Vanson! Vanson! Vanson!

[Aloysius]

It looks like brown CW. The brown CW is much easier to break in than the black. It seems like a different hide. If for sure it isn’t CW, any idea what it is?

Brown CW feels very different indeed. Great leather.

 

[Viking752]

It looks like brown CW. The brown CW is much easier to break in than the black. It seems like a different hide. If for sure it isn’t CW, any idea what it is?

This brown leather was nice and my only comparison is between this one and my model J In black CW. Maybe the brown was the mid-weight because it was no where near as substantial as the model J.

 

[JMax]

This brown leather was nice and my only comparison is between this one and my model J In black CW. Maybe the brown was the mid-weight because it was no where near as substantial as the model J.

I bet it was the brown CW. I had similar thoughts.

 

[Biff42]

It’s kind of like seeing your first true love again and remembering what conjured all those emotions to begin with. Vanson leathers provided me my first real leather jacket, back in the early 90’s, cost me a whopping $40 and looked like something Sly wore in Rocky III. It opened my eyes to what a leather jacket could be! Purchased at a thrift store in Sycamore, IL…it was love at first sight.

I’ve had an on again/off again relationship with Vanson ever since. I would speculate that I have owned around 30 Vanson jackets, spanning the companies entire existence, across a fairly broad range of styles. From the RJ and sport rider styles to the Derby and well documented love for the model E. They keep me coming back, and I’m always looking. That says something, particularly given my tendencies in the hobby.

We’ve discussed at length what makes Vanson so great. A working class, work horse of a jacket. Not priced in the stratosphere, no pretension, just a solid jacket built for life based on jackets designed to save people’s lives. Warrantied against failure, no compromises and no bullshit.

My closet holds three right now and I’ve gone into some detail about two, but my latest really has me appreciating the brand on an entirely new level.

Comp Weight Cow:
Vansons flagship hide, some of the nicest leather I think one can own, time tested and beautiful. I experienced many flavors of comp weight. Smooth as a board and hard as a rock. Grainy, almost CXL like, and the newer, heavily pored and much maligned. I’ve also had thin and crispy white labels, and oil slick rubbery soft modern labels. With the exception of the last two, I’ve loved them all.
Older (80’s-90’s):
Model E, brown core, size 44”, weight: 6.40lbs
View attachment 372007 View attachment 372008
Oxford 9D, size 40”, weight 5.96lbs:
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Dark Maple Bainbridge:
I was not a fan from what I’d seen before. Looked a bit too couch-y. But having it in hand…What a spectacular hide. It smells identical to Horween CXL and shares Horweens water repellent and pull-up properties. It’s like CXL without the pain and suffering! I suspect it will age quite beautifully as it dulls and becomes both lighter and darker.
Oxford 9D, size 40”, weight: 5.07lbs
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The true beauty of Bainbridge doesn’t reveal itself until you take it outside. Then it becomes like a bag of Red Man chewing tobacco.
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It’s an absolute delight to wear. I will have at least one more jacket in it, maybe the redwood, not sure. This hide seems to take some of the biker vibe out and makes the jacket just feel a bit more refined. You wouldn’t frame a house with a sledgehammer, so you save the big guns for when they are needed.
Thank you for indulging me folks. I am extremely pleased with…
View attachment 372020

Ton I hope you didn't sell that E. It was perfect.

 

[Peter Mackin]

Couldn't resist putting in a bid for this unused streamliner vest,I'm sure it will get a fair bit of use

 

[JMax]

Couldn't resist putting in a bid for this unused streamliner vest,I'm sure it will get a fair bit of use View attachment 608327

These are great. I have the jacket version to use with my Perf Force and Breeze.

 

[Al 916]

These are great. I have the jacket version to use with my Perf Force and Breeze.

I use one in the Maverick - very effective!

 

[Peter Mackin]

Streamliner arrived today, unused and snaps into my Enfield, csrx and cobra perf,,ideal for a Scottish summer

 

[Aloysius]

Streamliner arrived today, unused and snaps into my Enfield, csrx and cobra perf,,ideal for a Scottish summer

Excellent. I've really wanted one but they're so expensive new.

 

[VansonRider]

Excellent. I've really wanted one but they're so expensive new.

I picked one up on the Bay, they fit (at least the orange ones, they’re older than the neon yellow) very snug!

But I put longer lacing in, and it’s great. I use it with the cobra so it just needs to cover the chest. As great as the air curtain is in the cobra, I prefer the Avenger Vent, with the exterior leather closure. When the cobra is closed up, no wind gets through, but the chest still gets chilly. Pro-perf with nylon underneath is basically the same (thermally speaking) as a nylon wind breaker. The vest is REALLY effective at extending the comfort temp of specifically those interior-air-curtain models.

For the fully perfed, I like a nylon windbreaker over the top, but I haven’t tried a sleeved streamliner yet.

Windbloc fleece is an awesome liner, too. I used a snug one before I got the streamliner. No complaints with that.

 

[Albe64]

Here my last Vanson (thank you lounger Bobby Schneider!)..a cool, basic Bandit. I truly love this model for the simplicity of it...a neat, functional CHP, no exotic details, no funky pockets, no shiny leather, no drama at all... just a biker's everyday loyal companion. Good ol' piece of leather!

 

[TartuWolf]

Vanson.

Hey hey hey, what the hell happened to these beautiful images?

 

[JMax]

Thunderbird. Early 2000s.

 

[Schambach]

View attachment 613307 View attachment 613308 View attachment 613309 View attachment 613310 View attachment 613311 Thunderbird. Early 2000s.

Nice score. How’s it fit?

 

[JMax]

Nice score. How’s it fit?

I’ll get something up soon. Bottom line- Really well. A 50s style fit. Similar to my Sportclad and Cali Herc. Also- The cuff zip up really tight. The attached belt is thick and the same as the belts they sell separately. Best attached belt, along with LW, that I have on a jacket. I should not have waited this long to get this jacket. Fits me better than the longer in body Vanson (A and E for example).

 

[Peter Mackin]

Having sold my vanson E last year to Tom71,I went out and just had to buy a replacement ,surprisingly i bought another vanson E .I then asked Tom if he didn't use the belts would he consider selling them to me.Tom very kindly send me the jackets free of charge, terrific gesture and greatly appreciated. An absolute gentleman,,it's great to see this, especially when we unfortunately have some people come aboard only to scam .

 

[Monitor]

Anyone knows the name of this style?

Also... What happened to Comp. Weight? Seriously, is it impossible to source a leather like this anymore? Look at this! It's art!

 

[Viking752]

Anyone knows the name of this style?

Also... What happened to Comp. Weight? Seriously, is it impossible to source a leather like this anymore? Look at this! It's art!

I believe this particular model is called “Badass”

 

[jacketjunkie]

View attachment 613307 View attachment 613308 View attachment 613309 View attachment 613310 View attachment 613311 Thunderbird. Early 2000s.

Any fit pictures yet? Vanson have 10% off due to anniversary this weekend, I am
eyeing two styles, this being one of them.

 

[Aloysius]

Anyone knows the name of this style?

Also... What happened to Comp. Weight? Seriously, is it impossible to source a leather like this anymore? Look at this! It's art!

The new comp weight is stunning. There seem to be two versions, both beautiful. Nice grainy hides and some of them are brown at the core (but vintage type, not fast fade "tea core" crap).