How's this jacket?

[jsd2]

If you are looking for something that offers protection and doesn't look like you are headed to the track this one looks good.

http://stores.sportbiketrackgear.com/Detail.bok?no=11205

The leather isn't quite as heavy duty as some other jackets but it is still leather, it has ce protection in the elbows and shoulders with an available ce back protector.  The jacket looks different in the video than in the pictures so make sure you watch the video.

Jim

[NAKID]

Sheep hide is usually pretty weak and at less than a mm thick won't provide much protection IMO...

[jsd2]

Sheep hide is usually pretty weak and at less than a mm thick won't provide much protection IMO...

Good to know.  I don't know much about leather.

Jim

[thought]

Vanson and Alpinestars make good leather jackets.Whatever you get make sure they have a good return policy in case it doesn't fit.

Vanson, A*'s, Dainese, and Rev'it are all on par in terms of quality for leather jackets.  Keep in mind that A*'s also has a pretty broad line in terms of their leather gear so their lower end stuff might not be as good as their higher end gear.  Dainese leather is just $$ and in general all good quality... Revit is a bit cheaper but I havent had any issues with their qual either.

Never tried vanson, never liked the style, but they have a great rep.

[Ducatamount]

I'm going to ask the woman at my local leather shop how much a custom leather jacket made from kangaroo hide,in black and tan panels, would cost.Roo is half the weight and twice as strong as cow.Illegal in some states and requires special strong needles.We'll see,might cost too much!

[FutureMan]

I want a jacket made from the rarest, most endangered animal

like a Manatee or something

[aaen]

I take it all back on the BMW coat the stitching is letting go in a few spots. Not overly impressed at the moment its going back for return. Sigh!  Sure its a one off but its depressing nonetheless, damn i really liked the jacket as well

. I seem to be having nothing but gear issues this uear with rhings falling apart. I'm on my third pair of gloves the stirching was letting go left right and centre on those aa well. This pair ia holding up longer then 2 wks. Then there is my diving gear issues, seems to be the year that all my stuff fails. Sorry lil rant there.

Steve

[bdub]

Ask your leather lady about stingray

[FutureMan]

I take it all back on the BMW coat the stitching is letting go in a few spots. Not overly impressed at the moment its going back for return. Sigh!  Sure its a one off but its depressing nonetheless, damn i really liked the jacket as well

. I seem to be having nothing but gear issues this uear with rhings falling apart. I'm on my third pair of gloves the stirching was letting go left right and centre on those aa well. This pair ia holding up longer then 2 wks. Then there is my diving gear issues, seems to be the year that all my stuff fails. Sorry lil rant there.

Steve

Don't be sorry I want to hear people's experience as far as what's good and what's not, it's all relevant.

[aaen]

Fair enough, just urks me to spend that kind of coin on something and it falls apart. Grre, my el cheapo scorpion is standing up better. Granted its not major un stitching but bmw is quality gear and so far what I have seen is crappg stitchig, it should hild up better. Shame to as they do not have another in my size.

Anyways best if luck in your search I'm going to be doing the same now.

Steve

[Ducatamount]

Ask your leather lady about stingray

Yeah,sting ray is tough as hell.I'm not sure how supple it is.Most of the GP racers suits are kangaroo,lightweight and supple comfy.
A 'roo jacket with sting ray shoulders and elbow/forearms would be wicked! 

[seevtsaab]

If you can get sized right, search ebay for Vanson, Fox Creek. I'm close to your size and got a 44 Cobra MK2  (perfed with interior zip panels) and fits like a dream. (5'11 ~165lbs).