The Break In is Real - Share Your Stories

[Turnip]

Leave it that way, too Village People with chain, or try the real deal (dander chain)...

 

[Will Zach]

The two i am currently working on

With axes...?

 

[JMax]

The two i am currently working on, Vanson Commando in CXL on the left and Vanson Cycle Champ on the right
They are both pretty thin and soft but still stand up:

How’s the Cycle Champ? I know the Commando is slick.

 

[AeroFan_07]

All 4 of mine like to stand to attention, but may relax a bit against the wall. I need to work on thier Posture.

Aero 4-pocket CR (2012 - worn very little by first owner) FQHH

Aero Premier Highwayman - FQHH (Tony's Blue V1) 2019

Lost Worlds J23 FQHH 2020

And just to show it can be done - Aero Indian Ranger - Vicenza FQHH 2019

 

[Harris HTM]

Badalassi does this too, though I had to close the buttons to do so (is that a cheat?)

 

[Carlos840]

How’s the Cycle Champ? I know the Commando is slick.

It's a great jacket, the pattern is my favourite Vanson yet, it is super comfortable.
Leather is X150, which is nice, it doesn't have the open pores that are common on the comp weight for the moment.
I asked Constantine more info about the pattern (is it an exact copy of an OG Harley jacket or just a cosmetic rework of a traditional Vanson pattern) but he hasn't answered yet.
I'l post a few pics once it is broken in, but i highly recommend it, it really is cool.

 

[JMax]

It's a great jacket, the pattern is my favourite Vanson yet, it is super comfortable.
Leather is X150, which is nice, it doesn't have the open pores that are common on the comp weight for the moment.
I asked Constantine more info about the pattern (is it an exact copy of an OG Harley jacket or just a cosmetic rework of a traditional Vanson pattern) but he hasn't answered yet.
I'l post a few pics once it is broken in, but i highly recommend it, it really is cool.

Thanks. I’ve been eyeballing it for a couple of years. Looks awesome. Did you purchase through the Harley museum store? How was that like?

 

[Carlos840]

Thanks. I’ve been eyeballing it for a couple of years. Looks awesome. Did you purchase through the Harley museum store? How was that like?

I did, and it was a mess, but they sorted it out.

When i ordered i asked them to double QC the jacket they were shipping me, since it was shipping from the US to EU, import taxes, expensive shipping, i really wanted to make sure i had no reason to send the jacket back.

They tell me no worries, we'll check everything, the jacket ships.

They somehow screwed up the address, they used the correct street name, but a randome incorrect postcode and wrote Germany instead of Belgium as the country...
As you can imagine, the jacket took a month to reach me, it went all over germany, then came back to Belgium, then they didn't want to deliver it cause the address didn't exist and i had to go pick it up miles away and got nailed by customs (200 somethign euros).

I finally get to open the jacket, instantly notice this:

The side seam is completely torn, opened a good 1" above the bottom hem... As you can imagine i was pretty pissed. I send HD and Constantine an email, they offer to fix it, i say no i would rather get a new one as this one has to be completely torn open to be fixed.

HD sends me a prepaid label to return itstraight to Vanson, my address is still wrong on it, i mention it, they tell me to use it anyway. I drop the jacket off at a parcelshop.

One month later, doorbell rings, UPS is back, delivering the same exact jacket unrepaired back to me.
For some reason the parcel had spent a month going around in circles in Germany and then was sent back to me...
I lost my s...t!

I call HD again, ask them WTF is going on, they tell give me a new label, ask me to send it back, AGAIN.

Constantine did something, the replacement went in production super fast, a week later i had a new jacket in my hands.
Now, the new one isn't as well made as the OG torn one, the stitching is not as nice overall, but it's still a very nice jacket.

It took two and a half months between ordering and getting the jacket, but HD was very communicative throughout and even though they screwed up pretty badly, they really tried to fix the issues.
They sent me a package with a few freebies to appologize (a t-shirt, a hoodie and a fleece jacket, i will never wear them as they are cheap poly crap with giant skulls and branding everywhere, but the intention was nice.)

 

[JMax]

@Carlos840 damn, I would have flipped too. The open seam is ridiculous. Glad Constantine did something. The jacket may be a tweaked Thunderbird, if I recall the back of the HD jacket correctly.

 

[Carlos840]

@Carlos840 damn, I would have flipped too. The open seam is ridiculous. Glad Constantine did something. The jacket may be a tweaked Thunderbird, if I recall the back of the HD jacket correctly.

If you want to have a go, i am a M both in Commando and Cycle champ, here are measurements straight from Constantine:

SIZE: M SIZE: L
Chest Circumference 45" 48"
Bottom Sweep 41" 44"
Sleeve Length (Nape to wrist) 35.25" 36"
Center Front Length 22.50" 23"
Center Back Length 25.50" 26"
Across Shoulders 19.50" 20.25"

I would say the Champ is 1" shorter than the commando, has "better" sleeves that close tighter at the wrist and have a more natural curve, the body is a little bit more hourglass shaped than the V shaped commando.
I think it would probably suit your body type better than the commando.

