SMART PEOPLE: Please help with leather jacket advice.

4buck · 06-03-2007, 02:50 PM

Hey Guys,

I'm in a bit of a crisis. I've been obsessing over leather jackets for the past month. Sorry if this is a long read but I would extremely appreciate any input! So far, I've bought a:

Shift M1 Leather in a Medium and Small ($150 new)
AGV Breeze in X-Small ($90 new)
Alpinestars P1 Size 40 US ($200 used)

I live in NH/VT, for those not familiar think 40-100 degrees and 30-100mph riding. I'm 5'11, 155lbs, 38" chest, 30" waist, narrow shoulders (causes the back material to scrunch up) and muscular but thin.

I believe the ideal jacket for me is PERFORATED LEATHER with a REMOVABLE VEST. Alpinestars' STAGE comes to mind, but it's pricey and I don't know what size would fit best. The Teknic Chicane Leather Jacket also caught my eye but it doesn't have a removable liner (How important do you guys think that is?).

I first bought the Shift M1. Medium was too tall when I was crouched and pushed the collar into my neck, maybe that's just because the jacket was so stiff. Small fits alright but I'm starting to think that non-perforated leather, and this is a very thick/heavy jacket, is going to be dreadful in the summer when it often gets over 90 degrees.

Since there are no stores around me I buy off eBay. The second jacket I bought (I still have one of each jacket sitting in my room....) was the Alpinestars P1 in a size 40. It's too big on the sides and a 38 would probably fit me much better (I think). Again, starting to think that non-perforated leather is a bad idea.

Third jacket that I just got yesterday is the AGV Breeze in an Extra Small. Company says X-Small is for 38" chest. It's tight. I wanted something that was like a second skin, but this jacket was probably designed for someone much smaller than me (my forearms are about to rip the jacket apart and it sits above my belt buckle). I love how light and flexible this jacket is, but there's no liner, and I can see how cold this jacket could be during the fall, especially since I can't fit anything under it.

WHAT SHOULD I DO? I need your guys' help. Should I sell all of them and buy the Alpinestars Stage (or something I haven't considered)? And if so, any ideas which size I should order?

These are probably all going back for sale on eBay. If you're interested in one, let me know.

Thanks in advance,
Brandon

RayOSV · 06-03-2007, 08:10 PM

This should probably be in the riders' gear section. Can't help with sizing. Each jacket is going to be cut slightly differently. One suggestion I would make is to go with a perfed jacket for warm weather. For cold weather either a good liner to block the cold wind or get a good quiality wind breaker to go OVER the jacket. Layers of fleece or similar are NOT going to help when it's cold wearing a perfed jacket. My 2 piece suit is perforated and I could never get warm enough in the winter without a windbreaker over the jacket. It even helps keep my hands warm. Just make sure to try on the windbreaker while wearing your leather jacket for proper fit.

Jonny Thrice · 06-03-2007, 11:21 PM

I got the MotoGP Corkcrew from newenough, it's perf'd and has a removable liner.

It's not that bad in the heat, but I went out before when it was in the 60's and I was a bit chilly on the highway, with the liner installed.

GoIllini · 06-04-2007, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4buck

Hey Guys,

I'm in a bit of a crisis. I've been obsessing over leather jackets for the past month. Sorry if this is a long read but I would extremely appreciate any input! So far, I've bought a:

Shift M1 Leather in a Medium and Small ($150 new)
AGV Breeze in X-Small ($90 new)
Alpinestars P1 Size 40 US ($200 used)

I live in NH/VT, for those not familiar think 40-100 degrees and 30-100mph riding. I'm 5'11, 155lbs, 38" chest, 30" waist, narrow shoulders (causes the back material to scrunch up) and muscular but thin.

I believe the ideal jacket for me is PERFORATED LEATHER with a REMOVABLE VEST. Alpinestars' STAGE comes to mind, but it's pricey and I don't know what size would fit best. The Teknic Chicane Leather Jacket also caught my eye but it doesn't have a removable liner (How important do you guys think that is?).

