On the search for a new leather jacket!! Help!

[handymike]

I would ask Carrie about Thedi jackets and riding leather options. I know he used to work for HD, but my Thedi HH is definitely NOT heavy duty riding gear.

 

[Phillips88]

Whatever you choose, it's smart that you aren't in a rush. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has made a purchase that I later regretted due to moving too quickly.

I would add a couple of other notes about your requirements and the companies you have listed.
1. As much as I am a fan of Thedi, I have heard that their HH is on the thinner and/or softer side. I don't think they would fit your needs despite the fact that they are generally great jackets.
2. Schott has quite a lot of leather options. I'm not sure how many of them would actually fit your needs.
3. Aero also has several leather choices. I would imagine that their CXL HH and cowhide would be the only good options, however, I know some even say that Aeros are not the best for actually riding a motorcycle.
4. Do you actually ride? If not, any of these jackets should be able to be passed down and last at least a lifetime regardless of the leathers picked (except lamb or deer possibly.)

1. I love the look of Thedi jackets but iv heard a little of the same. I'm afraid they might not be the best for someone who actually rides. Its been a while since iv looked into the details for their leather but if i'm not mistaken, the veg tanned leather isn't coated and might not do the best if it gets wet on a long ride. I definitely don't want anything that's going to be thin or more of a casual jacket.

2. I love Schott, I have several leather jackets but my two more high end jackets are both Schott. The two I have now are the 141 cafe racer and the 618 in horse hide. I love both jackets but with the 141 being naked cow hide, is gorgeous and couldn't ask for more for casual wear but when it comes to the elements when on the bike, it soaks up water like a sponge.
The 618 in horse hide is nice too but yet again, isn't has heavy as I would like. Plus i'm more of a cafe racer style guy myself.

3. Aero is a brand I honestly haven't looked into a whole lot. I hear great things but the only reason I haven't looked into them more than I have, Iv heard they have a tendancey to be a little more on the light side as well? Other than that, Id be willing to go that route as well.

4. Oh yeah, I love to ride. I have a Harley Softail. That's why I'm trying to find that one perfect jacket. The jacket that is versatile for all occasions. One that I can put on Saturday morning, ride the bike all day with the guys, come home, shower, and put it back on with a button up shirt and wear casually to dinner with the wife. Then possibly ride the bike to the office Monday morning and wear casually though out the day with dress clothes.

I'm not set on the type of leather either. I just suggest horse hide cause @Monitor and others turned me on to horse hide for the first time a while back when I bought my 618. I do like the versatility of it but I just want to be sure whatever I end up getting, isn't super thin. I have ZERO problem with the patients of having to break in a good quality jacket. If it means i'm going to have wear a jacket for a year or so before it gets fully broke in order to get the best, last a life time, heirloom quality jacket, I'M ALL IN. I take it as a challenge to have something I worked at for years to have that beautiful non store bought distressed look that can only be achieved with years of wear. I'm not one of those guys that wants to buy his jacket already distressed. I want to earn it myself if that makes any sense.

 

[dudewuttheheck]

1. I love the look of Thedi jackets but iv heard a little of the same. I'm afraid they might not be the best for someone who actually rides. Its been a while since iv looked into the details for their leather but if i'm not mistaken, the veg tanned leather isn't coated and might not do the best if it gets wet on a long ride. I definitely don't want anything that's going to be thin or more of a casual jacket.

2. I love Schott, I have several leather jackets but my two more high end jackets are both Schott. The two I have now are the 141 cafe racer and the 618 in horse hide. I love both jackets but with the 141 being naked cow hide, is gorgeous and couldn't ask for more for casual wear but when it comes to the elements when on the bike, it soaks up water like a sponge.
The 618 in horse hide is nice too but yet again, isn't has heavy as I would like. Plus i'm more of a cafe racer style guy myself.

3. Aero is a brand I honestly haven't looked into a whole lot. I hear great things but the only reason I haven't looked into them more than I have, Iv heard they have a tendancey to be a little more on the light side as well? Other than that, Id be willing to go that route as well.

4. Oh yeah, I love to ride. I have a Harley Softail. That's why I'm trying to find that one perfect jacket. The jacket that is versatile for all occasions. One that I can put on Saturday morning, ride the bike all day with the guys, come home, shower, and put it back on with a button up shirt and wear casually to dinner with the wife. Then possibly ride the bike to the office Monday morning and wear casually though out the day with dress clothes.

