johnnyjohnny
Practically Family
- Messages
- 633
- Location
- lake balboa
[NOTE, as of today i am exchanging this size for ANOTHER one up, from 48 to 50. these are tight, well formed, and cut to be in riding position. i wear a 42 reg suit and need to take a 50 in this jacket, and that's without the protective padding shoulder/arm inserts. i do like a touch of looseness in my jackets, but i think in the photo here you'll see the jacket is a bit too tight. However, as a piece of riding equipment, that is probably totally justified, but called vanson and they have a 50 waiting for me when this gets back there.]
above, link to me wearing my new vanson sportrider mark2 properf, taken in the worst mirror in the world. it's a short jacket but not as short as looks in the mirror, raising my arm to hoist my canon 2ti hiked up the jacket. the bottom actually covers half my belt.
vanson ad picture of this jacket with a model dude, front side
vanson ad picture of back
Well, if you have about six bills to spend on a summer motorcycle jacket, or out here in cafilornia (sic) most of the year hot weather jack, there is none other to get than this baby. that’s not to even mention build and materials quality which, i dare proffer, is the best out there (am proud this is made in the U.S.!)
of course i could only be talking of the reeeemarkable Vanson Leathers mark 2 sportrider properf. this is the one for which the leather is perforated on the back, sleeves and front (they do have models with lesser sections perfed).
i had a little discretionary earned income and of course, like a heroin addict, had to spend it on my addiction, motorcycle jackets. but only the best. my last review was of the superb schott 641. this vanson mark 2 sportrider properf is a different beast altogether, which makes collecting moto jacks so much fun!
both U.S.made, though the schott has that off the shelf quality with a few overly long threads and a slightly generic fit which i very much like as it's authentic and cool looking.
the vanson, just for kix of comparing to the schott, is more a perfectly built creature. every i dotted, every t crossed, no long threads...no nothing that's not perfect. as for fit, these are more like a fitted suit vis a vis the schott's off the rack look...meaning the vanson is comparable to a hugo boss with it's lean to-the-body lines in this particular model, which is a bike racer style.
if anyone thought the retro sized/cut schott 641 was sized smaller, then welcome to a whole new concept in small sizing as the vanson sportriders (all the same basic jacket with different options for different models, such as the cobra, etc) are a full two sizes smaller than you need. my schott 641 is stated to be a size smaller than other schotts (stated on the schott website), and it is. the vanson sportrider is that small, and a bit smaller yet. i got a size 48 in the schott 641 and it's a nice comfortable fit. the vanson is about 1/3" smaller in the armpit to armpit measurement for a size 48, for a total circumference 2/3" smaller than the same size schott 641.
but still, this is a racer style, so really not meant to be too loosey goosey. and if you look at the pix around the net of people with these on, forgive me for saying but they all look like geeks, even though they've followed the vanson size chart perfectly. hopefully they don't wear their pants at floodwater level too.
so, get these bigger if you don't want to look like stuart smalley.
BUT, to the real reason for getting these (aside from it being an astounding moto racer style cafe racer jack...and i mean astounding). the unbelievable wearability in warm weather. i expected some coolness, but not the delightful feel of a breeze flowing through me that this fully perfed jack gives. it's almost metaphysical...spiritual even...like cool substance flowing through you. NEVER felt anything so cool...in multiple meanings of the word!
it's competition weight leather, but the thousands of drilled holes remove a bit of the weight of an unperfed vanson. sounds like i'm talking cop speak...i was a cop beat reporter for years so i know. but, you SHOULD be arrested if you DON'T get this jacket!
prior to my ordering it, vanson confirmed over the phone it is their coolest riding jacket (temp wise he meant...those guys at vanson are serious, no jokes...speaking of sounding like cops!).
back to fit, aside from the several sizes too small if you follow the sizing chart, i literally told the vanson guy on the phone i needed at least 25.5" armpit to armpit in this jacket. well, they are spare in boston...i got 25.3"! but it was too gawjus to send back. and with the perfed leather i'm expecting it might not only stretch a bit as it is wearing in, but vanson makes it clear these jackets are stiff out of the box (wish i was, but that's another story) and will conform to your shape as worn.
