Original buco or RMC Buco

[Willcp30]

Hiya,

This is my first time posting on here so do bear with me. I am at a bit of a cross roads with my original vintage buco leather so am seeking some advice. I bought the leather off Etsy a few years back and it fits like a dream however there is some wear at the neck which nags at me when I go to wear it as I am nervous about it getting worse. I am considering passing on the jacket to get a Real McCoys version but would appreciate some opinions before I lose something that I might not be able to get back.

I am hoping to wear the jacket more to work (informal office setting, but I am more senior) as well as casually. It is the only biker jacket I own. I do also have a new horsehide indy jacket that I picked up (Y2 collab with barnstormers Japan) which has a clean aesthetic which would good for work but ideally I want to rotate between the two.

Dropped some pics of the jacket with me in it along with some pics of me in the McCoys version.

Let me know any thoughts and advice.

Thanks - Will

 

[Hoanglong]

Buy a new rmc and you will definitely get compliments from your colleagues in your office, not strange looks when wearing a leather jacket that is too old.
Me too when wearing j24 and j100 like new, not with a jacket that has exposed tea core.
The finish on the rmc leather surface is extremely durable and if worn and cared for can look like new for many years.

 

[Peacoat]

First of all it appears the leather at the collar is cracking. Once leather starts to crack there Is no conditioner that can reverse the process. It will only accelerate; however, wearing the jacket won't make it worse. You might be able to slow the cracking process with a quality conditioner, but I'm not sure as I have never done any real world testing.

Secondly, while everyone won't agree, I don't think a cross zip motorcycle jacket is appropriate for wear to the office.* A more conventional straight zip such as a Sheene, or a ThunderBay in cold weather might be a better choice. I have infrequently worn both on informal days and felt comfortable doing so.

As always, my opinions are only that; yours may vary.
___
*Dependent upon, of course, what type of office it is.

 

[Willcp30]

First of all it appears the leather at the collar is cracking. Once leather starts to crack there Is no conditioner that can reverse the process. It will only accelerate; however, wearing the jacket won't make it worse. You might be able to slow the cracking process with a quality conditioner, but I'm not sure as I have never done any real world testing.

Secondly, while everyone won't agree, I don't think a cross zip motorcycle jacket is appropriate for wear to the office.* A more conventional straight zip such as a Sheene, or a ThunderBay in cold weather might be a better choice. I have infrequently worn both on informal days and felt comfortable doing so.

As always, my opinions are only that; yours may vary.
___
*Dependent upon, of course, what type of office it is.

Thanks for the advise, I truly appreciate it.

I have conditioned the collar and the rest of the jacket. It has made the leather a lot more subtle but hasn't transformed anything which I guess is to be expected.

Yeah I have a straight up zip indy jacket which feels a little more appropriate for the office. I have just always been a sucker for a buco j-24

 

[Bennarion]

Can you zip up your jacket? I think it's too small for you in the chest.

 

[Willcp30]

View attachment 687321
Can you zip up your jacket? I think it's too small for you in the chest.

Sure here’s a pic of it zipped up, no hooded sweat

 

[Bennarion]

I like the RM jacket better the way it fits you

 

[P2D]

I truly love my rmc buco j24L and do wear it to work

 

[Monitor]

Sure here’s a pic of it zipped up, no hooded sweat

That jacket is two sizes too small for you. Absolutely no reason to keep this. Sell it and invest the money into a new one that actually fits you.

Also, you will be able to get a Buco jacket back. There's tons of them around. Everyone who ever wanted one, has one. It's no big deal.

 

[bigmanbigtruck]

Secondly, while everyone won't agree, I don't think a cross zip motorcycle jacket is appropriate for wear to the office.

I wish this was different though and people just wear whatever jacket they like.

While my workplace is quite relaxed in terms of clothing, a guy wearing a cross-zip would be making quite the statement. Even when I go in a straight zip or trucker, it gets some attention.

Then again I see plenty of women wearing cross-zips to work and nobody bats an eye. So kind of a double standard lol

 

[Mysteryo]

Hey
There are too levels of cracking to take in consideration:
1st is a superficial cracking: the dye/pigment paint that colors the leather only is cracking and that’s is just superficial and the leather itself is in good condition. I had that case on a jacket, so I just sanded gently the paint scales, re-dyed and conditioned with wax based conditioner.
2nd case I also had on my first Buco: the leather is attacked and cracking… what I eventually did is I sent the jacket to Aero Leather in Scotland where they did a great job re making the collar.
And my jacket was saved and live for decades to come.
So, don’t sell your Precious Buco, it’s a genuine piece of history.

 

[Mysteryo]

Hiya,

This is my first time posting on here so do bear with me. I am at a bit of a cross roads with my original vintage buco leather so am seeking some advice. I bought the leather off Etsy a few years back and it fits like a dream however there is some wear at the neck which nags at me when I go to wear it as I am nervous about it getting worse. I am considering passing on the jacket to get a Real McCoys version but would appreciate some opinions before I lose something that I might not be able to get back.

I am hoping to wear the jacket more to work (informal office setting, but I am more senior) as well as casually. It is the only biker jacket I own. I do also have a new horsehide indy jacket that I picked up (Y2 collab with barnstormers Japan) which has a clean aesthetic which would good for work but ideally I want to rotate between the two.

Dropped some pics of the jacket with me in it along with some pics of me in the McCoys version.

Let me know any thoughts and advice.

Thanks - Will

And by the way the crackings on the collar don’t seem so deep… I wouldn’t even touch it.

 

[Willcp30]

And by the way the crackings on the collar don’t seem so deep… I wouldn’t even touch it.

Thanks @Mysteryo!

May I ask how well Aero Leathers matched the rest of the jacket and what the rough cost was?

Here’s a better pick of the collar, there is some flaking to the leather.

 

[Willcp30]

I wish this was different though and people just wear whatever jacket they like.

While my workplace is quite relaxed in terms of clothing, a guy wearing a cross-zip would be making quite the statement. Even when I go in a straight zip or trucker, it gets some attention.

Then again I see plenty of women wearing cross-zips to work and nobody bats an eye. So kind of a double standard lol

Yeah agree @bigmanbigtruck a vintage biker leather can be seen as a statement particularly for a guy. It’s always the odd cutting comment from a colleague or my wife that keeps items hanging in the wardrobe