I have or have had a number of cafe racers, and haven't found "the one." I have jackets I ride in, but I'm looking for something currently that will only be casual wear. For reference:
Aero Sonoma racer - too large in the upper back, don't like the way the shoulder gussets make the upper back appear. Brown CXL steer. Keeping it though, as it works well for a riding jacket. And I do recognize that the larger upper back is good for a riding jacket.
Two Aero racers done up in J100 style with straight yoke, no gussets, etc. - both I specified in size 38, but the actual measurements were nearly 2 inches different in key areas such as P2P and shoulders. One was too snug, the other too baggy. I'm not too keen on trying a third time to see if they nail my specs - I'm selling those two jackets for a significant loss.
Aero board racer - way too tight in the shoulders and back. I have an athletic build, and the board racer simply doesn't work for my body type. To get the shoulders to fit, I would have to go with a size that makes the body far too baggy.
DD J100 - upper arm on his pattern is large, and it simply didn't look right on me.
RMC J100 (didn't own, only tried on) - sleeves too short, and they don't do custom.
My priorities are easy wearing (no Horween CXL steer or FQHH for example) with good grain and the ability to develop good patina. And, obviously, good fit. Honestly, I've owned the Vicenza from Aero/Thurston, and I simply don't like the hide. Too uniform in color, and rather uninteresting because it exhibited hardly any grain, even after months of wear. In full disclosure, the Vecenza jacket I owned was an early Vicenza offering (back when the seal looked almost exactly like the russet), so not sure if the Vecenza has changed at all.
Also, I have to be able to specify rayon or cotton sateen for the lining. I'm sick of the grabbiness of cotton drill.
I don't really want to spend more than $1500 or so, but might consider going higher if I can find perfection.
And waiting 2 years for something from JC doesn't really appeal, although I should probably just get on the list and figure what to buy when my name pops up.
Who else should I be looking at? They need to do custom...my larger shoulders, somewhat smaller waist and long arms make off-the-rack options a no-go.
Help.
Aero Sonoma racer - too large in the upper back, don't like the way the shoulder gussets make the upper back appear. Brown CXL steer. Keeping it though, as it works well for a riding jacket. And I do recognize that the larger upper back is good for a riding jacket.
Two Aero racers done up in J100 style with straight yoke, no gussets, etc. - both I specified in size 38, but the actual measurements were nearly 2 inches different in key areas such as P2P and shoulders. One was too snug, the other too baggy. I'm not too keen on trying a third time to see if they nail my specs - I'm selling those two jackets for a significant loss.
Aero board racer - way too tight in the shoulders and back. I have an athletic build, and the board racer simply doesn't work for my body type. To get the shoulders to fit, I would have to go with a size that makes the body far too baggy.
DD J100 - upper arm on his pattern is large, and it simply didn't look right on me.
RMC J100 (didn't own, only tried on) - sleeves too short, and they don't do custom.
My priorities are easy wearing (no Horween CXL steer or FQHH for example) with good grain and the ability to develop good patina. And, obviously, good fit. Honestly, I've owned the Vicenza from Aero/Thurston, and I simply don't like the hide. Too uniform in color, and rather uninteresting because it exhibited hardly any grain, even after months of wear. In full disclosure, the Vecenza jacket I owned was an early Vicenza offering (back when the seal looked almost exactly like the russet), so not sure if the Vecenza has changed at all.
Also, I have to be able to specify rayon or cotton sateen for the lining. I'm sick of the grabbiness of cotton drill.
I don't really want to spend more than $1500 or so, but might consider going higher if I can find perfection.
And waiting 2 years for something from JC doesn't really appeal, although I should probably just get on the list and figure what to buy when my name pops up.
Who else should I be looking at? They need to do custom...my larger shoulders, somewhat smaller waist and long arms make off-the-rack options a no-go.
Help.
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