Looking for a J 23

[mopar 38]

Hello to the Lounge ,

i am from northern Germany , like Horsehide Jacket`s .
My Collection : Eastman Pearl Harbour Film A2 in rare Size 50 , Aero Highwayman brown , Aero Hercules cordovan .

Now i am looking for a J23 in 4+ Horsehide .
? Is here a Member from Germany registered who owns a 4+ Jacket , maybe from LW ?
Sorry for bad English .

Greetings from rainy Germany.

Norbert

 

[1087]

Welcome to the fray Norbert!
By pure coincidence my middle name is Norbert too!
I'm a register member here with German ancestors but not from Germany, but I happen to own a 4oz+ J 23 from Lost Worlds.
It's anything in particular that I can help you with?

 

[mopar 38]

Hello 1087 + thanx for your reply.

First , i must say , your Posts about your J23 from LW are one oft the Reasons , for me , to start the " Project J23 ".
I used the Search Function of the Lounge , i red every Post about the Buco Jackets , ordered then the great Books from Rin Tanaka , ordered the Mag`s Ligtning & Free ´N Easy from Japan .
And , i red every Post about Lost Worlds too.I did not understand all , but the most .
I own 2 Aero HH Jackets , and satisfied with them . The Contact with Amanda from Aero was great too .
But Aero did not make the J23 , like LW , and correct me if i`m wrong , LW uses another thicker Horween Leather for their Jacktes .
1087 , i wish , i could hold Your J23 in my Hands in comparison with my Higwayman , to check the Leather .
? Have You break it in already
? Any new Pictures ?

Norbert

 

[1087]

Hello again;
first of all,congratulations for that terrific Panhead, looks gorgeous!:eusa_clap
Going back to subject, I did more or less the same as you did about the Buco.
I'd been searching them for years, and at the end I went with the best!
Lost Worlds uses different Horsehide than Aero and it's not from Horveen.
The J23 is magnificent in all counts, leathers, construction, workmanship, stitching,etc,etc.
My jacket weights 8 1/2 pounds, it's armour nothing less nothing more.
Break in will take quite a long time, I have several jackets that I also use as well when I'm riding, but it's not uncomfortable at all, because it fits like a glove to my body.
I will post more pictures soon.
PS: I don't have an Aero yet, probably I will get the King of the Road, then I will be able to tell you if it's better, equal, or worst, but I assure you, it will take a lot to be better than LW.

 

[Mojo1975]

Why do you want 4+ oz. horsehide? The original Buco jackets were, at most, 3.0 to 3.5 oz. horsehide, and that's pretty generous. Furthermore, most race suits, whether they're made from kangaroo or steerhide are, at most, 3.5 oz. leather. These suits are designed to withstand 170 mph crashes and do so on a regular basis. Therefore, I, personally, don't see any reason to have more bulk than is necessary. LW has 4 oz. horsehide...but I think it's a bit too much, IMHO. Aero's King of the Road jacket looks a lot like a Buco, but you don't have to deal with the unnecessary bulk...you get closer to the original Buco jackets in terms of the finish and weight of the leather being used. My two cents...

Also, unless you're going for a total repo., you might want to think about going with a bi-swing back, like on a J-82, instead of a full action back. Especially with the thicker hides, when you're sliding on your back, a full action back will almost certainly flip you, causing unnecessary injury... ...My two cents on the J-23 back style...

 

[Vic]

Several companies making these now (don't know that any are 4+, sans LW). Also, some are based on the J-21, some on the J-23, some on the J-24...but all similar:

-The Few
-Real McCoys
-LW
-Aero (J106)
-Legendary USA (Black Stallion/Wild Stallion)

(there are others also, but the 5 above are the ones that have impressed me)

The Few:

Real McCoys:

LW:

Aero:

 

[JLStorm]

Why do you want 4+ oz. horsehide? The original Buco jackets were, at most, 3.0 to 3.5 oz. horsehide, and that's pretty generous. Furthermore, most race suits, whether they're made from kangaroo or steerhide are, at most, 3.5 oz. leather. These suits are designed to withstand 170 mph crashes and do so on a regular basis. Therefore, I, personally, don't see any reason to have more bulk than is necessary. LW has 4 oz. horsehide...but I think it's a bit too much, IMHO. Aero's King of the Road jacket looks a lot like a Buco, but you don't have to deal with the unnecessary bulk...you get closer to the original Buco jackets in terms of the finish and weight of the leather being used. My two cents...

