What's you all's opinion of Bestaff?

[Seb Lucas]

Belstaff has always been well known here but as Big J says was hijacked by advertising and celebrities which for me has terribly damaged that brand.

I wear Drizabone: a much thicker better made product. The Jacana is their take on a bike jacket. I wear it as my winter overcoat.

 

[broiler]

Belstaff has always been well known here but as Big J says was hijacked by advertising and celebrities which for me has terribly damaged that brand.

I wear Drizabone: a much thicker better made product. The Jacana is their take on a bike jacket. I wear it as my winter overcoat.

That's a nice looking jacket - the Jacana looks just like a winter Roadmaster, which is what I have. My Belstaff appreciation is based on seeing and owning the Malenotti era stuff. The new stuff still looks good IMO, price aside.

In your opinion, how does Drizabone quality compare to the Malenotti versions of the Roadmaster/Trialmaster/Tourist Trophy? Do you know what weight fabric your Jacana is? I believe my winter Roadmaster is 8 oz cotton, the Tourist Trophy 10 oz and the current fashion version 6 oz.

 

[Seb Lucas]

Drizabone is a very old tradition - the Jacana and their other serious stuff weighs 12 oz. The old Belstaff was good as I remember but I'm not a specialist and Drizabone made Belstaff products under license.

This is a Jacana. Pretty heavy.

 

[broiler]

Very nice. And looks more like a Roadmaster (flat pockets, straight reinforcement panel on shoulders) than the Trialmaster (poofed out pockets, curved shoulder panel) but with thicker fabric, which is what I wanted. Too bad it doesn't come in brown or beige, or I would have gone with this.

I'm not sure why 95% of wax cotton jackets are black (or black/brown, black/green). Beige looks better, takes on a patina and is more versatile in my opinion. Probably more akin to a waxed safari jacket, but they're all based on clothing styles from the same era anyway.

 

[Interbak]

Always screams '70s UK biker to me. Looks like you should be on an old Norton. Have a Google search for Ogri and you will get the kind of vibe I get from it.

Exactly, I've been wearing my old Belstaff on my '70's Norton's for about 25 years now, great stuff. Unfortunately, the Italians have bought the company and it's gone all fashion, and the prices are through the roof. I can't say anything about the quality anymore, haven't had a new one in a couple decades.

B

 

[Otter]

Exactly, I've been wearing my old Belstaff on my '70's Norton's for about 25 years now, great stuff. Unfortunately, the Italians have bought the company and it's gone all fashion, and the prices are through the roof. I can't say anything about the quality anymore, haven't had a new one in a couple decades.

B

Kudos ! What you got ?

 

[Seb Lucas]

Exactly, I've been wearing my old Belstaff on my '70's Norton's for about 25 years now, great stuff. Unfortunately, the Italians have bought the company and it's gone all fashion, and the prices are through the roof. I can't say anything about the quality anymore, haven't had a new one in a couple decades.

B

How often do you wax it?

 

[Interbak]

Here's an old shot of some of the family. The bronze roadster has moved to Australia, and been replaced by a '62 ES2, but you get the idea.

 

[alexeberlin]

Belstaff are too much of a fashion/celebrity brand..try a look at Matchless

 

[Monitor]

Matchless is not that different.

 

[broiler]

Their current summer weight fashion line is. Their motorcycle line and the older Malenotti era stuff are the real deal. Belstaff, Barbour, Matchless, Drizabone and lots of other no-names all ripped off the same design for their "motorcycle jacket" anyway. Just a matter of personal preference on the small details and finding one that fits you best.

 

[Stearmen]

I prefer the looks of the Barbour International to the Belstaff Trialmaster, conversely, I much prefer the Belstaff Mojave to the Barbour International Short! On a bright note, I notice the Mojave in tan and the leather version in brown can be found on sale at a great price! I guise every one wants black? I would not mind a Mojave in that red brown!

 

[broiler]

I prefer the looks of the Barbour International to the Belstaff Trialmaster, conversely, I much prefer the Belstaff Mojave to the Barbour International Short! On a bright note, I notice the Mojave in tan and the leather version in brown can be found on sale at a great price! I guise every one wants black? I would not mind a Mojave in that red brown!

Yes! The "Antique Beige" Mojave that apparently isn't popular and that you can get for cheap looks fantastic. Same color as my Roadmaster that I just spent 4 months trolling eBay to find. I don't understand why Belstaff, Barbour or Matchless don't make anything in this weathered tan anymore - best color for waxed cotton hands down in my opinion. The reddish brown looks pretty cool too.

