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Hell Belcho
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Oz
Posts: 9,249
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where to buy SUBTLE motorcycle gear
Ok, so my little café racer project is nearing completion and I need to buy some decent gear for riding. The problem is that everywhere I look, it’s like bright red leather lightning bolts with silver all riced out. I cant seem to find a place that sells a simple black leather jacket with built in pads that I like. I just want something simple. Where do you all shop?
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10-12-2007, 09:46 AM
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Plenty of shops around here sell exactly that and lots of it is on clearance sale. No idea where you live. I buy stuff on eBay all the time and am about to do some shopping on newenough.com. I bought my lady a $280 Olympia jacket with pads and liner at Bob's BMW on clearance for $50 two weeks ago.
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2022 BMW 530i 2021 MB GLA250 2020 BMW R1250GS |
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10-12-2007, 09:49 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Linn County, Oregon
Posts: 48,517
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"Now, to put a water-cooled engine in the rear and to have a radiator in the front, that's not very intelligent." -Ferry Porsche (PANO, Oct. '73) (I, Paul D. have loved this quote since 1973. It will remain as long as I post here.) |
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10-12-2007, 09:51 AM
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Super Jenius
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Syracuse, NY
Posts: 3,491
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I get most my gear from newenough.com. They carry all the tacky stuff (b/c that's what sells to a certain demographic) but the good, simple black Joe Rocket stuff is very reasonably priced.
Lot of subdued jackets on this page: http://www.newenough.com/browse/protective_apparel/leather_jackets_and_pants JP
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2003 SuperCharged Frontier ../.. 1979 930 ../.. 1989 BMW 325iX ../.. 1988 BMW M5 ../.. 1973 BMW 2002 ../..1969 Alfa Boattail Spyder ../.. 1961 Morris Mini Cooper ../..2002 Aprilia RSV Mille ../.. 1985 Moto Guzzi LMIII cafe ../.. 2005 Kawasaki Brute Force 750 |
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10-12-2007, 09:54 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Bay Area, CA.
Posts: 2,048
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10-12-2007, 09:57 AM
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Hell Belcho
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Oz
Posts: 9,249
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Forgot to add, I'm looking for more of the 60's racing jacket collarless look. not the Harley biker stuff. Something retro, yet safe and padded. Steel? Kevlar? any ideas? is there a particular name for this style?
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Saved by the buoyancy of citrus. |
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10-12-2007, 09:57 AM
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Friend of Warren
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Lincoln, NE
Posts: 16,491
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newenough.com has probably 20 different styles of the cafe racer style jacket you want. Most with good thick cowhide, elbow, shoulder and back armor. Go there and nose around.
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Kurt V No more Porsches, but a revolving number of motorcycles. |
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10-12-2007, 10:03 AM
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Snark and Soda
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: SF east bay
Posts: 24,686
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Check Vanson Leathers. If you live near SF, you can have a jacket custom-made at http://forums.pelicanparts.com/Johnson Leather Corp.
BMW (click on gear) offers some well-made gear, too. Oftentimes you can pick it up on sale. Worth looking on the Motonation site, too. Be sure to get some protective pants, too. Try and get some that will zip to the jacket.
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10-12-2007, 10:32 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Pensburgh
Posts: 5,634
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Lewis Leathers...not cheap at all though.
I had a hell of a time finding the right gear also when I looked--Ebay provided me with a jacket, nice European cafe boots, and vintage scott gloves. I had a Lewis jacket which I loved, but it was too snug--stupid euro sizing.... 
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Eric 83 911SC/83 944 bunch of Honda 750s 69 Chevrolet C-20 Longhorn (family heirloom) |
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10-12-2007, 10:43 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Pensburgh
Posts: 5,634
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a pic of my old Lewis jacket:
 
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Eric 83 911SC/83 944 bunch of Honda 750s 69 Chevrolet C-20 Longhorn (family heirloom) |
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10-12-2007, 10:45 AM
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Driver
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Big fan of Vanson, for the understated look.
In addition to newenough.com, you can also find some of their stuff on motorcycleleatherexchange.com.
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1987 Venetian Blue (looks like grey) 930 Coupe 1990 Black 964 C2 Targa |
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10-12-2007, 11:01 AM
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VANSON!!!
best non racer looking leathers out there.
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10-12-2007, 01:09 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 4,362
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Good thread! I'm in the market myself. My biggest problem isn't what style, as much as fit. I'm tall and thin with very long arms so the XL fits but is baggy and a large is too small everywhere. That said, I think anyone in the market for such a jacket should try before buying. Buying online is convenient and sometimes less $$ but fit can vary from brand to brand. I think what you are looking for is loosely described as a "vented racing jacket".
The Vanson jackets look really nce. I like Bellstaff. Here's one for vintage guys like you and I. 
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10-12-2007, 01:12 PM
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+1 on Vanson. Good luck finding it though. I looked for a really long time till I found what i wanted. My criteria was exactly like yours, meaning, I wanted a subtle look.
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10-12-2007, 01:32 PM
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Hell Belcho
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Oz
Posts: 9,249
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Vanson looks nice but way too much dough.
http://www.newenough.com/protective_apparel/leather_jackets_and_pants/tour_master/coaster_ii_leather_motorcycle_jacket.html Almost sold on the black/grey one.
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Saved by the buoyancy of citrus. |
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10-12-2007, 01:42 PM
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The Cuddly One
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Milan, Italy
Posts: 1,515
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My husband has lots of top end bike gear, Langlitz is his No 1 for riding.
I'm toying with the idea of getting him one of these for Xmas for something a little different. http://www.aeroleatherclothing.com/webapp/aeroleather/servlet/AeroViewPage?page=displayproduct&subcatid=38&prodid=570
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10-12-2007, 02:10 PM
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Driver
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Well, FWIW (a lot, IMO), the Vanson jackets are constructed like the top half of their race suits. Same quality leather. Same type of seams and stitching. And their fit (at least for me), is spot-on. I've had my jacket for 5 or 6 seasons, now. It may be a little dirty, but it's still tough as nails. Certainly a lot heftier than the Hein Gericke jacket it replaced (and what most other companies are putting out there). And because the factory is in Massachusetts, you can always send stuff back there for repair.
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1987 Venetian Blue (looks like grey) 930 Coupe 1990 Black 964 C2 Targa |
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10-12-2007, 02:15 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: AZ
Posts: 8,414
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I'd definitely include Dainese in your search. They make some of the best (and most protective) leathers on the planet, and offer a wide range from full MotoGP kit, to cafe-style jackets.
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10-12-2007, 02:27 PM
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Green Skull 006
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Rhode Island
Posts: 2,040
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I used to like Belstaff, but they are owned by an Italian fashion outfit now. I would recommend Aerostich.
Here's a link: http://www.aerostich.com/catalog/US/index.html
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S Reg 823 R Gruppe 246 1955 pre-A Carrera Speedster...x 1974 leichtbau..."Sascha" "It makes me sad. Our cars were meant to be driven, not polished" - Ferry Porsche while surveying a PCA Parade concours field. Last edited by Jim Garfield; 10-12-2007 at 03:43 PM.. |
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10-12-2007, 03:40 PM
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Vanson stuff never fit me well. You really need to try it. Plus for not much more you can get custom leathers...Vanson (and Dainese) are not cheap.
Aerostitch is supposed to be great and you can buy subtle versions. I'd rather have optic yellow or something though...subtle and motorcycle is a bad combination imho. |
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10-12-2007, 04:19 PM
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Only Porsche
Only bike
Ducati
1987 Porsche 930 3.3T
1979 Porsche 911SC 3.0
