Aero cafe racer shirt too slim?

[ton312]

I wouldn't have noticed the sleeves being tight if you didn't highlight it, it's a great fit other wise.
I'd say it's worth giving buttes idea a try.
The upper sleeve on this model is usually pretty baggy, have they been slimmed down too? Hard to tell from the angle of the pics.

I don't think so PN..I could be wrong but I don't know that they've been altered at all...that's why I'm wondering if you can spec the cuff circumference. This jacket has sleeves like a vintage Brooks...the difference is (as y'all know) this leather doesn't give like the vintage ones do.

 

[Carlos840]

This is a fantastic idea. I'm doing it!

Personally i wouldn't saturate with conditioner, read too many horror stories about jackets soaked in the stuff, once it's in it doesn't come out.
Water should do the trick and be much safer.

 

[ton312]

Personally i wouldn't saturate with conditioner, read too many horror stories about jackets soaked in the stuff, once it's in it doesn't come out.
Water should do the trick and be much safer.

I'll start with water...no residue of any kind that way!

 

[HoosierDaddy]

I'll start with water...no residue of any kind that way!

Good call.

 

[Bunyip]

Worse case scenario, Johnson Leathers do these kind of alterations all the time. Check out their website, I think they have an alteration list on there with some pricing. Shoot Alan an email, hopefully you scored the jacket cheap enough, and a few bucks to possibly make it perfect won't tip the end cost over the edge. Other than that, I think it looks superb.

 

[IXL]

I am the owner of a tight-fitting Insurrection/Vanson cafe racer (PLU3). When new, the zip cuffs would not zip completely closed. After a few hours of wearing, I could get them zipped all the way but that also caused my hands to go numb from lack of blood flow, so they would be left open for the first 1.5 inches or so. As time went on the cuffs could be zipped more and more to the point that now they zip all the way closed and I can still feel my hands.
They are also starting to soften up some, the cuffs, not my hands.......

 

[navetsea]

if after the stretch it is still too tight, I think you should consider gussetless, it is cool as "a leather shirt" in my opinion, and won't flare out if you wear it totally zipped or totally unzipped, it would only flare out if you wear it zipped halfway

 

[ton312]

Funny thing is I wore the heck out of it today, even at my desk in my office, which could well be the subject of another thread. Low and behold it was easier to slide off at home tonight.

 

[tnjyoung]

I found the same to be true for my Sheene (it is a modified cafe racer, after all) and I have been stuffing the 500mL size Nalgene bottles in the sleeves when not wearing it. It seems to be helping some. It is not nearly as bad as when new, but it is still somewhat noticeable. Just feels like another 1/2 inch diameter should have been built in. I mean, after all, the cafe racer is built for a physically fit physique. Why would they not assume a fit person has beefier forearms?