Advice on leather choice for a MC jacket please.

[moktabe]

Within the next week or so I'll be ordering a MC jacket from Aero and was pretty well stuck on CXLSH.

As ever, things can change!

Living in the middle of the UK we don't get freezing weather too much so hovering over leather choice....

Current jackets are :- Sheepskin flying jacket for when it's cold enough to freeze your bits off. Windward in CXLSH with alpaca lining and an Irvin collar for when it's slightly warmer and a Sheene in Badalassi for Spring/Autumn wear.

Keeping in mind I don't ride at all a MC jacket would be purely for street wear so starting to wonder if I need the solidity/heft of another CXLSH jacket. Have the seed of an idea of getting one made in black Badalassi and wondered what the general opinion ref that would be. Only had the current Badalassi for a few hours so, does anyone have any experience on how that leather progresses? Does it get noticeably softer as it beds in and end up being too soft for a MC jacket?

TIA for any replies.

 

[TooManyHatsOnlyOneHead]

I'd go Ridley (J106 pattern). I have one in the blackened brown Vicenza and it's perfect for street wear. It's mid weight though, probably similar to the Badalassi in pliability. I've heard the black badalassi is incredible though. There's one or two members here who have it and maybe they can chime in. So can't go wrong, but I'd highly recommend the Ridley style. I think it's Aero's best pattern.

 

[moktabe]

I'd go Ridley (J106 pattern). I have one in the blackened brown Vicenza and it's perfect for street wear. It's mid weight though, probably similar to the Badalassi in pliability. I've heard the black badalassi is incredible though. There's one or two members here who have it and maybe they can chime in. So can't go wrong, but I'd highly recommend the Ridley style. I think it's Aero's best pattern.

Thank you for that.

Planning on going for a J106 front and a KOR back.

 

[Aloysius]

Badalassi is arguably the most beautiful option here.

Did you have a particular colour in mind?

 

[moktabe]

Badalassi is arguably the most beautiful option here.

Did you have a particular colour in mind?

It has to be black

 

[MrProper]

Unfortunately, I do not have Badalassi myself.
But with my Ridley (Aero calls it slim motorcycle jacket) in blackened brown Vicenza I am see satisfied and would also recommend it.

 

[Salmosalar]

It has to be black

Here is my

black badalassi Aero Slimfit MC aka Ridley - I have one in blue Vicenza too and the badalassi wins hands down. It is by far the best leather Aero offer in my view.

 

[Salmosalar]

Here is my View attachment 368638 View attachment 368639 View attachment 368640 black badalassi Aero Slimfit MC aka Ridley - I have one in blue Vicenza too and the badalassi wins hands down. It is by far the best leather Aero offer in my view.

And here is a different take on the style in blue vicenza….

 

[Aloysius]

If you want a pigment finished black (with brown undertone), I would go with blackened brown Vicenza. If you want pure black, both Vicenza and Badalassi will get you there but I think Badalassi is more special.

I would avoid CXL for this use because it will wear to brown much more.

 

[moktabe]

^^ Many thanks for that.

Have to admit I'm blown away by the Badalassi and for some reason, I can't put my finger on why, I just don't fancy HH. I'll never be a collector, more of getting what I need/want and wearing them.

Going to chat with Aero later today and go through what I want and what they can offer. If the two things meet then I'll order and pay my deposit.

 

[Aloysius]

Badalassi is a great leather in general, but Aero’s reworked version is particularly special.

 

[Salmosalar]

Badalassi is a great leather in general, but Aero’s reworked version is particularly special.

For comparison I also have this custom Wayfarer in black badalassi - it is in a totally different league to both vicenza and CXL in my view - it has a real richness to it, and is really supple but also thick and grainy - by far their best hide!

 

[moktabe]

Thank you.....it looks impressive.

 

[moktabe]

Well that was quick.....plunge taken!

Aero can do what I was asking for so order placed, spec as follows :-

J106 front, King of The Road back,
Black Badalassi leather,
Olive cotton drill lining,
Antique brass zips, brass studs to collars and rear kidney panel,
Sleeve zips to the top of sleeves,
Hem reduced.

