have had a dream project on the back burner for a couple of years. That is to design a great high end motorcycle jacket with the attributes that riders want. I have finally found a manufacturer that offers the quality I want in a price that the average rider can afford.

This is a great opportunity to have some input on one of our most important pieces of gear.

I am going to set up a series of polls that allow you to choose which features you want in a jacket so that I can incorporate them into the design.

Please take a minute or two to vote in the polls I will be posting here. Input from real riders is very important.

When I place my order all XL Forum member will have an opportunity to take part in a group buy and get a excellent discount on the bulk purchase.

Let me know how you prefer to close the pockets and wrist adjustments.

Ack! Zippered sleeves with a snap!
Matt

I'll take good, sturdy zippers over velco any day. Not too crazy on the silver zippers though. Go stealth and blacken them out.

Mike

I have the harley race jacket and love it, only thing I want different is maybe a little longer sleeves, and in the front have it shorter. When I sit on the bike the coat will rise up into my neck unless i roll the front over.

It has zippers on sleeves and pockets, wouldn't want it any other way. Easy to adjust sleeves when riding.

:iagree zippers / black / long sleeves, short in front and longer in back, the they said

I have a Schotts Bros jacket, This one replaced my Fathers Schotts Bros Jacket that my mom got for him in either 1975 or 1976.. Good quality.... style 141L

Drawbacks to it.... No venting, Not long enough in the back...

Positives.. stand up (Mandarian) Collar HEAVY YKK zippers all over it.. Nice ZIPPER pulls, (able to use them with gloves on)

This is my 2 cents, I might be In the market if the $$ is right

an expansion pocket like they do on travel bags to make them a couple inches bigger... except on your back so you can have a backpack with you when you need it but zip it away when you don't. maybe even zip-off sleeves to throw in the back pocket (for those cold rides to work and hot rides home)

I'll take good, sturdy zippers over velco any day. Not too crazy on the silver zippers though. Go stealth and blacken them out.

Mike



I have to disagree. I like the silver zippers. It's a MOTORCYCLE JACKET!:p

I voted zippers too. Velcro just wears out after about 100 pulls. Snaps are a pain in the a$$ to snap with thick gloves on.

Nice heavy-duty zippers with a long enough pull on them for use with gloves. I'm for the black zippers.

Zippered sleeves with snaps, inside pockets w/zippers, outside breast pockets with snaps. waist pockets with zippers, adjustable waist band with snaps

Velcro look like a$$ after a short time. Does not belong on MC jacket

Definatly zippers I like the black or copper/bronze ones. A heavy duty gun pocket would be nice too. One that won't tear out after 10 uses.

MC

velcro sux. It seems cool when it's new, but it wears out fast. When it's done, it's done. The jacket could last 50 years, but the last 49 of them the velcro wont work. Velcro is temporary, and it WILL stop working after about 500 cycles. I won't buy anything with velcro closures unless that is the only choice. Lemme just say it again in case you weren't sure if I said what you thought you heard. VELCRO SUX.

Just thought i'd get that out there.

Definately zippers. And definately heavy-duty ones.

Generally I like zippers, but make the pulls large so they can be grabbed with gloves on. Velcro works well on the sleeve cuffs.

Are you talking "Leather?" or "synthetic" I'm not one for making a fashion statement, I like practicality. I love my AVGSPORT mesh jacket. It is the coolest (temp wise) jacket in the summer with our 90-95 deg, 95% humidity here in the FL panhandle. It's actually cooler to ride with it then with out it. At mid 70 temps I need the liner zipped in that comes with it other wise it starts to get too cool at 65-70 mph. About 45% of my daily riding is at night so I have installed more reflective material on it.

Generally I like zippers, but make the pulls large so they can be grabbed with gloves on. Velcro works well on the sleeve cuffs.

Zipper closures are an overwhelming favorite so far: 85.11%! Large pulls are a must! Very few jackets come with pulls that you can operate with gloves on. I have added leather ties to the zippers on the jackets I wear for this purpose. Who wants to park their bike and remove their gloves just to open or close a zipper!

Are you talking "Leather?" or "synthetic" I'm not one for making a fashion statement, I like practicality. I love my AVGSPORT mesh jacket. It is the coolest (temp wise) jacket in the summer with our 90-95 deg, 95% humidity here in the FL panhandle. It's actually cooler to ride with it then with out it. At mid 70 temps I need the liner zipped in that comes with it other wise it starts to get too cool at 65-70 mph. About 45% of my daily riding is at night so I have installed more reflective material on it.

