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Aero J106 as a riding jacket

99mex

New in Town
Messages
15
Location
ny/nj
Hi. Longtime lurker but first time poster. I found this forum extremely valuable when I was deciding on the details of a new motorcycle jacket and figured that i should help other prospective purchasers by reviewing it.
I ended up ordering an Aero J106 in Brown FQHH with detachable Mouton Collar through Carrie at Thurston Brothers, who was great to deal with. Its largely in the stock configuration other than the collar and an inside pocket and i chose a cotton tartan lining.
Its a beautiful jacket but has some drawbacks for actual motorcycle use that I figured might be useful to know for other prospective buyers.
The first issue i had when riding is that the belt is too heavy for the snaps to hold reliably and the weight of the buckle causes the belt to fall if left unbuckled. I was able to remedy that issue by adding a snap to the belt and jacket near the buckle, and another in the center of the belt through the leather panel in the rear of the jacket. For anyone considering the J106 for actual riding use you may want to see if Thurston bros or Aero can do the same for yours. Or see if its possible to add the attached half belt of other models to the J106.
The next drawback of the Aero, at least compared to the 80’s schott perfecto it replaced, is that the sleeves remain fairly wide even when zipped. This makes it hard to stay warm when riding unless you can find very large guantlett style gloves. I did discuss my concern at this possibility with Carrie when ordering but would recomend seeking specific measurement for the cuff openings if you intend to use the jacket on a bike.
For actual motorcycle use I also feel that the supplied Talon zipper is less than ideal. It works smoothly but is very small and hard to line up which made it almost impossible to use when the horsehide was still stiff and is still not very user friendly when trying to work it using cold hands when riding in colder temperatures. You may want to seek other options if you will be riding in the jacket.
I chose a cotton tartan lining and asked for room for layering as i hoped to use the jacket in a wide range of temperatures. If I was doing it again I think I would order a quilted rayon liner similar to that in my Schott. The weight of the leather alone precludes its use in warm temperatures, at least for me as I run fairly warm to begin with and ride an air cooled bike in an area with a lot of traffic. The cotton lining adds no warmth at all when the temperature drops so im glad Carrie/Aero did a great job in sizing to allow for layering, but I feel the rayon or maybe a wool tartan would be more useful in a bike jacket.
If I was ordering again I would also strongly consider the medium weight horsehide or at least enquire if the jacket could be made of a mix of the fqhh for the main panels and sleeves and lighter hide for the d-pocket and areas like the storm flap. The FQHH is gorgeous but it is heavy and can be very stiff when riding in colder temps, especially in parts of the jacket with a lot of overlapping layers. Based on the quality of this hide i would feel comfortable trusting a lighter version in a slide.
Overall I love the jacket and its just getting better with abuse, but I had a hard time finding reviews from people who actually ride when I was contemplating my order and hope some of this info will help give back to this forum for the help I did get in finding the right jacket for me.
I also couldnt recomend ordering through Thurston bros more. Carrie was incredibly helpful and getting a jacket to try on, although it was a highwayman, was very important. I’m 6’2” 280 and ordinarily wear a 52L or 50L and would never have guessed that a 48 with added length and a bit of extra room in the waist would have been the right size for me.
Good luck in the hunt for your “the jacket”. Ive found mine but would have done a few things differently in hindsight.
 

