Were Belstaff jackets originally made with leather?

[Capesofwrath]

I had a jampot Matchless once. Very agricultural but I always loved big singles.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Really, 10 bills is a lot to drop on a very ordinary-looking fashion jacket.

 

[Edward]

Yes, they're nothing special in the jacket design department. Not as classic as some ofv their old designs, and not new enough to explain why they made the jump .

 

[Aerojoe]

Really, 10 bills is a lot to drop on a very ordinary-looking fashion jacket.

Too much dough. Are they made in China too?

 

[rocketeer]

Oh my god, the matchless jackets! I just saw them at Bloomingdales and wondered what the heck are these???? they are like totally Belstaff knockoff and claim to be the OLDEST motorcycle clothing of Britain!! The style and craftsmanship are almost identical, but the badge looks just stupid I have to say, almost like child's play.

As a former Matchless owner, 12 years on a G12 650, I feel slightly insulted.
Clothing range appears nothing special but i'm with Edward, the badge is ok for sure.

 

[IXL]

As a former Matchless owner, 12 years on a G12 650, I feel slightly insulted.
Clothing range appears nothing special but i'm with Edward, the badge is ok for sure.

That was your bike? How cool!!

 

[rocketeer]

That was your bike? How cool!!

Bought in 1976 when I was still a learner so had a chair on it. Passed my test then rode as a solo, it is really a bitsa. that is Matchless rolling chassis, Matchless tank, Bonnie front mudguard, BSA back mudguard, Gold star silencers with one altered to fit the other side. Yes I had this for 12 years.
The Jacket is an old Kett and a silly hat for picture pose. We would put studds in our boots and ride along with our feet down for short periods to show off a shower of sparks haha.
Great days.
JTee

 

[Aerojoe]

Beautiful bike! Why did you get rid of it? A single seater version of that beauty would be amazing, like this bobber;

 

[rocketeer]

Beautiful bike! Why did you get rid of it? A single seater version of that beauty would be amazing, like this bobber;

I only sold it as I had nowhere to store it safely. It was at a girlfriends mums under a tarpaulin in a non running condition, and not much cash to get it going again. Also my girlfriend had just given birth to our son and though being a rocker was important, being a father was more important.
I sold that bike in 1989 and had not seen it since, then I spotted a Matchless in our high street, a familiar shape and recognised the number. Chatted to the owner, this was definitely my motorcycle but its heart had gone. Gone was the red fringing around the seat, gone was the Bonneville front mudguard and number plate. The owner only lived a couple of miles away and had owned it almost from the day I sold it and in all those years never came across it.
When my son was 10 I bought a BSA A65, still have that but hope to trade it for something newer(Triumph Street Triple I hope). Its ok but I am a bit fed up with it so it is going. The Hayabusa is so much more enjoyable to ride, but the Matchless, if only I could buy it back, that bike was special.
Here's another shot with a couple of friends

PS cannot see your pic ?

 

[stiff upper lip]

Hi guys, this is mine...a Sunbeam s8 from '49/50

I've owned I don't know how many motorcycle jackets over the years, I've had a couple of the proper Belstaff's in nylon which were good jackets but useless in an "off" as in they offer no crash protection at all, todays Belstaffs are ok quality wise but not worthy of their price tag and the fit is terrible...their idea of large is not the same as mine......Barbour are the most hit and miss for both quality and fit, an xl for instance in one style is not (by far) the same in another style and the quality is not as good as it was 20 years ago...they seem to trade on the name now.
I now own this jacket, it's a Roland Sands tracker in very heavy wax cotton and it is beautifully made

The Matchless stuff is quite simply an insult, purely because they don't make Matchless bikes any more so why trade on a name other than to try and make another snobby Belstaff knock off marque at offensive prices.....Harumpf Harumpf.....

 

[rocketeer]

The Matchless stuff is quite simply an insult, purely because they don't make Matchless bikes any more so why trade on a name other than to try and make another snobby Belstaff knock off marque at offensive prices.....Harumpf Harumpf.....

It is a bit like the 'Von Dutch' clothing range. Nothing what so ever to do with Von Dutch(Kenny Howard) and his craft of hot rods and pinstriping etc. When he died the family sold the name to who ever paid the highest price I imagine. So we could have had a Von Dutch rage of cookware or gardening tools.
Funny, a friend who had heard of him but did not really know what he did thought Von Dutch was a Japanese clothes designer:eeek:

Another great bike. Sunbeam S8?

 

[stiff upper lip]

Yep, it's a Sunbeam S8, all original, even the footrest rubbers....properly patinated and not one of these resprayed over polished never ridden ones.....

 

[Capesofwrath]

Going down memory lane today. I good friend had one of those and I remember going from the West country to Mid Wales on the back of it one freezing winter. Although his was a slightly later one. Nice bike and so unusual then.

 

[regius]

Speaking of Belstaff, does anyone know where I can find older styles, made before the Americans took over? Ever since the inception of the new flagship stores, selections on ebay has been shrinking, almost as if they are banned or taken down.

 

[Christianyulda]

Anyone confirm how many old this jacket? And where was made?

Lightning zipper

Many thanks!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[aswatland]

Anyone confirm how many old this jacket? And where was made?

This English-made Belstaff coat dates to the 1950s/1960s. This style of Lightning zip is commonly seen on post War MC jackets.

Lightning zipper

Many thanks!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Doctor Damage]

Here's a NYT article from 2011 on Belstaff with a lot of wry observations, including this one: "It hired a designer, Martin Cooper, from Burberry to facilitate the transformation from garments with purpose to just garments." ha ha ha

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/11/fashion/belstaff-another-attempt-at-upward-mobility.html

 

[Christianyulda]

Are this for man?


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[robrinay]

Are this for man?


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Most probably for a man. In the U.K. a woman's jacket would have the wind flap and buttons reversed.

 

[Doctor Damage]

Most probably for a man. In the U.K. a woman's jacket would have the wind flap and buttons reversed.

?