For this particular jacket we are talking real cowhide with real lamb's wool lining. Pretty warm for Florida in the summer.
I have some nice textile jackets I'll be adding to the inventory soon that are better suited for hot humid weather.

no velcro .

Need an inside gun pocket, perferably two for left or right handers. Pocket needs to be strong enough to support a full size 1911

Zippers!
But,
I like leather to fold over and completely cover the zipper so no rain or wind gets in. If the zipper isn't 100% covered with leather from one side, I won't buy the jacket.

jimmie

Zippers on the sleeve cuffs.
Make those sleeve closures tight!
Nothing like freezing cold air shooting up your arm.
Good zipper pulls too. None of that leather tie stuff. They come right off in your hand.
Leave out the liner and sheepskin. Just make it wind-tight.

Velcro SUCKS. Decent Metal Snaps [no plastic], leather pulls on the zippers with a few xtra for wear and loss

Velcro SUCKS. Decent Metal Snaps [no plastic], leather pulls on the zippers with a few xtra for wear and loss

Velcro seems to be pretty unpopular.
The only zippers or snaps I would even consider are top of the line hardware. Few things are more aggravating than a closure that doesn't work!

Thanks Ozark

Zippers!
But,
I like leather to fold over and completely cover the zipper so no rain or wind gets in. If the zipper isn't 100% covered with leather from one side, I won't buy the jacket.

jimmie

I agree,
Wind flaps are important! Any jacket designed for real riders isn't complete without them.
Ozark

Need an inside gun pocket, perferably two for left or right handers. Pocket needs to be strong enough to support a full size 1911

Interesting!

It shouldn't cost much to add a couple of large leather lined pockets.
I just started selling some Pistol Pete jackets and vests designed for CCW. My 38 snubby fits pretty good. I'm still looking for an affordable 1911. The days when you could pick one up for $75 bucks are long gone.

Ozark

Velcro SUCKS. Decent Metal Snaps [no plastic], leather pulls on the zippers with a few xtra for wear and loss

Also a cold weather liner and a light mesh type liner for spring and summer and zips in an out

I vote zippers.

I have a few jackets with velcro (really low quality "hook and loop") and they are great for a little bit but stbegin to loose hold after a few months.

Zippers are great and snaps,specially those from pakistan seem to be sized wrong sometimes.

a hiden leather lined gun pocket(s). Right side to draw when riding..:gun

Zippers ... Snap on the End Optional

Zippers please sir. A little longer in the back. Larger pulls.
Sounds ideal to me. A gun belongs in a good holster not a jacket pocket, can't get at the sucker.

Zippers (metal) on the front, sleeves and pockets. Poppers at the neck (2 or 3 to give adjustment for wearing a scarf / neckerchief). Sleeve ends need to be tight to fit inside gloves. Mesh lining, and a removable warm liner would be good too. Don't need any gun pockets, as we don't have the "right to bear arms" in the UK (I can't imagine in what circumstances you'd need to draw a gun when on the move - are you guys having injun trouble again? :)).

If you could make a 100% guaranteed waterproof leather jacket, you'd sell out to Brit bikers.:D

Zippers all around, dont forget the bigger the zipper teeth the stronger the zipper. good luck,can't wait to see it.

Zippers (metal) on the front, sleeves and pockets. Poppers at the neck (2 or 3 to give adjustment for wearing a scarf / neckerchief). Sleeve ends need to be tight to fit inside gloves. Mesh lining, and a removable warm liner would be good too. Don't need any gun pockets, as we don't have the "right to bear arms" in the UK (I can't imagine in what circumstances you'd need to draw a gun when on the move - are you guys having injun trouble again? :)).

If you could make a 100% guaranteed waterproof leather jacket, you'd sell out to Brit bikers.:D

Hi,

No injun problems. :horseride We do have the right to carry, so some people do. It's kind of a philosopical thing: "Better Judged by Twelve than Carried by Six" A strong leather lined pocket is handy for carrying lots of other items too.

Your suggestions regarding the jackets are right on target. I have already incorporated these into the design.

I am exploring the concept of having the leather impregnated with silicone to make the leather water proof prior to sewing. We have our share of rainy weather in many parts of the US and Canada also.

Thanks

Ozark

Snaps for pockets and heavy duty BRASS zippers for sleeves.

I'd like pockets that you could use as hand warmers on those cold rides.