My broken in leather jacket

[AlexB]

For me the best part of the high-quality leather jackets discussed and shown here in the Lounge, is their development and to see how they become more beautiful with every wear.

There are many pictures of great examples in various individual threads and threads addressing great looking leather jackets "owned by others".
However, it is hard to find a "one-stop-shop" for all the great examples of well broken-in jackets being around here.

Thus, I thought it might be a cool thing to have one collection of pictures showing the aging of your currently owned jackets (detail pictures and/or fit pictures). Ideally with a caption that includes:
- Brand
- Hide
- Age
- if possible, a special story that the person connects with the jacket.

Let's see if this works out

 

[ton312]

Well I can't claim to be the person who gave this jacket it's wear but I do, through conversation with the original owner, know how it was achieved. This Bates padded CR was made in 1969 and the original owner was a sponsored motocross rider for Bultaco. He wore up until 1974 (my birth year) and then retired from the sport. He sent me pics of him wearing it during races, which I've somehow misplaced. Really cool guy and his stories about the m/c culture and racing circuit of the time were fascinating. For me this is the most iconic CR, Bates was a pioneer in the racing world with brightly colored leathers and innovative design. This jacket really captures the essence of the makers so cal ethos. It has literally been around the world and now it's back home for good. It is rife with permanent creases and the sleeve wear is hard to capture but this jacket is just a joy to wear and always receives admiration, even from the most cynical critic on earth, my wife.

 

[beckster]

Bultaco you say. Metralla road racer? Competitive until the day Yamaha TDs found reliability..

 

[AlexB]

Tony, Great jacket, exactly that’s what I thought now you set the bar so high that no one will would posts a “normal” jacket she/he has own for some years.


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[ton312]

Tony, Great jacket, exactly that’s what I thought now you set the bar so high that no one will would posts a “normal” jacket she/he has own for some years.


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LOL. I can’t claim to have earned the wear but I do wear it as if I could. LOL!

 

[Edward]

Well I can't claim to be the person who gave this jacket it's wear but I do, through conversation with the original owner, know how it was achieved. This Bates padded CR was made in 1969 and the original owner was a sponsored motocross rider for Bultaco. He wore up until 1974 (my birth year) and then retired from the sport. He sent me pics of him wearing it during races, which I've somehow misplaced. Really cool guy and his stories about the m/c culture and racing circuit of the time were fascinating. For me this is the most iconic CR, Bates was a pioneer in the racing world with brightly colored leathers and innovative design. This jacket really captures the essence of the makers so cal ethos. It has literally been around the world and now it's back home for good. It is rife with permanent creases and the sleeve wear is hard to capture but this jacket is just a joy to wear and always receives admiration, even from the most cynical critic on earth, my wife.
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Very cool. Echoes of a letterman / varsity jacket, but much cooler. I love the absence of logos, which is what spoils most brightly coloured jackets I see these days. That's one I could actually imagine wearing.

 

[ton312]

Very cool. Echoes of a letterman / varsity jacket, but much cooler. I love the absence of logos, which is what spoils most brightly coloured jackets I see these days. That's one I could actually imagine wearing.

It’s certainly one of my all time favorites. It’s a unique jacket in and of itself but the story behind it really is the icing on the cake.

 

[technovox]

Love the story behind this blue padded Bates. Just gives it that much more gravitas- as if it wasn't cool enough already. Those early Bates racing jackets were the real deal...built for racers, steeped in lore, soaked in dust, sweat and oil. Just can't fake that kind of weathered look- the quintessential icon of 60's and 70's motorcycle racing jackets. Bates really deserves its own thread!

 

[torfjord]

Alright I’ll bite the bullet and follow up with my aero 30’s half belt, brown cxl fqhh. I’ve had this for a little more than 3 years now. Up until 1,5 years ago this was my only leather jacket and I wore it almost daily for the 1,5 year that I had it. No interesting stories, unless you’re excited to hear about the adventures of a man walking to work and home again and the the occasional playground hangouts with his daughter, ha!

But I really love how the leather has broken in, and I think this jacket is a good testament to how cxl can look if you wear it extensively. Something that I rarely see on here, as most people here either have too many jackets to put in the “wear time”, and/or OCD buying/selling jacket syndrome (BSJS).