 

[navetsea]

those are beautiful vintage bikes, whatever jacket would look good on it

 

[Otter]

Here's an old shot of some of the family. The bronze roadster has moved to Australia, and been replaced by a '62 ES2, but you get the idea.

That is a nice collection you have there, looks superb condition. One of the guys i worked with was slowly restoring his Aerial Square Four, he had the engine professionally rebuilt and had the frame straightened plus 're coated. He was just about to start the assembly when liver cancer got him last week. His son is into bikes so I hope he completes it rather than just sells it on.

 

[broiler]

Belstaff are too much of a fashion/celebrity brand..try a look at Matchless

I thought the new Matchless jackets look nice but somehow familiar...

Didn't realize they're now owned by Malenotti (who used to run Belstaff) and apparently made by the same workers who made Belstaffs prior to 2012:

https://www.filmjackets.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5340


Might have to check these out at some point.

 

[GuyLdeB]

I guess the question is whether the standard Belstaff waxed motorcycle jacket is twice as good quality as the Barbour international seeing as it's twice the price.

 

[Big J]

I thought the new Matchless jackets look nice but somehow familiar...

Didn't realize they're now owned by Malenotti (who used to run Belstaff) and apparently made by the same workers who made Belstaffs prior to 2012:

https://www.filmjackets.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5340


Might have to check these out at some point.

They're using Kate Moss on their webpage, so I'm guessing that they're just after some of that fake biker segment that Bellstaff and Barbour; more over-priced designer cr*p is just what I need.

 

[broiler]

I guess the question is whether the standard Belstaff waxed motorcycle jacket is twice as good quality as the Barbour international seeing as it's twice the price.

They're using Kate Moss on their webpage, so I'm guessing that they're just after some of that fake biker segment that Bellstaff and Barbour; more over-priced designer cr*p is just what I need.

Agree Kate Moss and Beckham as ad campaigns is pitiful. And the Belstaff discussion on Filmjackets.com seems strongly opposed to the new brand direction, but strongly in favor of the old stuff up to 2011.

Yes, the retail pricing of the new stuff is ridiculous but I don't think anyone actually pays that, as evidenced by the end of season sales and the roughly $400 market clearing price of NOS on eBay, which is around what Belstaffs cost 5 or 6 years ago. This also seems to be the approximate price point that Matchless, Drizabone and Barbour are shooting for.

I've ridden bikes but I don't own one now and I guess that makes me a fake bike poseur. But I do appreciate a quality jacket and I don't care if the label says Belstaff, Barbour or JCPenny. I wanted a light brown vs. black jacket so I wouldn't look like I'm on my way to fight Batman down by the docks. I tried a Barbour and just thought the material and fit was inferior to pre-2011 Belstaff.

If there's a dept store brand out there that makes equal or better quality than Malenotti Belstaff for cheap, I'd definitely be in.

 

[Big J]

Agree Kate Moss and Beckham as ad campaigns is pitiful. And the Belstaff discussion on Filmjackets.com seems strongly opposed to the new brand direction, but strongly in favor of the old stuff up to 2011.

Yes, the retail pricing of the new stuff is ridiculous but I don't think anyone actually pays that, as evidenced by the end of season sales and the roughly $400 market clearing price of NOS on eBay, which is around what Belstaffs cost 5 or 6 years ago. This also seems to be the approximate price point that Matchless, Drizabone and Barbour are shooting for.

I've ridden bikes but I don't own one now and I guess that makes me a fake bike poseur. But I do appreciate a quality jacket and I don't care if the label says Belstaff, Barbour or JCPenny. I wanted a light brown vs. black jacket so I wouldn't look like I'm on my way to fight Batman down by the docks. I tried a Barbour and just thought the material and fit was inferior to pre-2011 Belstaff.

If there's a dept store brand out there that makes equal or better quality than Malenotti Belstaff for cheap, I'd definitely be in.

You raise a fair point;
We live in a world where almost everything is cr*p made as cheaply as possible because that's what most customers care about- price.
There is a choice: cheap cr*p or over-priced cr*p that has good marketing and product placement, and it seems that a lot of people with money are happy to buy cheap cr*p at extortionate prices to pay for the branding and marketing.
All that matters is that if you spend a thousand dollars on a bellend jacket, people see it, recognize the brand, and understand you are wealthy and successful.
Used to be that people would see the quality of your clothes (wool, silk, leather), but no, this is an era where people don't even understand quality anymore- clothes have to have a brand logo that tells you.

(old man rant finished)