Leather Jacket Fit

[ZonaMan]

I just bought a Tour Master Magnum flat black jacket. It is great quality for a reasonable price and looks great to boot. However this is my first leather jacket and I am worried about how it bunches up and gets wavy in the front when I on the bike. Is this normal for a leather jacket? Do I just need to get used to it? I feel like it may look kinda funny like that when I'm riding.

[blackjack_mike]

Don't worry about the look so much. The jacket is there to protect you. It's great to look good with the jacket, but it's better to look good after a fall.

[eddievalleytrailer]

I'd rather have one a little big than too small.

[Shinigami]

I think a lot depends on the jacket maker and their cut philospohy.

I have two Vansons, one (perf Mark 2 Cobra star) is a little bigger than the other (Mark 2 CSRX non-perf) to accomodate hard armor, I use street armor in the smaller one and the so-called GP armor with a hard-plate back protector in the bigger one.

Both are tight enough when zipped up that you can bounce a quarter off the chest and get change back, but the support and comfort is incredible on the bike. Both jackets are comfortable for hours of riding.

Not so great for walking around, but they're designed for riding.

If you're getting bunching up on the front of your jacket it's probably cut to give you comfort off the bike, or maybe to accomodate extra clothing layers underneath. If you install CE type armor the slack might go away.

I personally think a jacket ought to be slightly tight after armor installation to be sure the armor is where you want it if you ever need it, but this is a personal thing.

Note that the guys who do this stuff for a living usually need help to get out of their suits- tight is the order of the day when you have an expectation of sliding.

[ZonaMan]

This jacket has all the CE armor. It fits great through the sleeves and is fairly snug all around. It has the liner out right now because it is so warm, so maybe that will make some difference when it goes back in. After all, I tried it on with the liner in too. It will be a really snug fit if I wear a sweatshirt under it with the liner in. I guess Blackjack's reasoning is the way go. I shouldn't worry about it. BTW here's the jacket (flat black one):

http://www.tourmaster.com/xcart/prod...uctid=66&cat=5

[Shinigami]

That is a fine looking jacket! Wear it in good health and safety.

[mello dude]

Originally Posted by ZonaMan

This jacket has all the CE armor. It fits great through the sleeves and is fairly snug all around. It has the liner out right now because it is so warm, so maybe that will make some difference when it goes back in. After all, I tried it on with the liner in too. It will be a really snug fit if I wear a sweatshirt under it with the liner in. I guess Blackjack's reasoning is the way go. I shouldn't worry about it. BTW here's the jacket (flat black one):

http://www.tourmaster.com/xcart/prod...uctid=66&cat=5

- When I shop for a jacket, I take the liner out for fit since I never use it anyway. I wish manufacturers would just delete the liner and spend more money on the jacket. The liners are over bulky anyhoo..

MD

- Wow - that is one nice jacket!

[KC-10 FE]

With a leather motorcycle garment, tight is the way to go. The reason for this you ask? If you go down & the leather jacket/pants/whatever is called upon to protect you, it needs to fit tight in order to do it's job correctly. If you wear a leather garment that's too big, when you depart controlled flight & impact the terrain, your body will move inside the jacket & then come to an abrupt halt. That's why you'll see guys with road rash on their extremities with no through & through damage to the leather garment. Basically, a leather jacket should feel tight but not binding. If it fits fairly tight but you can still move easily, that's what you're looking for. With my Rocket Speedmaster, I can't move my arms fully to the rear (think a push-up motion) but it still allows me to move completely normally on the bike.

This problem is the same with textile jackets but to a lesser extent. As a general rule, textile jackets wont slide on the pavement like a leather one.

KC-10 FE out...

[ZonaMan]

I bought this jacket for four reasons:

>I have been wanting a leather jacket for some time because it will protect you better in the event of a fall.

>I like how they look - more of a traditional motorcyclist look.

>The JR Alter Ego that I have was given to me with my bike, so I wanted a jacket that I picked out and that fits me better. Also, It will be a good cold weather garment (I hope).

>The price was right.

I have worn the jacket twice this week on my commute and am very disappointed with my decision to buy it. It is simply not cut right for a sport bike; it needs about 4 inches taken out on the bottom for it to fit correctly. It is the right size, but I also think that it might be a little loose with the liner out.

F$#k, I'm so pissed I spent $250 on something that I was so excited to get and now I f*&*in hate it and can't even return it!

Put it on Craigslist or just deal with it and wear it?

[KC-10 FE]

I think you answered your own question. Sounds like Ebay or Craigs is in your future.

I get bombarded with gear questions during MSF classes. Every student has at least one question about some piece of gear. 80%-90% of the question deal with helmets. As a RiderCoach, I am obligated to give the best info I can. Since it's basically verboten to recommend a specific brand, I tell everyone the same thing. Try on everything you're considering at least twice. Narrow it down to two choices & try them on twice more. Buy the one that fits the best.

Gear is a fairly significant problem in the military since all the DODI states: long sleeves, long pants, sturdy over-the-ankle footwear, full-finger gloves & a DOT approved helmet. Lots of guys take this to mean that BDU's (our camo uniform) is perfectly adequate since it meets most of that criteria. The BDU is nothing more than a poly-cotton blend lightweight jacket & pants. They will do zero in the event of a crash.

