Leather Motorcycle jacket recommendations

[ShrunkinCowboy]

I've ridden for many years with an older Canadian-made Bristol Cafe Racer-style motorcycle jacket.
The fit, finish, and leather are first-rate, IMO.
As far as I know, Bristol Leathers are STILL in business?
Vanson and Johnson Leathers (San Francisco) also make world-class motorcycle jackets.

Steve

 

[HoosierDaddy]

I agree Peacoat. A good MC Jacket is imperative if you ride alot. I usually put on quite a few miles each year..and have my favorites. Your examples are very good ones. I really like my Enfield...but also have some vintage MC jackets as well.
I do quite a bit of interstate riding as well as back roads and have had shirt collars and denim jacket collars whip me in the face...but never a hvy leather MC jacket collar. However..I've only experienced riding two wheelers on the road since the '60s. Maybe I've missed something...
HD

 

[1911 Man]

Thank you all for your input and suggestions, there are some fine jackets out there. The jacket I posted a link to does have a snap down collar, so no worries about it slapping the face. I currently have an Aero 50's halfbelt in the lighter weight flight jacket horsehide that I've worn while riding, and it hasn't been a problem. It's been years since I've had a black leather jacket, now that I'm approaching 40, I wonder if I could pull it off.

 

[dortiz]

Hey what size you looking for. I have a brand spanking new langlitz size 42 you can have a deal on with no wait.

 

[Jaguar66]

Gibson and Barnes makes a couple of classic style motorcycle jackets. They are known for making quality jackets.

http://www.gibson-barnes.com/Atascadero+Motorcycle+Jacket/id/18/cat_id/18/prod_id/67/

http://www.gibson-barnes.com/Coronado+Motorcycle+Jacket/id/18/cat_id/18/prod_id/66/

 

[Ace Rimmer]

I will second the guys who are espousing the AGATT (all gear, all the time) route when choosing a motorcycle jacket. There are times for style but then there are times when safety is paramount. Riding without proper safety gear is a recipe for disaster.

IMO you need the following:


1. Armor (as previously mentioned) -- leather provides abrasion protection only, it provides zero impact protection. Your joints are fragile enough, make sure to protect them with hard or soft armor.

2. Belted waist or waist-zip-to-pants so that your jacket does not ride up on your body during a crash.

3. Zippers on the forearm to the cuffs will help your jacket sleeves from riding up on your arms during a crash.

4. Full length windflap (as mentioned above) to help seal out the wind.

5. Snaps on the collar to prevent flapping.

6. For summer riding, perforated leather is a must -- and if possible get a lighter color such as battleship gray. Black leathers may be the standard but in the summer heat they can really roast you.

Obviously a racing suit is best for the above but compromises can be made for when you want to ride in a jacket and jeans. An armored Vanson Force, paired with Kevlar-reinforced jeans and Bohn Adventure armor pants will get you most of the above.

I started riding motorcycles before the days of cell phones and maybe I'm being an ol' Fudd but I believe that the proliferation of folks driving and texting only makes things more dangerous for the motorcyclist so safety is paramount. Best of luck!

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Well that's your opinion. However there are others. With all that gear..I think I'd rather take the car...but that's just me.

 

[ButteMT61]

Depends on how/where I'm riding.
If I'm going out to a local coffee shop, I'll wear any leather jacket and jeans. Always boots. Always gloves.
For fast rides or freeway, I gear all the way up.
Good gear is plenty comfortable and when you have that day - and I've had two - you'll be glad you did.
All I need to do is hear my daughter tell emergency room stories. Up to the individual. It's still
America.

 

[Edward]

Thank you all for your input and suggestions, there are some fine jackets out there. The jacket I posted a link to does have a snap down collar, so no worries about it slapping the face. I currently have an Aero 50's halfbelt in the lighter weight flight jacket horsehide that I've worn while riding, and it hasn't been a problem. It's been years since I've had a black leather jacket, now that I'm approaching 40, I wonder if I could pull it off.

Anyone can. You just got to accessorise right!

I started riding motorcycles before the days of cell phones and maybe I'm being an ol' Fudd but I believe that the proliferation of folks driving and texting only makes things more dangerous for the motorcyclist so safety is paramount.

