I know most of us have more then just one black leather jacket and a few have three or more in black. And Harley seems to have been pushing the brown leather for a couple of yrs now with brown leather seats, bags , boots , and jackets . Is this because brown leather is making come back or because Indian likes to brown leather seats and bags on their bikes .

 

Personally, I hate brown leather. It just doesn't look right on anything I've seen it used for. But, that's my opinion.

 

I love the brown leather on the more classic looking bikes. Like the Indian, it looks right on that style. Not so much on a V rod....

 

What? Indian bikers like brown jackets? Whatever.

I have a heavy black jacket and a light brown jacket. It's nicer than my black one. Depending on the weather, is the one I wear.

 

I've been wearing brown leather since I started riding again 7 years ago.

 

FWIW I don't think brown leather ever went out of style...based on non-motorcycling jacket sales.

The brown color has always been a small percentage as compare to black leather products.

If you like brown, buy brown!

Now what about the popularity of red leather? Just joking.

 

Brownish is the natural color of tanned leather, and was the norm for cowboy vests, chaps, and other gear in the 19th century as well as early motorcycle jackets in 20th century. At some point, don't know exactly when or why, black dyes were added, maybe to look stylish or bad-***, and that color became the standard.

 

Brown leather has always been around. But, Polaris, in the attempt to create buzz felt it had to differentiate itself from Harley. Brown leather and tassels and valanced fenders are just some of the tools they selected. Is there anyone here who actually believes that if Indian had survived in 1953, that the motorcycle they would offer would have brown tasseled leather, fake fins, and valanced fenders.
Issues with brown leather are: matching the color, each real leather takes dyes differently. Color match is near impossible unless done from the same cow.
Fading.
Water spots and discoloration.
Matching vinyl trim, seat sides impossible and brown leather ages while vinyl is better UV protected.
It makes sense on some solo seated motorcycles where it enhances the tins.
It makes sense for a rider who just wants to be different from the sea of black so common.
But, some brown is cool and like some, I have a brown leather jacket and boots.
I do not believe it is making a comeback as many who chose it are dealing with the issues above, besides quality issues.
Also, the Indian is supposed to copy the valenced fenders of the 40's, but I never saw in real life brown leather prior to 1970 unless is was built prior to 1932-33.
When I saw the first new Polaris motorcycles named Indian, I thought their offering was cartoonish. That they had an opportunity, but did not know what to do with it.
Black leather, gets wet, looks the same. Dries, looks the same. Left in the sun, looks the same. Starts to grey, any black leather dye works to restore it. And black from China matches black from the USA or from South America. Black just works, looks good and the black pigments act to protect the leather.
But, brown works in special applications just like it did before Polaris chose to try and make it mainstream. By the way, they chose the wrong brown, they did not even look at the shade used in the '30s.

 

I have to disagree with you on that. I think it looks perfect on a guy about to climb into the cockpit of a single seat propeller driven fighter airplane.

 

I mostly see girls wearing fashion brown leather.