I first bought the Shift M1. Medium was too tall when I was crouched and pushed the collar into my neck, maybe that's just because the jacket was so stiff. Small fits alright but I'm starting to think that non-perforated leather, and this is a very thick/heavy jacket, is going to be dreadful in the summer when it often gets over 90 degrees.

Since there are no stores around me I buy off eBay. The second jacket I bought (I still have one of each jacket sitting in my room....) was the Alpinestars P1 in a size 40. It's too big on the sides and a 38 would probably fit me much better (I think). Again, starting to think that non-perforated leather is a bad idea.

Third jacket that I just got yesterday is the AGV Breeze in an Extra Small. Company says X-Small is for 38" chest. It's tight. I wanted something that was like a second skin, but this jacket was probably designed for someone much smaller than me (my forearms are about to rip the jacket apart and it sits above my belt buckle). I love how light and flexible this jacket is, but there's no liner, and I can see how cold this jacket could be during the fall, especially since I can't fit anything under it.

WHAT SHOULD I DO? I need your guys' help. Should I sell all of them and buy the Alpinestars Stage (or something I haven't considered)? And if so, any ideas which size I should order?

These are probably all going back for sale on eBay. If you're interested in one, let me know.

Thanks in advance,
Brandon

Newenough currently also has the Teknic Chicane jacket on sale for $150. I was trying to decide between the Teknic and MotoGP, and ultimately decided based on the fact that NewEnough had Red Teknics in stock in my size.

The jacket's pretty comfortable at 85 degrees here in IL, and it's also OK at 75 mph at night when it's 55-60 degrees and misty/wet with just a T-shirt on. In terms of a typical summer day here in IL (starts off at 55 and gets up to 85), the Teknic works great.

In terms of sizing, I was a size 40 chest when I bought suits for my internship last year. I've been doing my best to bulk up in the chest and arms so I'm less intimidated by all the traders, and I think I'm now a size 42, but the size 44 Teknic fits me just great.

Do you have a suit or a blazer (IE: that you've worn to homecoming or some formal)? See if that still fits you. There should be a tag on the jacket that says some number probably between 36 and 50. If the jacket's a tight fit, add 4 to your size. If it fits just right, add 2. This will roughly give you your Teknic size. Also, NewEnough has a nice return policy, so you can always send it back if it doesn't fit right.

It's a $300 jacket for $150; tough to beat (except for the MotoGP corkscrew.)

4buck · 06-04-2007, 11:25 AM

Thanks so much for the input everyone.

I wear a 38 suit.

Does anybody have an opinion on the Alpinestars Stage verse the Teknic Chicane verse the MotoGP Corkscrew verse the AGV Breeze?

I know the Stage and Corkscrew have a removable liner, so that's nice. However, the Breeze is by far the most perforated of the four and the idea of wearing a windbreaker over any jacket seems like a good one.

4buck · 06-04-2007, 11:30 AM

Thanks for the input everyone. I wear a 38 suit.

Does anybody have an opinion on the Stage vs. Chicane vs. Corkscrew vs. Breeze? The breeze is the most perforated and the idea of wearing a windbreaker over any of the jackets seems to make sense for cold days.

GoIllini · 06-04-2007, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4buck

Thanks so much for the input everyone.

I wear a 38 suit.

Does anybody have an opinion on the Alpinestars Stage verse the Teknic Chicane verse the MotoGP Corkscrew verse the AGV Breeze?

I know the Stage and Corkscrew have a removable liner, so that's nice. However, the Breeze is by far the most perforated of the four and the idea of wearing a windbreaker over any jacket seems like a good one.

If you wear a windbreaker, either make sure it's designed for cycling, or don't plan on riding faster than ~40 mph in it. I (foolishly) rode in a North Face windbreaker once (rather than a leather jacket), and things got pretty nuts once I hit 40 or so. A windbreaker designed for cycling will make life a lot easier for you.

Personally, I'm either going to get a jacket designed for cooler/rainy weather, or I'm just not going to ride when it's that way.

The Teknic does not have a removable liner. However, if it's dry, you can always wear something warm underneath.