People like that are a menace to everyone on the road. Fortunately it has for some years now been a specific criminal offence in the UK to use a handheld telephone while driving, which I do believe helps to discourage it. Handsfree can be a dangerous distraction too, but at least it doesn't lead so directly to anyone taking their eyes off the road.

 

[Interbak]

Hey 1911,

The question I haven't seen asked yet is, what is your riding style? What do you ride, where do you ride, how fast do you ride. Proper gear is important, but also needs to be suited to the application. Like Butte said, I wouldn't put on the full race suit for a 6 block ride to the coffee shop, but if I'm going carving the fast back roads or playing with semi's on the freeway I'm properly prepared.

Brian

 

[Ace Rimmer]

People like that are a menace to everyone on the road. Fortunately it has for some years now been a specific criminal offence in the UK to use a handheld telephone while driving, which I do believe helps to discourage it. Handsfree can be a dangerous distraction too, but at least it doesn't lead so directly to anyone taking their eyes off the road.

Amen. People driving while distracted are a serious threat to everyone on the road, and motorcyclists don't have the benefit of airbags or a metal cage to protect them.

I am between bikes but when I was riding I was a commuter. I was not a guy who just rode "bar to bar" on weekends. As a commuter I saw dangerous activity during workdays much more frequently than during the weekends. When people are hurrying to work they will do stupid things. Ever see someone driving with their knees while putting on makeup or eating breakfast? :eeek: And that was before we had cell phones!

I am fortunate enough to have never been in a serious crash with my motorcycle. My knees are already giving me enough trouble from hiking without the "benefit" of a wreck. I don't need any more pain when it could have been easily prevented by just wearing armor pants under jeans instead of relying on a flimsy layer of denim to protect against impacts against asphalt (i.e. no protection at all).

OP, please stay safe!

 

[Navin323i]

Thank you all for your input and suggestions, there are some fine jackets out there. The jacket I posted a link to does have a snap down collar, so no worries about it slapping the face. I currently have an Aero 50's halfbelt in the lighter weight flight jacket horsehide that I've worn while riding, and it hasn't been a problem. It's been years since I've had a black leather jacket, now that I'm approaching 40, I wonder if I could pull it off.

Why should you approaching 40 affect you being able to pull off wearing a black leather jacket? I have another 2+ years to go before I'm 40 and I wear my black Aero jacket everyday... will continue to do so well into my senior citizen years, lol.

 

[Mojo1975]

I wear an Insurrection-designed PILOT USA suit for the track. They make great custom riding jackets as well...

And, for the street, I wear either an Insurrection-designed Vanson PLU-3 or an Insurrection-designed Aero 1930s Slimfit Half Belt. Both the Vanson PLU-3 and the (Insurrection) Aero 1930s Half Belt are spectacular street riding jackets! If you'd like to pair one of these jackets with armour, just purchase a Forcefield Coolmax Armoured Shirt from Insurrection and wear it under your jacket when needed. When out on the town, just wear your great new jacket, and look sharp as hell!

 

[Pegasus jackets]

I think there's no "one size fits all" formula here. IMHO it all depends on many factors such as speed, distance, traffic density, weather, etc. For me, Mojo has the right idea here:
a. Wear head to toe "modern" gear for high speed riding. Of course for most of us this would mean the highway and not full blown racing LOL.
b. Reserve the "cool" leather jacket for the leasurely cruise. Although please wear your helmets and don't follow Mojo's example ;-).

Concerning the latter, its all a matter of opinion; horsehide vs. steerhide, cafe racer vs. d-pocket, vintage vs. modern. I guess sharing our opinions and experience is why were all here. So I will share mine without any obvious plugs for Pegasus products or knocks on the competition ;-)

Elements a good leather MC jacket should have IMHO:
Leather: Horsehide for the way it holds its shape over time, for the way it ages, and for the protection it provides. Goatskin is also a good alternative and I've also seen some good cowhide out there. A leather MC jacket should be fairly water resistant but should not be too thick or stiff as to ride up, or be uncomfortable to wear.
Length: Short so it doens't interfere with the bike, but not too short so it protects your back against the elements when you're leaning forward
Fit: Trim and fitted for aerodynamics with high cut slightly cantelevered arms and a tapered waist to avoid excessive flapping/wind resistance.
Construction: Solidly sewn with extra heavy duty thread (after all, its not a lounge jacket).
Pockets: Ample pockets to keep a wallet, cellphone, cigarettes, keys, etc. but not overdone.
Hardware: Zippers pulls that are easy to find and grasp so you don't fumble whith them while riding (i.e. not too small).
Adjustments/closures:Zippered sleeves to keep out the cold and to keep from sliding up. Waist adjustments to keep out drafts. A way to close the collar when zipped up completely for extra protection.
Looks: Something you personally feel good wearing on or off the bike (maybe the most important of all).

