I really like this new Classic '92 jacket by Joe Rocket. We used to be a Vanson Leathers dealer years ago and I was always a fan of their Comet jacket and this one reminds me of that jacket, but with a couple stripes and the quilted shoulders. All these styling queues are "classic" and they really look sharp on this jacket. The leather is not as thick as with most other motorcycle-specific jackets which makes this style more viable as a "casual" jacket as well as a protective jacket. And the finish on the leather is a bit more shiny than you find in a lot of flat black leather finishes used today. This shiny finish is definitely more in tune with a more vintage look. And although a lot of vintage jacket styles these days come "pre-weathered" this one doesn't... you'll have to earn that look the old fashioned way... by wearing it a bunch :) Unlike most sport jacket styles, this one does not come with armor as standard. There are a lot of riders who'd prefer not to use armor, but if you want to add the armor you can. They fit great and look great and are super comfortable. I might even snag one of these for myself for everyday wear. For fall/winter use, the jacket comes with a very nice full-sleeve liner to add some insulation. Overall, I like this style a lot.
Joe Rocket jackets for women have always been very consistent for size from one model to the next and the sizing follows their size chart pretty closely. We found this jacket to be no different. We measured some sample sizes and we also put a size Large on our Fit Check Model Shirley. which is the size she normally wears and this Classic 92 jacket fit her very well. We recommend that you use Joe Rocket’s Size Chart to choose a size for you based upon your measurements.
The Classic ‘92 is part of a line of jackets that Joe Rocket has developed to satisfy our need for “retro” styling. We’ve carried a few men’s styles along this line for a few years now and people really like them. So here’s the women’s version of the Classic ‘92!
If you take a look at our close-up pictures, you’ll see the “finish” of the leather in this jacket is a bit softer and not as “slick” as many leather jackets. It has a pre-worn look, but not to the point of looking too worn… just right to give the retro vibe and be comfortable. A style like this could easily be worn on the bike as well as off.
This jacket will be great in warm weather… or even cooler weather, but it isn’t a hot weather jacket and it won’t hold up in rain… That softer distressed finish that “makes” the jacket would be ruined I’m afraid after being soaked, so avoid wearing this one when the forecast is calling for wet weather. For the cooler days, the jacket comes with a zip-out full sleeve thermal liner.
A good leather jacket like this is a great start for your protection when riding. The leather shell is designed and constructed to help prevent abrasion from hitting the asphalt while moving. As for further protection from impact, you can wear it as-is or you can opt to upgrade the protection by adding CE approved armor. It is quite common for a cruiser/retro style of jacket like this to be sold without added armor, but if you want to add the armor, Joe Rocket offers the same CE armor they supply in most of their other styles, as well as a standard dual density back pad (see the links below).
Anyway, take the “View Larger Images” link above to see a lot of shots we took of the jacket to show you the various features and how the jacket fits on Shirley. It fits great and looks great. Overall, I like this style a lot. :: Paul, 08-27-14
