Biker jacket and side buckle adjusters, advice please...

[IXL]

When I was going through the academy, the instructors were fond of saying "one is none, and two is one...!"

 

[Monitor]

Another thing, Mark - That belt is a major part of the design on this sorta jacket so deleting it would leave a large empty space at the bottom hem and the whole thing would look off. They'd have to lower the pockets to make the front look balanced again and that would require some extensive modifications done to the jacket.

 

[Peacoat]

Thank you Peacoat, will have a read as soon as I reply to the good folks here. Funny I have searched here for some info on buckles and side adjusters but came up with nearly 0!

I know, those threads are hard to find. I actually had found one better than the one I provided a link to, but when I went back and searched again, I couldn't find it. I did find the thread linked to above, and it has a picture or two of a properly installed and threaded buckle.

The belt and buckle, as well as the side adjusters are there for a very good reason, as you probably know. If tightly adjusted they tend to keep the jacket from riding up in the event of an involuntary dismount.

 

[SkyTurtle]

I'll echo what GTH said: don't give a rat's about what anyone thinks as far as how it looks. Both the half-belt and the side buckles do the same function and that's to "customize" the lower fit of the jacket. Personally I think the side buckles look a tad more formal (however, seems it has recently become very fashionable in the US to wear a nice half-belt jacket with a tie). I have both types of jackets and tend to wear the half belts on low-tank Japanese motorcycles and side buckles on the R1200C which has a very high tank and will certainly clank with the half-belt. There's a euro bike dealership here where a lot of Brit bike guys dress up in new jackets, new engineer boots and rolled up jeans on the weekends. They're the only ones I think would care what you wore when.

 

[ProteinNerd]

no that's fine, value your opinion. I am warming to the idea of taking the belt out and just having the loops. Of course can only do this if the jacket is a snug fit. Thank you.

Double Riders look fine with just the belt loops but no actual belt imo, thats how I wear mine.

 

[Mark]

I'll echo what GTH said: don't give a rat's about what anyone thinks as far as how it looks. Both the half-belt and the side buckles do the same function and that's to "customize" the lower fit of the jacket. Personally I think the side buckles look a tad more formal (however, seems it has recently become very fashionable in the US to wear a nice half-belt jacket with a tie). I have both types of jackets and tend to wear the half belts on low-tank Japanese motorcycles and side buckles on the R1200C which has a very high tank and will certainly clank with the half-belt. There's a euro bike dealership here where a lot of Brit bike guys dress up in new jackets, new engineer boots and rolled up jeans on the weekends. They're the only ones I think would care what you wore when.

Thanks Skyturtle, interesting read. I have a Harley so sit more upright (I think, have not been out for a while, wet, cold and nasty here). I guess you are right about the side buckles adding a more formal look compared to the belt. Thanks Sir.

 

[Mark]

View attachment 66901
Double Riders look fine with just the belt loops but no actual belt imo, thats how I wear mine.

You look super cool there ProteinNerd. What a beauty of a jacket. Thanks.

 

[Mark]

I know, those threads are hard to find. I actually had found one better than the one I provided a link to, but when I went back and searched again, I couldn't find it. I did find the thread linked to above, and it has a picture or two of a properly installed and threaded buckle.

The belt and buckle, as well as the side adjusters are there for a very good reason, as you probably know. If tightly adjusted they tend to keep the jacket from riding up in the event of an involuntary dismount.

Thanks for your efforts Peacoat, appreciated. Yep belts and buckles serve a purpose.
ps; I am deeply impressed you flew/fly. Did you see "action". Must be awesome to fly. Thanks.

 

[ProteinNerd]

I'm not that cool.....this is me

 

[Mark]

When I was going through the academy, the instructors were fond of saying "one is none, and two is one...!"

Thanks 1XL. Was that little saying in relation to flying? Thanks again.

 

[Mark]

I'm not that cool.....this is me

[/QUOTEAnyone who wears a jacket that nice and that well is pretty cool in my eyes! Thanks for the pic.. Who is the maker?]

