I own a vintage French L.D.M Jacket (Light Motorcycle Division) either from WWI or WWII and with a friend we would like to copy in leather the same design but with the safest motorcycle safety compliant manufacturing process in matter of materials, stitching and padding's protections...
We already browsed the web to find a company but most of them seems to be at first leather street close makers and not specifically motorcycle riding clothes custom designers.
If someone know what we look for we will be glad to read his post.
Here is the Jacket
I suspect that the belt "hook" on the right was for the leather Gun belt rather that for a standard fabric belt.
Last edited by thepeacebullgrunt on Sun Mar 29, 2009 6:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Looks like an interesting jacket! One thing, this probably won't be cheap.... but presumably you know that already. :-)
You might try Langlitz Leathers (http://www.langlitz.com/index.html). I've not ordered from them myself but I've heard very good things about them.
Vanson Leathers apparently will do custom work, based on their jackets at least; it might be worth contacting them and seeing if they'd be willing to make a brand new pattern for you.
Best of luck - and let us know what you find.
Good roads,
- Lewellen
Ask not why we should do a thing; rather, ask why we should not.
I think Langlitz or either Vanson can do it... but my main concern are the padding...elbow, shoulders and back protection's.
We are maybe wrong but we wonder if those company are really using the best solution in that safety matter.
You right best thing first will be to contact them.
Maybe we are technically wrong because of the given shape of the jacket
but my friend and me we really want this jacket to protect like racing jackets.
Price is not too much of a matter for such old and rare design unless production cost reach over +/- $1300 even if really neatly manufactured
What???? Why reinvent the wheel, there are a lot of great protective jackets and suits out there. A big old floppy jacket like that in leather isn't gonna do squat even with good armor. On top of that I doubt anyone is gonna make a protective jacket as a one off, if for no other reason than the liability. And on top of that what about pants?? Your as likely to injure the bottom half of your body in a get off as the top. Are you looking for a fashion statement or protective motorcycle gear. Sorry but I just don't get it.
That is a good jacket for playing Cowboy on your favorite horse
Remember this about old military gear: safety of a motorcycle rider from crashing was the very last thing on the design requirement for that jacket. More likely it was an oiled raincoat. It was also probably built by the lowest bidder.
MSF #127350 NAUI #36288
2011 RT WARNING: TEST RIDING THE R1200R IS HAZARDOUS TO YOUR FINANCES
ka5ysy & ErikM my most preferred Art Critics ! please RELAX... ?
Many modern clothes even motorcycle clothing were inspired from military coats...because there was often a fair amount of intelligence put in it to meet military requirements.
Dear Art Critics what else BMW made beside motorcycles ?
It happen that the shape and design of this old L.D.M Jacket (French Army Light Motorcycle Division) maybe designed 100yrs ago is extremely comfortable to use on actual bike's too because of its shape pattern, high collar, wide double layer closing etc etc.
My friend and me want to actualize it in a different material and with at least sturdy Elbows and shoulders protections.
Now ! about "Fashion Statements" I know guys that you are all super "in love" with your "R" machinery but me I use it everyday of the year for work and I do not like to be constantly categorized as "The Biker" everywhere I have to go for meetings... so ! it mean not parking on an obvious and ostentatious location, keeping the helmet safe on the bike, use motorcycle boots that do not look like a psychedelic space shuttle... etc etc etc... Its all about keeping it quiet if you catch my meaning.
This is the reason why my friend and me are interested by motorcycle clothing that do not scream "Hey look at me ! I am a motorcycle rider !" ...hence "My Padding Kit for Jean's" thread.
"my friend and me are interested by motorcycle clothing that do not scream "Hey look at me ! I am a motorcycle rider !" ...hence "My Padding Kit for Jean's" thread."
FWIW, I ride my RR mostly daily too. I am an attorney and of necessity I have to wear coat and tie when in court. I have a full Motoport kevlar Airmesh II two-piece over suit that I always use. I get to the courthouse and shed the gear in about one minute. I have black leather motorcycle boots that shine up well and do not look like boots because they are snug fit and go under the pant legs. Dress for the fall... you will go down at some point. It is simply a fact of life with a motorcycle. Mostly it is a low speed or a stopped drop, but sometime you have a high-impact crash even at low speed (personal experience here.. 4 cracked ribs and a good concussion). Having proper gear will save a lot of pain from road rash. I really don't care what others think about my riding gear, and the good news is that most people think it very cool that I can ride a motorcycle and practice law at the same time. Beside, I get one of the best parking places at the courthouse.. right under a huge oak tree 100 feet from the front door !
Besides... your ARE a motorcycle rider !
Your thread on the underarmor for jeans is a good idea too, but I prefer the oversuit setup because I dont have to undress to remove the armor while I am at work.
Stay safe out there !
ATGATT
Many modern clothes even motorcycle clothing were inspired from military coats...because there was often a fair amount of intelligence put in it to meet military requirements
Use of "Military" and "intelligence" is mostly an Oxymoron
MSF #127350 NAUI #36288
2011 RT WARNING: TEST RIDING THE R1200R IS HAZARDOUS TO YOUR FINANCES
I think ka5ysy hits the nail on the head.. If you don't want to look like a biker in meetings then simply get a one piece Aerostich or the very very nice new Revit one piece suit. http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/rev-it/infinity/ Simply take it off for the meeting, have business clothes underneath. You ride in LA right? lot of cars around in the city, I'd want to be wearing good protective clothes, not something fashionable..Of course if that's too much trouble , why not just drive a car to meetings?
And not to go to far off track this is the perfect reason to have the BMW hard bags on the bike. They are lockable, roomy, and waterproof. Go to meeting, take off gear, lock it and helmet in nice safe waterproof hard bag... Not some easily stolen, easily tampered with, throw over soft bags..
