Looking for a Classic style jacket with armor

[gunslinger92557]

I would like to find a classic style jacket, the type with the offset zipper and the collar but with armor and a thinsulate liner. I like that 50's look, I think it would work well with a C50T. Does such an animal exist at a fair price? I was curious if this style jacket is actually a pain in the neck with the big collar etc that they come with.

[MagnumForce]

Give San Diego Leather Jacket Factory a try. Here's an example of a classic jacket with option for armor:

http://www.leather.com/motorcycle/c1...le_jackets.htm

Their homepage is http://www.leather.com/.

[gunslinger92557]

Thanks, that is a great looking jacket. Do you know anyone who owns this companies products? Also is that style jacket comfortable in daily use?

[MagnumForce]

My sister and her husband (they live in San Diego) have shopped there before, but I'm not sure if they owned any of their products. They sure raved about the place. I was supposed to shop there myself when I was in San Diego last month. As for if this style of jacket is comfy for daily use, I've never tried one. My leather bomber style jacket is comfy when riding in 40-60F weather though.

[Bowtie18]

Icon also has a jacket, featured in this Months Motorcyle Cruiser Magazine. It not exactly classic, but I think it looks cool. It has leather sleeves, with a denim torso, looks kind of like a denim vest over a motorcyle jacket.

[lexxter]

Originally Posted by Bowtie18

Icon also has a jacket, featured in this Months Motorcyle Cruiser Magazine. It not exactly classic, but I think it looks cool. It has leather sleeves, with a denim torso, looks kind of like a denim vest over a motorcyle jacket.

The strongarm. I like it!

[Uechi Kid]

Go to www.leatherup.com They have a great selection.

[Mavman]

Originally Posted by gunslinger92557

Thanks, that is a great looking jacket. Do you know anyone who owns this companies products? Also is that style jacket comfortable in daily use?

I have the jacket your asking about, I've wore it a few times while riding...bought it from Burk's bay years ago, I don't think that company sells them any longer and mine doesn't have a zip out liner. I'm sure that the Website's the other guy's gave ya are the same jacket with some offering a liner.

My Pro's

I wear a full face helmet and have no issue's with the collar.
All the zippers have pockets-(not just for show) on the outside with a big pocket on each side on the inside, can pretty much be a walking closet if ya need to carry a lot of small items.
It's thick cowhide, very durable and protective, that's why I bought it and for that look also.
When I wore it-(have yet to this year) in the colder weather, I'd wear a turtle neck or use a hankerchief or something to protect the neck and air out and a sweat shirt...it worked pretty well.
The zippers are big and great quality.
Very stand up jacket, takes a beating a keeps on ticking.

And Con's

The tough cowhide is like mentioned above which also makes it stiff and it's a pretty heavy jacket, so I don't know if I'd call it particularly comfy or not.
The sleaves have limited adjustability-(just a zipper), so it depends on type of long sleeve shirt and gloves worn to keep any air out of them when riding.

Hope this helps.

[wayout1]

I went with a 3 in 1 from Coretec - its kinda sport bike but without the mad max looking Joe Rocket armor. outer layer removable ballistic shell, mesh center layer with leather sleeves/shoulders and decent non obtrusive inner armor, inner most removable layer is zip out nylon rain shell. It kinda looks like something a Beemer/touring type would ride. Very comfy - $300ish. Triumph has some nice stuff too, and its all sized not S/M/L hard to find tho.

[NCBoulevard]

Check this one out. I haven't purchased any armor for it but the jacket is excellent.

I bought mine locally. Can't vouch for the web site.

http://motorhelmets.com/htm1/apparel...ther-table.htm

[gunslinger92557]

Originally Posted by EZridr1

Give San Diego Leather Jacket Factory a try. Here's an example of a classic jacket with option for armor:

http://www.leather.com/motorcycle/c1...le_jackets.htm

Their homepage is http://www.leather.com/.

