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

[RollerC]

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.

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.

Hi buddies, i am a vintage Schott collector and working in the leather tanning industry. I personally like Schott a lot but honestly its horsehide these days is chrome tanned(seriously chemical) with heavy pigment/coating(not Aniline) so basically it won’t age beautifully like the Schott horsehide in 40’s (vegetable tanned, oil came out after used(with a shine) and fading naturally <---the more you use-the better it looks. But veg-tan is too expensive that Schott only uses it on small items like wallets & belts these days. Veg-tan jackets from Real Mccoy, Flat head, RRL are normally over 1000USD but it totally worths it.) So that’s why the Schotts horsehide these days is underrated. I checked that out in shops many times but still can't stand that plastic-like look. Seriously i don't know why professional and heritage brand like Schott would use this kind of horsehide(I know last year they worked with Horween leather and produced much better horsehide collection, maybe they finally noticed the problem.) It's just too far away from the natural horsehide in Brando's The Wild One. And there're many other better horsehide in the market i don't know why Schott chose this PU-split-like horsehide. In my experience, this kind of leather won't really fade and oiled naturally after broke in, but i am really interested in how far it can go after your hard wearing(i know you tried hard, keep it up bro). I do hope it would age beautifully, please correct me if i am wrong.
I am just trying to warn anyone who expect to buy a natural horsehide(or even veg-tan) jacket that Schott is definitely NOT the right choice. Nice to talk to you all leather jacket lovers.

 

[roadking04]

Hi RollerC. Thanks for the inside info. I have had the jacket for over a month now. So far, so good. Still breaking it in. Riding season is over here in the snowbelt. Snow and SALT cover the roads till spring around here. Hope to get some miles on the 618 next year. Now that I can post photos, I will try and keep everyone updated with the progress.

 

[RollerC]

Hi RollerC. Thanks for the inside info. I have had the jacket for over a month now. So far, so good. Still breaking it in. Riding season is over here in the snowbelt. Snow and SALT cover the roads till spring around here. Hope to get some miles on the 618 next year. Now that I can post photos, I will try and keep everyone updated with the progress.

YA ROADKING04 , look forward to it! guess we schott fans can’t wait to see the break-in looks!

 

[Deleted member 16736]

RollerC, thanks for the inside scoop on Schott horsehide. What do you think of their steerhide?

 

[RollerC]

RollerC, thanks for the inside scoop on Schott horsehide. What do you think of their steerhide?

Hi Joel! i got both Schott naked cowhide and steerhide jackets. In comparison, i think the steerhide doesn't have enough 'oil' inside so after i broke-in it still doesn't look as rich/ shiny as the naked cowhide. Also for details like inner pocket, the raw edge(without finishing) doesn't look very well. The naked cowhide maybe a bit too soft but i generally think it's in better quality. And Schott is quite price-friendly, considering other high quality leather jackets like Real Mccoy's, Flat Head, Himel are all above $2XXXUSD (of course they're better, vegetable tanned.)

 

[roadking04]

I would have to say, my perfecto seen the most saddle time this year by far. It is just so easy to wear on the bike for me. It was worn exclusively from the late fall till late spring of this year. I have been slowly losing weight most of the year(almost 40lbs.) I had the jacket on today and it seems a size or 2 too big. It is starting to balloon up on me at speed.

When I ordered the jacket, my chest was around 47". I ordered a 48 and all was well. The jacket fit/worked pretty well on the m/c. Now my chest measures around 44"-44 1/2". I think I am gonna go with a 46. According to the size chart, the 44 is an inch shorter in the back length. I don't think that will work. I am a little afraid the 46 won't work either. My 48 fits great in shoulder width, back length, and arm length. With the 48 I can grab a big handful of leather thru the chest and midsection though.

I don't have a full length mirror or photographer right now or I would post a fit pic. I am worried the 46 would be a little tight in the shoulders and a little short in the sleeves. I guess the only way to find out is try one on.

These are some pics of the 48 after about 3 years of light/medium use in the m/c world.

