A Harley Davidson style leather jacket should fit closer than a fashion jacket when you are standing, because it is designed to sit correctly when you are leaning forward on a bike. If it feels comfortable and loose while you stand upright, it will flap and ride up as soon as you are in a riding position.
That single difference causes most sizing mistakes with heavyweight biker jackets. Below is how to size one properly, whether you ride or just want the look.
Riding Fit vs Standing Fit
When you sit on a cruiser, your arms come forward and up, your back rounds slightly, and your torso moves forward. A jacket cut for that position will always feel slightly tight across the shoulders and back when you stand straight.
The test is simple. Put the jacket on, zip it fully, then lean forward and reach out as though you are holding the bars. In that position the jacket should sit flat against your back with the hem still covering your waist and the sleeves still reaching your wrists.
If you never ride and only want the style, you can size for standing comfort instead. Just be aware you are choosing a different fit than a rider would.
The Five Checks
Shoulders
The seam sits on the edge of your shoulder bone. Heavy cowhide has almost no give here, so this must be right from the start. A drooping shoulder seam on a thick leather jacket looks worse than it does on a soft lambskin one.
Chest
Zipped over a t-shirt, you should fit a flat hand between your chest and the leather, no more. Riders who layer a hoodie underneath in winter should account for that at the point of ordering rather than sizing up and living with a loose jacket all summer.
Sleeves
This is where riding fit differs most. Stand normally and the sleeves should reach past your wrist bone, slightly longer than on a fashion jacket. That extra length is what stops your wrists being exposed when you reach for the bars.
Length
The back hem should sit at or just below the belt line and stay there when you lean forward. A jacket that rides up in the riding position leaves your lower back exposed to wind.
Armour room
If you plan to fit shoulder, elbow or back protectors, you need room at those points specifically, not overall. Tell us at the point of order and we will allow for it rather than you sizing the whole jacket up.
Men's vs Women's Cuts
The difference is shape, not just size. Men's biker jackets run straighter through the body with wider shoulders and longer sleeves. Women's are narrower at the shoulder, shaped through the waist, and shorter in the body so the hem sits at the hip.
Buying a men's small instead of a women's medium rarely works, because the armhole and waist shaping will be in the wrong place even if the chest measurement matches. Browse Harley Davidson Jackets and Harley Davidson Women Jackets separately.
Vests Size Differently
A leather vest is meant to go over a jacket or a hoodie, so it should be sized more generously than a jacket. It should close comfortably over whatever you normally wear underneath, and the armholes should be deep enough that they do not bind when you reach forward.
Have a look at Harley Davidson Vests and Motorcycle Vests if that is what you are after.
Cowhide Takes Time to Break In
Heavyweight cowhide is the standard for riding jackets because it resists abrasion. The trade off is that it is stiff for the first few weeks. Expect two to three months of regular wear before it fully softens and follows your shape.
This is why a jacket that feels slightly firm at the elbows and across the back on day one is usually correct. If it feels broken in immediately, it is probably a size too big or made from a thinner hide than a riding jacket should use.
Getting Your Measurements
Take five measurements over a t-shirt: chest, shoulder, sleeve, waist and body length. Full instructions are in our guide on how to measure yourself at home, and the numbers go against our Size Guide.
Every jacket is made to order in XS through 5XL with a custom option at no extra cost, so if your measurements fall between sizes or you need armour room, we build to your numbers instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
How should a Harley Davidson leather jacket fit?
Closer than a fashion jacket when standing, because it is cut for a forward riding position. Zip it up, lean forward and reach out. The jacket should lie flat on your back with the hem still covering your waist.
Should I size up in a biker leather jacket?
No, not by default. Biker jackets are meant to sit close. Size up only if you will regularly wear a thick layer underneath, and tell us at the point of order so we can allow for it properly.
How long should the sleeves be on a riding jacket?
Slightly past the wrist bone when standing. That extra length keeps your wrists covered when you reach forward for the bars.
Do I need extra room for body armour?
Yes, but only at the shoulders, elbows and back rather than across the whole jacket. Let us know when ordering so the room goes where it is needed.
How should a leather biker vest fit?
More generously than a jacket, since it goes over other layers. It should close comfortably over what you normally wear and the armholes should not bind when you reach forward.
Does cowhide stretch?
It relaxes rather than stretches, giving roughly half a size over two to three months of regular wear. Lambskin softens much faster. Buy for a firm fit rather than a loose one.
Can women wear a men's biker jacket?
It can be done, but the armhole and waist shaping will sit in the wrong place even when the chest measurement matches. A women's cut will fit better through the shoulder and waist.
Getting the Fit Right
Size for the position you will actually be in, allow for armour if you need it, and expect heavy cowhide to feel firm at first. Check the Size Guide, then browse Harley Davidson Jackets or the wider Motorcycle Jackets range at Leather Outlet. Made to order in real leather, XS to 5XL, with free worldwide shipping.
0 comments