Topic: old leather jackets

[dave500]

ok,i searched and cant find any recentish thread on old leather jackets,mate of mine just gave me an old "stagg" leather jacket,these were made in Melbourne Victoria in the day,this one fits me nice and is a lot thinner/lighter than the one i generally wear on the bike,itll be my summer one now,its a simple design,no inside pocket,mate removed the epaulets off it,ive just removed the belt and loops,gave it a good goop over it was stiff as a board and could almost hear the goop soaking into it!,if only these old jackets could talk?(he bought it quite a while ago from a pawn shop),theres something about old jackets of this design i like?just simple with out all the armour inserts and what not,i guess a few get thrown away once old and the zipper jams etc?

[grcamna2]

I've been looking for a size 42/44 brown leather motorcycle jacket.
I had found one(BILT)on Ebay(2019')but it was stolen off the walkway while I was here;I 'trusted' my neighbors and finally opened the door 20 minutes later after I heard it hit the walkway.. a mistake on my part.
I'm very much still looking for a good cond. vintage thin/soft brown leather motorcycle jacket:Caf'e style.
I also like vintage leather jackets Dave. 

[dave500]

that sucks Bill,i had my original stolen from a mates car years ago,id still be wearing it other wise,#$%*S!

[grcamna2]

that sucks Bill,i had my original stolen from a mates car years ago,id still be wearing it other wise,#$%*S!

Dave,I originally had one(brown,like milk chocolate leather,manufactured by Branded),since I was 18 and kept it for 30+ years;I sold it because I needed the $,back in 07'. 
 I Really miss my original.. The Branded Garment type I had was very comfortable w/ quality USA leather.

I thought I could just find another one when I wanted to,but vintage brown leather Caf'e jackets by Branded are not plentiful.
The jacket fit me well;I like leather because it doesn't get blown-up like a plastic bag in the wind.
The different polyester jackets I wear are a 'drag'.

[hawaiikid]

I used to wear my government issued flight jacket issued to me in 1976. it saved my skin one night when i had to lay down my Kawi S-2. put a small hole on the elbow of the jacket and scuffed the shoulder. Hate to think what would have happened if I wasnt wearing it. I pulled it out a while ago and it wqs really stiff. got it on but had to have assistanse removing it. i guess i need to shed some pounds. it sure looks cool with the fur around thr neck. i even found a smaller one for my wife.

[Stev-o]

I used to wear my government issued flight jacket...

I like those old flight jackets, would like to find one.  Nothing like vintage leather...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/305296447088?hash=item4715161670:g:vqIAAOSwtChlaoV~&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA4MlpzdRRRS4O2lqphW43hJsdNhNVHnkOz3BnQ%2BUwZ7YISvr4%2B%2BZxTYh%2FdfoakY1Rx5IUop965RgUNxgU6nv%2BxLe0ZtMbq8RQytilx25oQav%2FqqB1OKp7C5LbZgleU%2BfAKB1As7uNtf6HhS%2FZDLfGrQWudH7O9MrjQxroUR1Tg%2FhFNsSH0cGEexcygPPKl7zzwgT4Z76yPQjShGTVGHJ5aQj2C4W6%2BcAJR936FgPk51RoMBsZM%2BeghpkCtvhUIjjBXIMAusCTlT617VZufjsUUmcZz1%2B16d8sj190Ttkl1qPu%7Ctkp%3ABFBM-IDdqYdj

[HondaMan]

I'm still using the "leather shirt" roadracing leathers I got from Brooks in 1972 (these were made famous again in the Mel Gibson 'Lethal Weapon' movies, his was black with white stripes). The liner has been replaced twice, the zipper 3 times, and the zippers in the sleeves are loosing their threads to the leather, need to repair those this winter. They came in Honda Blue-Green (mine) and Candy Red, Bomber Black and [some kind of] Brown in 1972 and were popular roadrace leathers. Today only the black is available, still with the nice white stripes.

In 1982 I took the jacket to a local "leather cleaning" shop. They had it almost 3 weeks! When I got it back it was an entirely different color from the pants (still is) because they ruined the color when they cleaned the jacket, panicked, and sent it somewhere to be 'recolored' without telling me - I would have sent it back to Brooks instead. The jacket and pants are different colors blue, now.

At least the original look still appears in the picture in my book!

[jlh3rd]

my 1973+/- sears motorcycle jacket.
 For some reason, I can't get rid of it.

[grcamna2]

Yeah,I miss my brown Branded.

[Terry in Australia]

I’m still wearing the old Stagg jacket like Dave’s that I bought in 1991. Still fits (once I dropped 110 pounds) and still comfy. My favourite was a “Mars” jacket I bought in ‘81, but it became too tight across the shoulders when I beefed up my top end when I joined the Commando’s. I saw one that almost fit me last Sunday at a swap meet but the seller wanted to sell it as part of a lot (leather pants, jacket, boots, gloves and helmet) for $400, which was too much as I only wanted the jacket which was one size too small anyway. My son wears my old Mars jacket on his bike and it looks good on him. I have several other jackets (Joe Rocket, Triumph etc) but would love a size 48 Mars jacket.

