I am currently riding a Alpinestar textile mesh jacket. I am going to upgrade to a leather jacket this summer. There is a possibility I will buy the Ducati Fighter Textile Jacket bacause I love the looks, but I would rather have a leather that i can have for years and break in and show my kids how cool their dad really was.

One thing that bugs me is street bike jackets are flashy and IMO kind of make you look like a jerk. I'm not a track guy. I don't ride a crotch rocket (though id love an SBK), i'm more hooligan than anything.

can anyone recommend a nice leather jacket for me that isn't flashy, built well and safe? I like alpinestar, the ducati nero, but not really icon...

does anyone have experience with this Astar?
http://www.newenough.com/street/protective_apparel/leather_jackets_and_pants/alpinestars/helius_perforated_leather_textile_motorcycle_jacket.html

the only thing that worries me is on the guy in the pictures, it looks like the arms are short.

thanks for your help, i got a month or two to figure this out, we still have snow...

Tourmaster Coaster?
http://www.newenough.com/street/protective_apparel/leather_jackets_and_pants/tour_master/coaster_air_series_2_motorcycle_jacket.html
A bit of a retro look - not flashy at all. I've got one and it's a good jacket, especially at the price.

Dianese makes a couple of more retro look jackets that might fit your bill.

I sure like my Vanson Leathers.  I was just patient and watched e-bay and got real good buys on jacket and pants.  They are tough, heavy, long lasting and have a great look ( at least I like 'em)

+1 on Vanson. I have a fully perforated Vanson that I absolutely adore: http://www.vansonleathers.com/dw/prod/jacket/csv2.html Found somebody willing to part with a brand new pair of matching pants on another board and now I have an extremely comfortable, relatively understated full suit.

I went from a one piece Alpinestars (too hot and inconvenient/unwieldy), to a textile suit (Stealth), back to leathers - this time two piece. In the winter I forgo the leather for my fieldsheer adventure jacket. The leather pants, though fully perforated, can even be worn in the winter with the proper accoutrements (long johns, jeans, and something wind blocking over).

And, WRT cost (they are pricey), I'd rather ride an SV wearing Vanson gear than a Duc wearing crappy stuff.

$.02

Me love my Vanson jackets.  Both for the looks and the crashing.   Dunno about their newer stuff in the last coupla years.  The gear still looks good, but there have been complaints about decline in quality.  I'm not sure how/if they got that worked out.

 

I was on the same boat and settled on a Ducati 80's jacket (the old black with white stripes version).  It's a Dainese, with elbow and shoulder armor and space for a back protector.  I mostly like the fact that it fits nice and close to my torso.

I have a VANSON  the best, second to none

Quote from: M900 on March 01, 2010, 03:56:55 PM
I was on the same boat and settled on a Ducati 80's jacket (the old black with white stripes version).  It's a Dainese, with elbow and shoulder armor and space for a back protector.  I mostly like the fact that it fits nice and close to my torso.

Agreed. High quality, very slim fit.

Quote from: WarrenJ on March 01, 2010, 12:58:22 PM
I sure like my Vanson Leathers.  I was just patient and watched e-bay and got real good buys on jacket and pants.  They are tough, heavy, long lasting and have a great look ( at least I like 'em)

+10000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Vansons kick ass!!!!!

okay, so i think i found my contenders so far.
Ducati Fighter

Dainese Freddie Pelle (red? not a fan of the grey, not sure if red and white ill stay clean though)

alpinestar Helius



I'm digging the freddie pelle, and the helius right now. One thing is, dare i say, i might not always have a ducati...

what do you think of the jacket? i need to find an A-star dealer nearby that has this jacket

thanks guys!

Might take a look at Johnson also
http://www.johnsonleather.com/products.htm

While the Fighter jacket looks cool - at least for me they are a no go. I've got a Dainese Santa Monica jacket that I picked up over the winter - that I cannot wait to ride. It fits excellently, moves well, and stretches in the right spots. I went to a local shot an treid on the Horizon - same as the Fighter, just sans the Ducati badging and it was stiffer and less easy to move in than the leather jacket, and didn't want to stretch at all to a ride like position.

I have/had Vanson stuff - and now I'm in the Dianese camp. The Vanson stuff was nice (and think!), but of jackets I've worn I prefer the Santa Monicas fit to the Vanson fit so far.

I don't like gear that has the Ducati branding all over it. Come to think of it, I don't like any kind of gear/apparel besotted with free advertising for a company, even one that makes stuff I buy. Though the two Ducati-branded jackets here are relatively subdued, I feel a higher percentage of Vanson gear is comparatively light on branding.

Quote from: Wonked on March 02, 2010, 08:08:56 AM
I don't like gear that has the Ducati branding all over it. Come to think of it, I don't like any kind of gear/apparel besotted with free advertising for a company, even one that makes stuff I buy. Though the two Ducati-branded jackets here are relatively subdued, I feel a higher percentage of Vanson gear is comparatively light on branding.

thats why im thinking that alpinstar jacket. the Dainese isn't bad, but there is a huge logo on the back, and that red and white is pretty flashy. the santa monica is nice, but $$$$$

buy my jacket! $50+shipping! Gear for sale!


okay enough of a plug. i really Dig Scorpions Stinger jacket. In white. ITs on sale for $163 @ sportbiketrackgear.com in red and blue.

Superior armor over alpinestars in my opinon. (unless they started using soft armor). i have their jacket pants and helmet. They also have great warranties and take care of their customers.


its pretty flashy though.

I have this and I love it.  A* Dragster Jacket.  It's a little on the pricey side, but I think it's worth every penny.



By the way...How's it going?  Are you still up there in K-Zoo?  I'm loving it here in NC.  Hope you're doing well.