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[Dav]

My FQHH Highwayman beater, bought in 2010

 

[AlexB]

Yeah! Now we’re talking! This thing is a stunner. Love the picture of you standing on the jacket. I am pretty sure this is what Aero envisions when they say „don’t baby the jacket, abuse it and it will only become nicer and nicer”


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[Edward]

Love the story behind this blue padded Bates. Just gives it that much more gravitas- as if it wasn't cool enough already. Those early Bates racing jackets were the real deal...built for racers, steeped in lore, soaked in dust, sweat and oil. Just can't fake that kind of weathered look- the quintessential icon of 60's and 70's motorcycle racing jackets. Bates really deserves its own thread!

The shape of the Bates and that very 60s/70s style makes me think of some of the GoldTop designs. I wonder if GT's 'custom jacket' option is up to that sort of recreation?

 

[barnabus]

The shape of the Bates and that very 60s/70s style makes me think of some of the GoldTop designs. I wonder if GT's 'custom jacket' option is up to that sort of recreation?

I think they might be. I exchanged a lot of emails with them last autumn when I was after something. I never followed through, but they seemed to be up for a much custom as your wallet can stomach.

 

[sweetfights]

Alright I’ll bite the bullet and follow up with my aero 30’s half belt, brown cxl fqhh. I’ve had this for a little more than 3 years now. Up until 1,5 years ago this was my only leather jacket and I wore it almost daily for the 1,5 year that I had it. No interesting stories, unless you’re excited to hear about the adventures of a man walking to work and home again and the the occasional playground hangouts with his daughter, ha!

But I really love how the leather has broken in, and I think this jacket is a good testament to how cxl can look if you wear it extensively. Something that I rarely see on here, as most people here either have too many jackets to put in the “wear time”, and/or OCD buying/selling jacket syndrome (BSJS).

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Classic- looks exactly as a high end well made jacket should, and fits perfectly. I hope my Half Belt incoming looks as good on me. Really.

 

[sweetfights]

My FQHH Highwayman beater, bought in 2010
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VERY well done!
That is the spirit.
And the jacket looks the better for it.
Thanks for the photos- the boots on jacket captures the essence of what I really appreciate and hope for in a jacket. My jacket should be able to take a bullet for me and happily shield my head from the dirtiest of scenes.

 

[Lebowski]

My FQHH Highwayman beater, bought in 2010
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Nick, I don't like it. Looks like jacket abuse.
After such acts that jacket looks quite unpleasant on the photos shown above. Too dirty and worn out.
Nothing cool.
Anyway, just my humble opinion.

 

[Dav]

I realize it's not going to be to everyone's taste, it is just my old beater though now. I wasn't standing on it to abuse it, far more of that is done with me just wearing it, I was just trying to show that it's fully broken in to the extent where it just doesn't matter anymore.

 

[Lebowski]

I realize it's not going to be to everyone's taste, it is just my old beater though now. I wasn't standing on it to abuse it, far more of that is done with me just wearing it, I was just trying to show that it's fully broken in to the extent where it just doesn't matter anymore.

Nick, if that was just kind of a metaphor from you - well, that hurts not too much then. But still hurts a bit. I mean the feeling of the jacket appearance.
You know, I usually just adore most photos of your jackets, most of which are absolutely fantastic.
But not this one definitely.
Even if it was just a metaphor from you, I still think it doesn't deserve such handling.
Anyway, it's your jacket, so of course you may do everything you want with that.
It was just my opinion.
Well, it's just not my cup of tea possibly.
No problem!)

 

[regius]

Alright I’ll bite the bullet and follow up with my aero 30’s half belt, brown cxl fqhh. I’ve had this for a little more than 3 years now. Up until 1,5 years ago this was my only leather jacket and I wore it almost daily for the 1,5 year that I had it. No interesting stories, unless you’re excited to hear about the adventures of a man walking to work and home again and the the occasional playground hangouts with his daughter, ha!

But I really love how the leather has broken in, and I think this jacket is a good testament to how cxl can look if you wear it extensively. Something that I rarely see on here, as most people here either have too many jackets to put in the “wear time”, and/or OCD buying/selling jacket syndrome (BSJS).

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Hi there, one important question, did you custom order this HB? And did they make the waist tapered to give it the V look? I currently own a 42 HB, but it’s a blue label and rack jacket, I’m suffering from its “bottle shape” look. I need to get it cinched in at the waist.




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[torfjord]

Hi there, one important question, did you custom order this HB? And did they make the waist tapered to give it the V look? I currently own a 42 HB, but it’s a blue label and rack jacket, I’m suffering from its “bottle shape” look. I need to get it cinched in at the waist.




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It was a custom order but I didn’t request any specific taper or measurements at all, nor any other mods. The side cinches are strapped in about halfway on my jacket. Sorry to hear about the bellshape of your HB.