Leather Riding Gear

[Mackerel_imp]

So in my over-zealous scouring of everything I want to buy when I get home I decided to start looking into leather jackets/gloves. I think I found the jacket I want based on a recommendation from a friend:
http://www.schottnyc.com/products/lifestyle/motorcycle

Now I need some gloves that match and more importantly are functional gloves going along with the cafe racer theme. Here is a pair I found that look decent, but I'm still not too sure about them:
http://www.returnofthecaferacers.com/2012/03/motorcycle-gloves-by-roland-sands.html

Anyone have any other ideas/comments?

 

[HikerToo_imp]

I recently re-outfitted myself with motorcycle gear, started out looking for retro style leathers( sent one jacket back due to fit), ended up leaning towards CE Certified protection. I figure if I was going to spend >$500 on a jacket, I wanted it to have proper protection in case of a fall.
So far I've been buying Dainese...Racing leather jacket, gloves and boots.
It may be a tad racy looking for the CB, but I know if I fall it will be some of the best protection available.

In your above links, not so sure I like those gloves, the ribs look odd.

Here is what I ended up with.
http://www.dainese.com/us_en/motorbike/g-racing-pelle.html
Tall Motorcycle Boots | Men's & Women's High Riding Boots - RevZilla
Summer Motorcycle Gloves | Vented, Lightweight & Thin - RevZilla

 

[silascopathic_imp]

that black cheery jacket is amazing looking!!!! dammit Mackrel, now I may have to buy a jacket

 

[Mackerel_imp]

Hiker:
I have looked into the racing stuff, but I just have this nagging sense to stay retro. Obviously I want to be safe in case of a crash, God forbid, so I may end up getting a racier set if I'm not just cruising around my neighborhood. The set you posted definitely looks nice. For the most part right now I'd be commuting to work, in which case I'll be wearing my flight boots, but I guess I need to invest in a pair to take on enjoyment rides.

Silascopathic:
Once I got shown that jacket I fell in love. I'm planning on getting fitted somewhere and trying to order the customized one. I figure if I'm paying that much I want it to fit properly.

The gloves I posted do look a bit strange, I just wanted to know if it was just me or other people felt the same so I guess I have my answer!

 

[silascopathic_imp]

yea custom fitted all the way man! let me know how it goes! kinda not much time in Austin to have a leather jacket, but it does get around 30 in february... haha

 

[Mackerel_imp]

Hah that's true! I'll be home right in fall on the west coast so it's perfect leather jacket weather.
Found some really awesome boots just now as well:
Gasolina Boots - Welcome Page - Gasolina Boots

 

[silascopathic_imp]

those are nice boots! I still love riding in a t shirt and shorts with my full face helmet... not the safest but I love it

 

[Joola_imp]

I purchased a REV'IT jacket and really love it. I'll probably upgrade to a pair of their gloves and maybe pants on the future.

http://m.revitusa.com/en-us/products/FJL049/

 

[Guth_imp]

Schott makes good quality gear, if you stick to their true motorcycle jackets as opposed to their fashion jackets. There area a lot of other really good options out there for leather riding gear.

My gear was made by Langlitz Leathers located right here in Portland, and it is bomb proof. I bought it a number of years ago and now I wouldn't be able to afford it today as their prices have increased so much over the years.

I personally think that the best buy in high quality leather riding gear right now is [url=http://johnsonleather.com/]Johnson Leathers out of San Francisco. Their website is horrible and does not do justice to their products (not even close actually). If you are serious about purchasing high quality motorcycle leathers, do yourself a favor and give them a call, ask for Alan who is the owner. For less than the price of a higher end Dainese or Alpinestars jacket, you can get a custom fitted Johnson Leathers jacket with better quality leather and better hardware.

Other long-established traditional brands to consider are [url=http://www.vansonleathers.com/]Vanson Leathers out of Massachusetts and [url=http://www.batesleathers.com/]Bates Leathers located in SoCal. While I am not as familiar with them, I've also heard good things about [url=http://www.foxcreekleather.com/]Fox Creek Leathers.

I'm sure others will have more to add to the list.

 

[Houtman_imp]

I have had different makes of gloves over the years but last year I bought two different sets of Held gloves,they are not cheap but of the highest quilty.They many different styles end seasons gloves available but they fit extreemly well with excellent materials used.

 

[the Ferret]

Held makes great gloves, but you are right, they are NOT cheap.

 

[Ack-CB11_imp]

Schott and Langlitz are top shelf. Have had a few of each. My favorite now is the Schott Perfecto Horsehide Carney:

http://craftworkwear.blogspot.com/2010_12_01_archive.html

I like the Schotts horsehide over the goatskin from Langlitz.

Boots are Wesco's West Coast Shoe Company

 

[Billtannica_imp]

Here are a few retro influenced jackets. Some have armor and some don't.

http://www.motorcyclegear.com/stree...her_jackets/tour_master/coaster_3_jacket.html

http://www.motorcyclegear.com/stree...and_vests/river_road/hoodlum_jacket_2011.html

http://www.motorcyclegear.com/stree...ather_jackets/joe_rocket/speedway_jacket.html

http://www.motorcyclegear.com/stree...ets/joe_rocket/old_school_leather_jacket.html

http://www.motorcyclegear.com/stree...her_jackets/joe_rocket/classic_92_jacket.html

http://www.motorcyclegear.com/stree...jackets/agv_sport/element_vintage_jacket.html

 

[cb400four_imp]

I haven't found the perfect leather jacket yet to my eyes, but I bought my daughter this one for two-up riding:

Dainese armored cafe jacket

The picture does not really do it justice: it is fully armored (removable) and the leather is thick but supple, and the styling does not look like a Power Ranger.

