Riders of retro, classic or vintage motorcycles have a duty to follow the visual impact of their machines, and donning an old school style leather jacket to complete the image is practically obligatory. Whether you're looking for traditional café racer cool, a 70's retro vibe or just something that looks like it's been there and back, there's a jacket to suit your ride.
Looks may be the primary reason for choosing a vintage style leather jacket, but that's no reason for skimping on safety, so weigh up options in the same way you would any new item of motorcycle kit. The CE certification is the first place to start, with AAA being the highest and B the lowest, then see what armour is included. Shoulder, elbow and back protectors are rated either CE Level 1 or 2, the latter offering greater resistance to impacts. A waist zip to connect to compatible jeans is also a good idea, as it stops the back of the jacket riding up.
Other features to consider are removable thermal or waterproof linings, adjustable ventilation ports to provide airflow in warm weather and pockets for storage, both inside and out. To ensure a precise fit, most jackets have adjustment points at the waist, collar and cuff.
We've gathered a selection of some of our favourite retro leather jackets here.
1. Richa Toulon 2
Description
Boasting a premium cowhide construction, the AA rated Toulon 2 comes with a desirable 'lived in'
2. RST IOM TT Brandish 2
Description
The AA rated Brandish is an official IOM TT tie-in, named after a section of the famous island
3. Oxford Bladon
Description
Tested by Simon Weir for five weeks, 1,200 miles. Quality 4/5, Value 5/5. I’m blown away by
4. Alpinestars Crazy Eight
Description
Tested by Phil West for 14 months, 1,200 miles. Quality 5/5, Value 4/5. This is a retro-style
5. DXR Vinz
Description
Get your best Brando on with this classic cut biker jacket worthy of any Wild One. Behind the
6. Weise Detroit
Description
Gaining a Recommended award in RiDE's test, the Detroit from Weise is CE AA rated and comes with
7. BMW PureBoxer
Description
Tested by Mike Armitage for twelve months, 2,500 miles. Quality 5/5, Value 4/5. As someone who
8. Texpeed Distressed
Description
We've seen a few Texpeed products from Amazon and they usually get pretty good reviews online and
9. Oxford Hampton
Description
This classic-styled jacket from Oxford is CE AA rated and comes with shoulder and elbow armour and
10. Spada Wyatt
Description
The Wyatt is another retro-style leather jacket, with subtle styling and a relatively straight
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