Seeking Opinion: Yoke Or No Yoke

[navetsea]

to me the photos are self explaining
if the action back pleat is close to the shoulder/sleeve seam keep the yoke because that action back is not that useful to begin with (probably worth more of an expansion panel when you're layering clothes than a real shoulder movement), however if action back is further away from the shoulder and more to the center between your neck and shoulder which is a real useful action back then no yoke

 

[Fanch]

Cleaner lines and more aesthetically pleasing with the yoke. The only two leather jackets in my arsenal without yoke are my A-2 and G-1.

 

[Sloan1874]

I'd stick with the yoke. It's a nice detail.

 

[Superfluous]

Thanks all. Ordered with the yoke.

 

[pauleway]

I would go with the yoke, and I would also reconsider the pleated/bi-swing back. That is a very nice feature to have for comfort and looks and gives you a little more room in there if you want to wear a sweater/layer!

 

[Superfluous]

I would go with the yoke, and I would also reconsider the pleated/bi-swing back. That is a very nice feature to have for comfort and looks and gives you a little more room in there if you want to wear a sweater/layer!

I am getting the bi-swing back -- I am not getting the two small pleats that originate at the half-belt.

 

[Monitor]

I am getting the bi-swing back -- I am not getting the two small pleats that originate at the half-belt.

Super, what do you mean by pleats?

 

[willyto]

Super, what do you mean by pleats?

I guess he means these:

 

[Monitor]

Oooh! Right. Thanks, willyto. Why delete them, though? I really dug that as a detail on the HB I briefly had.

 

[Sloan1874]

Slightly more pronounced. Personally, I like them, but if you have an action back, you don't need them as they fulfill the same function.

 

[theundeadkennedy]

I went pleatless with my half belt and have never regretted it. It's a cleaner look in my opinion.


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[pauleway]

I am getting the bi-swing back -- I am not getting the two small pleats that originate at the half-belt.

Gotcha! I misunderstood.
I always liked the look of the Bi-swing back on a G-1 Navy flight jacket, which doesn't have a yoke, but I just got an Aero "August" HB WITH the yoke and it looks really good and is just as functional, and I think the yoke prevents the Bi-swing from "Bat-Winging" a little more than one without the yoke!

 

[Superfluous]

So I got the terminology wrong. What I was referring to as "pleats" are called "darts." That said, I am now thinking about also eliminating the pleats, aka (fake) bi-swing. I say "fake" because, per JC, bi-swings that end at the yoke are non-functional (aka fake). Also per JC, all bi-swings eventually get wavy and saggy. I agree that they look good when new, but I don't like the looks of bi-swings on older jackets (JC sent me several links). Thus, I am now swinging towards no bi-swing. I have asked JC whether incorporating the (fake) bi-swings allows him to cut the jacket slimmer. If not, I think the detriments may outweigh the benefits (particularly given that I will never wear a sweater under the jacket, and I will never need to reach for handle bars).

 

[navetsea]

dart might be useful to taper the lower back more but on thicker leather it might look not as neat as on thinner hide.
I think if you like the idea of \ / lines but only as accent, why not just a folded leather like this

 

[pauleway]

[QUOTE="Superfluous, I am thinking about eliminating the pleats, aka (fake) bi-swing. I say "fake" because, per JC, bi-swings that end at the yoke are non-functional (aka fake). Also per JC, all bi-swings eventually get wavy and saggy. I agree that they look good when new, but I don't like the looks of bi-swings on older jackets. Thus, I am now swinging towards no bi-swing.[/QUOTE]

I don't want to disagree with JC, but I have 3 jackets with the yoke/Bi-swing and they are very functional and make the jacket more comfortable to wear.
I do agree that when jackets with the Bi-swing get older they tend to sag and wave a little, but I would reconsider eliminating it from your jacket, JMHO!

 

[nick123]

We all eventually sag a little. Keep the bi-swing.

 

[Monitor]

I don't want to disagree with JC, but I have 3 jackets with the yoke/Bi-swing and they are very functional and make the jacket more comfortable to wear.
I do agree that when jackets with the Bi-swing get older they tend to sag and wave a little, but I would reconsider eliminating it from your jacket, JMHO!

Yep, I don't get the fake part either. The back yoke doesn't really affect the full action back in any way, as the most stress / pulling occurs at the armpit level.

 

[ProteinNerd]

IMO this model jacket, whether you call it a Modoc or Surrogates, without the bi-swing back is effectively just a generic half belt. Still lovely but a lot more common.

 

[Monitor]

And besides, the elastic band is there precisely so there wouldn't be any sagging. I've had it replaced on two jackets with full action back that exhibited bat-wings, and it remedied the problem.

 

[Carlos840]

My ELC Californian has pretty much the same bi-swing, i don't find it really helps with range of motion.
It does stretch a little when you reach forward, but you still get a pinch at the point where it reaches the yoke.
The full bi-swing on the cafe racer on the other hand is great, and really gives you a lot of reach.

On my ELMC there is no elastic band and the bi-swing looks funny and puffy after a year.
My Schott has an elastic, and it also looks funny and puffy on one side.
The AL has the best (most functional) by swing and i don't think it will ever puff out.

I don't think these bi swings look bad even when they start showing age, it's all part of the deal.