AeroFan_07

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,699
Location
Iowa
99mex -
Nice review, and many of your thoughts I would tend to agree with. I owned a FQHH (which was rather mid-weight HH in my view, only about 5.5 lbs complete). It has been moved on now, and while I loved the jacket for what it was, I really agree with the frustration of:
  • Zipper (#5 Talon) was too small for this application. Hard to get started, a #8 or better a #10 would be much more motorcycle and daily wear friendly, even if not "period correct."
  • Snaps in the belt loops un-snap too easily, this is compounded with a backpack on.
  • Wool Tartin lining looks great, does not add any meaningful warmth verses cotton drill (I have both linings).
  • Would be best to have 2" of cordoroy around the bottom for wear inside (if wool tartin lined).
  • While stylish, the D-pocket design does not add functionality on a motorcycle.
Overall a great jacket, but I would be looking elsewhere if my primary intent was riding.
 

ksozay

One Too Many
Messages
1,071
Location
Seattle
Zipper comment - I've been meaning to search the forum for a common zipper issue I've found with some of my Aero jackets that I've found on some of my recent Vic hide jackets - The male portion of the zipper tends to be buried in the leather making it a PIA to try and get the zipper seated and started zipping up.

Regarding Rider jackets - I actually like the old Cal LAPD for riding. The design is actually really well thought out when it comes to riding AND wearing:

- Cross-zip heavy zipper requires one hand to zip closed and easy to do while wearing gloves.
- Fur inside sleeve and collar to block wind and retain heat.
- Reinforced kidney panel along back for added protection without killing the design of jacket/forcing jacket into throat while seated.
- Rayon liner keeps jacket from getting stuck in clothing underneath so always stays in position while riding.

Just my .02
 

99mex

New in Town
Messages
15
Location
ny/nj
Regarding the D pocket, in hindsight I probably would have requested the layout of the Aero Daytona. The left side entrance to the main pocket would be a lot more useful while holding open a throttle with the right hand
 

99mex

New in Town
Messages
15
Location
ny/nj
Still trying to figure out how to reply to specific comments without quoting them. Ksozay: ill have to check thrift stores for an lapd coat, but id say they’ll be rare here in NYC, especially in XXL.

Honestly in terms of layout and useability the Schott is almost a perfect riding jacket. Warm when zipped all the way up and not terrible up to the upper 70’s zipped down in front. Just needs an inside pocket.

If the vintage 50L was just a little longer I probably would not have sought to replace it at all. Not bad for a jacket that was tossed in when buying an old bike. I really only looked into the Aero because I wanted options in brown.

I like the classic cross zip style but wanted to tone down any antisocial vibes of the jacket as I ride pretty much everywhere I go when theres no snow or ice to contend with. Speaking of ice, while the Schott is nowhere near as thick as the Aero it has held up just fine in two crashes. Thats part of my reasoning to consider the midweight horse for a riding jacket
 
Messages
17,490
Location
Chicago
I never intended my fleet of j106 as a riding jacket. It's a gorgeous example of a classic m/c cross zip but it's not engineered quite the same as a true m/c jacket should be. They are gorgeous, but not purpose built. For a riding jacket the Vanson model E and others are far superior.
 

El Marro

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,591
Location
California
Zipper comment - I've been meaning to search the forum for a common zipper issue I've found with some of my Aero jackets that I've found on some of my recent Vic hide jackets - The male portion of the zipper tends to be buried in the leather making it a PIA to try and get the zipper seated and started zipping up.
ksozay,
There are a few threads on here regarding the trials and tribulations of Aero zippers. I personally find that the undersized zippers tucked back in the leather are one of the few (if not the only) design flaw with the Aero jackets I’ve owned. The zipper on my Bootlegger broke after I had owned it for less than a month. I had it replaced with the #8 RiRi and I’ve been happy ever since.
99mex,
Sorry for diverting your thread. Interesting to read you your thoughts about how the jacket works when actually used on a motorcycle.
 

photo2u

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,351
Location
claremont california
I do ride both HD road king and Ducati sports bikes. I actually ride a big moped type which is a lot of fun with plenty of power. I often see people in the freeway just looking at me and saying how can he keep up in a scooter?