I'm not set on the type of leather either. I just suggest horse hide cause @Monitor and others turned me on to horse hide for the first time a while back when I bought my 618. I do like the versatility of it but I just want to be sure whatever I end up getting, isn't super thin. I have ZERO problem with the patients of having to break in a good quality jacket. If it means i'm going to have wear a jacket for a year or so before it gets fully broke in order to get the best, last a life time, heirloom quality jacket, I'M ALL IN. I take it as a challenge to have something I worked at for years to have that beautiful non store bought distressed look that can only be achieved with years of wear. I'm not one of those guys that wants to buy his jacket already distressed. I want to earn it myself if that makes any sense.

Oh man I'd love a Softail.

Because you do ride, I would probably say that Vanson would be the best bet. As mentioned before, they are the only brand on your list that actually makes jackets specifically for riding and not for style, but still have stylish jackets.

 

[Monitor]

I really like that one a lot too. @Monitor mentioned the v7 earlier and it caught my eye then. I don’t know much about Vanson personally? What makes you guys think Vanson and the v7 a better choice when compared to, say.. LW J-100 and others?

What @dudewuttheheck said. If you plan on wearing your jacket on a motorcycle, Vanson is your best bet. Especially the V7 jacket. Of all the companies we discuss here, only Vanson is actually in the business of making professional motorcycle racing apparel and that counts for a lot. At least to me. The V7 is their newest number they had spent two years developing and perfecting. Few people on the forum bought it and are really impressed with that jacket and I can see why.

Horsehide can be as heavy as any cowhide, or more. LW is a good example of this. Schott HH tends to be on the slightly lighter side compared to LW or Aero but they don't make lightweight jackets that's for sure. Aero's Steerhide on the other hand is unrivaled in weight. Not always but sometimes they get this hide that's belt grade stuff. ton312's J106, for instance. Or the recently sold Bootlegger AeroFan was selling.

 

[roadking04]

Just my 2 cents.

I would go for fit and function over leather thickness. I think all the top brands offer more than enough protection in a slide. Leather only protects against road rash, not impact. Heaven forbid a major crash, But if it involves broken bones and serious injury, the medical staff will cut your jacket off you!! I think 3oz is enough, I don't think a couple fractions of a millimeter in thickness is gonna matter in the long run. A buddy of mine slid at about 40mph in a carhartt!! No road rash. Most of the time your legs and ass are only protected with levis denim!!

If the jacket doesn't fit well, it makes for a terrible m/c jacket, regardless of leather thickness. If the sleeves are too short, or the jacket rides up, Or you balloon up like a marshmellow man, the jacket will always be an issue when you ride.

Also function. I think you have to have a "full" action back, nothing less. I also like the underarm footballs. I think you have to have mobility when riding.

I would never consider a naked leather for any serious rider. Sure naked leather is soft and heavy, but it soaks up water like no tomorrow. Nothing worse than getting in a quick downpour before your destination and being stuck in heavy, uncomfortable, wet leather.

 

[Camaro1967]

I'm new here, so I'm obviously not as qualified as some of the other members to chime in, but I just so happen to own a LW J-100.

I've also owned a couple HD jackets in addition to a ELMC Californian. The HD were steerhide and the ELMC was FQHH.

Overall, if you're going for a clean and simple look, LW, hands down. Plus if you plan to ever wear it in the rain or cold conditions, for example, it's built for whatever you can throw at it. I live in Seoul and it's 15-20 degrees right now with snow. I wear it almost every day. No problems whatsoever.

I've also read the forums extensively on everyone's gripes over Stu, but I've never had a problem with him. His work is immaculate. Your only regret with him, quite honestly, is you'll wish you bought his stuff first before buying other stuff only to get rid of it and go for the LW anyways (Disclaimer: no affiliation with LW, just a very satisfied customer).

The J-100 I have is 3.25oz, which is plenty heavy. You may think you really want something heavier, for whatever reason, but my jacket is a 46L and it weighs around 6-ish lbs. Anything heavier, at least for this kind of jacket, and it kind of defeats the purpose of the minimalistic design.

If you really want something beefier, Stu will hook you up. He does 4.5oz+ jackets, but mainly for the Ryder, Buco-D pocket and Suburban. I'm sure he'll basically do whatever you want for the right price, and it sounds like you're at least considering something custom, but it's also worth considering Stu's advice: this is what he does. He knows this market very well.

Although I don't own an Aero, I've considered buying several. I've tried them on, had them built for my specs, but quite honestly, I just didn't get that "wow" feeling. It's a subjective thing, I suppose. But when I got that LW J-100 in the mail, I was wearing that thing to bed and smiling all day, every day. It's just pure joy.

Anyways, just my .02. Good luck in whatever you decide.