Have any of you noticed the trend at the dealerships toward "sport bike"/textile jackets. (Like Joe Rocket). I couldn't believe it when I was at the local HD stealership and they had 2 racks of sport jackets(199.00 and up). I can't say they were bad looking, I actually own one for the summer here in Houston(Joe Rocket, armor lined/vented).


What do you prefer....leather or textile? Just curious.

And if you do own a textile/sport jacket, what kind do you have.

Leather jacket that looks like the stereotype biker jacket.
Zippers and large flaps and a buckle.

Have three jackets, two textile/sport and one leather H-D.

Textiles are a Cortech for the summer as it is vented and a Belstaff for early spring and late fall that has a great liner. Just got the leather one and don't know how I will use it but I also have a polartec jacket to wear under it.

Fred

I have a FirstGear jacket I wore last summer. Something I picked up at IronPony after I bought the bike to wear when it was warm.

I also have a HD Leather Jacket and would like to get another mid to light weight HD leather jacket. Good stuff.

I prefer leather and have two HD leather jackets. One is mid to hvy weight, the other light weight. Good quality, love them both.

I rode for a couple of years in leather jackets, one was Harley.

Then I discovered Aerostich and I'll NEVER go back. I've got a great set of Hein Gerike leathers that only come out of the closet about once or twice a year for nostalgia purposes. But my Aerostich will go from 20-30 degree F weather to 100 degree weather with comfort, plus keep me dry when it rains.

My wife has both a Teknic textile jacket and a Joe Rocket Alter Ego jacket which is REALLY neat, as it is water proof when zipped together, warm in the winter, but the inside and outside zips off into a mesh jacket with body armor the hottest summer months.

Kev

The first season I owned my bike all I had was an HD mesh jacket. I like it alot. The looks, constrution, comfort - it was all great. It was pretty hard to use it once it was getting to be say, 30 degrees outside!

Since then i've been riding with an HD leather. I love that thing, it is ridiculously nice. For any distance, I wear that and my HD chaps. Yea yea, I know, whatever about by wearing all the HD stuff. I looked at jackets and chaps at different places and the HD were BY FAR the best IMO. Still break out the mesh when it gets really hot out.

I was at Barnett's today and saw more lether than the new materials but they were there too. I sure like the leather H-D jackets but most were made overseas and although they seem to be a good design, I am not going to pay the huge money they want for a chinese product.

This will no doubt take some here off guard, but not only have I seen them, i bought one.
It's a Buell jacket, it have a spine, shoulder and elbow armor, and it leather and ballistic gortex.
it is lined and Vented, after baking a couple of days last year, I was in the market for a summer jacket, and the dealer had it at a super 65% off, so it cost me 141.00.
It is comfortable, but it sure takes a wile to get used to it's looks.

I was going to do a review of it this summer, after a bit of riding with it, I have only ridden 20 some miles so far, but it's not fair to comment until I have had the chance to really ride with it.

I have a fabric fxrg that I liked until the main zipper broke. I've only had it a little over a month. Very warm jacket, and not too bad without the liner with the vents open during warmer days. Had to leave it at the dealers. They're contacting Harley re warranty. I was a little irritated having to wait til who knows when and all, but I bought another HD leather jacket while I was there (lightweight called a Shifter). I guess I showed them:doh It seems to be made well for a lightweight. Very soft leather (prolly last about 3 feet on the blacktop). If I had the time, I would have purchased one from here:

http://www.foxcreekleather.com/mensjackets.phtml

Never will I pay for a HD jacket. I bought a leather jacket for $200.00 and then I went to the stealer and they had a jacket that looked almost the same. If you put the 2 side by side you could pick up the wrong jacket. They wanted $370.00 for the HD jacket.

If I had the time, I would have purchased one from here:

http://www.foxcreekleather.com/mensjackets.phtml

http://www.foxcreekleather.com/1.html this jacket from foxcreekleather.com looks exactly like the one i bought for $90 at a local leather shop.

i purchased a leather HD jacket. it is great, i ride at 5am everyday and it keeps the rain and the cold wind off of me. But the catch is mine was on clearance!!

