TESTED: Lewis Leathers Super Sportsman Jacket
RRP: £845 // www.lewisleathers.com
The Super Sportsman debuted in 1973, featuring a single panel back and twin waist adjusters, sited on the newly added waistband to update the original Sportsman. This gave me an idea to create a tribute to the iconic Moto Morini twins that came out of that era.
The leather could have come in red (other colours are possible – see inset photo), but Lewis Leathers’s trademark colour is black, so they agreed to adapt the Super Sportsman’s standard two-stripe sleeve to accommodate a third, in gold, white and red. I also asked for an internal wallet pocket – the benefit of having a tailor-made jacket. Instructions went off to their London factory, where a single machinist created it from a single piece of hide.
After being measured, and finding I have a 42” chest, I suggested we try a 44, and it fitted like a glove. I know from experience that I tend to need a slightly larger size jacket than my measurements suggest. If you are similar, it’s a good idea to pop into the shop, or suggest going up a couple of inches if discussing over the phone
When the jacket arrived (in a box, then sealed within a thick paper ‘potato sack’), it was just… gorgeous. Obviously it was a perfect fit – the cut and stitching is flawless – but the striping was exactly what I’d hoped for. The inside pocket was spot on, and the historically accurate details such as the period-perfect Lightning brass pocket pullers were both a delight and functional (so easy to use with gloved hands). The quality? I found a test by no less than the National Museum of Leather, that said it is the best quality hide and should last a lifetime. What surprised me was how supple it was. I’d expected stiffness, but it felt like I’d been wearing it for years. A little feature I loved was the option of the main zip being mounted on black polyester… or like I did, in a shade replicating the fading that happened on the original fabric mount. The red quilted sail cloth lining is so comfortable. This is a jacket to wear day-to-day, not just on the bike. As I was leaving the shop a gentleman came in. He had one of their classic Bronx jackets, and was stopping by to order a racing jacket for his classic race bike. That was a testament to the quality. As to what it is like on the bike, being cut to fit, it feels just right. The large single body panels need a little breaking in to ease into your riding stance, but the sleeves are curved just right and are that little bit longer so they stay tucked into your gloves. There is no armour (matching the original design), but the 1.1-1.3mm leather and the double-stitched seams will keep skin safe in a slide. Costing £845, it’s mot cheap, but for that you get a jacket made to your exact specifications and shape; crafted from the highest grade leather; it will last a lifetime; and you will wear both on and off the bike.