Vanson! Vanson! Vanson!

[ton312]

I have no experience with Thurston and prefer to deal directly with Vanson. My experience with Vanson has been satisfying. They are not fashion jackets. I like to support support small American businesses when I can so for me it is win-win, especially since they are involved in the motorcycle community. I don't know where Thurston stands.

Thurston is a retailer who contracts with Vanson, Aero and Thedi leathers. They originally were very involved with the motorcycling community in Seattle, under the Insurrection company moniker. You could purchase and customize a full race suit, etc and one of the founders was in fact a track rider. These days they are more casually focused (I believe).

 

[Aloysius]

Ideal for a motorcycle jacket but not for playing table tennis. Point is Vansons are purpose built. If you want one because you like the look then be prepared to adapt or hop on a bike and see how it works.

Why are you trying to argue with me?

I'm praising Vanson's jackets, have spent time at their factory, talked to Mr (and Mrs) Vanson, etc.

 

[Tim S]

Not arguing with you but expressing my ideals.

 

[Aloysius]

Not arguing with you but expressing my ideals.

You’re presenting them like an argument when no one here disagrees.

 

[Tim S]

My issue is with absolute statements. If someone likes a jacket, then hooray. If they need to come here for advice as to "quality" or "ideal" then I find the advice suspect. This is why I generally lurk rather than participate. Didn't mean to hurt your feelings.

 

[Aloysius]

My issue is with absolute statements. If someone likes a jacket, then hooray. If they need to come here for advice as to "quality" or "ideal" then I find the advice suspect. This is why I generally lurk rather than participate. Didn't mean to hurt your feelings.

No feelings hurt. No one is missing anything from your lack of participation.

But if you find our advice and experience suspect, I don't see what you get out of lurking.

 

[VansonRider]

If you want a motorcycle jacket for protection, a Dainese or other similar brands with armor are the best solution. All other jackets are a big compromise in a motorcycle accident. Some jackets are better motorcycle tools than others, None armor motorcycle jackets are mainly design to keep the weather environment out and help you with a minor motorcycle falls. An armor jacket does it much better in minor accidents. In a major street accident, both types of jackets are not going to save your life. The street is not a track, where armor jackets shine. The open road and the street, are different birds from the track. There are just way too many variables that put your life in danger in those two none track scenarios. A stop/speed sign post will kill a person in an instant. The story of Nicholas Hayden is a perfect story to demonstrated how dangerous it is to take a bicycle on the street.

Vanson made it's name building custom track suits for non sponsored riders who pay for their own gear and needed a suit that would survive multiple spills and eventually be repairable. Their experience is applied into the fit, stitching, seam placement, and patterns of all their jackets.

I’d take their purpose build armored gear over a one and done Dainese any day of the week.

The classic riding jackets incorporate all that knowledge gained at the track as far as the patterning. If you wear one of their traditional jackets over an armored shirt you’d be just as prepared for a slide as in anything else, and a much safer than in the vast majority of jackets.

I do 100% agree with your statement about street vs track though. A signpost or a telephone pole can defeat the best gear made.

 

[Hobbes1]

4AM-5AM, coffee, spray bottle hour of power. Been wearing at least a few hours each day to try and develop some character. Some jackets are precision tools, Vanson is a blunt force instrument. Collar and sleeves are coming along but the two leather lined pockets make the body of the jacket formidable.
View attachment 640570 View attachment 640571 View attachment 640573 View attachment 640574

My Walter Dyer jacket has leather lined, handwarmer pockets. I wish they were canvas or something else besides leather. What is the supposed benefit of that? Any guess?
I like this Vanson though...a lot. cheers!

 

[Bluechel]

Someone should buy mine! It's the "good" comp weight too.

What size?

 

[Schambach]

What size?

Large

 

[ton312]

My Walter Dyer jacket has leather lined, handwarmer pockets. I wish they were canvas or something else besides leather. What is the supposed benefit of that? Any guess?
I like this Vanson though...a lot. cheers!

I can only assume it’s a durability thing and I agree on canvas as preferable. It’s a bit of overkill IMO and it makes the torso of the jacket feel like legit Roman armor.

 

[Peter Mackin]

My model E is starting to fit much better and is taking shape now that my healthy eating is starting to do the business, a gem of a jacket.

 

[TartuWolf]

If I'd have to pick one jacket to keep out of all the ones I have/had then it would be my model E.

 

[Khilij]

If I'd have to pick one jacket to keep out of all the ones I have/had then it would be my model E.

I'd go with my Chopper, personally.

 

[TartuWolf]

I actually had a chopper as well, but didn't like it nearly as much. Assuming S is 36 then it was the same size as my model E, but it fit too wide at the waist and definitely too long in the body. Loved the quilting and shoulder gussets though!

 

[Khilij]

I actually had a chopper as well, but didn't like it nearly as much. Assuming S is 36 then it was the same size as my model E, but it fit too wide at the waist and definitely too long in the body. Loved the quilting and shoulder gussets though!

I went with Thurston bros stock choppers because they do numbered sizing and the measurements are a decent bit smaller relative to Vanson for sizes 42 and below. I also prefer the black rayon lining. Wouldn't have fixed your length problem though.

 

[jkoj]

My model E is starting to fit much better and is taking shape now that my healthy eating is starting to do the business, a gem of a jacket. View attachment 643625

Do you always keep the key fob attached to the zipper? I’ve thought about it but usually just keep it in my breast pocket.

 

[Khilij]

Do you always keep the key fob attached to the zipper? I’ve thought about it but usually just keep it in my breast pocket.

I just keep it on my keys. Feels a bit unwieldy on the zipper itself. Probably wouldn't work if you had many jackets though, I admit.

 

[VansonRider]

The original idea was you'd just keep your one motorcycle key on it, the leather wouldn't scratch your tank when it flopped around in the wind.

 

[3.14nche]

I just received the Elvis today.
That's a pretty cool piece.
A few stiches in the lining are popped but that was advertised and can be fixed.
What was not are the specks of paint and couple of small cuts.
I guess a touch of shoe polish on the paint will do the trick.
No big deal though and other than that it's in pretty good shape.
There were no measurements provided so I went with the size chart I found on the website.
Size 10 is supposed to be medium but it fits a bit smaller than that, that'll be a tshirt or light sweater fit.
No fit pics on this one as she doesn't want pictures of herself on the internet and I won't be crossdressing (not that I could fit into it).