Am I looking for a leather jacket that doesn't exist? (Aka help a fella out)

[Boyo]

What size are you? If you're a common size 38-46 or so, there are hundreds of 2nd hand jackets available whether recently manufactured or true vintage . you would be missing out if you didn't explore that route.
find a well fitting jacket and almost none of the jackets other components matter.

 

[Chevalier]

I second the suggestion to try out some affordable secondhand jackets to learn more about what you really like (or don’t) in a jacket.

Much as I love cafe racers, they just don’t fit my body type (relatively broad shoulders and narrow waist) as well as a cross zip. I don’t think I could have figured this out any other way, aside from trying out a few examples of each type. It helped me separate attributes of an individual jacket from those of a style of jacket.

Also, much as I love my two vintage goatskin G-1s, goatskin ages differently from other leathers. I think another advantage of used jackets is that you get to see how different leathers age.

 

[floater]

Thedi memphis in olive goat is nice but that’s currently a long wait if not in stock.

 

[MrProper]

Much as I love cafe racers, they just don’t fit my body type (relatively broad shoulders and narrow waist)

But isn't that the perfect body type for café racers?

 

[newtojackets]

But isn't that the perfect body type for café racers?

seconded

 

[Chevalier]

But isn't that the perfect body type for café racers?

Maybe I still haven’t found the ideal cafe racer? One that fits my shoulders doesn’t taper to my waist. One that fits my waist is too narrow at the shoulders. Of course, I’ve only tried about three different cafe racers in used jackets. They seem pretty popular these days, so it is harder to find affordable experimental examples

 

[MrProper]

Maybe I still haven’t found the ideal cafe racer? One that fits my shoulders doesn’t taper to my waist. One that fits my waist is too narrow at the shoulders. Of course, I’ve only tried about three different cafe racers in used jackets. They seem pretty popular these days, so it is harder to find affordable experimental examples

That's the reason why I can't buy second-hand jackets and have them made to my measurements
But in principle the Aero Café Racer has more taper than a boardracer. There will certainly be differences between the. different models.
My tip: choose a jacket that fits well at the shoulders and sleeves and then have a good leather cutter make the taper.

 

[Chevalier]

That's the reason why I can't buy second-hand jackets and have them made to my measurements

You are making me feel better about graduating to custom made I agree that it is worth the extra cost, when you know what specs you cannot find in an off the rack jacket.

I plan to visit Langlitz next week on my trip to Portland…

 

[floater]

Maybe I still haven’t found the ideal cafe racer? One that fits my shoulders doesn’t taper to my waist. One that fits my waist is too narrow at the shoulders. Of course, I’ve only tried about three different cafe racers in used jackets. They seem pretty popular these days, so it is harder to find affordable experimental examples

Have you tried a vanson comet?

Or you could try one with cinch straps on the lower back.

 

[MrProper]

Or you could try one with cinch straps on the lower back.

Chinch straps don't work with every body type. For me, everything compresses and bulges at the natural waist (this was the case with my Lewis Leathers jackets. A leather cutter provided a remedy). For me, for example, a Y shape works much better than a V shape.

 

[floater]

Chinch straps don't work with every body type. For me, everything compresses and bulges at the natural waist (this was the case with my Lewis Leathers jackets. A leather cutter provided a remedy). For me, for example, a Y shape works much better than a V shape.

I’m kinda in the same boat as I also prefer Y shaped but some V’s with cinch straps also work, especially if they’re at the waist vs hem, not all though.

What really doesn’t work for me, and I get that excess bunching at the waist, is a straight torso with cinch straps.

But I mostly wear my jackets open, I only zip up sometimes when riding and I don’t ride that much, so minimal bunching from the straps isn’t that noticeable to me on some V’s.

 

[Chevalier]

Have you tried a vanson comet?

Or you could try one with cinch straps on the lower back.

Yes! I got a beautiful Comet from @ksozay a few years ago. It is another of my vintage finds that I have kept. Did I mention that I seem to have relatively long arms? I also prefer a little bit of extra length in my jacket arms and don’t mind them bunching up a little. I feel like a recipe for most jackets not fitting well, but I’ll bet a lot of people feel this way about their body type.

I have learned all this through exploring used jackets. I like that FL provides a community where we can circulate around our finds and also get advice from each other

 

[Canuck Panda]

Second hand leather jackets is where it's at.

It's still best to go to a place where there are many racks full of jackets available to try on or just to look at the construction/leather...etc. Picture is better than words. In person hand feel beats all.