Lost Worlds Speed Demon

[Bobby Peru]

My current relationship with this jacket is that of love and hate.

No better way to describe that jacket one loves…except for one little nit one wishes they could change, then it would be perfect.

 

[roadking04]

Another issue I got with this model are the hand-warmers. They're too far back. I can barely reach for them.

My current relationship with this jacket is that of love and hate. It's got issues but it's really nice, too. I'm going to continue wearing it but I'll tell you one thing which not many people will agree with but if Schott switched to this kind of leather and began paying as much attention to construction as LW does, the 618 would wipe the floor with this jacket.

I currently have a Schott 618. I think the are very UNDER rated as an m/c jacket. I think it has a few annoying flaws. I feel the handwarmer pockets are almost unusable, they too, are set very far back and hard to access. The 618 inside pocket is pretty much useless also, not a very secure spot to put your riding glasses or anything valuable in. I took Schott's advice and sized up and wish I didn't. I like my riding jackets a little on the snug side. When riding in the summer with the lapels snapped down, the jacket tends to balloon. My other gripe is the back length, I think it is just a tad too short. I am 5'10" and is BARELY long enough in the back. I think a taller person would have a problem with the length in back.

I have never had a lost worlds to compare too. LW is definitely more robust, but I,m not sure it is better. Schott HH is very easy to wear and I think it breaks in pretty awesome. Schott's construction and attention to detail might not be on par with the LW, but perfectos aren't sewn together by a bunch of drunken sailors either.

I will probably be looking for a new riding jacket next year. Something easy to wear for quick rides around town. I must say LW is in the mix because of yours, and other fine examples on the lounge. As of today, the front runners are the 618, Speed demon/J23, and a J106 (always changing almost daily though). lol.

 

[JMax]

I currently have a Schott 618. I think the are very UNDER rated as an m/c jacket. I think it has a few annoying flaws. I feel the handwarmer pockets are almost unusable, they too, are set very far back and hard to access. The 618 inside pocket is pretty much useless also, not a very secure spot to put your riding glasses or anything valuable in. I took Schott's advice and sized up and wish I didn't. I like my riding jackets a little on the snug side. When riding in the summer with the lapels snapped down, the jacket tends to balloon. My other gripe is the back length, I think it is just a tad too short. I am 5'10" and is BARELY long enough in the back. I think a taller person would have a problem with the length in back.

I have never had a lost worlds to compare too. LW is definitely more robust, but I,m not sure it is better. Schott HH is very easy to wear and I think it breaks in pretty awesome. Schott's construction and attention to detail might not be on par with the LW, but perfectos aren't sewn together by a bunch of drunken sailors either.

I will probably be looking for a new riding jacket next year. Something easy to wear for quick rides around town. I must say LW is in the mix because of yours, and other fine examples on the lounge. As of today, the front runners are the 618, Speed demon/J23, and a J106 (always changing almost daily though). lol.

LW over Aero. The leather is unlike anything else, they are built like a brick you know what, and they don’t use puny main zips. I love my Aero Chips, beautiful jacket, but the main zip is not long for this world. Especially for riding.

 

[roadking04]

Right on J! That main zip has to go on Aero m/c jackets. That's what keeps them from getting higher than third in my ever-changing top three wanted m/c jackets. It's hard to say no to that Horween cxl hh though.

 

[roadking04]

The leather is unlike anything else, they are built like a brick you know what, and they don’t use puny main zips.

LW gets the "beast mode" trophy for sure! No question there!

 

[Psant25]

I currently have a Schott 618. I think the are very UNDER rated as an m/c jacket. I think it has a few annoying flaws. I feel the handwarmer pockets are almost unusable, they too, are set very far back and hard to access. The 618 inside pocket is pretty much useless also, not a very secure spot to put your riding glasses or anything valuable in. I took Schott's advice and sized up and wish I didn't. I like my riding jackets a little on the snug side. When riding in the summer with the lapels snapped down, the jacket tends to balloon. My other gripe is the back length, I think it is just a tad too short. I am 5'10" and is BARELY long enough in the back. I think a taller person would have a problem with the length in back.

I have never had a lost worlds to compare too. LW is definitely more robust, but I,m not sure it is better. Schott HH is very easy to wear and I think it breaks in pretty awesome. Schott's construction and attention to detail might not be on par with the LW, but perfectos aren't sewn together by a bunch of drunken sailors either.

I will probably be looking for a new riding jacket next year. Something easy to wear for quick rides around town. I must say LW is in the mix because of yours, and other fine examples on the lounge. As of today, the front runners are the 618, Speed demon/J23, and a J106 (always changing almost daily though). lol.

Would love to see some pics of that 618 broken in

 

[roadking04]

Would love to see some pics of that 618 broken in

I have been meaning to take some. I haven't wore it as much as it deserves. I mainly wore it as a pedestrian jacket. It seemed a tad large on me for an m/c jacket. I will definitely have a 618hh in my small collection, just a size smaller.

 

[roadking04]

Just my take on LW vs Schott ( and mind you, I have never handled a LW jacket (just pics and reviews)).

A Schott 618 should be respected, maybe not feared.

A Lost World Speed Demon/J23 should be flat out feared!