one thing also i love about this vanson is the cool hidden side straps that can pull in the waist another 1.5" per side, or a total of 3" off the waist if needed. with the six months it takes if you want to order your size custom (again, according to vanson), better to get an off the rack size if in stock, if you can.
the fully perf sportsrider mark 2 is amazing simply to wear and feel the air go through you as if you were a ghost or spirit. it's definitely a summer jack, especially if you get on a bike and increase airflow by riding (which i don't...totally a poser in these...tho wearing this makes me feel very kewl even in my car).
it's so comfie you feel like keeping the cafe racer collar buttoned and the jacket zipped, and wearing it like a leather shirt.
the back to front ratio is neato too. for moto riding the back has a kidney panel that is several inches lower in the back. if you are a poser (read that as NOT rider) like me, the lower 'rise' in the back is sort of like a lacoste polo shirt...a few inches higher in the front, and lower in the back. these are racer style (ad nauseum i shall say it) so it is a short jacket. even with the lower back, it's only a tad longer than 26" in the back in a size 48.
did i say i love this jacket? i never thought i'd be able to get a leather motorcycle jacket that could truly be worn in the summer...thought it was a pipe dream. thought i maybe might possibly come somewhere near that with this jacket...but wearing it makes the dream true for those of us living in warm/hot climes.
i'm wearing it as i type...allowing the jack to continue it's conforming. it's definitely a jacket that will fit better with the years. and with the construct quality and quality of the leather, you might be leaving this to someone in your will.
as for the protection, this comes with shoulder and elbow pads, but i always take them out. with the smaller sizing on this, it was crucial they do come out for this to even fit. and re the zip sleeves, i lovvvvvvve them. if i rode they would zip up and be skintite. but as a casual jacket, i leave them completely unzipped, the sleeve is so lean tapered.
no outer pockets on this, but i learned to do without them during my A-2 fetish phase...only milspec A-2s for me, so no side entry pocks did i ever have.
my only sadness is the big waist flap that replaces a normal buckle, but instead is sealed with velcro. for true riders, which this is built for, it's great. but for a poser like moi, i'd rather have a buckle than this velcro that flaps closed whenever i zip the jacket up at all. but what the heck, it looks pretty cool, like everything else with this jacket.
in fact that's what this jacket is all about in all respects. cool.
and to get that cool, believe me, it's worth the bucks. just make sure you get two full sizes bigger than your normal. enjoy. i am : D
above, link to me wearing my new vanson sportrider mark2 properf, taken in the worst mirror in the world. it's a short jacket but not as short as looks in the mirror, raising my arm to hoist my canon 2ti hiked up the jacket. the bottom actually covers half my belt.
vanson ad picture of this jacket with a model dude, front side
vanson ad picture of back
Well, if you have about six bills to spend on a summer motorcycle jacket, or out here in cafilornia (sic) most of the year hot weather jack, there is none other to get than this baby. that’s not to even mention build and materials quality which, i dare proffer, is the best out there (am proud this is made in the U.S.!)
of course i could only be talking of the reeeemarkable Vanson Leathers mark 2 sportrider properf. this is the one for which the leather is perforated on the back, sleeves and front (they do have models with lesser sections perfed).
i had a little discretionary earned income and of course, like a heroin addict, had to spend it on my addiction, motorcycle jackets. but only the best. my last review was of the superb schott 641. this vanson mark 2 sportrider properf is a different beast altogether, which makes collecting moto jacks so much fun!
both U.S.made, though the schott has that off the shelf quality with a few overly long threads and a slightly generic fit which i very much like as it's authentic and cool looking.
the vanson, just for kix of comparing to the schott, is more a perfectly built creature. every i dotted, every t crossed, no long threads...no nothing that's not perfect. as for fit, these are more like a fitted suit vis a vis the schott's off the rack look...meaning the vanson is comparable to a hugo boss with it's lean to-the-body lines in this particular model, which is a bike racer style.
if anyone thought the retro sized/cut schott 641 was sized smaller, then welcome to a whole new concept in small sizing as the vanson sportriders (all the same basic jacket with different options for different models, such as the cobra, etc) are a full two sizes smaller than you need. my schott 641 is stated to be a size smaller than other schotts (stated on the schott website), and it is. the vanson sportrider is that small, and a bit smaller yet. i got a size 48 in the schott 641 and it's a nice comfortable fit. the vanson is about 1/3" smaller in the armpit to armpit measurement for a size 48, for a total circumference 2/3" smaller than the same size schott 641.
but still, this is a racer style, so really not meant to be too loosey goosey. and if you look at the pix around the net of people with these on, forgive me for saying but they all look like geeks, even though they've followed the vanson size chart perfectly. hopefully they don't wear their pants at floodwater level too.
so, get these bigger if you don't want to look like stuart smalley.