Well, I love the Buco type j-100 designed. I personally love the reed in caramel. I have three of them in the same size. I am looking for a black one in size 44 anyone? Lol. A close second is the brooks in the same style. Well, I also like to ride with a very fun jacket that I used to call the bear. SCHOTT 184SM is a simple, not a real g-1/a-2 jacket but it is very practical for me because of the lining that can be taken out. I did change it because I wanted real sheepskin instead of the synthetic. This jacket had a very sentimental value. I used to use this very same jacket in Europe and never failed me. Cool factor by far in my view is my lw j23. Also, I got a very cool cafe racer type made out of wool. For the best protection when riding, nothing beats an Italian made Dainese. I have several that are not full racing colors. They actually work with my HD.
 
Last edited:

99mex

New in Town
Messages
15
Location
ny/nj
Photo2u: do you think the cut of the dianese jacket would work with more upright bars? I tried a few vanson and alpine stars models and found they seem to be cut for clipons or drag bars. I have mini apes over an extended fork putting my controls a little below shoulder hight and found the sleeves would pull back to much in that posture
 

AeroFan_07

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,699
Location
Iowa
So for some clarification, "Cal-Leathers" is a family run company in California, still making thier own versions of LAPD by hand, I have a '50's vintage Cal-Leather and it's simply unbelivable to handle, and wear (Purchased from Kosay, quite knowldagable on these and many others too). See thier website here (with some used offerings too): http://cal-leather.com/

If you ever find one of ther jackets in a thrift shop, no matter the size, buy it! They have a very strong following.

For what you are seeking out, I would encourage you to review Lost Worlds and specifically thier J23. You can order it right from Stuart and he will work with you on sleeve & torso lengths, linings, etc. They also offer brown HH and several weights of HH. Just be ready for a real work out breaking any of his jackets in. :)

Another alternative is Langlitz. From Oregon. Same deal but amazing customer service, and they offer brown, but not horsehide. Both worth checking out.
 

photo2u

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,351
Location
claremont california
Photo2u: do you think the cut of the dianese jacket would work with more upright bars? I tried a few vanson and alpine stars models and found they seem to be cut for clipons or drag bars. I have mini apes over an extended fork putting my controls a little below shoulder hight and found the sleeves would pull back to much in that posture

YES, They would. I own an older style all black with kevlar thread and kevlar shoulder protection that I love. It is call the flash I believe. They were made in Italy and you can find them on stealbay for under 300. Additonally own other nice made in Italy Dainese that work well with my road king.
 

99mex

New in Town
Messages
15
Location
ny/nj
Im not planning on giving up on the aero as a riding jacket bt it is nice to hear about other options. With a woolrich shirt under the aero its warm enough and a few extra line 24 snaps have solved the belt issue.
I have been thinking that i might look into getting the cuffs narrowed next spring when it gets too warm to need the jacket, and possibly a reline in the rayon.
Do any of you have experience with having alterations done on an aero, either by aero themselves or someone stateside? I would be partcularly interested in hearing about alteration specialists in the nyc area
 

