Riding Leathers

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

Ok, motorcycle guys:

I believe buying cheap is often a false economy. I've been looking at leather jackets for riding. I ordered and sent back several Fox Creek leather jackets. I don't know who the hell can wear these things on a bike. Sleeves WAY too short and torso too long. Juts the collar up into your adams apple something awful. The leather is something though....

Then there's vanson. Their rep informed me today that only custom orders are US made now. All off the rack stuff is made in Honduras. Yet they still cost 6 bills. F YOU AND HONDURAS.

Next there's Schott. Nice looking. Made in NYC. Serious leather. But their linings and lack of padding or armor make them feel like fashion jackets, not serious riding jackets. Oh, and they cost 6 bills and up for most.

This brings me to Langlitz. Oh man...

starting at 850 for the base custom models. Hand sewn in portland. Top quality thick leather. 1 month turn around time. After all is said and done, I'll drop around a grand.

man oh man..... I won't pull the trigger until August when my bike is paid off, but.... woh.

if you ride in leather, what do you wear? I want to keep my money in the US, but Icon DOES have some nice looking jackets....

Sinkoumn · Posted: Jun 14, 2010 9:13 pm Post subject:

Are you talking 'leathers' as in Tom Cruise in Top Gun, or 'leathers' as in Valentino Rossi?

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

I am talking just a jacket. Not full track leathers.

Broccoli B · Posted: Jun 15, 2010 5:05 am Post subject:

I've worn Vanson's before and they were very nice. Getting one custom fit is nice too.

I am biased, my family is in the Fur and Leather business and all we sell are Vanson's (as far as riding leathers go).

Sinkoumn · Posted: Jun 15, 2010 6:05 am Post subject:

Can't comment on the other brands, but if you're looking at Icon I would suggest going with Alpinestars, at the least, over them. But if you really get into it, Teknic and RS Taichi are amazingly built and comfortable jackets as well.

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

Broccoli, maybe i buy a vanson from your family?

J_DOGG · Posted: Jun 15, 2010 6:28 am Post subject:

cameraboy, you ride a hog you are supposed to be gearing down not up....LOL..

No lid-
No jacket
No shirt

Just a vest and some blue jeans! rock it core yo.

How can you not find a good jacket ? That's Harleys bread and butter all they do is sell soft goods.
They must have 100's of options to choose from.

jjaszkow · Posted: Jun 15, 2010 6:33 am Post subject:

x2 on Alpinestars. They make a good product, and the prices are pretty good too.

I've also been quite happy with my Harley FXRG jacket, even though it's a bit bulky. I wouldn't even consider most of the other H-D "gear". I don't have the jacket handy right now, but unfortunately, I don't think it's made in the USA.

Is leather an absolute requirement? When I decide to replace my current gear (all 7+ years old), I will be buying Aerostich based on the experiences a number of my friends have had with it. The factory is also within a days ride of my house, and they have a 10% factory visit discount Smile

.

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

1- if i'm going to be a billboard with "harley" all over me, they can pay me, not the other way around.
2- their gear is made in pakistan and china for thenmost part and is vastly inferior to the fox creek stuff i sent back due to poor fit, and the leather feels thin and cheesy.

3- i want very much to buy ONE jacket made in the us and wear it until incrash and die.

Sinkoumn · Posted: Jun 15, 2010 6:39 am Post subject:

It sounds like you all ready know what you want then, suck it up and buy the Langlitz

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

I just might... Unless i try the vanson model A and it fits right and i can put money ontomthe hands of a fellow wakeboarder. Who lives in the us

Broccoli B · Posted: Jun 15, 2010 6:47 am Post subject:

8824 · Posted: Jun 15, 2010 6:50 am Post subject:

I have looked at the Langlitz products, very nice indeed.

I also have a straight up Schott jacket as well. The Schott is US made and seems to be pretty on par with Langlitz, almost. These are very serious riding jackets from another era. These are about as hardcore as it gets.

James Dean, Ramones, Brando.........

After watching twist the throttle, I really became a fan of AStars. They are making some great innovative products.

Here are a few companies you missed.

http://www.batesleathers.com/

http://www.lewisleathers.com/

http://www.mmccleather.com/

J_DOGG · Posted: Jun 15, 2010 7:29 am Post subject:

cameraboy, So why did you buy a Harley again?

jjaszkow · Posted: Jun 15, 2010 7:34 am Post subject:

cameraboy, I agree with you on all three points related to Harley leathers with the exception of their FXRG line. When I purchased mine, it was the ONLY product in the store that I would even consider to be proper riding gear. I compared it to a number of other high end jackets including some listed in this thread, and purchased the FXRG since the dealership gave me a great deal on it as I was buying a bike from them at the same time. Incidentally, it also doesn't have any harley insignia on it that you could recognize from more than 5 feet away.

If you ride a LOT, and want to buy USA, my recommendation is still the textile gear from Aerostitch. I've seen at least one of their sets of gear that was over 10 years old and had covered several hundred thousand miles. The color was faded (get the grey because of this), but it looked like it had a lot of life left in it.

Sounds like you're sold on Langlitz, and you certainly won't go wrong with them. They make a very nice jacket.

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

I not totally sold on langlitz yet, though i am leaning that way. And i bought a harley because the iron 883 osna sweet looking bike. I have 9000 trouble free miles on it and no regrets at all.

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

I have some alpine stars gloves and they are terrible. And all their jackets say " alpinestars" on them in huge white letters. Ugh. They have one jacket that looks awesome, until you see the back.

Sinkoumn · Posted: Jun 15, 2010 8:42 am Post subject:

Have you looked at the Alpinestars Nero line if you don't want a sport riding jacket?

Otherwise, the Alloy/NYC/ATL jackets are lowkey in terms of the A*'s name written all over.

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

I will check those out. Thank you.

J_DOGG · Posted: Jun 15, 2010 9:20 am Post subject:

cameraboy, So then why is look and image not good enough for your riding gear?

You do realize you bought into the biggest image brand out there.
So why are you fighting every step of the way.

That's one fine line you are tryn to tread there. You want all the bad ass Harley can toss at you except when it comes to riding gear you want it to be functional and NOT branded.

If anyone can pull that off it would be you. good luck with that.

jjaszkow · Posted: Jun 15, 2010 9:24 am Post subject:

I'm personally not a big fan of the Astar Nero line. Like Sinkoumn, said, there are plenty of jackets that don't have that huge logo on it. Add the Force to that list too.

cameraboy, are you referring to the Dragster jacket? I like that one too, but can't get over the giant ALPINESTARS on the back.

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

I don't want any "badass" harley can toss at me. I wanted an american made bike that did not look like an old man's bike. And i had less than 10k to spend. If victory made a bike i liked for under 10k i would have considered it. Believe it or not, some people buy harley despite the branding and harley image. Like some people buy moto guzi who are not douchbags too. There is no rule that says you have to buy into the harley branding if you buy a harley. I look pretty odd wearing my revvitt riding pants and bmg cold weather jacket on a harley, but is the most fun tional. ( yea, i also have chaps though....) i am not looking for a leather jacket for image, but for abrasion resistance. Although look plays a role, otherwise we would all be wearing dayglo yellow w/p textiles.

And yea, it is the dragster jacket. Cool that you onew. SWEET LOOKING jacket, until you see the back. Then it looks like you joined the alpinestars all male singing group.