 

[Hh121]

I would have to say, my perfecto seen the most saddle time this year by far. It is just so easy to wear on the bike for me. It was worn exclusively from the late fall till late spring of this year. I have been slowly losing weight most of the year(almost 40lbs.) I had the jacket on today and it seems a size or 2 too big. It is starting to balloon up on me at speed.

When I ordered the jacket, my chest was around 47". I ordered a 48 and all was well. The jacket fit/worked pretty well on the m/c. Now my chest measures around 44"-44 1/2". I think I am gonna go with a 46. According to the size chart, the 44 is an inch shorter in the back length. I don't think that will work. I am a little afraid the 46 won't work either. My 48 fits great in shoulder width, back length, and arm length. With the 48 I can grab a big handful of leather thru the chest and midsection though.

I don't have a full length mirror or photographer right now or I would post a fit pic. I am worried the 46 would be a little tight in the shoulders and a little short in the sleeves. I guess the only way to find out is try one on.

These are some pics of the 48 after about 3 years of light/medium use in the m/c world. View attachment 260841 View attachment 260842 View attachment 260843

Hi RK,why don't you just go to horween p613s?

 

[roadking04]

Hi RK,why don't you just go to horween p613s?

I just don't think brown works for me in a motorcycle jacket. I would be all over a 618/613 in black horween.

 

[Psant25]

I would have to say, my perfecto seen the most saddle time this year by far. It is just so easy to wear on the bike for me. It was worn exclusively from the late fall till late spring of this year. I have been slowly losing weight most of the year(almost 40lbs.) I had the jacket on today and it seems a size or 2 too big. It is starting to balloon up on me at speed.

When I ordered the jacket, my chest was around 47". I ordered a 48 and all was well. The jacket fit/worked pretty well on the m/c. Now my chest measures around 44"-44 1/2". I think I am gonna go with a 46. According to the size chart, the 44 is an inch shorter in the back length. I don't think that will work. I am a little afraid the 46 won't work either. My 48 fits great in shoulder width, back length, and arm length. With the 48 I can grab a big handful of leather thru the chest and midsection though.

I don't have a full length mirror or photographer right now or I would post a fit pic. I am worried the 46 would be a little tight in the shoulders and a little short in the sleeves. I guess the only way to find out is try one on.

These are some pics of the 48 after about 3 years of light/medium use in the m/c world. View attachment 260841 View attachment 260842 View attachment 260843

That looks great!

 

[Monitor]

I would have to say, my perfecto seen the most saddle time this year by far. It is just so easy to wear on the bike for me. It was worn exclusively from the late fall till late spring of this year. I have been slowly losing weight most of the year(almost 40lbs.) I had the jacket on today and it seems a size or 2 too big. It is starting to balloon up on me at speed.

When I ordered the jacket, my chest was around 47". I ordered a 48 and all was well. The jacket fit/worked pretty well on the m/c. Now my chest measures around 44"-44 1/2". I think I am gonna go with a 46. According to the size chart, the 44 is an inch shorter in the back length. I don't think that will work. I am a little afraid the 46 won't work either. My 48 fits great in shoulder width, back length, and arm length. With the 48 I can grab a big handful of leather thru the chest and midsection though.

I don't have a full length mirror or photographer right now or I would post a fit pic. I am worried the 46 would be a little tight in the shoulders and a little short in the sleeves. I guess the only way to find out is try one on.

These are some pics of the 48 after about 3 years of light/medium use in the m/c world. View attachment 260841 View attachment 260842 View attachment 260843

It looks perfect and one of few jackets that actually gets to look like vintage jackets more and more as it ages. Gotta start wearing mine ASAP. Would have, if it wasn't for the stinking heat wave.

 

[roadking04]

@Monitor, I really hate to possibly retire this jacket because it fit so well when I was heavier. I am afraid a smaller size is gonna be off in some areas. Schott horse does break in rather quickly. Hope to see more pics of your 613 evolving.