Looks are definitely important, as no one wants to look like a dork whilst riding. Looks should never cause a person to buy a substandard piece of gear. If you do that, you're no better than the HD nimrods that buy the lifestyle first & ride second.

What's your build? Tall & skinny? Short & fat? I would say Vanson is the best in the business with Kushitani & Dainese tied for second. Tourmaster/Cortech is in the enviable postition of being the best bang for the buck on the market. Surely you can find any number of products better than the ones TM/C make but very rarely will you find one as good & for the bargain price TM/C will sell it for.

The Cortech Impulse jacket is basically the same thing as the TM Magnum but is cut for the sporting rider.
http://tourmaster.com/xcart/product....ctid=60&cat=27

This AGV jacket also seems to be a pretty good bargain.
http://www.metricbikes-superstore.co...ts-c-2018.html

KC-10 FE out...

[ZonaMan]

Thanks for the info KC-10. I had visited the Vanson website several times and would love to have a jacket from them. I did do a lot research before buying this jacket too, but was very apprehensive about ordering something online without being able to try it on, so when I saw it and tried it on, sat on a bike, it felt fine. It also had all the features I was looking for. Whatever I guess - you win some and you lose some.
TM has great customer service, so I may send them an email and discuss my options with them too.
I think I may try to sell this jacket, but continue to wear it for a little while to see if it pans out. I may change my mind when December comes and its 40 degrees out and need to put the liner in and a sweatshirt on underneath! If March rolls around and I still don't like it I'll try to dump it off. In the meantime I'll just keep my eye out for something that may be better.

[Shinigami]

Well, here's my unsolicited two cents- (flame suit ON)

In my experience in a lot of equipment-intensive sports (I have been a USA world and national team member in an Olympic sport for 20 years, I'm an NRA pistol and personal protection instructor, a fairly hard-core skiier, and I work as a product development engineer in sporting goods) you will ALWAYS save money by going for well made higher-end gear, so long as that gear fits your needs (is sized, in this case) properly.

You will ALWAYS lose money buying lots of substandard items that end up underperforming or discarded after a few uses. I know people who have spent twice what I spent on optics, because I bought one Leica to their four Vortex/Alpine/Chinese crapola scopes. I know people who have eventually spent three times what I spent on custom 1911's because they went for mass-market "customs" while I bought two true custom pistols. I know people who have spent twice what I spent on my Dillon Precision reloading gear, because they tried to get by with a Lee progressive.

When getting back into riding, I never batted an eye at the prices of my Vanson or Arai gear, because of that experience with other things.

Save your money and get the Vanson or Kushitani or RS Taichi gear (but be REALLY careful of Japanese sizing charts!). You will never regret getting the best of something, but bargains are rarely cheap in the long run.

[Mac]

I use the same jacket, I also have the Tourmaster leater pants that zip into it. Very comfortable on the bike. Have not tried one without the other. Price was the deciding factor in my case.
The thing about leather is it takes your shape over the years.
When its too hot for leather pants, I wear my old Firstgear Z-Pilot jacket, my second skin.
I can't tell you what to do, but when in dought, just ride it out.
Mac

[mello dude]

Originally Posted by ZonaMan

Thanks for the info KC-10. I had visited the Vanson website several times and would love to have a jacket from them. I did do a lot research before buying this jacket too, but was very apprehensive about ordering something online without being able to try it on, so when I saw it and tried it on, sat on a bike, it felt fine.

I am fussy about my gear and a tryon before purchase is mandantory. The handfull of times I have bought something online - I ended up discusted with the fit and sent it back. No more online gear for me.

Fortunately we have some decent retailers here. Iron Pony is awesome.

MD

[nozzle]

Have you tried drinking more beer, eating fatty foods, and less exercise to get the jacket to fit better? As you follow the Nozzle fit system you'll be able to force those wrinkles out by prodruding your belly in seated, standing, and hunched positions. Start pounding calories today!

I've had good luck with my AGV gear. It is consistently well made and I've found last year's style on sale for 50-70% of MSRP.

[reg71]

Originally Posted by nozzle

Have you tried drinking more beer, eating fatty foods, and less exercise to get the jacket to fit better? As you follow the Nozzle fit system you'll be able to force those wrinkles out by prodruding your belly in seated, standing, and hunched positions. Start pounding calories today!

I've had good luck with my AGV gear. It is consistently well made and I've found last year's style on sale for 50-70% of MSRP.

I have found the nozzle fit system to be very effective recently as my gear is getting more snug in the abdominal area where it used to be kinda loose. Maybe they should link to your training regimen from the jacket website. ;)

[ZonaMan]

Update on the jacket. After wearing it through the hot end of summer, I have found that it fits a little better with the liner in on the cold days and is quite warm down to 35-40 degrees.

Here's the catch though(forget how it fits)......the zipper is broken now and TM/Cortech has chosen not to return any of my emails about their POS jacket. I had a good experience with them when I needed new straps for my saddlebags - they sent me new ones for free. However it has been a different story with my three emails to them about this jacket-totally ignored.

SO, should I keep sending them emails until I get a response or post on every single site I can about the POS jacket and poor customer support?

[eddievalleytrailer]

Save yourself a ton of time and trouble. Take it to a GOOD dry cleaner, and have it repaired. It won't cost much and you'll have it back in a few days. Then if they do respond, you can send them the bill.