What do you do in your leather jacket, what lifestyle does it inspire? Tell us a story! (keep it clean)

[Trouser Bark]

Laying pipe to Enya.

 

[Edward]

Here's the one with the studs on my 118 with detachable faux collar

That's fun. I've seen that particular one before... although it would be an incredibly rarely worn thing, I've been very much tempted to pick up the bright red version as a source of pockets for those crazy-hot days in Summer when I retreat into a kilt. I have a plain black one, and also a deep green canvas one that see occasional casual wear when other people might opt for shorts. My others are reserved for formal wear.

Although a question for the masses re travel and leathers - I am going into a Shanghai winter this year after xmas and was wondering what a could layering situation would be. I have jackets that fit trim (eg RMC shinki type 1) that I could layer a wool coat over or jackets that are slightly larger (eg LL Dominator regular fit) where I could go do a thermal henly and sweatshirt. What would be most versatile? Welcome any thoughts although I am leaning towards the latter option as we are also spending some time in HK which wont be anywhere near as cold and I dont to bring a wool coat just for Shanghai.

I've spent time in Beijing in December. A touch colder there than Shanghai, but close enough. Outside the hotel I stayed in there was an artificial ski slope for which they created real snow simply by spraying water vapour into the frozen air. It lay for weeks, even without it actually snowing anywhere else there, strange sight. On different trips I wore an Irvin and a B3, with full thermal underwear, and knitwear over the top of a shirt (dress shirt or flannel, depending on whether it was a work day). Depending on how resistant you are to the cold yourself, you might get away with something similar except with a leather jacket you can fit the warm layers under. HK I've only been to in May, so can't comment on Winter, but I'd expect it to be milder than Shanghai. May was hellheat.

To my mind, denim vest over a leather jacket is the quintessential heavy metal look.

View attachment 748940

The metal world certain embraced the battlejacket, though my understanding has always been that it originated first with outlaw motorcycle clubs and their kuttes as a means of displaying club colours. Seems to have evolved around the time that the Clubs shifted away from jerseys and into leather - post war? The MC 1%ers all wear leather kuttes now, but they were originally denim. Supposedly the switch to leather was prompted when they got held overnight by police, who would confiscate and wash their denim kuttes before returning them. It being a known thing that you don't wash the road dirt off colours. How true that is, who knows.....

I've dabbled with a denim kutte myself, since replaced by a Helstons vest. No patching on mine, though. I use it as an alternative to a jacket when I'm flying in hot weather; enough extra pockets that all the bits I'm carrying on my person are tucked in it, trousers and shirt empty; very convenient at airport security.

I would adore to have one of this sort of Aviator vests for wearing over a leather:

Alas, the Chinese brands' versions are all too small for me, and the Japanese versions are all too small and too expensive for me! Somebody, one day, will hopefully bridge the gap...

 

[Peter Mackin]

Bought my 1st leather jacket (mascot)crosszip in 1974.never been without a bike since, own around 35 currently ,mix of leather and textile.
Still miss that old mascot,red quilt lining,,happy days.

 

[leatherbikescarsnwatches]

Bought my 1st leather jacket (mascot)crosszip in 1974.never been without a bike since, own around 35 currently ,mix of leather and textile.
Still miss that old mascot,red quilt lining,,happy days.

Truly truly

 

[Peter Mackin]

3 of my favourite schotts,,love em

 

[leatherbikescarsnwatches]

3 of my favourite schotts,,love em View attachment 751595

Gorgeous gorgeous and gorgeous

 

[LeatherHunter]

When I shrug into that leather jacket, it’s not just a layer—it’s a switch. The world gets sharper, louder, and somehow simpler. I kick the bike to life before dawn, the engine’s bark rolling across empty streets as I chase the last strip of darkness west. That jacket has seen rain that stung like gravel, desert heat that baked the road into a mirage, and mountain passes where the air thinned and the sky felt close enough to touch. It carries the stories of strangers met at fuel stops, of back-road races with storms trying to outrun me, of nights spent under neon signs buzzing like old jukeboxes. In it, I’m a man moving forward no matter what’s behind—steel, leather, wind, and the long road stretching out like an open dare.

 

[leatherbikescarsnwatches]

Oh man that's good stuff right there!

When I shrug into that leather jacket, it’s not just a layer—it’s a switch. The world gets sharper, louder, and somehow simpler. I kick the bike to life before dawn, the engine’s bark rolling across empty streets as I chase the last strip of darkness west. That jacket has seen rain that stung like gravel, desert heat that baked the road into a mirage, and mountain passes where the air thinned and the sky felt close enough to touch. It carries the stories of strangers met at fuel stops, of back-road races with storms trying to outrun me, of nights spent under neon signs buzzing like old jukeboxes. In it, I’m a man moving forward no matter what’s behind—steel, leather, wind, and the long road stretching out like an open dare.

 

[Bawheid]

I have a HUMUNGOUS leather jacket collection.
Worn in a constantly rotating cycle and varying between "winter" (we don't REALLY have one in Western Australia) and summer (we sure do have a long one of those, 6 months +).
For over 20 years I rode a motorcycle to work every dry day
Maybe 290 of those in an average year. Some days 4C but dry....16 home.
Now I am an older geezer and ride purely for "fun" often 2 days each week.

 

[Monitor]

What I love about leather jackets the most is that it's easy to get snow off them. Actually, you can do it right off a leather jacket sleeve.

