AL Motorrad Jacke or Cafe Racer

[Duracell]

Hi guys,
In my seemingly never-ending decision process for what leather jacket to buy I have narrowed it down to either an Alexander Leathers Motorrad-Jacke or a cafe racer. Unfortunately neither jacket is quite what I am after - no surprise you say! In the cafe racer I would like to go for something that is a bit like this one http://www.alexanderleathers.com/sale/cafe-racer-290.html but with the standard zip sleeves. But I don't need the volume around the shoulders because I don't ride a motorbike and never will (I have less balance than a drunk flamingo adopting the one-leg pose!).
I love the double breasted Motorrad-Jacke but would prefer a zip not buttons - but they won't do that. So now to the questions:
1. Does anyone have a Motorrad-Jacke and would be willing to share some photos and views of it? I don't care about how accurate or not it is to some vintage pattern though.
2. Does the customised cafe racer look too busy?
3. I'm based in UK and have looked at Lewis Leathers Super Monza (just too expensive now but probably the one!), Aero (again more expensive than AL and they seem less inclined to fiddle these days) but have I missed anything that may be closer to the Monza and isn't secondhand - if I am spending loads I want it to be my measurements not someone else's)

Leather-wise, I am thinking of their vintage Horween in black or their smooth steer. To be honest I don't need the bullet-proofness etc. Also it needs to be black because my other jackets are brown and I don't want another brown jacket.

Thanks,
Ged

 

[navetsea]

http://www.vansonleathers.com/prod-Chopper-640.aspx
http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/roland-sands-design-clash-jacket
http://www.motolegends.com/jackets/roland-sands-clash-jacket-black.html

 

[Stand By]

Besides asking us, have you tried calling AL and asking them directly what they think? In my experience, they are very easy and helpful people to deal with and may be able to accommodate you or direct you to something else that would tick more of the boxes you're after …???

If it was me still in the UK, I'd consider making a long weekend of going up there to see them for a proper look-see; and look in on Aero in the neighbourhood too, to make a fuller assessment for yourself. There's simply no substitute for that - I know as going to the ELC tent at RAF Duxford is an indispensable opportunity for me and I've gone in there fully decided on one thing (a Star Sportswear A2) and walking out with something else entirely (black HH Luftwaffe) because I could see/assess them properly and try them on. You never know!
And you get to see some beautiful country at the same time and sample some decent beer!
Good luck!

 

[Duracell]

http://www.vansonleathers.com/prod-Chopper-640.aspx
http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/roland-sands-design-clash-jacket
http://www.motolegends.com/jackets/roland-sands-clash-jacket-black.html

Thanks for the suggestions. I have looked at both before and ruled them out because of weight with Vanson and the Roland zip goes to the wrong shoulder for me.

 

[Duracell]

Besides asking us, have you tried calling AL and asking them directly what they think? In my experience, they are very easy and helpful people to deal with and may be able to accommodate you or direct you to something else that would tick more of the boxes you're after …???

If it was me still in the UK, I'd consider making a long weekend of going up there to see them for a proper look-see; and look in on Aero in the neighbourhood too, to make a fuller assessment for yourself. There's simply no substitute for that - I know as going to the ELC tent at RAF Duxford is an indispensable opportunity for me and I've gone in there fully decided on one thing (a Star Sportswear A2) and walking out with something else entirely (black HH Luftwaffe) because I could see/assess them properly and try them on. You never know!
And you get to see some beautiful country at the same time and sample some decent beer!
Good luck!

I have called them quite a lot and they are accommodating and I am thinking of going up there but at the moment they don't have a motorrad in the factory. You are so right about handling them, I had decided to go for the lewis leathers universal racer but hated it when I tried it on and loved the Super Monza. That is why I am worried about the motorrad. You may be thinking why not get the Lewis. Well I put a deposit down on it in their horse leather. However when they came to make it they phoned to say it couldn't be done and would I accept cow. I pulled out because at their prices I wanted every box ticked!

