Leather jackets

[Nick M]

Well, then, dammit, I'm going to buy it. When I have money again. Which won't be soon.

The model you tried on, when you say 'tight', do you mean 'so tight I should really wear a size up'? Do you think you would've been physically able to fit into a 40? What about without the Polartec liner? How was the sleeve length/overall body length?

 

[Ambulance Chaser]

j, If you're willing to wear brown, Leo's Leather Online has the Schott Cafe Racer in size 40 for sale for $290 (I believe the retail price is around $369). Â The return policy sounds fairly flexible if the size 40 doesn't fit.

 

[A Harris]

Excuse my ignorance, but what the heck is an underarm football??

 

[j]

When I say tight, I mean how I think it should fit for riding, and I wouldn't be able to wear it any tighter. I was wearing a very slim cut mil-surp long sleeve shirt under the jacket and it was snug and comfortable. With any more it would have been binding. And remember, this is a 42, and I was expecting to try a 40. I don't think I could have even zipped up a 40 at the waist (and I'm a 32" waist). So order a size up from your suit size and expect to wear very little underneath. AC: I'm leaning toward the 641: http://legendaryusa.com/product/641 which is in Deluxe Steerhide Leather. The Naked Cowhide is softer, less glossy, and less protective, and about the same price. The one at Leo's is a 141, unfortunately. That is a great deal; other sites still have it for $360. Here's the Naked Cowhide in Mocha that Leo's has for $290, if anyone's interested (they didn't have a pic on their site): http://legendaryusa.com/product/141

 

[j]

Underarm football apparently refers to the football-shaped piece of leather under the armpit that has vent holes in it. I tried to find an official definition or a detail picture but that's basically it.

 

[ernest]

When I say tight, I mean how I think it should fit for riding, and I wouldn't be able to wear it any tighter. I was wearing a very slim cut mil-surp long sleeve shirt under the jacket and it was snug and comfortable. With any more it would have been binding. And remember, this is a 42, and I was expecting to try a 40. I don't think I could have even zipped up a 40 at the waist (and I'm a 32" waist). So order a size up from your suit size and expect to wear very little underneath. AC: I'm leaning toward the 641: http://legendaryusa.com/product/641 which is in Deluxe Steerhide Leather. The Naked Cowhide is softer, less glossy, and less protective, and about the same price. The one at Leo's is a 141, unfortunately. That is a great deal; other sites still have it for $360. Here's the Naked Cowhide in Mocha that Leo's has for $290, if anyone's interested (they didn't have a pic on their site): http://legendaryusa.com/product/141

I have the same jacket and plan to buy the Easy Rider. I hesitate on the size as mine is 42 but too large on the chest but just on the waits. I asked about the diffence of sizing to Schot, waiting for their reply. Does anyone know where to buy this jacket cheaper than on this site? It is very strong and versatile. Buy it.

 

[Mike]

'Cafe Racer' is a term used to denote a sort of motorcycle following that began in the 50s in London of young people who just rode them from cafe to cafe looking cool. The Schott jacket takes the name for the very simple tab collar model, but Vanson uses it to describe some classic snaps-n-zippers types. It also refers to a style of motorcycle, apparently, but I can't figure out exactly what that entails.

The cafe racer motorcycle was a motorcycle built with parts from two different bikes. Someone might use a Norton engine on a Triumph frame or something. It was a British thing, back in the 50s, when the kids who did it didn't have the kind of money to buy a new bike. Mods vs. Greasers, Quadrophenia thing. I saw a thing on TV about it where guys would take their heavily souped up cafe racers and put a song on the jukebox. They then would have to race up to a certain landmark and back before the song was over. So, figure 2 minutes on average. Needless to say they had to go very, very fast.

 

[Baron]

I recomend that you check out the cafe racer jackets at Aero Most styles are quite expensive, but they have a special on the black buffalo, I think they're about 175 GPB. If you haven't seen buffalo hide, I can tell you it's amazing. Very thick and seemingly bulletproof, but soft and flexible enough to mold to your body like a second skin. I have a friend here in L.A. that makes custom leather jackets in the style of the "East West Musical Instruments" jackets from the late 1960's (a cult brand collected in vintage clothing circles that you can see on ebay sometimes). He actually has a big collection of the original East West jackets, some of which were made in buffalo, and he also makes some of his new jackets with new buffalo hides. I tried on some of these jackets, and they felt and looked incredible. He made me a jacket last summer in navy blue steer - I like my jacket, but I still regret that I didn't get it done in buffalo.

 

[LA Guy]

I'm moving this to Streetwear. If motorcycles don't belong on the street, I don't know what does. Besides, I want the honor of having an ernest inhabited thread in that forum.

 

[j]

I think I'm going to buy this. I'm about 90% on the decision. It will be the most expensive (though possibly not most valuable) item of clothing I own. If I wear this to Japan, will I: A: Catch on fire because it's so warm? B: BE on fire because it's so damn HOT? C: Strike fear into the hearts of the populace, who think the ghost of Basswolf has returned? Should I get it?

 

[Brian SD]

you will

1) have Japanese women pouring out of your pants all day long
2) get a multi-million dollar advertising contract
3) look bad ass.

buy it.

 

[j]

Should I screen the SF logo in white on the back so I can write it off?

 

[Get Smart]

C: Strike fear into the hearts of the populace, who think the ghost of Basswolf has returned?

haha i cant see Bass Wolf ever wearing a cafe racer.

 

[j]

Some more jeans to check out...

http://www.guitarwolf.net/e-jet-g.html Edit: and the Jet Leather Pants: http://www.guitarwolf.net/e-jlp.html

 

[j]

Ok, I'm looking at these jeans again and I think they are either cheesy, or the coolest I've ever seen. Especially now that Guitar Wolf may be done forever. I don't know.