Club Obi Wan

Hey gearheads,

I am in the market for a LC Jacket. It's my favorite of all the jackets and since I am now a motorcyclist, I would love to get a jacket that I could wear on the bike (and offer some protection). This of course wouldn't be my daily bike jacket as I don't expect it to be as safe as my thick cow hide (with armor) jacket I wear daily. But I wanted to see if anyone here has some opinions on a good jacket to go with? I'm hoping for a cow hide of 1.3mm or thicker grade, if possible.

I'd love to get a wested, and have asked if they offer any thicker hides than the lambskin but I dont think they offer anything that sturdy.

How is their horsehide? How does it compare to their aged cow? Or all Wested's jackets just too thin?

Really appreciate any info or help on this topic.

Thanks in advance!

-Tom

I used to have a Wested HH, and it was thick like cow. They offer heavy duty HH in a LC custom:

http://www.wested.com/last-crusadecryst ... -159-p.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


If details are important to you, here is a thread on specs.:

http://indygear.com/cow/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=58189" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Fantastic! Thank you!

yeah, I bet a horse hide LC would do the trick...though riding on a bike, you should ask for the arm gussets they use on the Raiders....your arm will ride up pretty high......

and without the zip sleeves to zip up over gloves...you'll get lots of draft.....

Much as I'd like for someone to make an Indy jacket for bike use. The few real bike jackets I've come across are a much denser leather than any of the jacket makers use. It's almost 'hard shell' like. Plus the Indy jacket does not have the reinforced panels at the elbow, and other places that bike jackets normally have. The closest I've seen to this is the old style thick goat Wested used to use.

I don't think I'd feel right suggesting you use an Indy jacket as a bike jacket, in the same way I wouldn't suggest an A2...

If I were going to use a Wested as a motorcycle jacket, the LAST one I would pick is their LC. There is just not enough articulation in the arms (even with the gussets). With mine, as soon as I lift my arms, the whole jacket rides up around my neck, exposing my back.

ha, interesting. Well like I said this jacket wouldn't be my daily driver. I'd just want to wear it around town (45 and under) on warmer days. So the lack of sleeve zippers doesn't bother me. I just would never wear a thin fashion jacket on my bike, so it would be nice to own an Indy that works on the bike but its sounding like its just not the right choice for that. My bike is a Royal Enfield C5 Bullet, its modeled after the 1951 body's, so the Indy Jacket really suits it's WWII looks. Reminds me of the bike chase scene in LC.

Thanks for your help!

I did a Wested HH in the black version of the Rocketeer - it's incredibly durable and the thickest leather motorcycle jacket I own - I can post pics of it if you'd like -

Royal Enfield
Those are some cool bikes! I'd love to have one of their Classic 350s.

Have you considered Cap's motorcycle jacket? I am not a rider so I have no idea if that jacket would actually be a good fit for what you want or not.

ShanghaiJack wrote:Have you considered Cap's motorcycle jacket? I am not a rider so I have no idea if that jacket would actually be a good fit for what you want or not.

We are on the same page . Yes I have. I might end up going for that but I stl definitely want a LC jacket. Whether I can wear it on the bike or not is another question.

And yes! I'd love to see the HH rocketeer!

Good to know. I'd like to add Cap's jacket to my closet too, but haven't figured out if I want to get it before or after an A2.

I'd like to see that HH Rocketeer jacket as well.

I have just, in the last week, received my new Wested LC/CS in their 'worn-hide' cow! I am positve it would work as a good biker's jacket. It is really solid. Plus, I had mine cut pretty short and the sleaves are amazingly tapered and close fitting with an all cotton lining throughout. This jacket seems really tough and ready for just about anything you could throw at it! Nice snug, trim fit and really like the shorter length I chose for it -- a true 'jacket' and not overly long and bulky! And, the 'worn-hide look' really does look like it has been worn for a very long time and not like some of the pre-distressed store jackets that we see all too often! I am very pleased with this one! And, the collar is truly LC/CS (more CS, really) than my old HH Wested LC. Great improvements in overall design and carry through from past offers, in my humble opinion! W>

Those motorcycles look great, especially this one!


http://www.enfieldmotorcycles.com/model ... ry-c5.html

the other problem with any Indy jacket on a bike is the collar. It flaps in the wind and can ver very distracting when it keeps slapping your helmet. When I have worn an Indy jacket on the bike, I end up turning the collar in so it doesn't flap around so much.

Adirondack Jones wrote:the other problem with any Indy jacket on a bike is the collar. It flaps in the wind and can ver very distracting when it keeps slapping your helmet. When I have worn an Indy jacket on the bike, I end up turning the collar in so it doesn't flap around so much.

You beat me to the punch on that one.

Yeah, while an Indy jacket is a great looking jacket for alot ofthings, motorcycling definately ain't one.
A) Sleeves let the wind in.
B) Not nearly enough articulation.
C) Fallpign collar.

Personally, I would go with an A2, if you really want to go leather.
I ride in New England, so leather is not my first choice, unless I'm running down ot the store.
I have way more textiles for real riding.

Dalexs

I ride in Indy jackets, my favorite being the U.S. Wings Legend. It has the most narrow cuff openings and a little extra length on the sleeves, which seems to 'bunch up' at my wrists in such a way that it actually does block out wind. But I mostly ride a HD bagger with fairing/shield, which keeps most of the wind off, so I generally don't get the collar flapping.

When I'm on my Triumph, I wouldn't think of riding far in an Indy jacket. It's either the Perfecto or a summer weight textile. I have a Wested LC, and it's tied with my Nowak CS as being the worst, for me. The wind just blows them up something fierce. And I personally don't like taking off on my bike, limiting my speed and range by wearing the wrong type jacket! Just me, though!

A brown biker jacket like the Captain America jacket will likely be my next one, if all goes to plan!

I ride in my horse LC Wested all the time in my Triumph too-maybe its a British thing-the collar stays in line and doesnt act up. In any case, the sleeves are cut bout an inch 'long' for normal wear, but land right where they need to when in riding position, though the back is not quite 'long' enough. Even if the collars flaps, I dont notice-there are no press studs so if it is, it is flapping against the bottom or my helmet.

In any case, it may not be for some, but it works for me. I ride mostly in town, though, commuting. The draft is welcome as there are no vents.

Those RE's are nice-I looked at one. Unfortunately I did not hear or read great things about them post 1-2 years of ownership. Rust on the deck, failing parts, difficulty getting repair support.....

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/ ... 4699_o.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


MOD NOTE: I changed the picture to a link due to size. Feel free to repost as a smaller picture. Regards, Indiana Jeff

Adirondack Jones wrote:the other problem with any Indy jacket on a bike is the collar. It flaps in the wind and can ver very distracting when it keeps slapping your helmet. When I have worn an Indy jacket on the bike, I end up turning the collar in so it doesn't flap around so much.

I bet if you talked to Peter he could install collar snaps on the LC jacket since he also makes an A2.

A good bike jacket needs to be of a dense and heavy leather and typically a short one in a size 42 would weigh about 6 pounds. No Wested hide that I've seen or heard of is this substantial. If you had to get a Wested made for bike use I'd specify you want 3.5 oz HH or cowhide.

If it didn't have to specifically be an Indy jacket, but just a classical brown leather jacket, Triumph makes jackets like this McQueen model: