Couple of cafe racers (Vanson and Brooks)

[Surferbruce]

Salut tout le monde
Finally getting around to posting up some pics of my cafe racers (or I could say the gateway drugs to my leather jacket addiction). First my Vanson PLU-3 from Insurrection

I got this about a year and a half ago and have put it through the ringer. I wanted to speed up the break-in and get that worn look bit. Scotch-brite pads, rubbing alcohol, a little high grit sandpaper here and there, a couple times in the dryer, and just generally abusing the heck out of it got me part of the way there

However a couple weeks ago I got my hands on some Lexol conditioner and it basically returned to looking like new. The leather soaked it right up and has become much softer and more supple after treating and a lot more pleasurable to wear (the Vanson comp weight being a beast as you know)

It's a fantastic jacket and I look forward to years of use. BTW it's a size 40 and I'm a hair under 5'11" and about 160#

 

[pawineguy]

Fit looks great and breaking in really well. Nice jacket.

 

[Surferbruce]

Next up is my recent one, a vintage Brooks off of the bay. I wanted a brown jacket, the grail one being an Aero Board Track in some battered tan HH, but I saw this Brooks and well, the Aero will have to wait a bit

It is a size 40 as well but quite a bit more snug fitting. Even though I've read about the light weight leather of most vintage cafe racers I was still a little surprised at how light it is. In a good way though, as it compliments the heavy Vanson very well.

 

[Surferbruce]

A big thanks to all here on the forum as it really helped guide my purchases and undoubtly saved me some heartache on the leather jacket buying learning curve!

 

[Brettafett]

Sweet. Love the colour of the Brooks. Nice buys.

 

[trapp]

Yeah, both those jackets look great on you. I like the way your PLU-3 fits; the extra length is perfect and since you're slender, it allows for what looks like a super comfortable fit without looking at all baggy. Very nice.

 

[GregO]

Great score on the Brooks. Why can't I ever find an eBay purchase that fits as well as that Brooks fits you? I've tried twice, with bad (and expensive) results. Looks as though that Brooks was custom made for you. Both, nice looking and more importantly great fitting, jackets.

 

[nick123]

Ladies and gents, proof that Vans shoes look good with leather jackets. Very nice.

 

[IXL]

I just received a PLU-3, also in a size 40. Are there any drawbacks to using Lexol on this beast?

 

[IXL]

Ladies and gents, proof that Vans shoes look good with leather jackets. Very nice.

Last weekend, I stayed in a friends home, sleeping in his 20 year old son's room, the son being away at school. I now have a permanent image of some young, hot, with-it model etched in my brain: the entire room was covered with posters of just this one young lady in all kinds of activities and poses. Turns out she is a "Vans Girl," and guess where the kid works? That's right, Vans.

 

[nick123]

Last weekend, I stayed in a friends home, sleeping in his 20 year old son's room, the son being away at school. I now have a permanent image of some young, hot, with-it model etched in my brain: the entire room was covered with posters of just this one young lady in all kinds of activities and poses. Turns out she is a "Vans Girl," and guess where the kid works? That's right, Vans.

I probably know him.

 

[blacksby]

nice! I have a 70's Schott, and love it.

 

[Grayland]

They both fit great. I recently acquired a brown Brooks cafe racer too. Great fitting jacket and is an easy wear due to the lightweight leather. Enjoy them both.

 

[Surferbruce]

Thanks all! IXL I wish I had used a light coat of Lexol sooner, it really softened it up a lot.

 

[bn1966]

Love the Brooks! You wear it well! I had one pretty much identical a few years ago & stupidly sold it when cafe racers became big at the local Mall & every male under 60 was wearing one.

 

[Seb Lucas]

Those Brooks jackets are my favourite cafe racer pattern and my favourite leather jacket. Nice light leather and easy to wear as Grayland has said. I've bought a number of these over the years.

 

[Seb Lucas]

Surferbruce tell me about the Vanson. I like it. What does it weigh and what's the back length?

 

[wdw]

Both great fits on you. Good buys.

 

[Surferbruce]

Seb the Vanson weighs in at about 4.25 lbs and the back measures 25" from the base of the collar. They really do take some time to break in, but at this point it's great to wear. If I was going to change anything I'd have the upper back nipped in just a hair, or maybe go with slightly higher armholes, but that's being ultra nit-picky.

The folks at Insurrection were invaluable in helping me pick the right first jacket and getting me in the right size.

 

[Seb Lucas]

Thanks Surferbruce. You look great in both of those jackets - you have very good taste.