2017 on the history of Lewis Leathers. That might be a good source. But price seems to start at $70, and I don't see an electronically searchable version anywhere, so I won't be consulting it anytime...
  10. lina

    New old Buco J22 pics

    Hard to refrain from just saying this over and over again, but it really is a stunning jacket and an amazing find. To me, that's the best lining too. And in perfect condition. I suppose there is some possibility that it is not original -- I don't know enough to be able to guess one way or...
  11. lina

    History of the "Cafe Racer" jacket.

    Great catalogue history work by @handymike. I think Himel was right that this sort of stuff is what will give us the answer (if it is to be found). I am reminded that at the beginning of this thread @HoosierDaddy remembered buying a "Cafe MC" jacket back in the early 70s, but that it was not...
  13. lina

    New old Buco J22 pics

    Yeah, it's unbelievable. Such a great find. Be nice to see a zipped up pic...
  14. lina

    History of the "Cafe Racer" jacket.

    ^Surprised “buckaroo jacket” didn’t stick!
  15. lina

    FS/FT - The Flat Head Horsehide Rider's Jacket - WRJ-53B XL/44

    FWIW, I owned a slightly different version of this jacket at one point (different lining, no epaulets), and it was probably the most well-made jacket I had ever handled. A real beauty.
  16. lina

    History of the "Cafe Racer" jacket.

    @Edward and I posted simultaneously, but I think moving in the same direction... Still looking for the earliest ad or reference to "cafe racer"...
  17. lina

    History of the "Cafe Racer" jacket.

    Good stuff! @antoine p and @Monitor those movie pics are great. All the characters represent some form of counter-mainstream bad boys, with of course Bronson as the ultimate (cool but dangerous) bad boy. Of course, leather jackets stereotypically represent that in pop culture, so no big...
  19. lina

    History of the "Cafe Racer" jacket.

    So I think where we're at at this point is: -- The short cut, minimal pocketed, collarless or Mandarin/Nehru/Cadet collar jacket (and we see in the wonderful Bates ad above that they distinguish between collarless and Mandarin) has its root clearly in racing. Maybe originally with the...
  20. lina

    History of the "Cafe Racer" jacket.

    ^^ All good updates. BTW, Himel suggested I contact Derek Harris of Lewis Leathers to see what he thinks about the question, but I haven't worked out how to contact him directly. Gonna send a note through the generic contact email from the shop and see what happens..
  21. lina

    History of the "Cafe Racer" jacket.

    I've sometimes wondered about these terms as well, though I never thought too much about it. In another email to me David Himel briefly said, "as for single rider vs double rider...this cross over refers to the collar style," which I admit is not entirely clear to me. I guess he means the way...
  22. lina

    History of the "Cafe Racer" jacket.

    And now, a friendly and informative response from Himel just came in. Complicates the picture a bit, and also gives us some ideas for places to look. Notice in bold, he remembers knowing them as "cafe racers" in the 90s. And he also emphasizes the racing connection, and lack of standardization...
  23. lina

    Cross zip nation

    Here's the Flat Head Delraiser HH jacket that I briefly owned. It was probably the most well made jacket I ever handled. And a great lining! I really liked it, but finally decided it was just a little bit too cool for me. Of course, now I miss it..

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