 

[The patina]

I don't know either, maybe all men like leather jackets, it's like a primal instinct

 

[Nickelman2005]

I don't know either, maybe all men like leather jackets, it's like a primal instinct

You know women always seem bewildered about buying gifts for men. You can pretty much get us anything made of leather, metal, stone or wood...yep, still pretty primal after all these years.

 

[leatherbikescarsnwatches]

You know women always seem bewildered about buying gifts for men. You can pretty much get us anything made of leather, metal, stone or wood...yep, still pretty primal after all these years.

I remember a lady once bought me a handmade knife with handmade leather sheath, a leather wrist cuff, and a handmade silver bracelet.

Then 26 years of marriage in which I recall gifts of rugby shirts, neckties, and very nice flannel PJs and robes ..... very nice but not me

 

[DRW62]

To my mind, denim vest over a leather jacket is the quintessential heavy metal look.

View attachment 748940

Love that battle vest !

 

[MacLean]

My adventures in any of the jackets in my collection usually involves something car-related.

Levi's LVC roughout suede trucker with my '58 Speedster replica

40s cross-zip with mouton collar (in the same '58 Speedster)

Goldtop "Battle of Britain" 1940s RAF shearling flying jacket in my '29 Ford coupe

Hard to tell but it's a LL Bean goatskin A2 in my '32 Ford

Lewis Leathers Monza in green sheepskin with my 1976 BMW 2002

I think I tend to justify the jacket addiction by needing a variety of outer layers for a variety of automotive pursuits.

 

[leatherbikescarsnwatches]

My adventures in any of the jackets in my collection usually involves something car-related.

View attachment 759242

Levi's LVC roughout suede trucker with my '58 Speedster replica

View attachment 759245

40s cross-zip with mouton collar (in the same '58 Speedster)

View attachment 759246

Goldtop "Battle of Britain" 1940s RAF shearling flying jacket in my '29 Ford coupe

View attachment 759247

Hard to tell but it's a LL Bean goatskin A2 in my '32 Ford

View attachment 759244

Lewis Leathers Monza in green sheepskin with my 1976 BMW 2002

I think I tend to justify the jacket addiction by needing a variety of outer layers for a variety of automotive pursuits.

Yessir! My brother from another mother

 

[Monitor]

Ha ˗ˋˏ$ˎˊ˗ ha ˗ˋˏ$ˎˊ˗ ha ˗ˋˏ$ˎˊ˗ ha ˗ˋˏ$ˎˊ˗! Simply marvelous.

 

[barnabus]

My adventures in any of the jackets in my collection usually involves something car-related.

View attachment 759242

Levi's LVC roughout suede trucker with my '58 Speedster replica

View attachment 759245

40s cross-zip with mouton collar (in the same '58 Speedster)

View attachment 759246

Goldtop "Battle of Britain" 1940s RAF shearling flying jacket in my '29 Ford coupe

View attachment 759247

Hard to tell but it's a LL Bean goatskin A2 in my '32 Ford

View attachment 759244

Lewis Leathers Monza in green sheepskin with my 1976 BMW 2002

I think I tend to justify the jacket addiction by needing a variety of outer layers for a variety of automotive pursuits.

Everything looks fantastic!

Also, what's that Triumph t shirt in your first picture? I've got a bunch of Triumph shirts (and an old Bonneville to go with them), but I really like the yellow on grey of your shirt.

 

[MacLean]

Everything looks fantastic!

Also, what's that Triumph t shirt in your first picture? I've got a bunch of Triumph shirts (and an old Bonneville to go with them), but I really like the yellow on grey of your shirt.

That shirt was from Lucky. They did a bunch of Triumph collab stuff back in like, 2017, and I bought 3 of those shirts and wore them all into tissue paper.

 

[dthieu86]

I got into leather jackets back in my first year of university. Around 2004–2005, I started out with second-hand leather jackets. At that time, I didn’t know much about brands or leather types — I just knew they felt very different. Compared to windbreakers or wool coats, leather had weight, smell, and presence. Once you put one on, it just felt right.

The early year which first leather jacket ( I love classic Scooter also )

As the years went by, I slowly upgraded to mainstream fashion brands like Hugo Boss, Emporio Armani, and Dsquared … . They were nice, well-made, and easy to wear, but after a while I realized I was more interested in the leather itself than the logo.

That’s when I moved toward makers known for leather craftsmanship — Aero, Belstaff, and similar brands. This was a turning point. I started paying attention to hide quality, construction, fit, and how a jacket actually ages with wear. A leather jacket stopped being just clothing and became something you live with.

About two years ago, I discovered Japanese leather jackets, and that’s where things really clicked for me : Double Helix, Dapper’s …. .

But , Fine Creek, Freewheelers — the leather density, the way it breaks in, the patterns rooted in old American styles — everything just felt intentional. These jackets aren’t flashy, but they reward time and wear.

Here in Vietnam, leather season is short — maybe three months a year, from December to March. So I don’t get to wear them as much as I’d like. Still, I enjoy owning them: taking them out, checking how the leather changes, conditioning them after work. It’s relaxing in a way that’s hard to explain unless you’re into leather.


I don’t think there’s an end goal with leather jackets. It’s not about having the “best” one. For me, it’s about trying different leathers, different makers, and learning along the way. That journey itself is what keeps the hobby interesting.

(P/s : I’m planing to try Thedi leather and Himel Bros when I can. Really look forward about it)