 

[El Marro]

I took Schott's advice and sized up and wish I didn't. I like my riding jackets a little on the snug side.

I think this is all too common and not just with Schott. Customer service representatives probably see fewer returns for jackets that are too big rather than too small so I think they err on the side of too big.

 

[ton312]

LW is an interesting beast. On my LW’s I found the fit disproportionately large in the gut to the shoulder and chest. Stuart won’t listen to advise about body type. I also found the leather to be very cool to touch, intoxicating and heavy, but exceedingly dull to look at. Maybe it was just my experience but the large #10 on my LW j-23’s also felt flimsy. The male tape end of the zipper was a frayed mess almost instantly. I’m talking within days of use. An odd mix of feeling uncomfortable with the jacket open and equally worried that the more I wore it zipped the more likely it was I was damaging the zipper.
Frankly the YKK on this speed demon is a huge improvement. I dare say the zips LW uses are just as bad as the #5 talons, maybe even worse, as they lend a false sense of security through size but chew through the male end tape with vigor.
Edit: I’m referring to his stock zips. Not the LOL priced crowns. No exp with those.

 

[JMax]

It’s weird, yes the zips on the LWs get frayed quick, then stop and all is good. Mine aren’t heavily frayed but it was initially disconcerting because of how fast it happens. But then nothing else happens. Same happened with my Vanson force and commando. Maybe it’s operator error. Little fraying then equilibrium.

With some break in the big talon and scoville zips on the LWs work great for me.

Edit— And I would be very happy with YKK zips on all of them. Buttery operation till the end of days.

 

[Monitor]

I currently have a Schott 618. I think the are very UNDER rated as an m/c jacket. I think it has a few annoying flaws. I feel the handwarmer pockets are almost unusable, they too, are set very far back and hard to access. The 618 inside pocket is pretty much useless also, not a very secure spot to put your riding glasses or anything valuable in. I took Schott's advice and sized up and wish I didn't. I like my riding jackets a little on the snug side. When riding in the summer with the lapels snapped down, the jacket tends to balloon. My other gripe is the back length, I think it is just a tad too short. I am 5'10" and is BARELY long enough in the back. I think a taller person would have a problem with the length in back.

I have never had a lost worlds to compare too. LW is definitely more robust, but I,m not sure it is better. Schott HH is very easy to wear and I think it breaks in pretty awesome. Schott's construction and attention to detail might not be on par with the LW, but perfectos aren't sewn together by a bunch of drunken sailors either.

I will probably be looking for a new riding jacket next year. Something easy to wear for quick rides around town. I must say LW is in the mix because of yours, and other fine examples on the lounge. As of today, the front runners are the 618, Speed demon/J23, and a J106 (always changing almost daily though). lol.

Agreed about the Schott being underrated as a motorcycle jacket. I try to jump on a bike least once wearing any of these jackets and I'd rate Schott highly, right there with Vanson and Bates. Definitely not as sturdy but still a surprisingly good riding jacket in its own right. Comfortable, sits tight, warm... It's no Alpine-stars but it does the job remarkably well.

On the other end of the spectrum, I didn't even dare to start a bike wearing certain other cross zips.

But yeah, despite its flaws, LW is a very good bike jacket, with potential to become truly great. That crazy leather they're using is so insanely hard wearing it's not even funny. Maybe the toughest leather I've so far handled. It's somehow denser, as if the hide's been cooked or something, like what they used to make leather armour in the past.

And what @ton312 says about the zippers. I have two LW products and the zipper has been replaced on both. On the other hand, I can't recall if I ever saw a vintage Schott with a replaced zipper.

I don't know what's going on with LW zippers and why are they failing so often but...

And another thing. This jacket isn't exactly a perfect repro of anything so why insist on those old, crummy zippers in the first place? It could've been another something from Vanson's Rocker line so just stick a damn YKK #10 in there and call it a day.

Anyway, here's the jacket after one week of constant wear...

 

[Monitor]

If you zoom in on the coin pocket, you should be able to see dozens of little scars and scratches. That's all from those cursed sleeve zippers!

If anyone from LW is reading this, please, people - move the zipper to some other position!

 

[Mich486]

I too don’t understand this fixation that some makers have in refusing to fit solid and robust zippers.

Surely how it looks at the end it depends on the shape of the puller which you can get in all shapes and sizes from all the modern makers...


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[red devil]

Never had any issues with the scoville zipper, the one I have at least is very sturdy.

 

[J Leather Investigater]

I would stick with this. But if I didn't I would do a riri 10 or a talon #10

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[J Leather Investigater]

Sorry I got a call and misfired on the pic. If I didn't keep this talon or riri, but I bet a scovill or UK would work great

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[TheGuitarFairy]

really astute post above, tony

and yup ... the tape on my J24 cracked very quickly. on the large Talon, seems to me the edges of the channel where male pin slides into are too sharp thereby slicing through tape.

monitor, jacket looks great to me .. wish mine was half as beaten ; )

anyone have any suggestions how to dull (un lacquered) die-cast bright work? the J24 on epay at moment looks incredible.

 

[roadking04]

Anyway, here's the jacket after one week of constant wear...

Looks great! Keep up the good work!

 

[J Leather Investigater]

Your jacket kicks ass

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