Aero J-106/Ridley fit check

[postman10mm]

Last month, after almost a year of stalking the two-tone J-106 in Aero’s pre-owned section, I pulled the trigger.

The jacket was made in 2016 and the Vincenza is thick, supple and does not feel dry like the current production hides I’ve handled.

The p2p is 21, vs the 20.25 Aero listed, this combined with the 17.75” shoulder are a bit outside my preferred measurement range, and the reason for this post.

I love the jacket, but feel that without a sweater or scarf, the shoulders droop and the chest is a bit baggy. I’m visiting SF in January and will be visiting Johnson Leather to be fitted for a jacket - they told me I’ve the summer they are not doing alterations, but I’m planning on taking this jacket to see if they may have a change in that policy.

 

[postman10mm]

The fit is better when zipped to the top, but I will rarely wear it this way.

 

[realgone]

Looks like a good trim fit from here.

 

[Marc mndt]

I wouldn't worry about the shoulder droop or the baggy chest, those look perfectly fine to me. The deal breaker for me would be the body length which is about two inches too long for the style.

 

[AeroFan_07]

Unfortunately, "too long for the style" or not I won't wear a jacket that does not at least 3/4 cover my belt. Hard stop.

As far as this jacket on you - it's as good as I realistically could expect, if anything a bit too trim (you could not put much under it.) I no longer deal with "trim fits" myself as I live in cold, windy Iowa and need a practical jacket, no matter which jacket it is.

Wear it and enjoy it!

 

[TartuWolf]

Looks fantastic on you apart from body length! I think this is exactly how a trim looking but comfortably roomy jacket should look like. I personally wear jackets fully zipped up a lot and they always become a bit too snug for my taste when fully done up, so I would really appreciate some extra room in the shoulders and chest.

 

[Bennarion]

I wouldn't worry about the shoulder droop or the baggy chest, those look perfectly fine to me. The deal breaker for me would be the body length which is about two inches too long for the style.

I agree, the jacket is too long

 

[AeroFan_07]

Correction - I just put on my Aero Indian Ranger and yes, the OP's jacket is ~ 1.5" longer that I would have it either.
If you are working with Carrie at Thurston brothers, I would ask for it to be re-made if possible...

 

[Canuck Panda]

Honestly the shoulder and chest looks good to me, the body is a bit on the long side.

I have done shortening on jackets. But in your case, I would suggest against it. Instead of shortening your current J-106, just sell it and move on to one that has shorter body length to begin with. The reason I am saying this is because shortening xzips is a lot more work than straight zip, $$$, and I also have the Daytona (J106 little brother), this pattern is the longer cut and will cost close to a new jacket to get to where you want it to be.

Funny story, my very first interaction with Johnson was an alteration request of my Simmonsbilt xzip that I felt was too long for me, not SB fault I didn't know better then. And Johnson gave me a quote and explained the work needed to be done. I didn't go with the alteration then because I thought the cost was too high. Instead I got one of their stock M500 for a good deal and never looked back.

If you're gonna be in SF just drop in for a measure and talk to them about what you want, they got so many different things one will fit you the way you want.

Left to right, the SB jacket I asked for alteration but never went through with it because of $$$, instead I got the M500, which is shorter than the Daytona J106 but also bigger up top. Third jacket is the WWL-41 from Johnson, which is similar fit to your J106 which I believe could actually be a Ridley base. Last jacket is a Daytona/J106 regular pattern, this pattern actually feels very similar to the Aero Cafe Racer in fit to me, will cost too much to alterate imo. Johnson can do the most customization out of all the brands that I know of, given the same budget. If you are gonna be in the area it is worth to drop in and just talk to them. I think in your case it'll work best if its a full custom job.

 

[Grayland]

Not sure I'm cool enough to pull this off, but the two-tone really looks great!

 

[IrishStu]

Beautiful jacket and the fit is fine. Yes, it may be a little long for the style but it still looks good on you and let's be honest, how many people that you meet will look at it and go, "that's a bit long"? Out of curiosity, how long is the back length and is there a front drop?