 

[Edward]

DON'T buy a jacket that isn't exactly what you want. No matter how cheap it might seem now, you'll regret it down the line (and you may or may not get much of what you paid for it if you sell it on). If you're set on going with AL, they are reputed to be up for doing whatever the customer wants, and in all likelihood you could probably get it for that same price. I don't care for those designs, myself. That cafe racer just looks 'wrong' to me - but that's subjective taste. It's not in any way a reproduction of a historical model either, if that matters to you. I've never seen a cafe racer with a D-pocket, ever. The Radjacke is a copy of one that was made in Galashiels at the time when the current AL management were at Aero. I didn't like it because it did away with everything that was unique and interesting about the 20s German motorcycle jacket on which it was based - which obviously wouldn't matter to you as you wanted to modify it with a zip anyhow. I'm surprised AL wouldn't bite on that, given their reputation for being in favour of donig custom stuff. Presumably it involved a modification of the pattern that for wahtever reason they didn't want to do.

If a Monza is what you really want, I'd trawl eBay. With patience something will come up. Maybe not an original Lewis / Aviakit within your budget (they're usually GBP500 or so nowadays, IME), but it was a very popular style right throughout the 70s and into the early 80s, and there were endless iterations of that style by many, many makers. A lot of great 70s era jackets still in very wearable condition that can be had for buttons - look for British brands like Wolf, TT Leathers, and so on. Vanson and others, as mentioned above, also still do jackets of this style - worth looking out for used. You might be lucky and find one for GBP300 or less. IMO, a bit of patience and eBayFu will get you much closer to what you seem to be after than settling for one of those AL designs on the basis that it's available now within your budget, even if it's not what you really want.

If you're near London at all, it's worth heading out to Portobello Market on a Saturday morning. The stalls in and around the Westway Arcade (Latimer Grove tube station is more or less opposite this) often have a goodly supply of leathers in a Monzaesque fashion. In particular, look out ofr HiStar Classics: they deal in vintage Lewis, rocker jackets, all sorts of vintage British leathers, and can probably dvise you on what brands they might have through in your price range. They used to have a great spot in Camden Stables, but that was before Camden Council decided to rip the soul out of that market.... http://www.hi-starclassics.co.uk/ If the Sunday clothing market is still in the Electric Ballroom in Camden, though, they also used to have loads of leathers, again worth a look.

 

[Stand By]

I have called them quite a lot and they are accommodating and I am thinking of going up there but at the moment they don't have a motorrad in the factory. You are so right about handling them, I had decided to go for the lewis leathers universal racer but hated it when I tried it on and loved the Super Monza. That is why I am worried about the motorrad. You may be thinking why not get the Lewis. Well I put a deposit down on it in their horse leather. However when they came to make it they phoned to say it couldn't be done and would I accept cow. I pulled out because at their prices I wanted every box ticked!

Good for you for not pulling the trigger on something that doesn't tick all the boxes - yet - as this is an investment that will be putting in many years of faithful service and it should be all that it can be.
And yes, there's nothing better than showing up to try on jackets - as it's all very good to scrutinize and analyze, pore over websites, compare and contrast and all the rest of it … but the other crucial thing is, when you try the jacket on, does it suit you? It may look amazing and cool - but it could be one of those things that oddly looks better off than on (if you know what I mean) and suddenly, when you least expected it, the one you had considered to be a lesser option really does look good on you (and makes you feel good wearing it - and that's what it's all about!) and suddenly you're not caring about a small detail that felt bigger before. That's the sort of thing only trying on will determine. You never know!
So as Edward says, if you can, make a good day of having a good look around London and try them on as you go - it's all part of the thrill of the hunt! And that's a great thing.

 

[Duracell]

Edward, thanks for the replyI haven't really wanted to go the second hand route because I really want whatever I get to be made for me to my measurements. This has also stopped me going for things in AL's outlet or Aero's sale stuff.
Also I am located in Lancashire so going to see hi-star is difficult.
I am also wondering if this indecision just shows that I fancy another jacket but not that I really want one! I think I am going to can the search for the time being. Thanks for all the replies