Hi everybody,
I used the days off, between Christmas and New Years to jot down some impressions and experiences with my Aero Board Racer that I ordered beginning of August via Gasoline Alley in Munich. I know that there are many threads addressing the J100 styled jackets around here, but anyways maybe there are some insights/ experiences that could be helpful for somebody in a similar situation than I was.
How I came to Aero
Basically, it started all way earlier. I am very much into leather jackets since my early 20s. I owned several jackets from brands like Diesel, AllSaints and Belstaff. However, due to my body measurements (6.6 feet, 200cm, relatively long arms and normal body) it was always difficult to find something that does not look off (I am always a little restricted when it comes to regular sizes).
My first experience with custom made leather was my one-piece Dainese Racing suit that I got for motorbiking. The leather felt great, fit was perfect, and I wished for something similar for civilian use.
For some reason the fashion jackets could never really satisfy my needs for “that” leatherjacket. The leather felt quite weak here and there, details were sometimes a little over the top for my taste and I also felt bad for paying hundreds of Euros for a jacket that is made in India or Bangladesh under harsh working conditions and “only” paying for a brand name.
Then I read an article in the motorbike magazine “Fuel” talking about “THAT black leather jacket” while waiting for a plane. The first time I read about names like Lewis Leathers, Aero Highwayman, Rokker, Horsehide etc. From that moment on I couldn’t stop thinking about leather jackets. Of course, it didn’t take long until I found the Fedora Lounge and that did not help to cure my leather disease.
I put my hands the first time on horsehide at Burg & Schild in Berlin, who partner with Simmons Bilt. Again, reading in the Lounge it became clear to me that I have difficulties identifying with the brand and its history.
How I got my Aero
Then one day in August I had some time before a meeting in Munich and thus decided to visit Gasoline Alley in Munich. It was a real pleasure. Burkhard more or less closed his store and we started to configure my jacket. For me it was clear that I want a classic Cafe Racer jacket for my first real leather jacket as it suits a broad range of occasions. I was inspired by very clean jackets such as the “Rokker Street jacket” without the typical chest pockets. Burkhard recommended to go for two inside pockets instead.
He showed me all kinds of leather: FQHH, Vincenza, Steer, all of them new and broken in. I immediately fell in love with the broken-in FQHH. After completing the order with going for olive cotton drill lining, we philosophized some more minutes about true craftsmanship and then I left with a firm handshake.
Now the waiting period started. Luckily, it was way shorter than anticipated – end of August I got an Email that my jacket has arrived including two pictures (see below). Unfortunately, I was not able to fly to Munich again to pick up the jacket in person. Thus, I asked Burkhard to send the jacket via parcel service. Three days later I had it in my hands.
The first days with the jacket
Wow! What a jacket! Heavy, stiff, unbelievable smell. My worries that the jacket won’t fit were gone after putting it on the first time. For me a perfect fit. Not to snug, so that I can layer when it becomes colder and the perfect length for some riding so that not too much leather would be crunched in the front area when sitting in my bike (see fit pictures).
The first comment of my girlfriend was “That’s and armor!”. Yes, she was right. The first hours I was afraid that I should have chosen the Vincenza leather. However, I said to myself “Stop questioning your choice and start to break in this thing!” I wore the jacket in the house, I slept in it a couple of times and also sit on it while watching a movie.
Within hours the leather started to become softer. Lucky me, FQHH was the right choice. The stiffness from the beginning soon disappeared. The first days, the jacket could stand on its own but after one week of wear it would start to crumble.
After four months
In short: I love the jacket! It becomes more pliable every day. The glossy surface from the beginning slowly became more like a matt finish and here and there some brown came through (e.g. at the cuffs or where the zipper touches the leather). The arms started to develop great looking creases and the grain started to pop. Unfortunately I did not have the chance to wear the jacket in the rain, but I hope this will lead to even more spectacular results.
Now I understand why each Aero jacket is unique. Every day I wear the jacket I discover new details (see pictures below). Sometimes I just look at it or touch the leather. It is just not comparable with everything I owned before. A second quote from my girlfriend: “Since you have this leather jacket, most jackets I see in the streets look so cheap and fragile”.
If there is one thing I would have probably done different: The inside pockets show through quite significant since I have no chest pockets. For me its parts of the patina and the value add is probably worth more than the outer marks.
Another downside, the leather jacket virus is not cured when owning one jacket as I thought – it is ignited. I just placed my second order through Thurston, most likely not my last one.
I hope I did not bore you with these words, I am always happy to answer questions. Great community here in the Forum!