I usually don't care much for H-D sh*t , but, old broken in, clearly marked Harley
Davidson leathers bring big bucks as they age. Harley is one of the oldest clothing manufacturers in the US to my understanding. They've been making clothing steadily since the depression back the the late 1920's.

I couldn't tell ya what make my HD jacket is, and can't find a good pic of it on the net, but I LOVE this jacket! I have about 2k miles in w/ it so far, and its great. It was cool enough for 80+ degree days in the late summer (or summer nights) and w/ just a windbreaker under it I have handled 30 degree mornings w/ it, so I think that's a pretty good range. Not to mention it is one of the best looking and most comfy leather jackets I've ever seen. Oh.. did I mention I got it half price so it was only $165?

I have a fabric fxrg that I liked until the main zipper broke. I've only had it a little over a month. Very warm jacket, and not too bad without the liner with the vents open during warmer days. Had to leave it at the dealers. They're contacting Harley re warranty. I was a little irritated having to wait til who knows when and all, but I bought another HD leather jacket while I was there (lightweight called a Shifter). I guess I showed them:doh It seems to be made well for a lightweight. Very soft leather (prolly last about 3 feet on the blacktop). If I had the time, I would have purchased one from here:

http://www.foxcreekleather.com/mensjackets.phtml
I have a heavy weight jacket from Fox Creek Leathers and a pair of chaps. They are a great company to deal with...good service, good quality. I also have a lighter weight leather jacket from HD which I love. HD is expensive, but the quality is there. At the end of the summer I bought a Joe Rocket mesh jacket "Cleo", on sale, that I've yet to really try out.

I have a heavy leather fxrg with a zip out lining that I love, but I am looking for a summer jacket. Four candidates have popped up in this thread: Fox Creek, Aerostitch, Joe Rocket and Buell (is that a Harley product?). I would not rule out another Harley jacket but would really like to check out the fit and looks of these others. Problem is, it's time consuming. Spend a Saturday going around to the various shops to look and try on, then spend another Saturday looking and trying again. Then, if lucky and rich enough to have found one, go back a third time to actually buy one. Yeah, yeah, I know, OCD but that's the way I'd end up doing it.

Fox Creek is the exception, since it's mail order, but I am leery of buying clothing by mail. I'm shaped like humpty dumpty and fit is a problem and I hate sending things back.

I prefer leather, HD or otherwise, doesn't matter to me. .

Bought this jacket For $125 14 years ago at a clearence sale. It's heavy, tough leather, reasonably water repellant provided I give it "the treatment" every year. Got our club logo lasered on the back so I can't get rid of it now. Got the lining replaced when the original wore out. Probably 100,000 miles on it.
Joan has about a dozen jackets, all were bargains. Too many for a complete story on each. The newest is a "letterman's" jacket. Wool body, white leather sleeves. Large HD on front left, bar & shield with Harley Davidson on back. Sleeves have bar & shield on them too. Beautiful warm jacket, with the hd tag on the inside. $75...... It's neat when your wife can wear children's sizes. Will send the info on the seller to you if you pm me.http://xlforum.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=6256&cat=500&ppuser=2098

Steve

http://www.foxcreekleather.com/1.html this jacket from foxcreekleather.com looks exactly like the one i bought for $90 at a local leather shop.

You could be right, but I've heard foxcreek makes their own jackets. They do import some of their bags, etc, but they have a good reputation for quality.

I have a heavy leather fxrg with a zip out lining that I love, but I am looking for a summer jacket. Four candidates have popped up in this thread: Fox Creek, Aerostitch, Joe Rocket and Buell (is that a Harley product?). I would not rule out another Harley jacket but would really like to check out the fit and looks of these others. Problem is, it's time consuming. Spend a Saturday going around to the various shops to look and try on, then spend another Saturday looking and trying again. Then, if lucky and rich enough to have found one, go back a third time to actually buy one. Yeah, yeah, I know, OCD but that's the way I'd end up doing it.