 

[Monitor]

@Monitor, I really hate to possibly retire this jacket because it fit so well when I was heavier. I am afraid a smaller size is gonna be off in some areas. Schott horse does break in rather quickly. Hope to see more pics of your 613 evolving.

I know the feeling. I'd just keep it for as long as possible or at least until a good enough replacement turns up. The pattern on these is very forgiving. You can get away wearing it a size or two off.

 

[roadking04]

^ I am really hoping a 46 will fit in the shoulders and sleeve length. I would try a 44 but they take an inch off the back length. The back length on my 48 works, but I wish I had another half inch or so.

 

[navetsea]

the collar and lapel looks naturally broken in cool

 

[roadking04]

Thanks @navetsea, The jacket has gotten wet a few times and the rest is just natural wear. It wasn't a very hard break in at all compared to some jackets. Wear areas on Schott hh is a grey instead of brown. They use drum dyed leather.

I bit the bullet and ordered a new 618hh in a size 46. I hope it fits. If it does, I will be taking your 30 day challenge in it.

 

[Monitor]

I can't wait to start seriously wearing my 613SH! If it's going to age like my first 618, nobody happier than me, even though I did a full circle and could've just stuck to Schott but now, I had to waste thousands of monies to realize my first jacket coulda been the last one and I wouldn't have missed a thing. Well, except for some insight. But really, great jackets. Tough, look nice, warm, great leather... What more could you want?

 

[roadking04]

I received my new 618hh in a size 46 today. It fits a tad big. My chest is just a little over 44" right now. I might have been able to pull off a 44 but it would be snug. Plus I might gain some of the weight I lost back and the 46 has room for that. If I manage to lose another 20lbs (and I need too), I will reward myself with a 44.

This jacket really needs broken in. I forgot what commitment it takes to break in a new jacket. I was so used to my old easy-to-wear 48. Schott horsehide is rigid in the beginning but hopefully will break in soon. Took it for a ride right out of the box and it feels like it will work pretty well on the bike after it relaxes a bit. I will probably soak it in cold water and wear until dry to speed up the process a bit.

There was one disappointment. As I was watching the Browns game and crumpling the jacket with my hands, I noticed something upsetting. Schott has removed the flag tag from the 618hh! They replaced the flag with a tag that reads "made of USA and imported materials" What the hell!! My 2017 618hh has the flag on it.

According to Schott they source their horsehide from Italy and therefor use the other tag. I do have to say that I like the shiny look to the jacket. I think it gives it a little edge. Also took a few pics.

 

[Hh121]

I received my new 618hh in a size 46 today. It fits a tad big. My chest is just a little over 44" right now. I might have been able to pull off a 44 but it would be snug. Plus I might gain some of the weight I lost back and the 46 has room for that. If I manage to lose another 20lbs (and I need too), I will reward myself with a 44.

This jacket really needs broken in. I forgot what commitment it takes to break in a new jacket. I was so used to my old easy-to-wear 48. Schott horsehide is rigid in the beginning but hopefully will break in soon. Took it for a ride right out of the box and it feels like it will work pretty well on the bike after it relaxes a bit. I will probably soak it in cold water and wear until dry to speed up the process a bit.

There was one disappointment. As I was watching the Browns game and crumpling the jacket with my hands, I noticed something upsetting. Schott has removed the flag tag from the 618hh! They replaced the flag with a tag that reads "made of USA and imported materials" What the hell!! My 2017 618hh has the flag on it.

According to Schott they source their horsehide from Italy and therefor use the other tag. I do have to say that I like the shiny look to the jacket. I think it gives it a little edge. Also took a few pics. View attachment 262707 View attachment 262708 View attachment 262709 View attachment 262710 View attachment 262711 View attachment 262712

Super jacket and great fit!

 

[roadking04]

Thanks HH. It is a little roomy for a true motorcycle fit but it makes it easier to wear.

 

[TREEMAN]

The story about the tag being changed because of Italian HH is probably BS. If that was the case they would have probably had a tag inside the jacket stating that it WAS Italian HH.