Seeking some honest CR fit feedback

[Gamma68]

As per usual, accurate. I think you need to post pictures with the jacket unzipped because you won't wear this jacket zipped unless it's so cold you shouldn't be wearing it! (J-100, albeit with angle pockets, is my absolute favorite.) The only issue is the sleeves but unzipping will alleviate some of that, plus like me you're probably so used to jacket sleeve length not fitting that it won't seem strange at all. (I still find my aero with sleeves that fit me very odd to put on!)

Do folks here only wear their cafe racers zipped up when riding? (An honest question.)

I'll post some photos of myself wearing it unzipped in a bit. My bigger question at the moment relates to my most recent post: would shorter sleeves be considered more historically accurate? @ton312 alluded to this earlier when he mentioned vintage CRs tend to have shorter sleeves, and the TT photos above seem to support this.

I'm not seeking to justify the sleeve length on my Taubers jacket. I'm more curious about the design history of the cafe racer.

 

[Carlos840]

Do folks here only wear their cafe racers zipped up when riding? (An honest question.)

I'll post some photos of myself wearing it unzipped in a bit. My bigger question at the moment relates to my most recent post: would shorter sleeves be considered more historically accurate? @ton312 alluded to this earlier when he mentioned vintage CRs tend to have shorter sleeves, and the TT photos above seem to support this.

I'm not seeking to justify the sleeve length on my Taubers jacket. I'm more curious about the design history of the cafe racer.

I think it is mostly a cultural thing... (Yes, this is a generalization, but i think it is overall true.)
In Europe most people wear their sleeves at the wrist bone, which a lot of people on this forum consider too short.
In the USA people wear their sleeves touching the first knuckle of the thumb, or lower.
There also is a "you need super long sleeves if you ride" mentality which i think came from ape hanger bars etc.
Personally i think long sleeves look bad, they give a "wearing my dad's jacket" look.

You are right that historically everything was shorter, sleeves and back, but then people were shorter too, so who knows?
But even taking into account shorter people, most old pictures show sleeves much shorter than what would be considered normal nowadays.

 

[Gamma68]

But even taking into account shorter people, most old pictures show sleeves much shorter than what would be considered normal nowadays.

I wonder if shorter sleeves were designed to allow for wearing gloves?

 

[Carlos840]

I wonder if shorter sleeves were designed to allow for wearing gloves?

It's probably much simpler... The 80s hadn't happened yet, and people wore clothing that actually fit them rather than 4 sizes too large.

But yeah, maybe. Also shorter sleeves allow for wearing gauntlet style gloves, which were much more common back then?

 

[Carlos840]

I was just looking at vintage rider pictures and found this:

Interesting that the only guy with long sleeves by modern standards (on the left) has folded his cuffs... It's almost like they didn't like long sleeves! Did they know something we don't?
( I really like that LL Racer Mk2 that Steve is wearing)

Also, thinking about gloves, i doubt gloves had much to do with sleeve length design, a lot of pictures from the 20s to the 60s show people racing without gloves!
I think the safety approach back then was "don't crash and you'll be fine".

 

[Gamma68]

As per usual, accurate. I think you need to post pictures with the jacket unzipped because you won't wear this jacket zipped unless it's so cold you shouldn't be wearing it!

Per request. Unzipped at the sleeves, too:

 

[Superfluous]

Gamma, that jacket looks AMAZING . . . except for the sleeve length. Sleeve length is, admittedly, a subjective matter of personal preference, and many here prefer that length, but I personally prefer longer sleeves and would not be happy with that sleeve length. Don't mean to be a killjoy, but you asked for honest feedback.

 

[ton312]

The sleeve length is shorter than what I would spec on custom but not short enough to discard the jacket. You won't find another from this maker in this condition that fits you any better in this lifetime...

 

[Gamma68]

Gamma, that jacket looks AMAZING . . . except for the sleeve length. Sleeve length is, admittedly, a subjective matter of personal preference, and many here prefer that length, but I personally prefer longer sleeves and would not be happy with that sleeve length. Don't mean to be a killjoy, but you asked for honest feedback.

Feedback appreciated and no offense taken. I wish the sleeves were just a little longer, too. Maybe only 1" longer. But this goes back to my question regarding historical accuracy.

Many members here seem to prefer a longer sleeve length. But is this more of a contemporary preference? Does my jacket more accurately reflect the preference of how CRs were worn years ago?

 

[ProteinNerd]

You guys are crazy thinking those sleeves are too short. It must be some weird American thing preference. Personally sleeves that keep pushing onto my hand are annoying.

Think of it this way, if it’s a European or UK jacket then it’s historically accurate, if it’s a US jacket then they are too short.

(Turning full Aussie mode on)

Honestly, if you were a good mate of mine I’d give you a slap and tell you to stop being a galah. The bloody jackets the bees knees, stop being a sheila and just wear the damn thing.

 

[Gamma68]

I'm wearing it out and about right now, actually. No bloody gallahs here (whatever that is, lol).

 

[navetsea]

it fits fine, the sleeve is alright too since it is longer than wrist bone and doesn't look too short at all to my eyes, although I like longer sleeve just as personal preference the same way we like how long our pants to be can vary from person to person.

 

[Fonzie]

Mate, that jacket fits you 100% perfect and the sleeves are spot on, but then again I’m not American. I wouldn’t change a millimetre of it.
Enjoy it!

 

[BlueWallpaper]

Per request. Unzipped at the sleeves, too:

View attachment 117394 View attachment 117395 View attachment 117396 View attachment 117397 View attachment 117398

I think it looks great. Sleeves a little short but as everyone’s said, not short enough to ditch the jacket. If you comfy wearing it then that’s that.

 

[Downunder G Man]

A "Galah" is a flocking pink and grey parrot

Noted for being perhaps " less than individually smart". Sqwalky and noisy

Trouble is they are also quintessentially Australian , found across the island continent , and we all love them really !

PS Yer jacket is still " the duck's guts" or " the dog's bollocks" !

 

[ton312]

Mate, that jacket fits you 100% perfect and the sleeves are spot on, but then again I’m not American. I wouldn’t change a millimetre of it.
Enjoy it!

But how many inches?
And I agree. These are rare jackets and even more so in this condition. There is no available improvement on this fit, from this maker in existence. That's the simple truth.

 

[Fonzie]

But how many inches?

Ok, so to make it easier for you guys using “the wrong” measuring system:
“ I wouldn’t change a 0.0393701 of an inch of it”.

 

[LevendiPaul]

It’s a motor cycle riders jacket
The sleeve is correct for riding as you don’t want a longer sleeve to get in the way of the handlebar controls

So in my book the jacket is designed as a fit for purpose garment and it’s well executed for that purpose

Edit- I forgot to mention that in addition to handlebar controls the sleeve is made that way for gloves to fit neatly and seamlessly

 

[Gamma68]

But how many inches?
And I agree. These are rare jackets and even more so in this condition. There is no available improvement on this fit, from this maker in existence. That's the simple truth.

There's a Taubers cafe racer available right now in 42, brown. I've already got a brown Kehoe that fits beautifully. Maybe someone else here would be interested:
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/183190329174

 

[Hh121]

People always want ask the feedback or "honesty" opinion, but you have to ask yourself what kind of comment you want to hear before you ask, apparently you keep ask people about the sleeve length, but you can't deny that you want to people say they like your short sleeve.

If you are going to stick with (or you really like)this jacket, why you need ask people's opinions. Short sleeve, longer sleeve, It doesn't matter, the most important thing is YOU like the jacket!