Schott 618hh. The good, the bad, and the ugly.

[01flhr]

Google knows. I had to look myself

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[HoosierDaddy]

I wouldn't even know what to ask Google...

 

[BobJ]

Fobbit: A term used to describe soldiers in Iraq that rarely if ever leave the relative safety of the ForwardFOB). This is a perjoritive term used by soldiers that spend a lot of time outside the wire being shot at and dodging road-side bo Operating Base (mbs, for those soldiers that live a safer and more comfortable life.

O'Club: Officers' Club

 

[JMax]

Yes, but no offense intended. Fob and hussar comment was more tongue in cheek reference to Ton's military attire analogy. Which I chuckled at because I see his point.

 

[Phillips88]

Here is my 618 in HH I bought a few years back!

 

[roadking04]

Thanks for all the replies guys. I guess curiosity killed the cat. I went ahead and bought a Schott 618hh. So, this is my review.

Schott customer service was great, as expected. I had some sizing questions and they were very helpful. I am 5'10" 230lbs. My chest measured in at 47" with a t-shirt on. I could of went with a size 50 but I opted for a 48. I figured I needed to lose a few pounds anyway. The jacket arrived within 2 days. Maybe a little disappointed at first. The jacket was very shiny and stiff, seemed a little on the light side also. I tried it on and it seemed a little tight, mostly in the upper arms. After an afternoon, I pulled the tags off and decided to keep it.

I have had the jacket about 2 weeks now. I try and wear it and beat on it every day. It is starting to break in quite nicely.

THE GOOD:
I would have to say it is a serviceable m/c jacket. After the hide loosened up a little it is starting to fit better. It has been tested on the bike in 34 degree north east Ohio weather. It blocks the cold fairly well. Sleeve length is spot on. Back length could be an inch longer, have to make sure the pants are pulled all the way up and everything is ok. Full action back and underarm footballs make for good mobility. Hefty number 10 main zip gets the job done. I think the jacket would hold up in a "low side" crash. Armor and prayers are needed in a "high side" crash. Overall, the jacket would fit a little better if I lost 10lbs, it is really tight with a hoodie on.

THE BAD:
No useable inside pockets! Come on Schott, a nice gun pocket would be nice. Hell, an open chest pocket would help out. Need a place to keep my "clears" and "shades". The pocket they supply is almost useless. The leather is very smooth and shiny at first, almost fake looking.

THE UGLY:
Schott horsehide is ugly in the beginning. After a few weeks of wear and NE Ohio weather, the jacket is starting to look great.

OVERALL:
So far I am pleased. Time will tell. Salt and snow are starting to fly here in the snowbelt. Not much riding time left this year.

 

[roadking04]

 

[roadking04]

 

[roadking04]

All pics are with 2 weeks of wear.

 

[jacketjunkie]

Looks great! I really feel Schotts horsehide is underrated. I mean, it's different to CLX with its brown base and the very quickly acquired used look, but it looks amazing in its own way and in fact much closer to vintage originals. Drape, grain, color, don't understand why any vintage jacket enthusiast wouldn't like it.

 

[TREEMAN]

Great jacket and pics roadking, she's breaking in really nice.........

 

[Phillips88]

Looking great Roadking. Say the jacket seemed a little light? Any particular part of the jacket a lighter weight than the other or just the over all? The reason I’m asking, when I first took my 618hh out to the box, I noticed the forearm part of the sleeves seem maybe a lighter/softer than the rest of the jacket. The bottom part of the sleeves, the elbow side was stiffer like the rest of the jacket. Come to find out after talking with Gail at Schott, that when the leather is chosen for a particular jacket, they actually think things through and engineer the jacket that way when they can. They are known to put softer/more pliable leather where needed the most. For example, you would want the leather a little softer in the forearms that the rest of the body just for basic arm movement but would want the elbow side thicker/stiffer for impact etc. After owning this jacket for a year or so know, that has really came in great and made this jacket, that much better. The sleeves are buttery softer and comfortable yet the body is stiff, still needing some more break in and gives me a since of toughness Incase of an accident. @roadking04

 

[01flhr]

Looks really good! How about some fit pics?

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[Downunder G Man]

Looks good ta me !

I have the Schott 641 HH café racer and it's one of my favourites at the mo'. Has broken in well these last 2 years

A bit too hot on many of the days we have here in Perth western Australia , where summer is on the way in.

We've had 37C already just 2 days ago , when I went on a big Remembrance day motorcycle ride ( mostly but not exclusively Harleys !)

Wore a "genuine" HD Denim jacket that day as we knew it was going to be a stinker.

 

[roadking04]

I was referring to the overall weight of the jacket. This is gonna sound a little weird. When I first pulled it out of the box and picked it up by the collar with one hand, the jacket was very stiff and the shoulders didn't sag yet. I think the overall weight of the jacket was spread out. After break in, everything sags when picked up with one hand and the jacket seems a little heavier. I hope that makes sense, lol.

