Aero Indian Ranger finally here!

[North_Star]

I know it was a historic feature and have seen it in vintage jackets, i was more curious about Aero's stance on them.
As i remember, the cord reinforcement was all the rage in the Will Lauder years, everyone added them to every jacket.
Ken came back and decided "no more", it became something they refused to do, and people complained saying the tartan was wearing through at the sides, still, "no cord for you".

Suddenly, cord reappears, and in different configuration, as you can see, @Mich486 's jacket is a full strip of cord going all the way around, whereas @North_Star 's is cord on the lapel fronts, collar and leather kidney panel backing.

I just find the change in stance interesting and wonder if they would now accept to put the cord at the bottom of any jacket or if it is linked to models or lining choice? The common denominator in this case is the lining, i wonder if they do it on that lining because it is more fragile than tartan?

Just checked the customizations page and on the quilted lining it says that they have added a heavy strip of corduroy for durability, but i was expecting they only meant the hem of the jacket, not the collar.

 

[North_Star]

Very nice jaqcket indeed. Did you taper the fit, or is that very pronounced V shape standard? I'd love an IR, but it's been many years since I was that shape! I love the mix of brass and chromed fittings, which is, of course how the originals were done. If memory serves, rather than replicate one specific model of IR, Aero picked the features they liked best across three slight variants, which I like - puts their own spin on it, creating the 'ultimate' IR design from this distance.



I've seen the cord, especially on the collar, in a lot of old bike jackets, British especially. Commonly on the back of a mandarin-type collar, presumably a stylistic nod from the old, wax-cotton jackets (International, Trialmaster) that in the UK were, as I understand it, more common than leather at a time before the 1950s invention of The Biker. I don't know how common these features were on US jackets, but if Aero are putting them on that one as standard and not others, it would suggest to me it's a specific design choice.

It is pretty much a standard fit, I only changed the back and sleeve lenght a bit, and also stated that the shoulders should be rather wider than narrower because of the 0.5" tolerance, so they added 0.5" to the shoulders to accommodate that.

 

[North_Star]

Very nice jaqcket indeed. Did you taper the fit, or is that very pronounced V shape standard? I'd love an IR, but it's been many years since I was that shape! I love the mix of brass and chromed fittings, which is, of course how the originals were done. If memory serves, rather than replicate one specific model of IR, Aero picked the features they liked best across three slight variants, which I like - puts their own spin on it, creating the 'ultimate' IR design from this distance.



I've seen the cord, especially on the collar, in a lot of old bike jackets, British especially. Commonly on the back of a mandarin-type collar, presumably a stylistic nod from the old, wax-cotton jackets (International, Trialmaster) that in the UK were, as I understand it, more common than leather at a time before the 1950s invention of The Biker. I don't know how common these features were on US jackets, but if Aero are putting them on that one as standard and not others, it would suggest to me it's a specific design choice.

And for the mixed hardware, there weren't a option for that on the the page so I had to ask them to do it that way.

 

[nick123]

Sublime!

 

[North_Star]

Now some fit pics! The sun is already gone but here are some not so good pictures from inside, as I don't want to keep you guys waiting.

Later this week I will post some outdoor pics for you!

 

[Edward]

I know it was a historic feature and have seen it in vintage jackets, i was more curious about Aero's stance on them.
As i remember, the cord reinforcement was all the rage in the Will Lauder years, everyone added them to every jacket.
Ken came back and decided "no more", it became something they refused to do, and people complained saying the tartan was wearing through at the sides, still, "no cord for you".

Suddenly, cord reappears, and in different configuration, as you can see, @Mich486 's jacket is a full strip of cord going all the way around, whereas @North_Star 's is cord on the lapel fronts, collar and leather kidney panel backing.

I just find the change in stance interesting and wonder if they would now accept to put the cord at the bottom of any jacket or if it is linked to models or lining choice? The common denominator in this case is the lining, i wonder if they do it on that lining because it is more fragile than tartan?