 

[Mark]

Another thing, Mark - That belt is a major part of the design on this sorta jacket so deleting it would leave a large empty space at the bottom hem and the whole thing would look off. They'd have to lower the pockets to make the front look balanced again and that would require some extensive modifications done to the jacket.

It is your thoughts on the matter that spurred me to drop Debs a line at SB to reinstate the belt! The balance of the jacket as you say should not be messed with lightly. I have asked (but doubt) if they have a rubberised buckle, if not I shall invest in a tank cover or what ever it's called. Have not heard back from her yet hope ok to change as order finalised now. Thanks Monitor.

 

[ProteinNerd]

ELMC. I did a pretty detailed review here if you search for it. I just can't work out how to place a link here while I'm on my iPhone

 

[Monitor]

It's one of my favs!

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/elmc-roadster-review.85941/

 

[Peacoat]

Thanks for your efforts Peacoat, appreciated. Yep belts and buckles serve a purpose.
ps; I am deeply impressed you flew/fly. Did you see "action". Must be awesome to fly. Thanks.

Yep, a lot of "action," but that was in a land far away and a time long ago.

 

[El Marro]

View attachment 66901
Double Riders look fine with just the belt loops but no actual belt imo, thats how I wear mine.

Me too. I went ahead and bought the belt for my Vanson CHP because I thought it might complete the "look". I put it on when it arrived and decided that I felt like a complete Brando wannabe. I think these jackets look fine with loops and no belt.

 

[Edward]

As others have noted, this is a bit of a US/Brit biked distinction. he guys who favour this style of jacketg in the US, by and large, tend to ride Harleys and such where the riding position is much more 'upright'. Over in Brit-land, back when Brando's look was so influential, kids rode bikes where they positioned themselves lower, more over the tank. As OP has discovered, this means that a Perfecto style front-half belt's buckle risks scratching the tank. (I've even seen modern crotch-rockets designed with a stick-on protector to stop this!). When D Lewis / Aviakit put out the first of what are now considered their classic designs from the golden period of British motorcycling (50s / 60s), they were influenced by the Perfecto ,but adapted it to suit this. The Bronx (1956) was given a slide-through buckle with no pin, and the buckle covered in leather to avoid this. Later designs - the Lightning (1958), Dominator / Corsair (c.1962) and such instead had two-straps at each side. Even on much more American-looking jacketws throughout the period in which the Brits produced many, many different motorcycle leather jackets from a myriad of labels, side-buckles were the norm. Years ago I had a P-type that was identical to my Schott save for there being one buckle at each side, same width and similar design to what you see on the Schott's belt, but out of the way of the tank....

Two-buckle style is very common on Brit leathers in the period in which Lewis was the king. Looks nice, but doesn't make any real difference in practice. I guess, in theory, two straps over time might each stretch a bit less than all the pressure on just one, but I can't see it making a perceptible difference.

 

[TREEMAN]

Me too. I went ahead and bought the belt for my Vanson CHP because I thought it might complete the "look". I put it on when it arrived and decided that I felt like a complete Brando wannabe. I think these jackets look fine with loops and no belt.

IMO the general public wouldn't even make the connection of Brando to the jacket. Your over thinking it a little.

 

[A-1]

I’m wearing my J-21 every day and just once there was a person who told me it’s very Wild One-ish. I know, it’s not a J-21 Brando is wearing, but anyway...
On another note:
I’m 35 now and old enough to decide and know what I want to wear. I’m also quite happy to have a job, where I don’t need to think about what anyone else is thinking about it. The same outfits I’m wearing here, I wear to my job every day.
If I like something, I’ll wear it. When others look at me strangely, that’s totally fine. I don’t wanna look like anyone else in this grey world. Actually, I don’t want to fit in, haha!
And you shouldn’t either.

 

[red devil]

If I like something, I’ll wear it. When others look at me strangely, that’s totally fine.

Definitely this!