Now the wait!

 

[TooManyHatsOnlyOneHead]

Well that was quick.....plunge taken!

Aero can do what I was asking for so order placed, spec as follows :-

J106 front, King of The Road back,
Black Badalassi leather,
Olive cotton drill lining,
Antique brass zips, brass studs to collars and rear kidney panel,
Sleeve zips to the top of sleeves,
Hem reduced.

Now the wait!

Nice. I like the pattern on King of Road with the snaps and all that. But doesn't it have a full action back? For my tastes, I'm not a fan for pure fashion. Obviously has huge dividends if you ride.

If you do like it, that's fine too, not trying to sway you. Just want to make sure since you said it was more for fashion. Also if you do want it, make sure you size smaller. Like MrProper said, the slim fitting motorcycle jacket is where it's at, especially if you go with action back. But they did a good job with your Sheene. So hopefully they can strike lightning twice.

 

[moktabe]

Nice. I like the pattern on King of Road with the snaps and all that. But doesn't it have a full action back? For my tastes, I'm not a fan for pure fashion. Obviously has huge dividends if you ride.

If you do like it, that's fine too, not trying to sway you. Just want to make sure since you said it was more for fashion. Also if you do want it, make sure you size smaller. Like MrProper said, the slim fitting motorcycle jacket is where it's at, especially if you go with action back. But they did a good job with your Sheene. So hopefully they can strike lightning twice.

It does have a full action back and that's why I went for it. Not so much for the reach as I don't ride, more for the looks of it. it's a busy front so thought may as well have a busy back!
Chloe suggested we went for the 44" which is the same as the Sheene as the J106 was a very similar cut.
I feel the hem on the Sheene could have done with 2" less but I can live with that, the hem on the biker has been reduced by 2" as when zipped I'd use the belt and it'd reduce any potential 'puckering' around the hem.
I took on board what @MrProper said however, the amount of small changes I'd have gone for (belt, belt loops, kidney panel etc ) might have been a bit much so I thought I may as well go the route I have as there are less changes to the overall pattern.
I'd have never even thought of a different back until the post where that guy had it done. It was in naked HH and, for me, the benefits of that colour highlighted the details of the jacket in the photos better than photos of a black one would.
Talking of MrProper, I blame him for my Sheene as it was when I saw his I thought 'wonderful, need one'

 

[Aloysius]

Well that was quick.....plunge taken!

Aero can do what I was asking for so order placed, spec as follows :-

J106 front, King of The Road back,
Black Badalassi leather,
Olive cotton drill lining,
Antique brass zips, brass studs to collars and rear kidney panel,
Sleeve zips to the top of sleeves,
Hem reduced.

Now the wait!

Great choices! The only thing I'd do differently is get cotton sateen instead of cotton drill, but most people here are committed to drill.

 

[moktabe]

Great choices! The only thing I'd do differently is get cotton sateen instead of cotton drill, but most people here are committed to drill.

I went for the drill as I quite like the 'utility' look of it.

The 3 Aeros I'll end up with...one has Alpaca, one has Minto tartan and the drill has plenty of time be re-thought about!

 

[Aloysius]

The sateen looks the same and is just as strong; it's just smoother to the touch.

The problem is that many people here don't know the difference between sateen and satin, so when people make threads asking about the Aero sateen, there are long comments by people about their torn satin linings in other garments, lol. This despite the fact that Aero employees post in the same threads pointing out that they are not the same thing.

 

[moktabe]

The sateen looks the same and is just as strong; it's just smoother to the touch.

The problem is that many people here don't know the difference between sateen and satin, so when people make threads asking about the Aero sateen, there are long comments by people about their torn satin linings in other garments, lol. This despite the fact that Aero employees post in the same threads pointing out that they are not the same thing.

Now that's interesting!

I admit to thinking that sateen and satin were the same thing and I'd have worried about it tearing easily.

Thank you for that, appreciated.