 

[Zoro]

I will go against the grain and say that even if that can be a bit long for the style, I quite like it and I would even ask for it to be that length.

 

[TartuWolf]

@Canuck Panda
Love that 2nd jacket! I feel like a mouton collar really elevates a x-zip to another level in many cases!
Do you have more photos of this jacket or a thread about it?

 

[barnabus]

the body length which is about two inches too long for the style

Like everybody else I agree the torso is too long for you. But I think the rest of the fit is pretty good. How does it look unzipped? Does it sit nicely or look more spacious?

 

[postman10mm]

Wow, this has been very eye opening; so much of what I’ve learned about cross-zips has come from AeroFan, TartuWolf and Canuck Panda’s posts - and yet, I hadn’t considered the length at all, I’m 6’1” and the back is 25” even - it hits a hair below my belt, but comparing to CP’s photo array, an inch shorter would look great.

Incidentally, that very WWL-41 is what sold me on Johnson, the leather and the quilting are sublime - I had not noticed the row of stitching above the abdomen before, is that something that can be deleted without compromising the structure of the jacket?

 

[postman10mm]

Like everybody else I agree the torso is too long for you. But I think the rest of the fit is pretty good. How does it look unzipped? Does it sit nicely or look more spacious?

It’s definitely not a coat I would wear unzipped - the second photo shows the back when fully zipped, the remainder are unzipped

 

[MrProper]

It’s definitely not a coat I would wear unzipped - the second photo shows the back when fully zipped, the remainder are unzipped View attachment 658722 View attachment 658723 View attachment 658724 View attachment 658725 View attachment 658726 View attachment 658727

I’m 6’1” and the back is 25” even - it hits a hair below my belt

At first I thought the angle of the pictures might just be bad. But in the last pictures you can see that the back of the jacket almost reaches the opening of the back trouser pockets. The belt should be much higher.
So unfortunately I have to say: too long for the style. But tastes differ and if you like it, everything is fine.

 

[Marc mndt]

It's not a bad looking jacket by any means. It's just that I'm visually used to the dimensions of the vintage originals. Therefore if I were to order this jacket new from Aero I'd spec it shorter.

AFAIK the J-106 is not an exact repro nor is it based on a particular vintage design but it does come close to the Buco J24L which is in fact slightly longer than most vintage mc jackets.

 

[Al 916]

shorter

 

[Canuck Panda]

I don't think OP's jacket is the standard J106, but a Thurston Ridley J106.

The standard J106/Daytona is shorter, like the Hooch Hauler. The TB Ridley looks like it is similar to Board Racer in terms of torso length and sleeve type.

Wow, this has been very eye opening; so much of what I’ve learned about cross-zips has come from AeroFan, TartuWolf and Canuck Panda’s posts - and yet, I hadn’t considered the length at all, I’m 6’1” and the back is 25” even - it hits a hair below my belt, but comparing to CP’s photo array, an inch shorter would look great.

Incidentally, that very WWL-41 is what sold me on Johnson, the leather and the quilting are sublime - I had not noticed the row of stitching above the abdomen before, is that something that can be deleted without compromising the structure of the jacket?

Just tell Johnson guys how you like your jacket to look, length and other details, they can get it figured out for you. If you like easy drape leather have a look at their Horween Vermont horsehide. It is veg tanned, tumbled, aniline, very soft and develops grains very fast, no break in, but is on the lighter weight side, very easy to wear and drape well out of the box.

@Canuck Panda
Love that 2nd jacket! I feel like a mouton collar really elevates a x-zip to another level in many cases!
Do you have more photos of this jacket or a thread about it?

The M500 fits very different than the WWL-41, it has a lot more room in the upper area and sleeves, it's more like a tapered Model E, I did a compare here with the WWL-41,
https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/johnson-leather-jacket.102701/post-3089974