 

[dannyk]

It's a great jacket, the pattern is my favourite Vanson yet, it is super comfortable.
Leather is X150, which is nice, it doesn't have the open pores that are common on the comp weight for the moment.
I asked Constantine more info about the pattern (is it an exact copy of an OG Harley jacket or just a cosmetic rework of a traditional Vanson pattern) but he hasn't answered yet.
I'l post a few pics once it is broken in, but i highly recommend it, it really is cool.

Dammit that was my next jacket. Ive wanted one for forever but have to sell a few first. Been super busy lately and havent focused on getting them sold for a long time. That Vanson was a dream of mine. But fine if anyone is going to get to one first it can be you haha. Cant wait to see and hear more about it. See if its worth the dreams Ive been having about it.

 

[red devil]

I was able to stand a Lewis Leathers of all things once

Not sure if it still stands though

 

[GHT]

The Break in is Real: Do be careful how you word a thread. There was me thinking that you've had a break in and your collection had gone.
I nearly went and laid in a darkened room with a damp towel over my head. Don't do that to me.

 

[Jedy617]

Badalassi does this too, though I had to close the buttons to do so (is that a cheat?)
View attachment 265295 View attachment 265296

How is your badalassi breaking in? Wonder if it will get to a similar level of suppleness as my used CXL jacket; but being vegetable tan, that probably won't be the case. The CXL is heavy, but very pliable, not so much the badalassi after 5+ wears

 

[Harris HTM]

How is your badalassi breaking in? Wonder if it will get to a similar level of suppleness as my used CXL jacket; but being vegetable tan, that probably won't be the case. The CXL is heavy, but very pliable, not so much the badalassi after 5+ wears

To be honest I haven't worn it that much either; it is less than a year old, I own many leather and textile jackets that I rotate and due to the pandemic I have barely worn a leather jacket in months... It is still stiff especially at the torso; the sleeves seem to be more pliable now.

 

[Turnip]

Not only leather jackets stand of their own. Worse, these ducks need to be rebroken after every turn in the washing machine...or tumble dried...

Cheers

Turnip

 

[Hh121]

I did, and it was a mess, but they sorted it out.

When i ordered i asked them to double QC the jacket they were shipping me, since it was shipping from the US to EU, import taxes, expensive shipping, i really wanted to make sure i had no reason to send the jacket back.

They tell me no worries, we'll check everything, the jacket ships.

They somehow screwed up the address, they used the correct street name, but a randome incorrect postcode and wrote Germany instead of Belgium as the country...
As you can imagine, the jacket took a month to reach me, it went all over germany, then came back to Belgium, then they didn't want to deliver it cause the address didn't exist and i had to go pick it up miles away and got nailed by customs (200 somethign euros).

I finally get to open the jacket, instantly notice this:

The side seam is completely torn, opened a good 1" above the bottom hem... As you can imagine i was pretty pissed. I send HD and Constantine an email, they offer to fix it, i say no i would rather get a new one as this one has to be completely torn open to be fixed.

HD sends me a prepaid label to return itstraight to Vanson, my address is still wrong on it, i mention it, they tell me to use it anyway. I drop the jacket off at a parcelshop.

One month later, doorbell rings, UPS is back, delivering the same exact jacket unrepaired back to me.
For some reason the parcel had spent a month going around in circles in Germany and then was sent back to me...
I lost my s...t!

I call HD again, ask them WTF is going on, they tell give me a new label, ask me to send it back, AGAIN.

Constantine did something, the replacement went in production super fast, a week later i had a new jacket in my hands.
Now, the new one isn't as well made as the OG torn one, the stitching is not as nice overall, but it's still a very nice jacket.

It took two and a half months between ordering and getting the jacket, but HD was very communicative throughout and even though they screwed up pretty badly, they really tried to fix the issues.
They sent me a package with a few freebies to appologize (a t-shirt, a hoodie and a fleece jacket, i will never wear them as they are cheap poly crap with giant skulls and branding everywhere, but the intention was nice.)

I like this one, what's the weight of the jacket? Does it feel flimsy?

 

[Carlos840]

I like this one, what's the weight of the jacket? Does it feel flimsy?

For you, yes it will feel flimsy...
The jacket weighs 2.97kg (6.55lb), it is made from what i think is their regular X150 leather.
It's a great jacket, just not that heavy weight.

 

[Hh121]

For you, yes it will feel flimsy...
The jacket weighs 2.97kg (6.55lb), it is made from what i think is their regular X150 leather.
It's a great jacket, just not that heavy weight.

great, I will get one.

 

[Turnip]

Wearing the Pony quite often, especially driving the car, it gets tamer with the time. Even collar and front becoming more and more co-operative now.