Also, unless you're going for a total repo., you might want to think about going with a bi-swing back, like on a J-82, instead of a full action back. Especially with the thicker hides, when you're sliding on your back, a full action back will almost certainly flip you, causing unnecessary injury... ...My two cents on the J-23 back style...

Im guessing it has to be for looks and feel. I have had a number of motorcycle jackets over the years and while many feel stiff, the lighter hides which seems to avg 3 - 3.5 ounce allows for much more flexibility and quicker reaction time in the arms (I know that you already know this since you have so much experience with bikes). However, I have had 3 jackets that range from above 3.5 to just over 6 oz and I dont know that they would be safe for riding. I love my 6 oz steerhide, but my reaction time and degree I can bend my elbows is definitely compromised.

 

[Mojo1975]

^^^Agreed. I was mistaken about Aero's King of the Road being the Buco look-alike. It's Aero's J106 that looks just like a Buco J-23 or J-24. In my humble opinion, that's the jacket to beat! Courteous service, the best horsehide on the planet, and folks that really want to please you. Man, that Horween horsehide really is to die for!!!

 

[Edward]

Aero has four models in total of the D-pocket style - The J106, the Daytona (very similar, difference is in the positioning of one of the side pockets - the zip is on the other side of the d so it can be used as a handwarmer), the Elvis and the King of the road. The latter two look to me to be a more relaxed, Fifties cut, the first two slimmer, more late Forties turn of the fifties. Gorgeous jackets. The J 106 is, as Viv says, closest to the Buco, of the Aeros. I did post pictures of all of them last night, but my post has disappeared; not sure what happened there (it definitely went up, because I edited it to correct one of the links). [huh]

I also said that the quality of the LW stuff is definitely very high, based on what I hear and my own experience with one of their B3s. Their leather is very heavy - it seems, right across their line, often significantly heavier than the originals). The weight of their hides is, of course, a deliberate design choice, and the company ethos is along the lines of 'you have to be a real man to wear one of these'. I gather they can be tiring to wear that heavy, but that might be a compromise worth making against any added protection in the event of a spill. The main difficulty with LW from a European perspective will be expense - at least here in the UK (I know the Euro is a bit stronger against the dollar) they work out a fair bit more expensive than Aero (though not, if memory serves, quite as pricey as the Japanese jackets tend to be over here), and that's before you factor in niceties like import tax (which, of course, you wouldn't face with Aero being based in the EU). If that's not an issue for you, though, great jackets, well worth considering.

Edited to add: Here's my original post - I managed to put it in a completely different thread.:eusa_doh:

Aero have several D-pocket style options, some closer to the J23 than others.

King of the Road

Type J106

Daytona

Elvis

The J106 seems to me to be the closest to the original Bucos. The LW will, of course, also be a beautiful jacket - IMO you can't lose with either. That said, it might be worth comparing prices: the LW is markedly more expensive to begin with (at least here, what with the weaker pound); also, Aero being within the EU, you wouldn't have to pay import duty. Whichever you go for, though, it'll be a great jacket.

 

[Edward]

Another option you might consider: the ELC Roadstar:

http://www.shopcreator.com/mall/eastmanleather/products/product-4294392.stm

Made out of ELC's 'Warhorse' hide. I've not personally handled this, though I understand it to be close to the original hides (not as heavy as LW, if you're looking for something particularly weighty). It seems to only be available in brown, if that's an issue too. Looks nice, though.

 

[FRASER_NASH]

Mystical motor jackets. Gorgeous . Smell the oil from here!