It started in the Lauder years, when a lot of people were paying £50 a pop to have a 1" strip of leather sewn across the bottom to stop sagging of lining or wear on that vulnerable spot. When Ken came back, he put a stop to that because he felt that it was unnecessary to the point where those who had been convinced to spend on it were basically being ripped off; at that point they offered the corduroy for a while as an alternative, but it was never intended to be more than a temporary thing to deal with then current demand. At this point, I would imagine if it appears unrequested it's down to the individual design and lining combination as Aero chooses. A similar approach is used on some of the shearling linings as well.

Just checked the customizations page and on the quilted lining it says that they have added a heavy strip of corduroy for durability, but i was expecting they only meant the hem of the jacket, not the collar.

Probably specific to the lining then - plus the neater waist on jackets cut like that does get more wear than a looser hem on the likes of a Highwayman. TBH, the only lining I've had on an Aero that had issues was a tartan wool one, but that's only because moths got to it...

And for the mixed hardware, there weren't a option for that on the the page so I had to ask them to do it that way.

I think that's the standard anyhow (probably why it's not listed as an option) - at least that's what the website copy suggests.

I see too they've tweaked the pattern so it now is a specific replica of the 1947 model. Looks great. I love the standard check lining too.

 

[saucerfiend]

Wow! That's a genuinely PERFECT FIT!

Brian

 

[Mich486]

Nice fit @North_Star!

@Carlos840 I didn’t require the cord strip at the bottom. I think it’s fitted as standard on the quilted lining as apparently it suffers from abrasion more so than other linings. It should be mentioned somewhere on the Aero site. I also think it’d be nice to have it as standard on CXL jackets as they show wear on the bottom portion of the lining in a very short time.

 

[jonbuilder]

You and Aero nail it fit looks spot-on to me

 

[AeroFan_07]

Perfect spot-on fit!

 

[dubpynchon]

Perfect fit in every way, well done.

 

[North_Star]

Just found this photo of James Dean wearing his Indian Ranger! And if you zoom on his coin pocket there seems to be some sort of a badge there, that doesn't appear on the more famous photo of him wearing the jacket (last photo).

 

[North_Star]

Also found this, nothing new to learn from it but I haven't seen it before.

 

[Sid33]

@North_Star - Awesome Jacket and even better fit. Love the V taper on this jacket.

I am looking at an Indian Ranger myself, Can you tell me if the back zipper pocket on the left side is a lined pocket or an unlined one with the lining seams.
Whats the lining on rest of the pockets ?
I am looking at a IR available at Caine Clothiers, Helsinki.

 

[North_Star]

@North_Star - Awesome Jacket and even better fit. Love the V taper on this jacket.

I am looking at an Indian Ranger myself, Can you tell me if the back zipper pocket on the left side is a lined pocket or an unlined one with the lining seams.
Whats the lining on rest of the pockets ?
I am looking at a IR available at Caine Clothiers, Helsinki.

It is unlined, and not sure but i think it's just used as a handwarmer pocket for the passenger. It is between the leather and the inside lining of the jacket. The rest of the pockets are lined with heavy moleskin.

 

[Monitor]

Spectacular jacket, IMO still the best one they've got in the MC range and among the top 3, at least for me personally. It fits you exactly as I believe these should. Literally perfect on all counts.
I would have preferred if they kept the pocket zipper piping but I understand this it's more accurate as such.

That one Dean is wearing is ridiculously long, though. It's like a coat.

 

[thor]

The belt on JD’s MC jacket looks pretty robust; and it’s unfinished roughout on the inside.

 

[North_Star]

View attachment 249969
The belt on JD’s MC looks pretty robust; and it’s unfinished roughout on the inside.

That isn't his Indian Ranger. That's the other jacket you can see Dean often wearing, not sure about the brand.

 

[North_Star]

 

[JMax]

That isn't his Indian Ranger. That's the other jacket you can see Dean often wearing, not sure about the brand.

Cal Leathers. He had impeccable taste.