It does appear to have softer, more pliable parts to it, ie; the gussets. Some parts have more grain popping than others. Still in the early stages of "break in". So far, so good.

 

[Phillips88]

I was referring to the overall weight of the jacket. This is gonna sound a little weird. When I first pulled it out of the box and picked it up by the collar with one hand, the jacket was very stiff and the shoulders didn't sag yet. I think the overall weight of the jacket was spread out. After break in, everything sags when picked up with one hand and the jacket seems a little heavier. I hope that makes sense, lol.

It does appear to have softer, more pliable parts to it, ie; the gussets. Some parts have more grain popping than others. Still in the early stages of "break in". So far, so good.

Well it sure looks like your on the right track. That sure is a good looking jacket and your break in looks to be coming out beautifully. Iv saw some beautiful broke in Schott HH jackets, and some that doesn’t look good at all.

Like for example, where they do piece together the jackets the way they do, Iv saw some Schott HH jackets that maybe one sleeve looks very distressed, well worn, full of character and other looks brand new. Iv even saw collars mix match like that and in my opinion, it really takes away from the jacket. It looks like yours is going to do really good. Looking forward to seeing more pics of your progress!

Anything particular your doing to yours to speed up the breakin? I think yours looks better than mine after 2 weeks than mine in over a year lol. Although mine is over a year old, Iv not wore it as much as I do some of mine others just because of its style. Iv really started to put some time into it in the last several weeks though. Wanting to get the body broke in more and still trying to get the shine cut down. They say a good ride in the rain will help with the shine but Iv yet to be able to catch a shower while wearing the 618hh. Let me put one of my others on, Guaranteed monsoon lol

 

[roadking04]

I have been wearing it everyday. I have been wearing it in the house when not on the bike. I have also been cheating a little, lol. One day it was about 42 degrees and a steady rain. I thought, here is my chance. The wife thought I was crazy, she said" I cant believe you are gonna ride in this just to get some wrinkles on your sleeve." I thought, It is pretty cold and it is raining pretty hard. I took the jacket off and layed it down on the driveway. I left it outside in a driving rain for about 45 minutes. I then shook it off and wore it in the house the rest of the day. Not sure if the rain penetrated the leather, the lining was bone dry.

I also roll/crumple/smash it by hand as I watch tv. I have been wearing/working on it everyday since I got it. I think I will throw it in the driveway again when the opportunity presents itself again. It is a lot easier to sit in a warm house, Then ride in a 40 degree rain ( I know, I know, I am a wuss. lol)

 

[Monitor]

This is absolutely, positively GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!

 

[Phillips88]

I have been wearing it everyday. I have been wearing it in the house when not on the bike. I have also been cheating a little, lol. One day it was about 42 degrees and a steady rain. I thought, here is my chance. The wife thought I was crazy, she said" I cant believe you are gonna ride in this just to get some wrinkles on your sleeve." I thought, It is pretty cold and it is raining pretty hard. I took the jacket off and layed it down on the driveway. I left it outside in a driving rain for about 45 minutes. I then shook it off and wore it in the house the rest of the day. Not sure if the rain penetrated the leather, the lining was bone dry.

I also roll/crumple/smash it by hand as I watch tv. I have been wearing/working on it everyday since I got it. I think I will throw it in the driveway again when the opportunity presents itself again. It is a lot easier to sit in a warm house, Then ride in a 40 degree rain ( I know, I know, I am a wuss. lol)

Lol hey whatever gets the job done. Iv tried to do the same with mine but I can never catch the rain in my 618 so Im gonna do it your way the next time we have a good steady rain at the house. Its gotten so bad that when my wife rides with me on the Harley, she kids and tells me to wear the 618 cause its a guarantee that we wont run into rain and get wet on the bike lol. Now my 141 in naked cow hide is a different story, its the exact opposite. I can ride to the store one mile down the road from the house and get drowned every time lol but I do have to say, my 141 is quit beautiful thanks to getting it wet and wearing till it dries several times...

Its funny, my wife has gotten use to these strange methods of breaking in jackets. Just last week, she came in and caught me asleep on the couch in one of my leather jackets. She said when she first came in, it caught her off guard then she thought "lord...hes breaking in another jacket again" lol

 

[roadking04]

Lmao. To funny. Mine couldn't believe I was throwing a brand new jacket on the driveway, in a downpour.

On a side note, I am not a big fan of naked leather for m/c use. I have a vest and chaps from Foxcreek. Very heavy, very well made. They really soak up the water like a sponge in rain. They also fade quickly and turn a little on the grey side from the sun. To me, finished leather is the only way to go for m/c use.