Vanson Style G Jacket

VANSON STYLE G JACKET

Not your basic bomber

THANK THE U.S. AIR FORCE. THE clever lads of that service popularized the bomber jacket, without which, it is possible to argue, no gentleman’s wardrobe is complete. Certainly, no motorcyclist’s wardrobe is complete without one of these beauties. For sheer versatility, a bomber jacket is hard to beat, especially when the jacket is, like the Vanson Style G, designed with motorcycle riding in mind.

The G looks like your basic bomber jacket. It has the bomber’s classic good looks, its cargo pockets and slash-cut hand-warmer pockets, its knit waistband band and cuffs, and its quilted nylon lining and sturdy brass zipper. But for motorcycle riders, this is a better bomber, for at least two reasons.

First, it's made of very heavy leather-1.3-1,6mm top-grain cowhide throughout. Second, the sleeves are canted slightly forward so that the jacket will fit properly when the rider's arms are extended forward, as though grasping a handlebar. For additional help, its back features pleats for a bit of extra reach. Standard bombers assume that the wearer's arms will be at his sides, and thus can tend to pull at the back when hands meet bars.

On a bike, our G jacket worked beautifully, the thick leather cutting wind blast and the polyester insulation knocking the edge off the chill. Off bike, the jacket was a comfortable around-towner, and looked great when paired with either jeans or slacks.

Ours was an especially good fit because it was specially built, using Vanson's custom-tailoring program. This has several levels. At the semi-custom level, you can spend $30 above the $365 cost of the jacket to have sleevelength altered. $40 above the jacket's cost to have the body-length modified, and $50 above the jacket’s cost to have the waistband adjusted. For $150. you can have the entire jacket custom-built to your measurements-which you take yourself, so you'd better get them right. Also, you should be prepared to wait. At presstime, Vanson (213 Turnpike Street, Stoughton. Massachusetts 02072; 617/328-9291) was quoting a turn-around period on custom pieces of 6-8 weeks.

Some things are worth waiting for. however. If Vanson’s G fits you right off the rack, great. If not, a custom-fit is just a few bucks, and a few weeks, away. Either way. you wind up with a quality piece of general-purpose/riding gear that should last for years.