Drove to San Diego today and bought the jacket. So far I love it. Very good looking and I like having the armor in it. Set me back $139.95. Lots of cool stuff there. I am glad I tried it on instead of ordering one online. Different models seemed to be sized differently. With the armor I seem to need a larger size than I would have thought. My brother pointed out that I look like Herman Munster from the old Munsters show with it on. I guess Herman wore a similiar looking jacket with goggles and a hat when he would race the dragster that was built out of a casket. Thanks EZridr1.

[Pinhy]

Originally Posted by lexxter

The strongarm. I like it!

im kinda digging this one.....

[MagnumForce]

Originally Posted by gunslinger92557

Drove to San Diego today and bought the jacket. So far I love it. Very good looking and I like having the armor in it. Set me back $139.95. Lots of cool stuff there. I am glad I tried it on instead of ordering one online. Different models seemed to be sized differently. With the armor I seem to need a larger size than I would have thought. My brother pointed out that I look like Herman Munster from the old Munsters show with it on. I guess Herman wore a similiar looking jacket with goggles and a hat when he would race the dragster that was built out of a casket. Thanks EZridr1.

You're welcome gunslinger! Actually, I should thank you also. I've been wanting a classic style riding jacket with armor for quite some time. You simply gave me a reason to find one. Looks like I'll have to get myself one the next time I'm in San Diego.

[blackie1491]

[gunslinger92557]

This is what the jacket looks like. It has removable (velcro closeable internal pockets) CE class armor in the elboy, shoulders and a large plate on the back. Zip out thinsulate liner. Offset zipper, belt, zipped vents, and side waist cynch lacing. It is the heavy classic style. You just have to be careful if you go there in person because they will show you jackets that do not have the armor and side lacing. They had to walk over to their wharehouse to grab one for me. I normally wear XL shirts and sometimes XXL jackets if I want it roomy. This time I had to get XXXL or size 56 because of the armor and the way they size them. Now because of the larger size I paid $139.95 instead of the $119.95. But I really think it is a good deal.

[MagnumForce]

Nice jacket gunslinger, and thanks for the sizing tip. I may order the jacket sooner since I also tend to wear XXL riding jackets.

[blackie1491]

gunslinger
I was looking for you to model the jacket.
It sounds like my size. I just picked up a new one this season as my other leather jacker seemed to have shrunk a lot.
I stayed with the classic style but it weighs twice as much as my last jacket.
I am having the sleeves shortened in the off season. Amazing that a spare tire effects arm length.

[gunslinger92557]

Originally Posted by blackie1491

Amazing that a spare tire effects arm length.

It is a real pain to figure size since they often pull the size's out of thin air on these things. I tried on a few different models and they could be the same size supposedly but each one fit totally differently. I ended up going with the size 56, which is big, could have gone with a little smaller but the back plate which can come out seems to take up space. The lace up side does allow a size or two change up or down.
Well I figure if I describe myself it may give you a better idea so you can figure your size. I am a big bruiser, big chest and arms. I have put on some weight around my midsection, amazing what stress will do to you. I don't have a digital camera handy but here are some pics of me to give you a size idea. I wear size 38 pants but I wear them below the gut, XL shirts, 6' tall about 240 lbs. I carry a lot of muscle so the weight can be missleading. The pictures are a couple years old, well one is like 4 years old. The one where I am holding my ex fiances daughter is about a year old and I have lost some weight since that shot. I hope this helps.

[blackie1491]

I know that sizing problem, I keep going around to diff. shops and I was amazed how 1 brand would be too tight and the next there was room for 2 of me. My problem is lack of muscle. My chest has slipped and expanded.
I never gave thought to armor. How does it feel when your out riding.
Is it something you really notice. My oldest use to have some in his sportbike leathers. I just never thought about it, even after I went down.

[Bowtie18]

That is the jacket, lexxter. I think it's pretty cool myself!