Modern protective gear.

[awa355]

I wore my old brown leather bike jacket today. It has no padding for shoulders, elbows or the spine. After several months of a newish jacket with the armour in place, the old jacket just didn't feel right.

A couple of months ago my previous bike fell over while stopped. Wearing a nylon rain jacket with no protection.My elbow went straight down onto the tarseal. Shit! it hurt and that was from a standstill.

I love the old jacket and it suits the retro styling of the bike. but riding without the armour in place just doesn't feel safe. After 40t years of riding, I'm still an 'old' bike rider but am happy to move with the times as far as protective gear goes.

[BMWST?]

I wore my old brown leather bike jacket today. It has no padding for shoulders, elbows or the spine. After several months of a newish jacket with the armour in place, the old jacket just didn't feel right.

A couple of months ago my previous bike fell over while stopped. Wearing a nylon rain jacket with no protection.My elbow went straight down onto the tarseal. Shit! it hurt and that was from a standstill.

I love the old jacket and it suits the retro styling of the bike. but riding without the armour in place just doesn't feel safe. After 40t years of riding, I'm still an 'old' bike rider but am happy to move with the times as far as protective gear goes.

if you have a bit of room in the jacket you might be able to get some armour added?

[awa355]

I did show it to the guy in the leather shop at the Glenfield shops. He said they could add rubber carpet underlay to the sleeves and shoulders. He said the leather in my old jacket was far superior to what is around these days. So may be worth looking at that.

[BMWST?]

I did show it to the guy in the leather shop at the Glenfield shops. He said they could add rubber carpet underlay to the sleeves and shoulders. He said the leather in my old jacket was far superior to what is around these days. So may be worth looking at that.

i took my leather jacket back to the guy that made it many mmons ago cos for some reason it had shrunk.He also said they cant get leather like this anymore...He altered it,and put cups in elbows and shoulders

[Quasievil]

He said the leather in my old jacket was far superior to what is around these days. So may be worth looking at that.

Really, I doubt it

if you want some proper Armour give me a shout I got heaps of it around.

come show me this awesome leather to lol

[Mully]

ifor some reason it had shrunk.

My gear shrinks too - usually during winter....

[Ratti]

the leather may be ok, but I can almost guarantee the stitching is shite.
I refused to repair a pair of old, well used leather trou for a mate a while ago as I could literally break the stitching on the seams by running my finger down from where the waistband had parted company with the trou.

think about this when considering purchase of 'vintage' or 'genuine retro' gear

[awa355]

I can imagine that years of moisture, sun etc would rot out the stitching, Something people dont think about, or look at. The jackets been retired now anyway.

Just a thought tho' would the stitching used in modern cordura / leather have a earlier 'use by' date than the material itself?

[Quasievil]

Just a thought tho' would the stitching used in modern cordura / leather have a earlier 'use by' date than the material itself?

Not if you buy a decent quality one in the first place, there is some crap that is made with poor threads (cheap trademe stuff) and some good stuff with decent threads, most label brands use good stuff these days so I wouldnt be to worried unless you buy a jacket for $120 on TM
FYI We use Kevlar and Multi core Nylons that dont rot.

[HenryDorsetCase]

the leather may be ok, but I can almost guarantee the stitching is shite.
I refused to repair a pair of old, well used leather trou for a mate a while ago as I could literally break the stitching on the seams by running my finger down from where the waistband had parted company with the trou.

think about this when considering purchase of 'vintage' or 'genuine retro' gear

yeah, presumably the thread is cotton, and it had rotted?

I only wear my retro gear off the bike these days.

You can get "retro-style" gear which looks the part and has modern features. I have a Triumph Lawford jacket, which looks exactly like a Belstaff Trialmaster, except it is leather, and has armour built in. And it doesnt stink like an old waxed cotton jacket invariably does.

[Ratti]

I would guess that to be so. See quasievil post for thread recomendation. He knows his stuff.