Side Laces on Motorcycle Jacket?

[Motorbass]

It depends. They looks horrific on some jackets and great on others the Cal-leather CHP comes to mind. As it is overall a rather minimal design for a cross-zip the tangling leather cords of the laces do not really disturb. On some Langlitz or Vanson they looks a bit over the top. Somebody described them on the Vanson Extreme as "corsett" which kinda nails it. Below some images of my Cal-leather CHP.

Sent from my SM-N910C using Tapatalk

 

[Superfluous]

 

[user290389023]

It depends. They looks horrific on some jackets and great on others the Cal-leather CHP comes to mind. As it is overall a rather minimal design for a cross-zip the tangling leather cords of the laces do not really disturb. On some Langlitz or Vanson they looks a bit over the top. Somebody described them on the Vanson Extreme as "corsett" which kinda nails it. Below some images of my Cal-leather CHP.

Sent from my SM-N910C using Tapatalk

Jesus Christ thats a nice jacket. Is it Cal Leather?

 

[Motorbass]

Jesus Christ thats a nice jacket. Is it Cal Leather?

Yes. Probably 1960ies

Sent from my SM-N910C using Tapatalk

 

[Edward]

Corset is what coems to mind for me - I've worn a few of those over the years in Rocky Horror fandom - though in away this is the opposite. These laces seem to be about moulding the jacket to the body dhape, whereas the point of a corset is, of course, to shape the body to the corset.

 

[user290389023]

Yes. Probably 1960ies

Sent from my SM-N910C using Tapatalk

Is that Horsehide or extremely thicc cowhide?

 

[Guppy]

Is that Horsehide or extremely thicc cowhide?

1960s Cal Leather jackets are something next-level.

 

[Motorbass]

Is that Horsehide or extremely thicc cowhide?

It's not market in regards of the leather. Afaik Cal-leather primarely used Horsehide for the CHP jackets in the 60ies. It also has the hand of Horsehide.

Sent from my SM-N910C using Tapatalk

 

[ton312]

The laces as I mentioned before help tailor the fit. The model E uses the corset laces to allow the midsection to be drawn in while the hip slightly flares. It’s a longer jacket than the Cal LAPD which typically sits very short and above the belt. I never cared for that look personally despite the jackets being made from incredible HH and having more than adequate sleeve length. If my belt is showing, for me, that’s a problem. Clever camouflage shirt wearing grows tiresome and when I did ride I preferred the action back of a Vanson.
Apologies for the horrible denim featured below.

50’s era CAL: (sitting a good 1.5” above my belt) but hidden by undershirt.

 

[user290389023]

The laces as I mentioned before help tailor the fit. The model E uses the corset laces to allow the midsection to be drawn in while the hip slightly flares. It’s a longer jacket than the Cal LAPD which typically sits very short and above the belt. I never cared for that look personally despite the jackets being made from incredible HH and having more than adequate sleeve length. If my belt is showing, for me, that’s a problem. Clever camouflage shirt wearing grows tiresome and when I did ride I preferred the action back of a Vanson.
Apologies for the horrible denim featured below.
View attachment 168155 View attachment 168156
50’s era CAL: (sitting a good 1.5” above my belt) but hidden by undershirt.
View attachment 168158

Looks nice! But zip the ends, imo looks 1000 times better..

 

[user290389023]

It depends. They looks horrific on some jackets and great on others the Cal-leather CHP comes to mind. As it is overall a rather minimal design for a cross-zip the tangling leather cords of the laces do not really disturb. On some Langlitz or Vanson they looks a bit over the top. Somebody described them on the Vanson Extreme as "corsett" which kinda nails it. Below some images of my Cal-leather CHP.

Sent from my SM-N910C using Tapatalk

Also how heavy is that jacket?
1,3mm? 1,4mm? 1,5mm?? It looks super thick but maybe its just the stiff horsehide...

 

[Motorbass]

Also how heavy is that jacket?
1,3mm? 1,4mm? 1,5mm?? It looks super thick but maybe its just the stiff horsehide...

I actually don't know, but the jacket is very (very!) Heavy. My guess would be 1.5mm

Sent from my SM-N910C using Tapatalk

 

[Bahabp100]

Where do you guys get replacement side laces if one rips or gets lost ?

 

[stmike]

Where do you guys get replacement side laces if one rips or gets lost ?

I've been to shoe repair shops that carry leather lacing.

 

[feltfan]

Haven't looked at this thread for a while.
I have a Johnson that was made for me around 25 years ago. Yes, people ask if it is "vintage", and it is...
but also made for me... You can see pictures somewhere around here and I promise more pics soon.
When Alan first measured me he counseled that I leave a little extra room so it would still fit years later.
I explained that I had no plans to gain that much weight... Well it turns out of course that he was right
(and it's not just fat- the body changes... but a lot of it is fat).

Point is, in all that time I have never set out to re-adjust the laces for a better fit. It's a pretty flexible setup I guess.
I think I'd be just as good with wire or knotted leather that I could not adjust. As some have suggested, a strap with
a buckle (a la half belts) would be just as good, and tidier, if that is what you are looking for.

 

[Fifty150]

the Cal LAPD which typically sits very short and above the belt

That is a jacket made for carrying a gun, on a Sam Brown belt. The stitched on belt keepers attach the Sam Brown belt to the jacket. If you are sitting on a motorcycle, it allows the duty belt with all of the equipment to ride in a comfortable position.

corset laces to allow the midsection to be drawn in while the hip slightly flares

In the old days, bike jackets had kidney pads. The laces helped cinch them down. Motorcycles had engines which bolted directly onto the frame of the bike frame, without rubber motor mounts. The bike frame also had a hard tail suspension. Combine that with bad roads, and supposedly you needed a kidney pad on your jacket, cinched down tight, or risk health problems. I don't know. I'm not that old. But I do remember Harleys with rigid, hard tail frames, without rubber motor mounts.

 

[navetsea]

hard to believe a kidney panel is designed as solution to ride hard tail. I think a better solution is just bend over a bit so your whole body flex together as suspension and not sitting vertically on your spine.

 

[jonbuilder]

Must be useful for off the rack jackets, but if you custom order it shouldnt be that roomy around the torso, i prefer side zip, snug when fully zipped, but releasing the zip a little would accomodate bulkier belt, or more leaning riding posture.

Custom-fit does no adjust for layering, weight changes, or how tight of fit desired for the purpose. I want a tighter fit riding a motorcycle than riding in a car.

 

[ton312]

I'm not that old. But I do remember Harleys with rigid, hard tail frames, without rubber motor mounts.

I do too! In fact I have one parked in my garage.

No amount of clothing or support can protect your back from a rigid. Not a long distance machine. Bar hopping at its finest though.

 

[roadking04]

Bar hopping at its finest though.

Rock on!