Aero Bike jacket.

[moktabe]

As discussed elsewhere, when I go to Aero to collect my jackets I'll be getting sorted with ordering a cross zip biker jacket.
Not a huge fan of bright things so likely to go with the nickel colour on zips and studs, just totally undecided on leather.

I'll have a Schott cow hide A2, a Sheene in Badalassi and a Windward in CXL FQHH so quite tempted to look at the heavy CXl Steerhide. Not too worried if the weight of the jacket starts to mount up as quite like the feel of that.

Whilst appreciating that looks wise I'll likely be unable to spot the difference when new my query is regarding how it'll look after break in. Hopefully I won't have to spec the leather until just before the jacket gets close to going into production which at least will give me a few months to wear the hell out of the Windward to see how the leather develops.

Have spent hours searching the forum looking to see how the HH and SH look after a fair bit of wear. Noticed that some of the HH pics show the sleeve creasing to be quite sharp yet some show a more soft roll (my preference). Is that simply down the the leather batch?

Choice is between a 'King of the Road' or the 'Motorcycle jacket'. Unsure of the full length action back on the 1st one as concerned it might get a bit messy over time. The shoulder gussets on the 2nd one may be a better choice. Opinions on that?......oh, I don't ride a bike so looking more at appearance the practicality.

Which one of the leathers would you guys go for on a biker jacket and why? Any pictures
of cross zip biker jackets in either leather would be more than welcome.

Apologies for the long post and TIA for any advice / replies.

 

[handymike]

Here’s a thread with some Steerhide pics:
https://www.thefedoralounge.com/thr...-older-aero-steer-hide-jacket-in-black.80576/

 

[Monitor]

Motorcycle jacket is notoriously constrictive. I was literally not able to reach the handlebars of my motorcycle. Granted, it was a Ducati so maybe it'd work better on a different setup but just in case, beware. Otherwise, very nice jacket. Haven't had any issues with Aero's full action back.

There's essentially no difference between Aero's CXL HH & SH - Steerhide is, in general, a bit thicker and perhaps grainier but this depends entirely primarily on an animal, then on a batch so unfortunately, at the end of the day, there are no guarantees your jacket is gonna turn out one way or the other. Thus if it's Steer you're after, you won't make a mistake going with it.

 

[JMax]

Really can’t go wrong with either HH or SH, but the jacket better be the KoTR.

 

[moktabe]

Really can’t go wrong with either HH or SH, but the jacket better be the KoTR.

That's looking like the favourite.

 

[Guppy]

CXL STEER
BADALASSI

 

[moktabe]

CXL STEER
BADALASSI

Will already have a Sheene in tobacco badalassi, considered Vicenza for the cross zip but not sure if it'll be heavy enough for my taste in the cross zip style.

Apart from the Sheene, it appears I have a thing with heavier leathers subconsciously

 

[Guppy]

If you want heavier, go with CXL Steer. They have it in heavier weight.

 

[AeroFan_07]

Steerhide is a hidden gem. I loved mine and love the way it breaks in too.

I give a comparison here: https://www.thefedoralounge.com/thr...erhide-1st-world-problems.97988/#post-2575028

 

[MrProper]

considered Vicenza for the cross zip but not sure if it'll be heavy enough for my taste in the cross zip style.

This one is blackened brown Vicenza and I wouldn't want it any thicker. Especially with a crosszip. But as it is with personal preferences... they have to be met. lol

 

[moktabe]

Does anyone have any more photos of their Aero cross zip biker jackets?
It'd be good to see some in everyday life scenarios rather than go by the photos on their site alone plus they don't usually carry them in stock so may be easier to choose with seeing user photos here . Said in opening post about going for nickel hardware but wondering if brass may look better.
I've been all over google already.
TIA

 

[Canuck Panda]

I have the Daytona and Indian Ranger. I can only recommend the Indian Ranger. It's quite special. Very short and tight in the waist and the puffy back that doesn't look all that slim. But it is the only style that's worth the money from Aero. I don't have the KOTR because I assumed it is based on the same J106 pattern block. I could be wrong.
My Indian Ranger is made in the Black Jerky, and it's about 3oz. And it works well for the jacket.
I would also advise against thicker CXL. The thicker they are the less I wear them.

Be careful of the sizing though. The Indian Ranger is quite short, and at least two inches tighter at the hem. Best design in the Aero moto jacket range IMO.

 

[AeroFan_07]

^^ This information is quite useful, My IR is almost too short in the front. However I love thicker leathers, so I cannot be in full agreement on that statement.

A few threads you may find helpful:
https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/aero-ridley-j106-repository-thread.101995/

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/thr...et-vs-aero-indian-ranger.104404/#post-2818288

 

[TREEMAN]

Looks way to puffy in the back for my taste ….

 

[Rich22]

Looks way to puffy in the back for my taste ….

Which jacket?

 

[AeroFan_07]

Hard to avoid on a cross-zip.

 

[Rich22]

I wish Aero would extend their shoulder gussets down an extra 3 inches so they were actually functional. From my own experience, they do nothing to aid mobility, and just add bulk/make the back look sloppier. It's very odd.

 

[TREEMAN]

Which jacket?

IR

 

[TREEMAN]

Hard to avoid on a cross-zip.

Not so ..

 

[Edward]

Said in opening post about going for nickel hardware but wondering if brass may look better.
I've been all over google already.
TIA

Good reason to buy two.... The chrome on black is of course an absolute classic, though I often wonder how much that was established by screen-icons, where shiny brass and chrome looked the same in B&W? For me, shiny brass looks superb against black leather - see some colourise shots of Brando as Johnny Strabbler, or, of course, Johnny Depp as Wade 'Cry Baby' Walker. I have my eye on an Aero J106 in black with shiny brass. Really depends what you prefer, both are great, though brass is definitely more unusual these days if part of the kick for you of ordering a jacket like this is getting something you couldn't pick up just anywhere.

I have the Daytona and Indian Ranger. I can only recommend the Indian Ranger. It's quite special. Very short and tight in the waist and the puffy back that doesn't look all that slim. But it is the only style that's worth the money from Aero. I don't have the KOTR because I assumed it is based on the same J106 pattern block. I could be wrong.
My Indian Ranger is made in the Black Jerky, and it's about 3oz. And it works well for the jacket.
I would also advise against thicker CXL. The thicker they are the less I wear them.

View attachment 361358
View attachment 361359
Be careful of the sizing though. The Indian Ranger is quite short, and at least two inches tighter at the hem. Best design in the Aero moto jacket range IMO.

It's a range where you need to be sure what works for you, given they're cut to very much follow period styles, certainly. The basic MC / P style I like very much, but definitely would have to go up one size from normal in to fit at the waist. This is, of course, how they were worn back in the day - Brando in The Wild One is a great example. Big on the shoulders, tight on the waist. There's variation in the different models - if memory serves, the J106 is markedly less tapered. The period style isn't for everyone as you'll clearly see from comments here and there, though for me personally altering them to fit a modern perception of how various bits and bobs of the design works rather defeats the point of what Aero is doing. YMMV.