Warm weather and leather jackets

[Stand By]

Are you wearing an L2 over there Stand By?????

Alas no, I had an L-2 (a Buzz Ricksons) and moved it on a while ago ... and I want another ! They're fantastic.

 

[bn1966]

Moved my Buzz L2A on too (too tight even at size 46). Favorite summer nylon is my 'Ground Pounder' L2B (Alpha) with a nice silky green lining too. Found it to be cooler than the A2 in the hot weather. If Buzz produced jackets that properly fitted me...they would have a regular (and poorer) customer....might struggle to pay the rent!!

 

[Edward]

Moved my Buzz L2A on too (too tight even at size 46). Favorite summer nylon is my 'Ground Pounder' L2B (Alpha) with a nice silky green lining too. Found it to be cooler than the A2 in the hot weather. If Buzz produced jackets that properly fitted me...they would have a regular (and poorer) customer....might struggle to pay the rent!!

What size do you normally take in other Buzz stuff? I'm dead on a 44 in the B15 - should I be keeping an eye out for even bigger in an L2A?

 

[rocketeer]

When I first bought my 1982 Aero A2(Battersea) in 1982, I guess I wore it wherever possible for the first 2 or 3 years. In the hot blazing sun and downpours till the leather soaked up water like a sponge. I doubt I ever treated it with any kind of leather treatment in those days.
The leather never cracked or dried out and the jacket still exists today complete with the beer stained sleeves, sweaty armpits and god knows what else the jacket had soaked up through the years.
Maybe I approach my possesions slightly different to most on here but what I am getting at here is that to enjoy that jacket to the full, I took no notice of it's future retail value and had I worried about that sort of thing I probably would not have had so much fun in 30 years of wearing it.
J

 

[mendelboaz]

When I first bought my 1982 Aero A2(Battersea) in 1982, I guess I wore it wherever possible for the first 2 or 3 years. In the hot blazing sun and downpours till the leather soaked up water like a sponge. I doubt I ever treated it with any kind of leather treatment in those days.
The leather never cracked or dried out and the jacket still exists today complete with the beer stained sleeves, sweaty armpits and god knows what else the jacket had soaked up through the years.
Maybe I approach my possesions slightly different to most on here but what I am getting at here is that to enjoy that jacket to the full, I took no notice of it's future retail value and had I worried about that sort of thing I probably would not have had so much fun in 30 years of wearing it.
J

Well said. These bad boys are meant to be worn and enjoyed, and when you look at them after 30 years of wear and you see all of those scuffs and stains, you think back at the great times you had wearing it. That's the great thing about leather jackets: they withstand the test of time, only look better with age, and become uniquely yours. Wear it till you drop.

 

[Stand By]

Well said. These bad boys are meant to be worn and enjoyed, and when you look at after 30 years of wear and you see of those scuffs and stains, you think back at the great times you had wearing it. That's the great thing about leather jackets: they withstand the test of time, onky look better with age, and become uniquely yours. Wear it till you drop.

Amen, Brother. I'll drink to that.

 

[bn1966]

My only Buzz experience has been a lovely L2A in size 46 that proved to be uncomfortable on (my shoulders as usual!!...much under 21" in nylon is a no no for me)..chest, length and sleeves were fine. XL Alpha 'Vintage' Series & size 44 Alpha Replica B15 are all fine and fit me well (The 'Vintage' L2A is a little snug). Purchased two XL service issue Alpha MA1s recently...shoulders on both were 20"...no go!!! My 70s service issue L2Bs have wider shoulders than the MA1s. Acquired a Greenbrier MA1 '76 with 21" on the shoulders and that's a winner. Purchased an ELC B15 & again had problems with the shoulders. If Buzz start producing genuine size XL (44/46 ish) Flight Jackets with shoulders to match (mine)...they will get some custom from me (may need to re-mortgage though)

 

[Monitor]

Maybe I approach my possesions slightly different to most on here but what I am getting at here is that to enjoy that jacket to the full, I took no notice of it's future retail value and had I worried about that sort of thing I probably would not have had so much fun in 30 years of wearing it.
J

Absolute truth and an advice I should really start living by!

 

[nick123]

That is a great call. It's hard to jump into that mentality when you have a jacket you're afraid to rough up, but it's time to start living. I think Seb's idea to wipe the leather down with a damp cloth is a good one though.

