Vanson jacket appreciation

[BB1239]

Long time lurker, first time posting. Bought this Vanson from "the bay" a few months ago for riding and I love it! Thanks to @Monitor recommendation on this post: https://www.thefedoralounge.com/thr...n-motorcycle-jackets-recommend-me-one.103100/ He was right, amazing riding jacket. This thing feels like a tank! Yet very comfortable because of the great pattern. Definitely older Competition Weight leather, from the Sport Rider collection. Apparently this is a model they stopped making a while back. Best I can tell this jacket was made around 1993 or 1994. The Sportrider line is cut very short in the front. I'm a size 42 and this 42 was perfect, the front just covers my belt when on the bike in an upright position, and the back of the jacket almost touches the seat. The venting on this jacket is amazing, great for summer hot riding. No armor, but double thick leather in elbows and shoulders. Generous upper fit and very snug at the waist. Definitely couldn't layer under this thing for colder temps. It's amazing how Vanson can make a jacket pattern which fits my size perfectly, so snug and protective, and not restrict movement or be uncomfortable at all. New Vanson fan here.

Liked this Vanson so much, I ordered a used Model B for non-summer riding, which should be here in a few days. I'm convinced this forum creates leather addictions

 

[morrison2951]

Welcome to Club Vanson!

 

[BB1239]

Welcome to Club Vanson!

Thanks! I love this forum

 

[Bawheid]

Love Vanson. I have 3 variants.

Steerhide Comet
Steerhide Comet perforated
Steerhide Sturgis

All 3 for different riding temperature and weather conditions.
BUT none for the rain , they never see it !

 

[panigale]

Careful, those Vansons multiply when you're not looking.

 

[BB1239]

Love Vanson. I have 3 variants.

Steerhide Comet
Steerhide Comet perforated
Steerhide Sturgis

All 3 for different riding temperature and weather conditions.
BUT none for the rain , they never see it !

That sounds like a well thought out and functional collection! I'm really impressed with Vanson so far. I'm thinking Model AR3 with armor for winter, CSRX Challenger MK2 with the huge zippered vents from my pic above for summer, and haven't decided which model for off the bike...maybe Mercury or Oxford 9D because I like the shirt collar look for casual style. Seems you can't really go wrong with any of them. The only one I'd care much about the hide appearance on, would be the casual use one.

 

[BB1239]

Careful, those Vansons multiply when you're not looking.

I can already feel the urge lol. Trying to narrow it down to a few total jackets for different uses. Its so difficult to choose without putting your hands on them, that's part of the challenge for me. This forum has been a fantastic way to learn from others and try to extrapolate data from their posts. Which is also challenging but fun

 

[Peter Mackin]

Love Vanson. I have 3 variants.

Steerhide Comet
Steerhide Comet perforated
Steerhide Sturgis

All 3 for different riding temperature and weather conditions.
BUT none for the rain , they never see it !

I've got 4,,na na na nana

 

[BB1239]

I'm drooling at the leather on every one of those!! Gorgeous collection, that's amazing! So is that the Sturgis model in the upper right corner of the pic? I've never seen one of those but it looks great for cold weather riding, and a nice looking design. Do they still make those?

And thanks by the way...seeing what another rider has used that works for different conditions is very helpful.

 

[Peter Mackin]

I'm drooling at the leather on every one of those!! Gorgeous collection, that's amazing! So is that the Sturgis model in the upper right corner of the pic? I've never seen one of those but it looks great for cold weather riding, and a nice looking design. Do they still make those?

And thanks by the way...seeing what another rider has used that works for different conditions is very helpful.

No ,it's not a sturgis,it's the model E with the mouton collar,,i absolutely love it, made the mistake of selling my 1st one ,then spent 2years trying to replace it.

 

[JMax]

My current Vanson (have owned many). Along with LW, the only makers I still think about buying).

1. Vanson Cheyenne CW
2. Vanson Chopper Octagon
3. Vanson Cycle King CW
4. Vanson Force ProPerf CW
5. Vanson Thunderbird CW
6. Vanson Vest: X and Octagon

 

[BB1239]

Those are stunning!! Great leather in beautiful colors for sure!!

 

[BB1239]

You guys are so right, these Vansons are addicting! Picked this Model B from eBay today. Love it so much I'm wearing it around the house and don't want to take it off. Seems very well suited for casual wear, I love the design. For riding, the collar chokes me out, but either way, I'm grateful to have it, and the leather seems very nice to me. It's got Talon zips and a Vanson label post-1982, but unsure of the year. May have scored some of the good competition weight it seems. Just didn't come with a liner.

 

[JMax]

Here’s the Force. Just about perfect for riding.

 

[BB1239]

That seems like a great design! Perforated and still stylish!!

 

[JMax]

That seems like a great design! Perforated and still stylish!!

And the perforations actually work on Vanson, unlike others I have owned. A Schott CR comes to mind. Little pinprick holes did nothing.

 

[BB1239]

I can believe they work. The vented perf section under the zippered leather panels on my MK2 Challenger actually work great! Seems the hole spacing on them are about the same. They really seem to design great jackets. Had a Joe Rocket textile mesh back in the day, but I don't think it would provide much protection, unless maybe you just fell off the bed in it lol. It's all leather for me these days, or perforated leather.

 

[BB1239]

I wonder if their new competition weight is good. I've read that they've had tannery closures to deal with, but have also read a few posts on this forum with recent pics and praises of the new hides, and some negative reviews. It seems the positive ones are the most recent. I wonder if anyone knows or remembers...in the glory days of the Vanson Competition Weight leather, did it start off as glossy and plastic-like, before it aged to become loved as it is now on this forum? I'd be fine with glossy and plastic-like for a dedicated riding jacket.

 

[Peter Mackin]

Im wearing my model E watching tv,regarding the differences between the competition weights over the years.i just found out from kim at vanson that this model E was sold to Silvermans in London in 2005,it remained there until this year !!!!.This leather is absolutely nothing like the competition weight in my recently bought chopper. And I'm glad it isn't. This hide is perfect for the model E and for my Enfield. The new stuff works for the chopper, being lighter and softer.

 

[BB1239]

I'm starting to think you have all the good Vansons Great info, might help us decipher when the best were made. Another gorgeous looking hide! I've got ton312's old Model E on the way from Australia, I think it's a late 80's, early 90's model. Haven't handled it yet but looking forward to it, right in time for the colder riding season too. Love the collar on yours. Is it a mouton from Vanson or faux?