Did I miss something?

 

[dr.velociraptor]

I just joined looking for advice on caps and an everyday leather but I ride motorcycles avidly for over a decade. I wore a Schott Perfecto for nearly 10 years but it umm shrank on me. I loved the jacket but sold it and wanted a different style so I recently bought this horsehide jacket:

http://www.legendaryusa.com/Thoroughbred-Horsehide-Racer-Motorcycle-Jacket-p/6045h.htm

Schott USA makes these jackets for this company and I really love the jacket for riding, it's solid and fit me like a glove. I normally wear a 46 and the 44 fit perfectly. Really can't say enough about it, great company to deal with too, they sent me two different sizes to try on and I just sent back the one I didn't want to keep. You can always get a 10% off coupon off their Facebook page too.

(And no I don't work for them lol)

Definitely wouldn't go with a jacket with a regular dress collar for riding (unless it buttons down), the wind will slap you all day long.

 

[1911 Man]

I own a large cruiser style motorcycle. It is not a daily commuter, it is for pleasure rides around town, and on weekends (until the weather turned cold recently) some fellow riders and I would go for longer rides, ie, up a nearby canyon. Not a lot of heavy commuter traffic, but speeds approaching freeway speeds were common. I found that my Aero halfbelt was very adequate, even with the dressy shirt collar, not a single face slap. I just want something in black, don't like the standard cafe racer collar (although it is growing on me), and don't like the standard biker style jacket, ie Schott perfecto, double collar, diagonal zip. I wore those in my teens and 20's for riding, and am looking for something a little dressier. As for my riding style, no racing, no bullet bikes, just cruising. Also, I was sort of kidding about the age remark. Although I am less than a year away from 40, I am very athletic and fit, still have a full head of hair, and genuinely believe I have no trouble pulling off any look I want. I have time to find exactly what I want, as I have a good jacket that still needs some break in. I appreciate the feedback.

 

[JOHNO]

+1 for Fox Creek Leather, here's a pic taken about an hour before I was hit by a truck in a curve.

The right sleeve zipper and right shoulder epulette snap were damaged and Fox Creek wants to repair the jacket free of charge.

Here is the jacket, it did a great job protecting me............although I still came out of it with two broken legs.

 

[Pegasus jackets]

OUCH! Sorry to hear about your mishap Johno. Hope you have healed since then.
It seems your jacket held up pretty well but I would imagine that no amount of gear could have changed anything concerning your legs.
I don't know what kind of leather Fox Creek uses but I'm assuming its cowhide. Thanks for sharing.

 

[too much coffee]

OUCH! Sorry to hear about your mishap Johno. Hope you have healed since then.
It seems your jacket held up pretty well but I would imagine that no amount of gear could have changed anything concerning your legs.
I don't know what kind of leather Fox Creek uses but I'm assuming its cowhide. Thanks for sharing.

Yes, it is naked cowhide..........built like a tank and probably the best value for the buck for a bike jacket.

Jeez Johno, I know that you know how much worse it could have been. Divine intervention.

Best regards,
coffee

 

[Interbak]

Hey 1911,

Not sure what to recommend based on your description. If you don't care for the cafe racer type collar, or the Perfecto/Brando (or whatever people like to call it) style collars, you're kind of limiting your options. A Vanson Enfield would work, but it's awful close to the half-belt you already wear. Personally all my riding jackets have the cafe style collars and there is a ton of variety with that style. In spring and fall it's a Bristol cafe racer, in the heat of summer it's a Joe Rocket mesh with all the armor, when the weather turns cold I go for the Heine Gericke Dakar, warmest riding jacket I've ever had. If the weather gets a little wet I'll grab my old Belstaff Trialmaster. I've never found that one perfect riding jacket.

This likely didn't help, but there are lots and lots of really good options out there,

Brian