BUT, to the real reason for getting these (aside from it being an astounding moto racer style cafe racer jack...and i mean astounding). the unbelievable wearability in warm weather. i expected some coolness, but not the delightful feel of a breeze flowing through me that this fully perfed jack gives. it's almost metaphysical...spiritual even...like cool substance flowing through you. NEVER felt anything so cool...in multiple meanings of the word!
it's competition weight leather, but the thousands of drilled holes remove a bit of the weight of an unperfed vanson. sounds like i'm talking cop speak...i was a cop beat reporter for years so i know. but, you SHOULD be arrested if you DON'T get this jacket!
prior to my ordering it, vanson confirmed over the phone it is their coolest riding jacket (temp wise he meant...those guys at vanson are serious, no jokes...speaking of sounding like cops!).
back to fit, aside from the several sizes too small if you follow the sizing chart, i literally told the vanson guy on the phone i needed at least 25.5" armpit to armpit in this jacket. well, they are spare in boston...i got 25.3"! but it was too gawjus to send back. and with the perfed leather i'm expecting it might not only stretch a bit as it is wearing in, but vanson makes it clear these jackets are stiff out of the box (wish i was, but that's another story) and will conform to your shape as worn.
one thing also i love about this vanson is the cool hidden side straps that can pull in the waist another 1.5" per side, or a total of 3" off the waist if needed. with the six months it takes if you want to order your size custom (again, according to vanson), better to get an off the rack size if in stock, if you can.
the fully perf sportsrider mark 2 is amazing simply to wear and feel the air go through you as if you were a ghost or spirit. it's definitely a summer jack, especially if you get on a bike and increase airflow by riding (which i don't...totally a poser in these...tho wearing this makes me feel very kewl even in my car).
it's so comfie you feel like keeping the cafe racer collar buttoned and the jacket zipped, and wearing it like a leather shirt.
the back to front ratio is neato too. for moto riding the back has a kidney panel that is several inches lower in the back. if you are a poser (read that as NOT rider) like me, the lower 'rise' in the back is sort of like a lacoste polo shirt...a few inches higher in the front, and lower in the back. these are racer style (ad nauseum i shall say it) so it is a short jacket. even with the lower back, it's only a tad longer than 26" in the back in a size 48.
did i say i love this jacket? i never thought i'd be able to get a leather motorcycle jacket that could truly be worn in the summer...thought it was a pipe dream. thought i maybe might possibly come somewhere near that with this jacket...but wearing it makes the dream true for those of us living in warm/hot climes.
i'm wearing it as i type...allowing the jack to continue it's conforming. it's definitely a jacket that will fit better with the years. and with the construct quality and quality of the leather, you might be leaving this to someone in your will.
as for the protection, this comes with shoulder and elbow pads, but i always take them out. with the smaller sizing on this, it was crucial they do come out for this to even fit. and re the zip sleeves, i lovvvvvvve them. if i rode they would zip up and be skintite. but as a casual jacket, i leave them completely unzipped, the sleeve is so lean tapered.
no outer pockets on this, but i learned to do without them during my A-2 fetish phase...only milspec A-2s for me, so no side entry pocks did i ever have.
my only sadness is the big waist flap that replaces a normal buckle, but instead is sealed with velcro. for true riders, which this is built for, it's great. but for a poser like moi, i'd rather have a buckle than this velcro that flaps closed whenever i zip the jacket up at all. but what the heck, it looks pretty cool, like everything else with this jacket.
in fact that's what this jacket is all about in all respects. cool.
and to get that cool, believe me, it's worth the bucks. just make sure you get two full sizes bigger than your normal. enjoy. i am : D
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