Vanson Chopper Fit

TheSleaze · Aug 18, 2015

Hey y'all
Been lurking for awhile and wanted to say this is a great resource. After exhaustive research here, sprung for a Vanson Chopper. The competition weight leather feels like wearing roofing tin. I feel like it could stop a prison shank.
What do you guys think about the fit? I got it a little small, because I wanted a tailored fit, and it definately feels like it. But it kind of pinches in the crooks of the elbows, there's pressure in the front seam of the shoulder, and the arms are bit snug, although it seems to be gradually easing, especially after wearing it for about a 20 min stretch. Is that normal for a Vanson? Will it eventually stretch a little and be second-skin snug, but not restrictive?
Thanks a lot
Here's a link to some fitment pics of the jacket.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/71c4avajz6umkea/AAAc89Pu8zGWqhQpAeLVvuDwa?dl=0

TheSleaze · Aug 18, 2015

Also,
I'm 6,1" and 179 lbs, the jackets a size small

Monitor · Aug 18, 2015

Other than the sleeves, which are too short for my taste, it looks great to me. Doesn't seem all that tight, the way you describe it, but rather how a slim fitting jacket (in your size) should be. Shoulders look right, there's some chest space... I don't know, I'd say you're good. Vanson Comp weight leather is really heavy and stiff, like you've fond out for yourself, so what you describe sounds pretty much normal. The jacket is still struggling to keep its form, is all. Once you break it in, it will feel like a second skin and not restrictive at all. They make great moto jackets. Okay, I don't really know what Chopper's like, but Model A was the best motorcycle jacket I've ever had.

EDIT: But if you plan on riding in it, get medium.

avsmusic1 · Aug 18, 2015

TheSleaze said:
Also,
I'm 6,1" and 179 lbs, the jackets a size small

WOW! I don't have any experience with the chopper but a small anything on a 6'1" 180lb frame seems crazy to me. It looks too short all the way around to me but it's hard to say b/c the shirt isn't fully tucked. That said, if you like the fit but find it slightly snug than it probably will relax as it breaks in and work for you.

HoosierDaddy · Aug 18, 2015

Arms And body length too short for me.
I'm 6' 2" and 182, but a medium fits me well.

Bighatlaw · Aug 18, 2015

The Chopper is one of my favorite jackets. The comp leather takes a bit to break in, but eventually it will and you'll forget all about how stiff it used to be. That said, your jacket looks to small to me. Sleeves look short and body looks short. My experience with that jacket tells me that once it breaks in the sleeves and body are gonna be even shorter.

Seb Lucas · Aug 18, 2015

Not my idea of a perfect fit but there are fans of this shorter, tighter look so I guess you're the best judge of the photos. Is it how you want it to fit?

navetsea · Aug 18, 2015

I think you need a tailored custom fit, longer body and sleeve, but probably even trimmer around the body

nick123 · Aug 18, 2015

A little short in the sleeves for a "perfect" fit, but you know what? It looks good. You appear to wear it confidently-in that case the fit falls into the "so what if the sleeves are kinda short, I look like a badass" category. You get away with it. Not everyone can. Note the sleeves may crease and get a bit shorter. But there's still some leeway even with that.

Thanks for the fit pics. This place has been kind of silent on that front lately.

Monitor · Aug 18, 2015

I honestly don't think the body is that short. OP is wearing his pants somewhat low, pants that appear to be relatively low rise to begin with; the photos were taken from below which makes the jacket look shorter than it really is; and look at the side and the back photo, the kidney panel is falling right where it's supposed to sit.

I'm with Nick on this, it looks good. I saw the thumbnails and immediately thought it looks good, before even clicking on one. Great silhouette.

If TheSleaze prefers his jackets to fit snug, M would definitely be too roomy (I think it jumps more than one size up per letter) so he can forget about the Chopper altogether. I'd keep this one and make it mine. Snug fitting jackets break in faster and much better than boxy jackets. I worry about the sleeves but yeah, not worth taking a risk with a larger jacket just for an additional inch in sleeve length. Besides, they're not bad at all, just not... motorcycle jacket sleeve length.