JM7

One of the Regulars
Messages
158
Location
Clayton CA
Hi. Longtime lurker but first time poster. I found this forum extremely valuable when I was deciding on the details of a new motorcycle jacket and figured that i should help other prospective purchasers by reviewing it.
I ended up ordering an Aero J106 in Brown FQHH with detachable Mouton Collar through Carrie at Thurston Brothers, who was great to deal with. Its largely in the stock configuration other than the collar and an inside pocket and i chose a cotton tartan lining.
Its a beautiful jacket but has some drawbacks for actual motorcycle use that I figured might be useful to know for other prospective buyers.
The first issue i had when riding is that the belt is too heavy for the snaps to hold reliably and the weight of the buckle causes the belt to fall if left unbuckled. I was able to remedy that issue by adding a snap to the belt and jacket near the buckle, and another in the center of the belt through the leather panel in the rear of the jacket. For anyone considering the J106 for actual riding use you may want to see if Thurston bros or Aero can do the same for yours. Or see if its possible to add the attached half belt of other models to the J106.
The next drawback of the Aero, at least compared to the 80’s schott perfecto it replaced, is that the sleeves remain fairly wide even when zipped. This makes it hard to stay warm when riding unless you can find very large guantlett style gloves. I did discuss my concern at this possibility with Carrie when ordering but would recomend seeking specific measurement for the cuff openings if you intend to use the jacket on a bike.
For actual motorcycle use I also feel that the supplied Talon zipper is less than ideal. It works smoothly but is very small and hard to line up which made it almost impossible to use when the horsehide was still stiff and is still not very user friendly when trying to work it using cold hands when riding in colder temperatures. You may want to seek other options if you will be riding in the jacket.
I chose a cotton tartan lining and asked for room for layering as i hoped to use the jacket in a wide range of temperatures. If I was doing it again I think I would order a quilted rayon liner similar to that in my Schott. The weight of the leather alone precludes its use in warm temperatures, at least for me as I run fairly warm to begin with and ride an air cooled bike in an area with a lot of traffic. The cotton lining adds no warmth at all when the temperature drops so im glad Carrie/Aero did a great job in sizing to allow for layering, but I feel the rayon or maybe a wool tartan would be more useful in a bike jacket.
If I was ordering again I would also strongly consider the medium weight horsehide or at least enquire if the jacket could be made of a mix of the fqhh for the main panels and sleeves and lighter hide for the d-pocket and areas like the storm flap. The FQHH is gorgeous but it is heavy and can be very stiff when riding in colder temps, especially in parts of the jacket with a lot of overlapping layers. Based on the quality of this hide i would feel comfortable trusting a lighter version in a slide.
Overall I love the jacket and its just getting better with abuse, but I had a hard time finding reviews from people who actually ride when I was contemplating my order and hope some of this info will help give back to this forum for the help I did get in finding the right jacket for me.
I also couldnt recomend ordering through Thurston bros more. Carrie was incredibly helpful and getting a jacket to try on, although it was a highwayman, was very important. I’m 6’2” 280 and ordinarily wear a 52L or 50L and would never have guessed that a 48 with added length and a bit of extra room in the waist would have been the right size for me.
Good luck in the hunt for your “the jacket”. Ive found mine but would have done a few things differently in hindsight.
Hey, this is awesome info. I know you posted this a couple years ago but it is extremely helpful, Thank You !!
 

99mex

New in Town
Messages
15
Location
ny/nj
There wasn’t too much reason to be overly concerned with how I was dressing the past couple years so I haven’t been around. Now I’ve been lurking again the past couple days planning out an ensemble for a wedding I’m in and figured I should update this thread while I’m at it. I’m not sure if I’ve made enough posts to add pictures but I’ll try in a few days.

The aero has around 30,000 miles on it now and is starting to show some patina. No issues at all with the leather or hardware holding up, but the sleeve lining is far worse for wear and the inner tartan has a few repairs in it.

After the initial break in and the first couple rainstorms started the break in process, the biggest changes were long trips where I was wearing it pretty much all day regardless of temperature for a week or two straight, and some use as a pillow during the night. If you want to break one of these in quickly wear it a lot when its warm, that really seems to soften the hide.

The too small zipper and too big cuffs are still kind of annoying, but pairing it with a not at all golden age light down jacket underneath has made it wearable riding down into the twenties. Its still best suited for the 40’s-70’s but not too bad into the 80’s if you aren’t trying to look respectable or smell respectable when you get where you’re going
 

AeroFan_07

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,699
Location
Iowa
Wow - this thread just keeps popping back up!

Do indeed post photos of this well-broken in jacket when you get a chance. Just reply here a few more times and you'll quickly get over 10 posts, if that is still a thing.

Dena at Great L:eather @iknowleather can take care of the zipper & lining issues. Her website: https://www.greatleather.com/
Lots of us on here had benefitted from her work. I no longer own a Ridley or J106, but an Indian Ranger and Lost Worlds J23. these days. Good to see you back on here.
 

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