 

[IXL]

When I was a teenager, all of us kids rode dirt bikes. They were street-legal "enduros," not the best at either street riding, or hitting the woods trails. I was pretty darned fast on my 125cc Yamaha. I saved up and purchased a brand new CanAm dirt bike; a real one. It had twice the engine, a zillion times the horsepower, better suspension. It was a real live pure dirt bike....nothing street legal about it. It was, at that time, the fastest production bike on the planet, in it's class.
I couldn't wait to hit the trails with my buddies. I was going to absolutely cream them with my new weapon. Then, the most incredible thing happened: I went from always being in the top handful of riders, to trying to figure out which way everyone had gone by observing which fork in the trail had the most dust settling on it. I was just that far behind.
The problem was being afraid to scratch my new bike, the first brand new motorcycle I ever owned. I couldn't stand the thought of bent/broken levers, torn seats, beat up fenders, etc. I played it so safe I really didn't enjoy riding it. But at some point, even going at my new snail's pace, I managed to zig when a solid zag was indicated, and dropped the object of my adoration about 14 feet to the bottom of a gully. After getting it unceremoniously hoisted back up to the trail, an inventory was taken of the damage. It was all minor in scope but my orange steed was now battle scarred and looked a whole lot more "serious."
I got on, kick-started it, and proceeded to ride like it was intended. After I decided not to worry about wear-and-tear anymore, it was a fantastic piece of equipment and served it's intended function very well. And from that point on, although I never purposely abused it, I didn't hold back, either, and everything was all joy-joy.
Owning that motorcycle taught me to go ahead and enjoy using my stuff.

 

[nick123]

Thanks for that!

Alright jacket's on.

 

[Peter Mackin]

When I was a teenager, all of us kids rode dirt bikes. They were street-legal "enduros," not the best at either street riding, or hitting the woods trails. I was pretty darned fast on my 125cc Yamaha. I saved up and purchased a brand new CanAm dirt bike; a real one. It had twice the engine, a zillion times the horsepower, better suspension. It was a real live pure dirt bike....nothing street legal about it. It was, at that time, the fastest production bike on the planet, in it's class.
I couldn't wait to hit the trails with my buddies. I was going to absolutely cream them with my new weapon. Then, the most incredible thing happened: I went from always being in the top handful of riders, to trying to figure out which way everyone had gone by observing which fork in the trail had the most dust settling on it. I was just that far behind.
The problem was being afraid to scratch my new bike, the first brand new motorcycle I ever owned. I couldn't stand the thought of bent/broken levers, torn seats, beat up fenders, etc. I played it so safe I really didn't enjoy riding it. But at some point, even going at my new snail's pace, I managed to zig when a solid zag was indicated, and dropped the object of my adoration about 14 feet to the bottom of a gully. After getting it unceremoniously hoisted back up to the trail, an inventory was taken of the damage. It was all minor in scope but my orange steed was now battle scarred and looked a whole lot more "serious."
I got on, kick-started it, and proceeded to ride like it was intended. After I decided not to worry about wear-and-tear anymore, it was a fantastic piece of equipment and served it'so intended function very well. And from that point on, although I never purposely abused it, I didn't hold back, either, and everything was all joy-joy.
Owning that motorcycle taught me to go ahead and enjoy using my stuff.

That's me all over...iv had my Harley for22yrs...it's immaculate...have I enjoyed riding it...Not really....my aeros..exactly the same..I love wearing my enfield..it's breaking in great but doesn't scratch or Mark up....at nearly58ifind it hard to change habits of a lifetime..but I'm trying.....just wear it &enjoy

 

[bn1966]

IXL: Fantastic!!! What a story! What a lesson! Wear it! Ride it! Drive it!...and most of all..ENJOY...wise words indeed Guys. I have a good Buddy ....doing well ...whether he rides or drives it..he doesn't like it to be perfect...not happy until it has a few little dents..dings...stone chips...then he's happy..mind you he does sometimes take that to extremes..garage couldn't believe his latest pick-up truck was only 12 months old (degree of damage). We purchased a couple of NOS MA1s together..mine is worn now...his extinct

 

[mendelboaz]

Great story, IXL... Truly awesome, I thank you. Makes me wanna own a bike myself lol...

 

[Stearmen]

I have seen old flight jackets that were white with salt under the arm pits, but still intact 50 plus years latter. the wearer must have had a real life changing event to loose that much salt. My self, I am the other way round in an inflight emergency, I dry completely up, no fluids are escaping from any part of my body! I remember loosing all hydraulics on landing, and we were headed right for The Blue Angels FA18s, I did all the emergency procedures perfectly, When we finally parked, I went to talk, nothing, my tongue was stuck to the roof of my extra dry mouth. I wore my Brando no name jacket last week riding in stop and go traffic in Denver, 90 plus degrees F and I did remarkably well. I have worn that same jacket comfortably down to zero F.