Cheers, Alex
I used the days off, between Christmas and New Years to jot down some impressions and experiences with my Aero Board Racer that I ordered beginning of August via Gasoline Alley in Munich. I know that there are many threads addressing the J100 styled jackets around here, but anyways maybe there are some insights/ experiences that could be helpful for somebody in a similar situation than I was.
How I came to Aero
Basically, it started all way earlier. I am very much into leather jackets since my early 20s. I owned several jackets from brands like Diesel, AllSaints and Belstaff. However, due to my body measurements (6.6 feet, 200cm, relatively long arms and normal body) it was always difficult to find something that does not look off (I am always a little restricted when it comes to regular sizes).
My first experience with custom made leather was my one-piece Dainese Racing suit that I got for motorbiking. The leather felt great, fit was perfect, and I wished for something similar for civilian use.
For some reason the fashion jackets could never really satisfy my needs for “that” leatherjacket. The leather felt quite weak here and there, details were sometimes a little over the top for my taste and I also felt bad for paying hundreds of Euros for a jacket that is made in India or Bangladesh under harsh working conditions and “only” paying for a brand name.
Then I read an article in the motorbike magazine “Fuel” talking about “THAT black leather jacket” while waiting for a plane. The first time I read about names like Lewis Leathers, Aero Highwayman, Rokker, Horsehide etc. From that moment on I couldn’t stop thinking about leather jackets. Of course, it didn’t take long until I found the Fedora Lounge and that did not help to cure my leather disease.
I put my hands the first time on horsehide at Burg & Schild in Berlin, who partner with Simmons Bilt. Again, reading in the Lounge it became clear to me that I have difficulties identifying with the brand and its history.
How I got my Aero
Then one day in August I had some time before a meeting in Munich and thus decided to visit Gasoline Alley in Munich. It was a real pleasure. Burkhard more or less closed his store and we started to configure my jacket. For me it was clear that I want a classic Cafe Racer jacket for my first real leather jacket as it suits a broad range of occasions. I was inspired by very clean jackets such as the “Rokker Street jacket” without the typical chest pockets. Burkhard recommended to go for two inside pockets instead.
He showed me all kinds of leather: FQHH, Vincenza, Steer, all of them new and broken in. I immediately fell in love with the broken-in FQHH. After completing the order with going for olive cotton drill lining, we philosophized some more minutes about true craftsmanship and then I left with a firm handshake.
Now the waiting period started. Luckily, it was way shorter than anticipated – end of August I got an Email that my jacket has arrived including two pictures (see below). Unfortunately, I was not able to fly to Munich again to pick up the jacket in person. Thus, I asked Burkhard to send the jacket via parcel service. Three days later I had it in my hands.
The first days with the jacket
Wow! What a jacket! Heavy, stiff, unbelievable smell. My worries that the jacket won’t fit were gone after putting it on the first time. For me a perfect fit. Not to snug, so that I can layer when it becomes colder and the perfect length for some riding so that not too much leather would be crunched in the front area when sitting in my bike (see fit pictures).
The first comment of my girlfriend was “That’s and armor!”. Yes, she was right. The first hours I was afraid that I should have chosen the Vincenza leather. However, I said to myself “Stop questioning your choice and start to break in this thing!” I wore the jacket in the house, I slept in it a couple of times and also sit on it while watching a movie.
Within hours the leather started to become softer. Lucky me, FQHH was the right choice. The stiffness from the beginning soon disappeared. The first days, the jacket could stand on its own but after one week of wear it would start to crumble.
After four months
In short: I love the jacket! It becomes more pliable every day. The glossy surface from the beginning slowly became more like a matt finish and here and there some brown came through (e.g. at the cuffs or where the zipper touches the leather). The arms started to develop great looking creases and the grain started to pop. Unfortunately I did not have the chance to wear the jacket in the rain, but I hope this will lead to even more spectacular results.
Now I understand why each Aero jacket is unique. Every day I wear the jacket I discover new details (see pictures below). Sometimes I just look at it or touch the leather. It is just not comparable with everything I owned before. A second quote from my girlfriend: “Since you have this leather jacket, most jackets I see in the streets look so cheap and fragile”.
If there is one thing I would have probably done different: The inside pockets show through quite significant since I have no chest pockets. For me its parts of the patina and the value add is probably worth more than the outer marks.
Another downside, the leather jacket virus is not cured when owning one jacket as I thought – it is ignited. I just placed my second order through Thurston, most likely not my last one.
I hope I did not bore you with these words, I am always happy to answer questions. Great community here in the Forum!
Cheers, Alex
Attachments
Last edited:
