The Greatest Motorcycle Jacket in the World

Good gear is hard to find. Many jackets today are cheaply priced and cheaply made. The zippers break after a few pulls, the leather cracks, the stitching is poor and the seams seem to come apart after you throw back a beer.

So if you are looking for the best motorcycle jacket that will last (and that also happens to be made in the U.S.A.), then you should be looking at one place and one place only: Vanson Leathers. I’ve probably owned as many motorcycles as I have leather jackets and I can honestly say that the Massachusetts-based company makes a jacket that is built to last.

The company was founded in Boston by two bikers, Michael Van Der Sleesen and Jamie Goodson (Van & Son) in 1974. And ever since then, they’ve been making garments for bikers out of their Fall River, Massachusetts shop. In fact, this year Vanson is celebrating its 40th year in business, with no signs of slowing down or compromising their vision.

They make jackets, racing suits, vests, pants, chaps and gloves for men and women in hundreds of styles for all kinds of riders. They even make jackets and gloves with skeleton bones sewn on them if you are in to that kind of thing. Heck, if you can imagine it they can probably make it for you – provided you have the cash and a little time on your hands.

Korry Hogan, the World’s Fastest Drag Racer, survived a nasty spill near the finish line while wearing a Vanson racing suit and slid for over 300 yards on his back.

“The only damage that I suffered was road rash on my lower back, where the vented leather of my suit succumbed to the intense heat and abrasion of sliding across the pavement at 246 mph. I had no other damage, none,” Hogan testifies.

Here’s what makes them so good…

CONSTRUCTION:
I own the basic Model A leather jacket that is Vanson’s original model. The cut couldn’t be simpler: clean sheets of leather that isn’t covered ribbing and patches. It’s black with zippered pockets and sleeves.

The zippers function as a simple ventilation system that allows you to control your body temperature as you ride. And there’s an inside side pocket that fits a pair of sunglasses and maybe a pack of gum. (Storage is key!)

And the liner is sturdy, made from blue and green plaid cotton. It zips up snug and has a brass snap around the neck.

Each jacket is made by hand and you can have one custom made if you want but I just bought mine off the rack. Plus, each Vanson jacket also has its own serial number. Who else does that?

THE QUALITY OF THE LEATHER:
I bought my jacket in 2001, and it’s taken this long to make it feel like it’s almost broken in. It’s been through snow, rain and plenty of heat. I’ve taken it around the Great Lakes from New York City and back again. In Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, I was chased by two black bears.

Now, I don’t think the Vanson would have saved me from a bear attack (my bike is faster,) but the reason my jacket has held together for so long is the quality and strength of the leather. They make and finish their own leather at the workshop at Fall River. It’s thick top grain cowhide. The competition weight leather is 1.5 mm thick and has a smoother and stiffer look than anything else out there.

THEY STAND BY THEIR WORK:
Certainly, any jacket that’s been around the block, will have a certain weathered look that will make it your own. “They look much better with bumps and war wounds than when they are all new,” says Nicole Jarvis, who has overseen repairs at Vanson for eight years.

But after two decades or more of serious wear and tear, it was probably no surprise that my jacket’s front zipper started to jam and then stopped working altogether. I spent some serious time searching for a tailor to replace my zipper, but most only offered me cheap, flimsy zippers that were probably not going to last for five minutes.

The company’s warranty is only good for a year. So if you’re jacket gets damaged in that time, they will fix it. But even after that point, they will still fix your gear (though that will cost you extra). Vanson fixes zippers, replaces buttons, cleans leather and much more.

“I had a gentleman that had been cut out of his suit and he asked us to repair it,” says Jarvis. “We sort of Frankenstein-ed it back together and you know, it looked really good.”

And they do other fixes, too.

“I do repairs for customers that have gotten bigger or smaller over the years,” explains Jarvis.

There are at least one to two operators working full time, five days a week and sometimes on weekends when necessary.

To replace the zipper, with a sturdy, Vanson-grade one and ship my jacket back and forth, the sum total came to $95. My jacket functions as good as new.

THEY DO CUSTOM JOBS:
In addition to all of these repairs, they can make you a suit from scratch. They can make one in any size or color and all repairs, patterns and alterations are archived so that they can recreate each individual suit or jacket. There are over three dozen colors to choose from if you are looking for something other than black.

THE DETAILS:
To browse and shop, visit their website or call 508-678-2000. For repairs to your Vanson gear, send your stuff with a note to: Vanson Leathers, Attn: Repairs, 981 Broadway, Fall River, MA 02724.

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Photos courtesy of Vanson Leathers & the author.