Vanson AR3 or Mk2 CSRX SportRider Jacket?

[Kane]

Hello good people,
I hope everyone is well and happy and doing OK.
I’m looking for a little input on a jacket purchase that I about to place with Vanson.
I am ordering a pair of SportRider pants and I want to pair them with a jacket. Both jacket and pants will require a special order to add length to the legs and sleeves.
I am getting these for motorcycle riding. I currently do not own armored riding gear, and Vanson seems like the highest quality and value for what I will be getting. I have tried on an off-the-rack SportRider pant and Mk2 CSRX SportRider jacket, so I know what they’re like, but they need to be custom fitted for me.

So here’s my quandary: The SportRider jacket I have tried seems really well made and designed, definitely a focused serious riding jacket. A few things that I am on the fence about: The cut may be a bit short. I know that it is cut for sitting on a bike in a riding crouch. I can zip the jacket to the pants for a quasi two-piece suit and have very good coverage. However, if I am using the jacket without the zipped-on pants I am wondering if it’s going to be a little short in the back (riding up above my belt line). And also if I am riding in a more upright position perhaps the front may seems a little short and not affford as much coverage over the waist. So, I am feeling that while the SportRider jacket is a super sport riding designed jacket, its short cut, tight chest when standing, lack of outside pockets, may render it too focused for an everyday general purpose riding jacket that I would also be wearing off the bike. Also, how well does the Velcro waist closure hold up over the years? I don’t understand the design behind this. Why not do a more traditional full length zipper, or a simpler snap closer at the waist. Why the Velcro waist closure? Is this a race design thing?

Which leads me to ponder the Vanson AR3 jacket: I have not actually seen this jacket in person, but this seems more of the classic CR style but with added armor. From the description on the Vanson site it sounds like it has a longer cut, more of a skirt. Pockets, too. I am feeling that if I were to have only one of these two jackets, while the AR3 is not so much of focused sport riding design it may serve better as an everyday ride-and-wear-around jacket. It has armor. How much bulk does the armor add the CR style and fit? Does the armor interfere with a classic CR fit and feel? The one downside that I see with going with the AR3 is that I can’t zip the jacket and pants together, but I would probably not be doing that all of the time anyway, and the AR3 looks like its longer cut may make this a non-issue, whereas I wonder if the shorter cut of the SportRider jacket could be a problem if it is not zipped down on the pants.
I am a recreational sport, sport/touring type of rider. I ride in the canyons but don’t need a track suit. I think either jacket would be great and plenty of jacket for me. For those of you who know both jackets, please chime in with your thoughts. Much appreciated!

Cheers and best wishes!
Kane

 

[Monitor]

You've done your research, Kane. Not much else I can add that might help you out. I had both jackets, actually, Model A several times over to be exact and it is one of my favorites by Vanson. Brilliant jacket but I can say the same about the SportRider.

But I've reached the same conclusion that you have - they're completely different beasts and it's hard to recommend one over the other.

Model A is the most serious riding jacket Vanson has in their traditional (as in not strictly moto dedicated) line and if you want a jacket that'll double for casual as well, that's what I'd go for. But yeah, it's almost as good as SportRider but then again, nothing on the market really is 'cause SportRider is THE motorcycle jacket. It's a piece of equipment and that's how it fits.
That said, I personally love the look of the SportRider worn casually and the jacket being too moto wouldn't bother me at all 'cause it's deadly cool. Vanson really nailed it with that one.

Anyway, what I can tell you about the SportRider, the reason behind the Velcro is so that you can adjust & tighten the jacket around the waist even more and make the jacket skintight so that it'll sit in place. In racing, even half an inch makes a difference and that wouldn't of course be possible with just the snaps.
The one I had was really old but the Velcro held out just fine. Vanson is using that heavy grade kinda Velcro so it ought to be just fine, I wouldn't worry about it.

But I think you'd be a bit more happier with an A. You can get the armor out when you'll wear it casually and it is a really cool looking cafe racer, great for just about any occasion you can think of. It's a classy jacket that fits great!

 

[Kane]

....SportRider is THE motorcycle jacket. It's a piece of equipment and that's how it fits....

Monitor, I appreciate that.
Thanks for your good insights!

 

[Bjorn240]

I have a Sportrider (2 actually - one solid, one perforated). And I have an AR2. And I have a Vanson x Union Garage V7. And I have Vanson pants.

I think the V7 is the best “real motorcycle jacket that can be worn casually” of the bunch. And it zips to Vanson Traveler/Sportrider pants.

That’s what I would recommend.

Let me know how/if I can help with pictures etc.

 

[Kane]

Thank you very much! After much deliberation I’ve gone ahead and ordered the Sportrider jacket along with the Sportrider pants. Woohoo! This will be my first set of high end riding gear. My riding jacket for a while has been an old Cal-Leather LAPD, and it’s great, but I wanted to upgrade to more dedicated sport riding gear. I feel pretty good going with the Sportrider jacket. If it’s as good as I hope it will be I may go ahead and get the AR2/3 later. Thanks again for your input!

Let me ask you a question on the pants: Vanson sent me a sample Sportrider pant to try, and we determined that the inseam needs to be longer and the knee pads a bit lower than the off-the-rack sample. I have no ass and skinny legs, and while I was able to wear the sample pants comfortably with a thin thermal layer underneath, even with the extra layer they were pretty roomy, fitting like a roomy pair of jeans and a little baggy in the seat. I think I may need to ask for them to be more fitted. How much room do you guys like in leather riding pants? I know that they have to fitted well enough for the armor to stay in place, but how what is the ideal snugness for a leather pant used for recreational sport / sport touring type of riding?
Also, when the pants are zipped to the jacket, should there be enough slack in the waist area for the zipped together combo to float a bit, or is it best to size the waist for a snug fit?

I’m really looking forward to these......but the wait begins!
Cheers!

 

[RustyM]

My sport rider pants are very baggy in the seat, I have to pull them up like mom jeans to make them look like I'm not carry a load in the rear, lol.

 

[Bjorn240]

The rear zipper should definitely float a bit. I like the sizes like slim straight jeans or so. Not like leathers, but not too much room either. I find the cut to work well for me and to be true to size and I’m pretty average build.