Fox Creek is the exception, since it's mail order, but I am leery of buying clothing by mail. I'm shaped like humpty dumpty and fit is a problem and I hate sending things back.

I don't like fooling with it either, which probably explains why I purchased the lightweight leather at HD. It fit well, and is very well made. I rode to work with it today and was very comfortable. It was probably 40 deg though, so that wasn't a real test. I wanted a light weight jacket, like you, and think I made a good choice. Check out the "shifter" at HD and see what you think. I'd be afraid of mail order if you have trouble with regular cuts in the store. There are some custom shops out there that'll hook you up, but they're a little too proud of their stuff for my wallet, plus in some cases you're looking at 2-3 months before you get it. Like this place:
http://www.langlitz.com/ Top notch stuff though.

Good-luck

I have a heavy weight jacket from Fox Creek Leathers and a pair of chaps. They are a great company to deal with...good service, good quality. I also have a lighter weight leather jacket from HD which I love. HD is expensive, but the quality is there. At the end of the summer I bought a Joe Rocket mesh jacket "Cleo", on sale, that I've yet to really try out.

You may have the same lightweight I just bought. I'm really happy with it (well, ok so I've only had it 1 day, still...I like it a lot) and have no buyer's remorse at all. How does your heavy weight Fox Creek jacket compare in terms of quality to the HD lightweight? I may still get one of those if not this year, then for next winter anyway.

well, i have 2 jacket,
the first: a leather jacket (hd),
then a technical jacket(spidi an italian brand www.spidi.it the website is also available in english)
made of cordura and gorotex

I usually don't care much for H-D sh*t , but, old broken in, clearly marked Harley
Davidson leathers bring big bucks as they age. Harley is one of the oldest clothing manufacturers in the US to my understanding. They've been making clothing steadily since the depression back the the late 1920's.

???????????????

Can anyone confirm if HD EVER made a jacket? I know they've been contracting with others to make jackets for them and put their names on it for years. And considering now that most of those are made in India or elsewhere overseas, I'll buy from someone else.

Heck, both my Aerostich jackets were made in the USA!

Kev

I'm with Kev. I would have no problem dropping $300+ on a jacket if only it had Made in USA on the back. But all that Harley stuff is made in china now. I will not pay $300 for something made in china. Let's see if harley tries to put made in usa on the tag, because that's where the tag was made, and stamp the jacket made in china. :D I have seen them do this on a bunch of parts they sell because the box is made in usa and the part is made in taiwan.

My $100 jacket works fine. Bought it in Sturgis just like the last one I bought, I paid $75 for it and wore it for 10 years. This one should last another 10 years.

I couldn't imagine paying what the stealer wants for a jacket.:frownthre Unless that thing inflates when I crash to protect me I'll stick with what I've got!:tour

My $100 jacket works fine. Bought it in Sturgis just like the last one I bought, I paid $75 for it and wore it for 10 years. This one should last another 10 years.

I couldn't imagine paying what the stealer wants for a jacket.:frownthre Unless that thing inflates when I crash to protect me I'll stick with what I've got!:tour


No, they might not inflate, but I can attest to jackets with a little body armor (shoulders, elbow) as being worth their weight in gold in an off!!!!

http://www.foxcreekleather.com/1.html this jacket from foxcreekleather.com looks exactly like the one i bought for $90 at a local leather shop.

Yeah and except for the rear vents it is identicle to one I got at Wilson's several years ago. I think it was $179.

I wear a leather Jacket from Wilsons that is about 10 years old I wear when the temp is 50 or below and a First Gear tech jacket for 50 to 75 and then no jacket after 75 but whats nice is the tech jacket fits the bags so I roll it up and if it gets cool before I am done riding I can just slip on the tech.
The problem with Harley Jackets is they don't make any without the Harley name carved in somewhere and though I am proud to have a Harley I just don't like having their name on everything I wear.
I must say that the new tech jackets are very comfortable.

