So I thought I found my next jacket, an Arlen Ness Old School.
Looks perfect from the front, exactly what I want, and $240 is pretty good for leather.

http://www.ridegear.com/images/large/28100420.jpg

But then I saw the back:
http://www.ridegear.com/images/large/28100420A.jpg

Why do so many jacket manufacturers think motorcyclists want stupid saying or scorpions or dragons all over the place?

Anybody know of a jacket that's similar but with fewer cliches stamped on it?

Can you give us the urls for the images?

http://www.ridegear.com/rg/item/F-16838/Arlen-Ness/Old-School-Jacket.html

I was having the same problem. I was trying to stay away from all the un-necessary stiching and designs. The only thing i found to my liking was this http://www.cyclegear.com/spgm.cfm?L1=3&L2=&L3=&L4=&item=CGC_28200496_G&tier2=10 I have it in all black though.

http://www.ridegear.com/rg/item/F-16838/Arlen-Ness/Old-School-Jacket.html

Urgh. I see what you mean.

I thought... what is he talking about? The jacket looks pretty good and there's nothing crazy about it. Then I saw the back... "Live On The Edge". Oh lord.

I'm in the same boat as well. I saw a jacket, and it had a gryphon on the shoulder. I thought... well, it's not that bad. Then I turned it around to the back. TWO GIANT RED BATTLEAXES!?!? C'MON!

http://www.rideicon.com/product_details.jsp?category=1237&id=5761

Dude, c'mon... don't you want the world to know that you like to live life on the edge? Geez...

I think most of Icon's stuff is geared toward the ghetto bling riders and stunnahs. I actually like the small gryffon, but the battle axes are a bit... dumb. Now, if you carried two real battle axes across your back, I'd give you mad respeck...

Any time I see a rider with Icon anything -- at least any Icon stuff with lettering on it -- I give that rider a W I D E berth. Anyone who buys that sort of bling is often more focused on the look of riding rather than the skill. (Johnny - your jacket wouldn't set me off that way, so you're safe!)

My jacket s pretty "bling-less". But I still get plenty of props for it. Yes... this is a shameless plug for my own gear, but hey, if there's a jacket dilemma, I'm here to help:

http://www.newenough.com/image/path/9224/front.jpg

Yes?... No?...

Hey, how is that Jacket JB? I've had my eye on one for some time now... The Dainese titanuim stuff is just too expensive, figured that would be a nice alternative. Pretty low key as well. You Likey?

I have a huge problem with being a walking advertisement. That Joe Rocket jacket's super nice though. Honda does rock after all. I ended up getting a Tourmaster Coaster II. It offers the same protection and has very subtle labels. It was inexpensive though so I'm half expecting it to fall apart. We'll see...

Hey, how is that Jacket JB? I've had my eye on one for some time now... The Dainese titanuim stuff is just too expensive, figured that would be a nice alternative. Pretty low key as well. You Likey?
Yeah... it's not bad at all. The shoulder armor is a little over-pronounced for my taste, and there are a lot of snaps which are annoying to fidget with if you have gloves. But there are a lot of ways to adjust the fit so you can make sure you have everything in place, and overall I like it a lot. It's sharp. It's definitely not a warm-weather jacket though. Vents or no vents... you'd sweat your ass off in this thing in anything over 70 degrees.

http://s3assets.nextnewnetworks.com/1274_medium.jpg
Removes patches and stichwork like a charm.

Right now I'm wearing... nobody laugh... this jacket right here:
http://www.carolinaleatherworks.com/tradleatridj.html

It's a beast. My sister gave it to me. I didn't think I'd wear it, except for Halloween when it was part of an Indiana Jones costume. But it sort of grew on me.. it's warm, has about fifty pockets, and feels very, very heavy, which is a good feeling. Also has that leather smell. I cut off the little shoulder straps, and if I zip it up so the giant collar flaps aren't showing, I don't look like a complete tool.

I just read the price! $57 ?! It doesn't feel or look cheap.

That's a nice jacket, Sundog! I had one similar to that ages ago when I was still riding Guzzis.

Sundog, I'm going to order one of those. I used to have one just like it back in highschool. Since then I haven't found one cheap enough to get. But the price is right for that one!

I'll have to put that Bad to the Bone song on my iPod now 8)

It's warm too.. I wore it with a thin polarfleece jacket underneath yesterday in 16 degree F weather, and it did pretty good. I could still feel the cold coming through on the sides of my torso, but it was good enough for an 8 mile trip.

Removes patches and stichwork like a charm.


yeah, but after you remove a patch the material underneath might look different, and then youre stuck with a weird spot that you cant change. which might be worse that the patch was initially.

Of course it isn't a universal solution, but where I've used it on new stuff, haven't had an issue yet.

I pulled the trigger on that jacket. I got a medium. I'm 5'10 and 160lbs.

Do you think that's the right size? What did you get sundog?

$62.90 shipped!!!!!!! :D What a deal!

I'm 6'0 and 160 lb, and I have a medium. You should be fine.

http://s3assets.nextnewnetworks.com/1274_medium.jpg
Removes patches and stichwork like a charm.

yup that is what I used on my Dainese one piece took EVERY thing off and now don't look like a walking billboard anymore

...now don't look like a walking billboard anymore
:thumbsup
Though to be honest, if I could afford Dainese, I'd have no issue pimpin for them :lol:

Right now I'm wearing... nobody laugh... this jacket right here:
http://www.carolinaleatherworks.com/tradleatridj.html

I randomly came across the same jacket here (http://www.motoleather.com/bijazili.html), but this time for $200. Somebody is running up a huge markup and profit on these.

What's odd is that the photos are the same, except someone photoshopped little leather tags onto the zippers at the more expensive site. For $140 extra, I guess you get little leather tags.

A lot of factors go into price - sometimes it's markup, sometimes it's craftsmanship. The original version of that jacket, called the Perfecto, was made by Schott NYC and generally runs about $400 - $500. Most jacket makers produce a knockoff if you look around. Here's a link: http://www.schottnyc.com/motorcycle-leathers/classic-perfecto-steerhide-leather-motorcycle.htm

Is it worth it versus a sub $100 replica? It's a matter of purchasing intent. A Schott jacket will hold up forever. I picked up a 20 year old model for $100 and it's in amazingly good shape.

Thanks Transient, that clears up a lot of mystery. Now I know I'm wearing a Pakistani replica of a classic jacket, which I think is pretty amusing. The website says it was designed in 1928, and worn by Marlon Brando in "The Wild One."

I want to be just like the guy on the right:
http://www.schottnyc.com/interface/sketches.jpg


http://www.hollywoodteenmovies.com/WildOneGallery1.jpg

The website says it was designed in 1928, and worn by Marlon Brando in "The Wild One."

Really, if you look, there are TONS of manufacturers that have taken the design. Long as the jacket is decent quality, I doubt you can go wrong. Though you can always keep an eye on Ebay for a good Schott version like I did.

The jacket was also quite popular with a certain Mr. James Dean.

And I want to look just like Sundog! 8)

I ordered the medium, but I think it was made for monkeys because the arms were way to long. So I returned it and got a small. Fits a lot better now but still long in the arms. I've been wearing it around the house so I can break it in.

So I returned it and got a small. Fits a lot better now but still long in the arms.

If you hold your arms out like you're riding, are the sleeves still too long? Just wondering if it might be a purposeful design or not.

With the small if I hold my arms out it's ok, with the medium it would have been too long still.

I'm 5'10" (but I tell girls i'm 5'11") and 155-160lbs