Aero highwayman and Simmons bilt roadster

handymike · Oct 18, 2016

Welcome!
I would order an Aero through Thurston Bros. in Seattle!
They will send you a fit jacket to try on for sizing, and Carrie is fantastic at helping with decisions about leather, liner, etc.
If you live in the USA, there is no better way to order an Aero!

(206) 550-3545
info@thurston-bros.com
www.thurston-bros.com

Sloan1874 · Oct 18, 2016

What he said /\

Hammerklavier · Oct 18, 2016

handymike said:
Welcome!
I would order an Aero through Thurston Bros. in Seattle!
They will send you a fit jacket to try on for sizing, and Carrie is fantastic at helping with decisions about leather, liner, etc.
If you live in the USA, there is no better way to order an Aero!

(206) 550-3545
info@thurston-bros.com
www.thurston-bros.com

Thanks Mike, but they charge little too high, for me, unfortunately.

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Hammerklavier · Oct 18, 2016

With around $1100, I would go to lost worlds 4oz+ HH jacket

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TREEMAN · Oct 19, 2016

Hammerklavier said:
With around $1100, I would go to lost worlds 4oz+ HH jacket

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Not me. Aero is the way to go here. Lost Worlds might be thick...maybe the thickest, but there's no character to it imo....just seems blah.

adiadi · Oct 19, 2016

Hammerklavier said:
Hi friends
I am new here, and trying to get my first HH jacket, any suggestion for choosing aero highwayman or Simmons bilt roadster, which one has thicker and warmer jacket and higher quality? Thanks for your answer!!

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I have owned both and believe me SB's workmanship can't be beaten.

Sloan1874 · Oct 19, 2016

Well, if it was, then it was built on the foundations of decades of training and expertise of Aero. And I'm sure a posting will follow along the lines of 'I don't care/don't know what went on, I just want a top quality jacket', but really it's bollocks.
SB are easily beatable. In fact, I would go as far as to say that almost any other serious maker on the go makes better jackets by the simple fact that they're not using patterns stolen from another company.

Hammerklavier · Oct 19, 2016

TREEMAN said:
Not me. Aero is the way to go here. Lost Worlds might be thick...maybe the thickest, but there's no character to it imo....just seems blah.

You might be right, just did some research on LW, looks like some customer had really horrible experience.

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dudewuttheheck · Oct 19, 2016

Hammerklavier said:
You might be right, just did some research on LW, looks like some customer had really horrible experience.

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The guy in charge is a bit of a weirdo, but on the other hand the general consensus is that the overall construction is actually quite incredible and even superior to most Aero jackets. I have not owned or handled one, but I have heard this on multiple occasions. Aero is still a great bet and I would definitely pick them over SB.

cuchulain · Oct 19, 2016

Hammerklavier said:
Thanks for your opinion, is your Aero HH keeps your warm in winter? Or you have to add extra layer like sweater? Thanks!

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My winters are upstate NY winters and neither the 1930's HB or Roadster will be adequate, it's cold and snows a lot, for me a leather jacket is a fall, early winter, and spring jacket. For winter I wear something warm and more purpose built.

dqm45 · Oct 19, 2016

Let me start by saying that my knowledge of leather is that of a novice compared to most who have posted here.

However, I do own jackets from Aero and SB. I have an Aero Highway, an SB Half Belt that I just received, and an AL cafe racer (bought off eBay). Both the SB and the AL are Horween leathers. From what I can see, the quality of workmanship is very close.

I too, decided to go for SB because the 2-3 month wait was too much for me. And yes, SB is significantly cheaper now, especially with the drop in GBP. The (lack of) fit process was a learning experience, as I first bought the AL cafe racer off eBay and found the length (36) to be too small for me.

IMHO, you can't go wrong with either. It depends on what factors matter to you.

Hammerklavier · Oct 19, 2016

dqm45 said:
Let me start by saying that my knowledge of leather is that of a novice compared to most who have posted here.

However, I do own jackets from Aero and SB. I have an Aero Highway, an SB Half Belt that I just received, and an AL cafe racer (bought off eBay). Both the SB and the AL are Horween leathers. From what I can see, the quality of workmanship is very close.

I too, decided to go for SB because the 2-3 month wait was too much for me. And yes, SB is significantly cheaper now, especially with the drop in GBP. The (lack of) fit process was a learning experience, as I first bought the AL cafe racer off eBay and found the length (36) to be too small for me.

IMHO, you can't go wrong with either. It depends on what factors matter to you.

Thank you!

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Gobble · Oct 19, 2016

Hammerklavier said:
Thanks Mike, but they charge little too high, for me, unfortunately.

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My two cents. If you are getting your first aero then use Thurston Bros. It may cost a little more but I would pay the extra for a guaranteed good fit, a it's really worthwhile investment/insurance policy as fqhh is not forgiving. A poor fitting jacket is money wasted.

Superfluous · Oct 19, 2016

The real question you have to ask yourself is . . .

Do you want the original:

Or a copy:

Seb Lucas · Oct 19, 2016

Superfluous said:
The real question you have to ask yourself is . . .

Do you want the original:
Or a copy:

View attachment 58508

I can't tell the difference between them, whatever they are. My fault; if someone gave me a Lamborghini I'd sell it and by a used Corolla. Not a car guy...

Sloan1874 · Oct 19, 2016

SB sizing is also variable- tends to run small.

Peter Mackin · Oct 19, 2016

Superfluous said:
The real question you have to ask yourself is . . .

Do you want the original:

Or a copy:

View attachment 58508

AC Cobra... .oh yes please.

ton312 · Oct 19, 2016

Gobble said:
My two cents. If you are getting your first aero then use Thurston Bros. It may cost a little more but I would pay the extra for a guaranteed good fit, a it's really worthwhile investment/insurance policy as fqhh is not forgiving. A poor fitting jacket is money wasted.

This is the key point for a first time purchase. The fit jacket absolutely locks in the specs and eliminates the guess work and worry. It might be more expensive but it ensures a perfect fit and that extra expense could easily be chewed up by return postage and remakes if you blow the numbers on the first go round.
As far as LW is concerned, the jacket I owned was absolutely top tier in every way that one can possibly judge a jacket. Perfectly and I mean perfectly sewn together. Insanely heavy HH, beautiful hardware. It was a jacket however that would never take on any patina, at least not the kind I like, and would still look brand new in 10 years. It's a testament to the leather but also a detriment, depending on what you're after. I found Stu to be very easy to work with, in spite of his bizarre and entertaining website rhetoric.

Fanch · Oct 19, 2016

Sloan1874 said:
SB sizing is also variable- tends to run small.

Keeping in mind the Roadster patterns were copied from the Highwayman, I am told that only the labels are different. Example: A size 42 Highwayman and size 44 Roadster are identical. That is the reason AL/SB gives the appearance of running small.

Sloan1874 · Oct 19, 2016

That's my understanding too.

Aero highwayman and Simmons bilt roadster

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