Help! Vintage riding jacket opinions

• Jun 7, 2019

• #1

barnabus

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A couple of months ago I bought this jacket. It's a proper Alpine Stars riding jacket, but pretty retro. 80s/90s? Anyway, it was kind of a whim, but as soon as I received it I stuffed it away in the spare bedroom on the flipping pile, thinking it was horribly kitsch.

Except...

Now I sort of really dig it.

It would 100% be for riding, and it's a proper riding jacket. It's cow, I should think, and pretty thick and heavy too - barely even worn in. It almost looks new apart from a couple of minor scrapes.

But because the cut is kind of dated I can't really tell how well it fits or not.

Please fire away with any and all opinions!

 

• Jun 7, 2019

• #2

sweetfights

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Looks like it fits well and high visibility for riding= A win.

 

• Jun 7, 2019

• #3

Man of Vintage

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Other than the sleeves appearing to be too oversized in diameter, the jacket fits you very well indeed. Thumbs up.

 

• Jun 7, 2019

• #4

HoosierDaddy

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Yep..looks like it fits pretty good and certainly a unique style and color. However I think I do agree with sweetfights with this jacket. Congrats, I dig it. Looks like there is room for layering. You may have stumbled across a jacket with most all of the features that are compatible with riding a MC. A jacket like that would serve me well riding my HD.
HD

 

• Jun 7, 2019

• #5

barnabus

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rockabilly said:

Other than the sleeves appearing to be too oversized in diameter, the jacket fits you very well indeed. Thumbs up.

Click to expand...

The sleeves are the thing that triggered doubts in my mind. Well eighties and wide.

And yet I suspect with enough wear and weathering it'll relax into a much better fit than it currently appears. It's very much stiff and unyielding at the moment.

 

• Jun 8, 2019

• #6

navetsea

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Logo on the chest.

 

• Jun 8, 2019

• #7

Peter Bowden

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united kingdom

The collar looks like it might be irritating in terms of interfering with crash helmet straps.I like the colour and think it would look great after several years of riding.

 

• Jun 9, 2019

• #8

Bfd70

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Zero stars. Reserve for cosplay only.

 

• Jun 9, 2019

• #9

dudewuttheheck

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rockabilly said:

Other than the sleeves appearing to be too oversized in diameter, the jacket fits you very well indeed. Thumbs up.

Click to expand...

This is basically my thought. Sleeves are wide, but otherwise it fits very well. Overall, for the purposes you're using it for, I would keep it and use it in good health. If it was worn casually, I would say differently.

 

• Jun 10, 2019

• #10

rocketeer

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A great style but not the colour in my opinion. The logo is what you get with modern stuff I'm afraid and the styling is a bit retro, similar to a zip sleeved Highwayman. I do think the sleeves are a little wide, maybe they need a little contouring which probably causes the bunching at the elbow area.
Nice to see some modern gear reviewed

 

• Jun 10, 2019

• #11

Edward

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Colour / logo are to perosnal taste. It does, overall, put me in mind of an eighties redux of the Aero Highwayman. If it feel comfortable to ride in and you like it...

The logo looks like the sort of leather patch that could be removed if you wanted, though it would leave stitch holes...

 

• Jul 11, 2019

• #12

barnabus

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Well. After an unsuccessful month on eBay, it looks like this jacket might be fated to stay with me. In which case I'll starting working on a few things with a view to resolving my doubts...

 

• Jul 11, 2019

• #13

Monitor

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16,459

barnabus said:

Well. After an unsuccessful month on eBay, it looks like this jacket might be fated to stay with me. In which case I'll starting working on a few things with a view to resolving my doubts...

Click to expand...

Why not keep it for those cold, winter days? It's maybe a size too large on a t-shirt but should be good with layers, as others have pointed out and otherwise, it seems to be a really fantastic motorcycle jacket. I mean, Alpinestars makes great riding gear, they're among the best out and this jacket is certainly better suited for an actual use on a bike than most mc jackets we discuss here so you can't go wrong by keeping it. I personally really like it.