[Bankerdanny]

I've got a couple. One is a classic Brando Wild Ones style biker jacket except it is 'mosaic' leather, which is a fancy way of saying its a patchwork. Realistically it's not a great jacket, some panels are thicker than others and the many seams means it would probably come apart in a serious crash, but I like it anyway. I bought it from Dennis (Old Scrambler) back in 2017 (I think) while at Road America vintage bike weekend for $25 and a hot dog from the concession stand. Those of you who have met me know I'm tall, so finding a jacket that fit was a big surprise.

I have a 2nd heavier duty jacket I picked up at a flea market in 2021 for $50 and spent another $10 fixing the zipper. I haven't actually worn it on the bike yet. I have a couple lighter weight jackets that work better in the summer when I do most of my riding.

[Terry in Australia]

Yeah, my brother sent me a new patchwork jacket that he bought new, but I never wore it, they’re just made from leftover scraps of leather and sewn together and not what I’d want to be sliding down the road on. FB marketplace has been a boon for me, picked up an “as new” Triumph brand heavy duty winter jacket for $200 (retail price here was 800) and a new Joe Rocket perforated leather summer jacket for 50 bucks with a new Dri Rider mesh jacket for free, as the seller was moving house and just wanted them gone. I don’t need any more jackets but would love a size 48 Mars jacket.

[dave500]

ok ok Terry,stop hinting for xmas!

[Terry in Australia]

No, I don’t think Mars still makes them Dave, and if they did they would probably be different from my original one, I don’t like all that stiff body armour and crap they put in them now. If I could find an old one I’d be happy, but my 32 year old Stagg jacket will have to do until then.

[scottly]

I've had my leather jacket since 1978, when I had the dreaded Yamaha TX750. I've had the main zipper and one of the sleeve zippers replaced, and a couple of seams re-stitched over the years. This pic was from 20 years ago. I've gained a few pounds in the last couple of years, mostly in the middle, so it may not fit anymore?

[Kelly E]

I still have my Wilson Leather biker jacket I bought in 1980. It needs a new liner, a main zipper pull and a small 1/2" long seam restitched under one arm. The jacket is one of the last good ones before Wilson Leather cheaped out and started using thin leather and aluminium zippers. The best part is that it still fits.

[Don R]

 I got inspired and got my old inherited biker jacket out, it won't zip due to closet shrinkage. I considered taking my even smaller one apart and re-covering my Giuliari seat with it. 
 My Wilson jacket does still fit thank goodness.

[Terry in Australia]

My favourite summer jacket is the Triumph mesh jacket I bought in 2009 when I was 20 pounds heavier. I still like to wear it on hot days but know that if I go sliding down the road it’ll probably bunch up and let me scrape some skin off.

[Tracksnblades1]

I got inspired and got my old inherited biker jacket out, it won't zip due to closet shrinkage. I considered taking my even smaller one apart and re-covering my Giuliari seat with it. 
 My Wilson jacket does still fit thank goodness.

Hmmm…🤔

My old leather jacket has just the opposite problem with the zipper..

It won’t close because of expansion….”belly” 🤪

[HondaMan]

My favourite summer jacket is the Triumph mesh jacket I bought in 2009 when I was 20 pounds heavier. I still like to wear it on hot days but know that if I go sliding down the road it’ll probably bunch up and let me scrape some skin off.

DON'T YOU DARE GO SCRAPING THAT TWIN DOWN THE STREET!
The heck with your hide...

[grcamna2]

My favourite summer jacket is the Triumph mesh jacket I bought in 2009 when I was 20 pounds heavier. I still like to wear it on hot days but know that if I go sliding down the road it’ll probably bunch up and let me scrape some skin off.

DON'T YOU DARE GO SCRAPING THAT TWIN DOWN THE STREET!
The heck with your hide...

Mark,what?? 

[andy750]

Great thread..I have had this leather jacket since I was 19 years old (33 years ago)...still fits and leather quality is excellent. Photo taken a few years ago

[andy750]

Same leather jacket when I was 19 and just got my first motorcycle...I did my first long distance trip on that bike -camping trip to the Scottish highlands. I also used it for a motorcycle courier job, 2-stroke required  manual oil/gas mix. Great bike!

[dave500]

Ahh great stuff Andy,like i said,if these old jackets could talk?

[Terry in Australia]

Same leather jacket when I was 19 and just got my first motorcycle...I did my first long distance trip on that bike -camping trip to the Scottish highlands. I also used it for a motorcycle courier job, 2-stroke required  manual oil/gas mix. Great bike!

A guy I work with wants me to restore his old MZ and I can't understand why? I guess it's a sentimental thing, I'd still love another CZ 250 Motocross bike like I had in the early 70's.