There's always a custom tailored fit, but the hustle isn't worth the cause in this case I believe, as the improvement would be only marginal.

Damo · Aug 18, 2015

I have a chopper and love it!!! I had to do the custom
Route between a medium and a large... I'm 5'11", 185lbs, 44" chest, 20"shoulders. Just for a frame of reference.

The jacket will loosen up a bit but it depends on
How you will wear it!?? Sounds like you can't layer underneath it, but I find the chopper to be heavy and warm so I don't think you really need to layer underneath it too often. I'm assuming you bought this for riding.

Anyways regarding the fit if it was me I would try a medium and then make your decision. From what I see I would want to keep the chest and waist of the small and get the length of a medium in the sleeves and jacket length. Did you buy from vanson??

With all this being said if this is the look you like then keep it. To each their own!! Congrats on a great jacket!!

ProteinNerd · Aug 18, 2015

I think it looks pretty badass. A heap of modern moto jackets are supposed to be this short. As long as it doesn't feel too short to you, wear it like you hate it.

navetsea · Aug 18, 2015

if not for riding, shorter sleeve means you can wear some cool wristbands and show them off.

jacketjunkie · Aug 18, 2015

Despite the sleeves and body being a bit on the short side, I believe a bigger size would fit too lose on your waist area, even this size S looks fairly wide at the waist, as navetsea already pointed out.

mattp · Aug 18, 2015

Looks good mate, body fits well, length is subjective but it doesn't look 'too' short to me. It will loosen up with wear, get it wet and just don't baby it and it will get better and better.

Blackadder · Aug 18, 2015

Monitor said:
Other than the sleeves, which are too short for my taste, it looks great to me. Doesn't seem all that tight, the way you describe it, but rather how a slim fitting jacket (in your size) should be. Shoulders look right, there's some chest space... I don't know, I'd say you're good. Vanson Comp weight leather is really heavy and stiff, like you've fond out for yourself, so what you describe sounds pretty much normal. The jacket is still struggling to keep its form, is all. Once you break it in, it will feel like a second skin and not restrictive at all. They make great moto jackets. Okay, I don't really know what Chopper's like, but Model A was the best motorcycle jacket I've ever had.

EDIT: But if you plan on riding in it, get medium.

Agree that it is a slim fashion fit (the trend of wearing one size too small). However, I think the sleeves look short because of the insufficient shoulder width.

2wheelgrplr · Aug 18, 2015

The Vanson Chopper is a kickass moto jacket. Mine's a size Medium, I'm 5'10" tall, weigh around 180 lbs, chest between 40 & 42 and shoulder between 18-19". I ordered mine from Thurston Bros so it has the thinner black cotton lining and not the red quilted lining. It fits me well with just enough room for minimal warm layer underneath - then again I still need to break it in completely. Totally depends on personal taste, but for me your jacket is a tad too small all over - then again I do ride, a lot, and my jackets have to take this into consideration.

TheSleaze · Sep 21, 2015

Finally decided I agree with everybody that the small was just too small.
So, switched to the medium because this is definitely a riding jacket, and I also plan to sew some armor into it, which would require some extra room. The shoulders are much happier, and the jacket as a whole feels more comfortable, lighter even. The torso and waist are probably too loose, but custom was just too much.
FWIW, town moto.com has a large for $607 us.

Thanks so much for the help everybody
Here are some more fit pics of the medium,
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/zmvn9so5pugvnys/AAD33qBFbnKqvIplE3kioUg_a?dl=0

handymike · Sep 21, 2015

Looks good to my eyes!
Congratulations.

nick123 · Sep 21, 2015

Looks good. All of the lancer style jackets seem to kind of jettison outwards when viewed from the side unzipped. That is normal. You can tell it fits right because it's right on the money zipped up.

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