 

[mopar 38]

Oh man ,
their are a lot of Rider Jacket Fans here -- thank You so much for your Opinions.
As i wrote in this Thread , i am a Fan of Aero FQHH , and nearby every Day, i`m visit their Site -- but i did not noticed the J106 .
Maybe , i had TOMATEN AUF DEN AUGEN , or the Glasses of my R. BAN Shooter were too dark ???
For me here in Europe this Jacket would be the cheaper one , but this has not to be the main reason .
Do there exist more Pic`s of the J106 from Aero ?
Thanx again for Your Posts.

Ups : New Jacket on Aero Site : Jacket with 6 Pockets

Norbert

 

[1087]

Why do you want 4+ oz. horsehide? The original Buco jackets were, at most, 3.0 to 3.5 oz. horsehide, and that's pretty generous. Furthermore, most race suits, whether they're made from kangaroo or steerhide are, at most, 3.5 oz. leather. These suits are designed to withstand 170 mph crashes and do so on a regular basis. Therefore, I, personally, don't see any reason to have more bulk than is necessary. LW has 4 oz. horsehide...but I think it's a bit too much, IMHO. Aero's King of the Road jacket looks a lot like a Buco, but you don't have to deal with the unnecessary bulk...you get closer to the original Buco jackets in terms of the finish and weight of the leather being used. My two cents...

Also, unless you're going for a total repo., you might want to think about going with a bi-swing back, like on a J-82, instead of a full action back. Especially with the thicker hides, when you're sliding on your back, a full action back will almost certainly flip you, causing unnecessary injury... ...My two cents on the J-23 back style...

4 Oz HH offers more protection than 3.5-3 Oz in the same jacket.
Lost Worlds replica offers 4 Oz for more protection, and to improves the original.
They also offers 3.5 Oz as well like the originals, if the customers likes that.
Race suits has CE protection ( you know that), hence no need for thicker hides, and race suits are heavy... quite heavy.
Aero's does not have any jacket that is a J 23 replica, I consider to get the King of the Hill as I posted above, but it's a different jacket.
Also Lost Worlds J 23 is a bi swing jacket, not a full action back.
I wonder since you offering a vast array of MC jackets ( Vanson, Aero,Schott,Buco), why you are not offering Lost Worlds J23's, after all you recommend me to get my J 23 from them, remember?

 

[Mojo1975]

4 Oz HH offers more protection than 3.5-3 Oz in the same jacket.
Lost Worlds replica offers 4 Oz for more protection, and to improves the original. Agreed, but I think 4 oz. is more than anyone would ever need...

They also offers 3.5 Oz as well like the originals, if the customers likes that. Agreed

Race suits has CE protection ( you know that), hence no need for thicker hides, and race suits are heavy... quite heavy.Hips and butts take the brunt of most fall impacts and CE armor isn't in those places. Despite this lack of armor in the hips and butt, each can take a 40 to 50 foot slide no problem. There certainly is leather reinforcement in these areas, but it isn't more than 3.5 oz. leather due to the need for mobility.

Aero's does not have any jacket that is a J 23 replica, I consider to get the King of the Hill as I posted above, but it's a different jacket.Take a look at the J106...it's pretty close to a J-23 or J-24.

Also Lost Worlds J 23 is a bi swing jacket, not a full action back.We use "full action back" to denote back styles like that of the Buco J-24 or the Vanson Model A and we use to denote "moon shaped gussets" or "shoulder gussets" to denote backs that have gussets only at the shoulder blades. I'm sorry for the confusion here...a lot of people use the terms "bi-swing," "full action back," "gusseted back," etc. interchangeably. These terms are used interchangeably so often that I also often misspeak when using these terms....I'm sorry for the error....

I wonder since you offering a vast array of MC jackets ( Vanson, Aero,Schott,Buco), why you are not offering Lost Worlds J23's, after all you recommend me to get my J 23 from them, remember?

We were not able to work with Lost Worlds. Yet, Lost Worlds has a wonderful product and your jacket is very stunning. The OP should take a look, as he already has mentioned he has, at LW products.

^^^Please see above...I addressed each point. Yet, I should have used the multi-quote option ; - ) Anyway, my point wasn't to anger anyone, but just to say that I, personally, don't understand the need for leather thicker than 3.5 oz. That's all...