I've got 3 jackets, all nylon, all armored: an H-D mesh for warm riding, a Shift for mid-temp, and a Tourmaster for when it's really cold. Wear them all with chaps over jeans. None of them match anything, but that's not imortant. Am thinking of getting a pair of armored jeans, as well. I like the armor because, at my age, if I go down, bones won't just break, they'll shatter.

???????????????

Can anyone confirm if HD EVER made a jacket? I know they've been contracting with others to make jackets for them and put their names on it for years. And considering now that most of those are made in India or elsewhere overseas, I'll buy from someone else.

Heck, both my Aerostich jackets were made in the USA!

Kev
Harley not only used to make their leathers in the USA, they were the first company to design and manufacture the 'classic' motorcycle leather jacket....wayyyyyy back in the 1920's.............A pal of mine had one made in the 40's....and old cop leather, manufactured by Harley

You may have the same lightweight I just bought. I'm really happy with it (well, ok so I've only had it 1 day, still...I like it a lot) and have no buyer's remorse at all. How does your heavy weight Fox Creek jacket compare in terms of quality to the HD lightweight? I may still get one of those if not this year, then for next winter anyway.
Arjay...The HD lightweight jacket I have is very good quality. I love it!! The fox creek leather jacket has a liner and is awesome for cold weather riding.

Yeah and except for the rear vents it is identicle to one I got at Wilson's several years ago. I think it was $179.

I would be shocked if anything from Wilson's was made as well as a jacket from a "motorcycle jacket" company. Stiching that won't come apart in an off, vents, more secure fit that won't ride up allowing road rash around your mid-section, body armor etc.

Harley not only used to make their leathers in the USA, they were the first company to design and manufacture the 'classic' motorcycle leather jacket....wayyyyyy back in the 1920's.............A pal of mine had one made in the 40's....and old cop leather, manufactured by Harley

Cool, thanks for the history lesson.

Anyone know when they stopped? 40s, 50s, AMF days etc?

Kev

Arjay...The HD lightweight jacket I have is very good quality. I love it!! The fox creek leather jacket has a liner and is awesome for cold weather riding.

I'm still thinking about the fox creek jacket. The HD lightweight has done so well, I'm not sure I need a heavyweight jacket now. The nylon fxrg(?) I have is still at the dealers getting warranty authorization for repair or replacement so I'll wait for that before doing anything. It does offer good protection even though it's a bit bulky, especially with the liner in.

Vanson Leathers is in my hometown (Fall River MA). I took a walk over when I was visiting last time. It's in part of an old textile mill. The factory store is incredibly low rent but is filled with an AMAZING collection of gear. You can also look around the corner and see the room of sewing machines where they make most of it. The prices are high (but comparable to HD) and some day I might treat myself to one of their traditional leather jackets. Really fine stuff. They make a Buell jacket for HD.

I would be shocked if anything from Wilson's was made as well as a jacket from a "motorcycle jacket" company. Stiching that won't come apart in an off, vents, more secure fit that won't ride up allowing road rash around your mid-section, body armor etc.

I've been shopping around for a new Leather, and was not able to find a jacket that had the right quality and fit (for me) for riding. This Christmas my OL goes out and buys a $335.00 HD jacket, I have a mini aneurysm, but when I try the thing on, it feels like the thing was made for me, and the quality is un-beleiveable....Made in China or not...The moral of this story I think is buy what is right for YOU! - My next jacket will be armored textile though.

but when I try the thing on, it feels like the thing was made for me, and the quality is un-beleiveable....Made in China or not...

Then screw the price, it's worth every penny!


The moral of this story I think is buy what is right for YOU! -

Not a bad moral.


My next jacket will be armored textile though.

NOW you're talkin'!