Frede wants what he wants even if it doesn't make sense to us. It is not an unreasonable question he is asking I just don't have any knowledge of who could be of help to him.
Maybe use Forcefield Body Armour from www.JohnsonLeather.com
Another 2 cents.
Mark
What is happening to my skin?
Where is that protection that I needed?
Air can hurt you too
Ferde also doesn't want hard-bags on the bike, which I can use to great effect when I don't want to look like a "biker".. my helmet goes in one, my AeroStich RoadCrafter goes in the other, and voila! Non-Biker-Appearance - instantly achieved.
Sometimes 'ya just gotta compromise to get what you want.
Don Eilenberger - NJ Shore
2012 R1200R - I love this bike!
WOW - I think I'm getting a headache.
We have people that ride a motorcycle that don't want to look like a biker, then there are people that don't own a bike and dress like a 'biker'. People that want to wear WWI type clothing but want state of the art protection when they ride, and folks that don't want hard bags on their bike but want a place to secure stuff when they are away from the bike.
Maybe I'm missing something but:
It seems the 'Winter Crazies' have infected everyone - what we need (IMHO) is a few nice weekends and a few hundred miles on the bikes.
Harry Costello -- Jersey Shore
2007 R1200R
1974 + 75 CB125S
1971 R75
2020 Guzzi V85TT
BMWMOA 57358
mogu83 wrote:WOW - I think I'm getting a headache.
We have people that ride a motorcycle that don't want to look like a biker, then there are people that don't own a bike and dress like a 'biker'. People that want to wear WWI type clothing but want state of the art protection when they ride, and folks that don't want hard bags on their bike but want a place to secure stuff when they are away from the bike.
Maybe I'm missing something but:
It seems the 'Winter Crazies' have infected everyone - what we need (IMHO) is a few nice weekends and a few hundred miles on the bikes.
ME TOO ! I am getting a headache with a motorcycle market that always been more designed for occasional motorcycle riders !
Whatever the style and particularly in USA
motorcycle is culturally perceived as "A Fun Toy".
For riders who ride everyday in city's and even rural environment there is still actually hundreds of requirements that remains to be studied developed and marketed.
Walking trough a motorcycle show in US is like Mussolini reviewing an army of Occasional Weekenders Motorcycle Riders.
To me motorcycle has never been more than an exceptionally pleasant and efficient pair of shoes.... I don't worship those things....even a BMW !
Headache or not at every new bike I like to calculate from the date of purchase of the previous bike to the date of purchase of the new bike
what was my average speed ?
So ! this is for your headache guys
86356 Miles divided by 43830.768 Hours (5years) equal 1.97 miles per hours !
This is pretty fast actually for a Suzuki GSX1100G 1992
considering how much I like to sleep.
ka5ysy I think we have a similar lifestyle... I am in my 40's lived in few country's and never had a driving license of my life, in fact I never drove a car, I am scare in cars !
The original subject of this thread was about finding someone that really make safe leather motorcycle clothing or even other materials but the stitching, padding and overall craftsmanship must be proper to motorcycling safety and overall sturdiness requirements.
Beside I thanks ErikM who recommended the use of a one piece Aerostich suit or the new Revit Infinity one piece suit.. they seems perfect for morning and night time but in Los Angeles Southern California I will be a little worry of getting steam cooked wearing those suit during a sunny afternoon.
Even if directing me to an $1800 bill I think the best will be a combination of a good looking and moto protective leather jacket such as the Held Varano or my Actualized French L.D.M Jacket (Light Motorcycle Division) with... IF NEEDED a quality one piece suit permanently available in luggage's.
The Varano soft leather jacket simply wearied with a silk shirt or a tee shirt under a thin & light cashmere/silk pull over, with the REV'it one suit piece on top in the morning or during night rides... will do it just right for me
There might be also an even more costly solution with RUKKA but I don't like the "Serious" Biker Looking Style of their Jacket just because of all those branding Tags printed all over the Jacket. Beside the pattern design is gorgeous big time !
Last edited by thepeacebullgrunt on Tue Mar 31, 2009 1:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Beside I thanks ErikM who recommended the use of a one piece Aerostich suit or the new Revit Infinity one piece suit.. they seems perfect for morning and night time but in Los Angeles Southern California I will be a little worry of getting steam cooked wearing those suit during a sunny afternoon.
Since I live in Louisiana, I have the situation in the summer, and most other times, that the heat makes a one-piece suit of any kind totally impractical.
Leather riding gear is also impractical as it does not pass much air. It also will degrade if it is wet.
The RevIt Infinity suit is a great product if you can get a fit. I tried it based on the suggested sizing, and the "correct" one was too short in the torso for me, resulting in squashed balls. Ouch!. The "Tall" version had a perfect torso fit, but the leg and arm lengths were way too long for me. I would also add that the armor in the suit was not impressive (read: inferior) compared to my Motoport gear.
So, I use the Motoport Air Mesh Kevlar two piece, which is good from freezing to 100+ degree temps we have in the summer. I get a lot of people looking at me decked out in that gear in the heat and they wonder if I am crazy or overheating. With the liners out, it is very, very comfortable with a lot of cooling air passing through the suit. Highly recommended for hot areas !
I just received a new Motoport jacket for the gear in the High-vis version, and love it. In the sun it will burn the eyes out of cage drivers ! It also has the new 4-layer armor system installed.
MSF #127350 NAUI #36288
2011 RT WARNING: TEST RIDING THE R1200R IS HAZARDOUS TO YOUR FINANCES
etc etc etc... Its all about keeping it quiet if you catch my meaning.
we'll probably send emails to the various company recommended on this thread and see what will pops up.
