Motorcycle Jacket Shoulder Fit Advice, Please

• Nov 5, 2019

• #1

Kane

One of the Regulars

Messages

120

Location

Southern California

Hello,
I’d like to get your opinion on whether the shoulders on a jacket are too big.
I have my #1 jacket that I really like the fit of. I think i got lucky with this one. It’s an old Cal Leather, and the jacket is comfortably snug all around with a light shirt underneath. Perfect for riding in Southern California. The shoulder seams are right at the end of my shoulders and the sleeves are plenty long for reaching down to the clip-on bars on my bike.
Here is my #1 jacket:

I now have a #2 Cal Leather jacket and I am trying to decide if the shoulders are too wide. One thing is that the sleeves are a bit shorter than my #1 jacket, so having the shoulder seam droop off of my shoulders gives more reach to the sleeves and it works for riding.
Please take a look and tell me how these shoulders look to you, and if you think they are excessive. The first pic is wearing a t-shirt only under the jacket; the second and third pic are with a few more layers:
Thank you!

 

• Nov 5, 2019

• #2

D

Dbrn

One of the Regulars

Messages

152

First one definitely looks like a better fit than the second, and if they ride equally well and you had to pick just one I'd say #1 wins hands-down. But #2 isn't bad, just not as good when viewed alongside #1, and if you have a reason for wanting both there's no reason to get rid of it.

 

• Nov 5, 2019

• #3

Carlos840

I'll Lock Up

Messages

4,920

Location

London

I agree with the previous post.
No1 looks better than No2, i wouln't say no2 looks bad, but the shoudlers are definitely too wide for you.
Both are perfectly wearable, but i vote no1 looks best.

 

• Nov 5, 2019

• #4

JMax

Messages

10,286

1>2. Does 1 have gussets?

great looking Cals!

 

• Nov 5, 2019

• #5

Monitor

Messages

16,475

Agreed.

 

• Nov 5, 2019

• #6

Kane

One of the Regulars

Messages

120

Location

Southern California

No gussets on #1, just a plain back. The sleeves are long! No belt loops, either.
#2 has gussets and the drooping shoulders which together seems to compensate for the shorter sleeves. I knew it was roomier jacket when I bought it as I thought it might work better with layers in the winter. I don’t know. I can fit a Filson heavy wool vest under #1 with the side laces loosened. I’m just afraid that #2 is redundant as it’s not as good a fit for riding, however the leather is softer on #2 and in some ways is pretty comfortable as a jacket just to throw on and wear.

Thanks your opinions and advice. Much appreciated!
Cheers

 

• Nov 5, 2019

• #7

l0fielectronic

Practically Family

Messages

666

Location

UK

Its tough to say for sure from these photos but number one certainly looks great.

 

• Nov 5, 2019

• #8

Powerband

Practically Family

Messages

840

Number 1 looks great but keep in mind that a crosszip leather jacket isn’t a tailored suit. My first leather jacket was in the 80s and nearly every member of the DC punk rock crowd had crosszip jackets; every single one had shoulders that fell well beyond the AC joint of the shoulders. But this feature on crosszips extended outside the DC scene to rockstars and motorcyclists. If you like the second jacket for its comfort, and the sleeves fit, then that jacket is just as proper in your rotation as any other jacket you enjoy.


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• Nov 5, 2019

• #9

Carlos840

I'll Lock Up

Messages

4,920

Location

London

Powerband said:

Number 1 looks great but keep in mind that a crosszip leather jacket isn’t a tailored suit. My first leather jacket was in the 80s and nearly every member of the DC punk rock crowd had crosszip jackets; every single one had shoulders that fell well beyond the AC joint of the shoulders. But this feature on crosszips extended outside the DC scene to rockstars and motorcyclists. If you like the second jacket for its comfort, and the sleeves fit, then that jacket is just as proper in your rotation as any other jacket you enjoy.


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Click to expand...

Yes, but giant shoulders were an 80s thing, doesn't make it a good look!
I mean, people thought this was cool in the 80s:

 

• Nov 5, 2019

• #10

AeroFan_07

I'll Lock Up

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5,343

Location

Iowa

I'd keep #1 for riding, and let #2 be a good backup, wear-around jacket. Unless you are traveling I cannot see being able to Layer" a lot of help in S California. Or just sell off #2 and keep #1.

 

• Nov 5, 2019

• #11

Powerband

Practically Family

Messages

840

Carlos840 said:

Yes, but giant shoulders were an 80s thing, doesn't make it a good look!
I mean, people thought this was cool in the 80s:

Click to expand...

Haha. Well, good thing the OP doesn’t have one of these or my reply would’ve been for him to ship it back to the Jackson’s estate at Neverland because they’re missing an item from their display.


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• Nov 6, 2019

• #12

jonbuilder

My Mail is Forwarded Here

Messages

3,561

Location

Grass Valley CA Foothills

I agree Jacket #1 is the better fit. I have a heavy early Cal with wide shoulders. It's not the look but feeling the jacket shoulder location below my shoulder that I noticest. Nice Cals