Clearance biker jackets are usually discounted for one of three reasons: the size is unpopular, the season has ended, or the jacket was overproduced. None of those affect quality. The fourth reason, that the jacket is not made of what it claims, is the one to watch for.
To be clear from the start: Leather Outlet makes jackets in the Harley Davidson style. We are not an authorised dealer and our jackets are not licensed products. The advice below applies whether you are buying from a dealer, a reseller or from us.
Why Jackets End Up in Clearance
Size distribution. Retailers guess how many of each size to make. They almost always get it wrong at the extremes, which is why XS and 4XL are so often discounted while medium and large are not. This has nothing to do with quality.
Season end. Winter jackets get cleared in February, summer pieces in September. A perfectly good jacket at a lower price simply because the calendar moved.
Model changes. A style is updated and last year's version gets discounted, often with barely any real difference.
Overproduction. Too many were made. Retailers would rather recover some money than store them for another year.
The one to watch. The jacket was never worth the original price. Bonded leather or PU marked up high and then discounted heavily to look like a bargain.
Six Checks Before Buying Clearance
1. Is a specific hide named?
"Cowhide", "lambskin" or "goatskin" is a real answer. "Genuine leather" with no hide named usually means a lower split. "PU leather", "bonded leather" or "vegan leather" means no real hide at all.
2. Is the hide weight stated?
A biker jacket should be cowhide around 1.2 mm or heavier. If the listing does not say, ask. Serious makers know their hide weight.
3. Check the cut edge
Real leather has a rough, fibrous edge. Bonded and PU show a clean edge with fabric backing visible underneath. Look inside a pocket or under the collar.
4. Check the stitching
Main structural seams at the shoulders and armholes should be double stitched, roughly eight to ten stitches per inch. Long loose stitches mean fast production and seams that fail early.
5. Check the hardware
Metal zips that run smoothly along their full length, usually branded on the pull. Plastic teeth on a heavyweight jacket is a clear sign of cost cutting.
6. Check the return terms
Clearance items are often sold final sale. If you cannot return it and cannot try it on, you are taking on all the risk of a fit you have not tested.
Our full guide on quality checks for a heavyweight leather jacket goes into more detail on each of these.
The Real Risk: Fit
Most clearance disappointments are about fit rather than quality.
Clearance means taking what exists rather than choosing. If your size is not in the clearance run, the temptation is to take the nearest one. With leather that is a mistake, because leather has no stretch, moulds to your body over the first month, and stays that way for decades.
The shoulders in particular cannot be altered without rebuilding the jacket. A clearance jacket that is a size out in the shoulders will never be right, whatever it cost.
When Made to Order Works Out Better
Worth comparing honestly.
Clearance wins on: immediate availability and the lowest possible price if your size happens to be in the run.
Made to order wins on: fit, since every size XS to 5XL is available plus custom at no extra cost. There is no clearance at Leather Outlet because nothing sits in a warehouse waiting to be cleared. The saving from having no inventory goes into the jacket instead of into end of season discounts.
Our comparison of made to order versus off the rack covers the trade offs properly.
Buying Used Instead
A used jacket in good condition is often better value than a cheap new one. What to check:
- Suppleness. Fold a section gently. Healthy leather creases and springs back. Fine white lines in the crease mean it has dried out, and that cannot be reversed.
- Stitching. Check under the arms and around the shoulders for loose or broken thread.
- Lining. Look at the armholes, where linings tear first.
- Zips. They should run the full length smoothly. Replacing a main zip is expensive.
- Smell. Mould or heavy mildew is very difficult to remove.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are some leather jackets in clearance?
Usually unpopular sizes, end of season, or overproduction, none of which affect quality. Occasionally because the jacket was never worth the original price and the material is not what it claims.
Are clearance leather jackets lower quality?
Not necessarily. Most are discounted for stock reasons. Check the hide type, hide weight, stitching and hardware rather than assuming either way.
What should I check before buying a clearance jacket?
That a specific hide is named, the hide weight is stated, main seams are double stitched, the zips are metal, and you can return it if the fit is wrong.
Is it worth buying a clearance jacket in the wrong size?
No. Leather has no stretch and moulds to your body permanently over the first month. Shoulders in particular cannot be altered without rebuilding the jacket.
Do you run clearance sales?
No, because nothing sits in a warehouse waiting to be cleared. Every jacket is made after you order it, in any size from XS to 5XL plus custom.
Is a used leather jacket a better buy than a cheap new one?
Often yes, if the leather is still supple and the stitching is sound. Check for fine white lines in the creases, which indicate the hide has dried out.
Are your jackets official Harley Davidson products?
No. We make jackets in the Harley Davidson style. We are not an authorised dealer and our jackets are not licensed items.
Buying Well
Check the hide before the price, and never compromise on shoulder fit for a discount. Browse Harley Davidson Jackets, Harley Davidson Vests and Motorcycle Jackets at Leather Outlet, and check the Size Guide before ordering. Made to order in real leather, XS to 5XL, free worldwide shipping.
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