 

[HikerToo_imp]

those are nice boots! I still love riding in a t shirt and shorts with my full face helmet... not the safest but I love it

Have you ever had a motorcycle accident or fall? Or seen someone who has? I would think if you have, you would want a little more coverage. But when I was 20 something I rode in t-shirts all the time, although usually long pants since shorts look weird on a motorcycle.
People always told me if I fell off doing 150 MPH, the only thing left of me would be my head in the helmet :-(

Here are a few retro influenced jackets. Some have armor and some don't.

http://www.motorcyclegear.com/stree...her_jackets/tour_master/coaster_3_jacket.html

http://www.motorcyclegear.com/stree...and_vests/river_road/hoodlum_jacket_2011.html

http://www.motorcyclegear.com/stree...ather_jackets/joe_rocket/speedway_jacket.html

http://www.motorcyclegear.com/stree...ets/joe_rocket/old_school_leather_jacket.html

http://www.motorcyclegear.com/stree...her_jackets/joe_rocket/classic_92_jacket.html

http://www.motorcyclegear.com/stree...jackets/agv_sport/element_vintage_jacket.html

I had ordered the "River Road Hoodlum Jacket " and sent it back.....I'm a thin guy and it was just a big crude cut piece of jacket, not much for style and fit.

 

[Billtannica_imp]

those are nice boots! I still love riding in a t shirt and shorts with my full face helmet... not the safest but I love it

Have you ever had a motorcycle accident or fall? Or seen someone who has? I would think if you have, you would want a little more coverage. But when I was 20 something I rode in t-shirts all the time, although usually long pants since shorts look weird on a motorcycle.
People always told me if I fell off doing 150 MPH, the only thing left of me would be my head in the helmet :-(

Here are a few retro influenced jackets. Some have armor and some don't.

http://www.motorcyclegear.com/stree...her_jackets/tour_master/coaster_3_jacket.html

http://www.motorcyclegear.com/stree...and_vests/river_road/hoodlum_jacket_2011.html

http://www.motorcyclegear.com/stree...ather_jackets/joe_rocket/speedway_jacket.html

http://www.motorcyclegear.com/stree...ets/joe_rocket/old_school_leather_jacket.html

http://www.motorcyclegear.com/stree...her_jackets/joe_rocket/classic_92_jacket.html

http://www.motorcyclegear.com/stree...jackets/agv_sport/element_vintage_jacket.html

I had ordered the "River Road Hoodlum Jacket " and sent it back.....I'm a thin guy and it was just a big crude cut piece of jacket, not much for style and fit.

That's disappointing. I was already skeptical due to the lack of armor and your experience doesn't inspire any more confidence in the brand. Pity. It is a good looking jacket, just maybe more of a fashion accessory than protective gear.

 

[the Ferret]

Bates
Vanson
Fox Creek
Brooks
Schott
Dainese
Langlitz

Expect to pay $800 or more for a really good leather jacket with armor. however, if you don't outgrow it, it will still be a good leather jacket in 20 years.

 

[Gypped_imp]

Bates
Vanson
Fox Creek
Brooks
Schott
Dainese
Langlitz

Expect to pay $800 or more for a really good leather jacket with armor. however, if you don't outgrow it, it will still be a good leather jacket in 20 years.

I have one of my dad's leather riding jackets in the closet at home. It's older than I am (it's at least 40, maybe closer to 45 at this point), so I don't really want to wear it out riding. Plus it's a bit thin and it obviously doesn't have any armor in it... but it's still in really good shape and it's basically just sat in a closet for the last 20-something years. Leather will last a LONG time.

As far as the River Road stuff, I have not heard good things. I know over in the Warrior forums, there was a guy that went down due to a deer running into him, and his River Road jacket literally fell apart at the seams.

 

[Guth_imp]

Bates
Vanson
Fox Creek
Brooks
Schott
Dainese
Langlitz

Expect to pay $800 or more for a really good leather jacket with armor. however, if you don't outgrow it, it will still be a good leather jacket in 20 years.

I have one of my dad's leather riding jackets in the closet at home. It's older than I am (it's at least 40, maybe closer to 45 at this point), so I don't really want to wear it out riding. Plus it's a bit thin and it obviously doesn't have any armor in it... but it's still in really good shape and it's basically just sat in a closet for the last 20-something years. Leather will last a LONG time.

As far as the River Road stuff, I have not heard good things. I know over in the Warrior forums, there was a guy that went down due to a deer running into him, and his River Road jacket literally fell apart at the seams.

The stitching is the most common point of failure in lower quality leather riding gear.

 

[the Ferret]

The problem with wearing leather, and I wear it a lot, and have for 41 years when I got my first Bates leather jacket (before that it was either a denim jacket in the summer and an old green Army coat in fall and winter) is its ability to absorb water if you get caught in a rainstorm, and it's inability to dry out in a reasonable amount of time. Plus the water weight it gains. There are waterproof leathers, with the leather having been treated with something, but I've never known anyone personally that had a set.

When I tour, I resort to Textile gear with armor, from Tourmaster usually, which will shed a light rain or most of a heavy rain for a short time, but still requires that you pack rain gear if you get caught in an all day soaker or Toad Strangler as we call them.

Still, there is a special place in my heart and closet for a good leather jacket or two, despite their shortcomings. Nothing says motorcycle rider to me than a leather jacket covered in bug guts.