Langlitz Leathers

[CVA-42]

Last month, we were in Portland, OR visiting friends and then touring the Olympic Peninsula by car. While in Portland, we took a nice ride one day out into the countryside on my buddy's R100GS and Triumph Tiger. Beautiful riding country and always a thrill for me to see Mt. Hood against a clear blue sky. Anyway, our friends live only about a half mile from the Langlitz Leather company so we rode over to see them late one afternoon. They were offically closed but a couple of their guys were waiting around for someone to pick up a set of leathers so they let us in and gave us a liesurely tour of the place. We saw their stockpile(s) of new leather, leather that was being sent back to the supplier because of some defect, the work tables and the sewing machines, two of Ross Langlitz' vintage bikes hanging from the ceiling, the collection of not-for-sale vintage leathers, and the leathers that they had on hand for sale. Most of the latter were jackets and pants that had been returned because they did not fit. If you order a garment from Langlitz and find that it doesn't fit, they'll take it back and make you another. Even though I told them I was not in the market, they measured me for a set and it gave me a whole new appreciation for "custom fit". I did buy a belt that looks like it will last about a hundred years and a really nice tool kit to strap on the /2 luggage rack for small stuff. Langlitz' entire staff is only fifteen people and they work out of a 3,000 sq. ft. building. They are making essentially the same basic styles that Ross Langlitz came up with in the late 1940's. I love leather goods and the quality of their stuff as well as their hospitality was way beyond impressive.

[Zombie Master]

Quality leather is aesthetically pleasing. I have a leather riding jacket that is over 25 years old and still working well. But for function, the new high quality synthetics outperform them in many ways. They are lighter, weatherproof, breathable, and more adaptable for a wider range of applications. Not to mention a fraction of the cost. I have a synhtectic jacket that is over 15 years old, still working, but is getting to the end of its life. But that's because it got used 50 times as much as my leather jacket. There is something to said for style, but not at freezing and boiling temperatures 500 miles from home.

[CVA-42]

Agreed. I'm just commenting on the experience of visiting the Langlitz facility and seeing something being made essentially as it was made sixty odd years ago. I wear leathers for local and day rides when I'm all but certain it's not going to rain. Other times - - give me the modern stuff.

[SteveD]

A good set of leathers is great to own and wear, and I have even heard of the Langlitz brand here in Oz. A local manufacturer here is called Tiger Angel, and I've heard them compared to Langlitz in quality, but the styles are different.

I'm with ZM on the choice of gear, for all the same reasons. Just this weekend, four of us did a 1000k ride and I was the only one that didn't need to stop to put on or take off waterproofs when the need arose. The kevlar pants aren't waterproof, but they're very popular.

Another type of jacket that is almost a thing of the past is the waxed cotton Belstaff Trialmaster type.



I have this jacket, essentially brand new and unused, but it represents to me as a hot, sweaty, grubby, no armour poor alternative to modern stuff. Remember when these were the uniform of many riders, at least here in Oz?

Leather with armour remains the gold standard for protection from abrasion, but something that is also waterproof with excellent venting would be out of the price range of most.

I wonder how textiles has eaten into the leather trade? Substantially I'd presume, and I'd think Langlitz would have many more employees otherwise. Do they use other materials in gear too?

[ME 109]

Ah, the good 'ol Belstaff. My first ever bike jacket.
It became my trout fishing jacket for years and years.

I need some new leathers...and a helmet....and boots.

[Garnet]

Ah, the good 'ol Belstaff. My first ever bike jacket.
It became my trout fishing jacket for years and years.

I need some new leathers...and a helmet....and boots.

Good thing your bike is top notch.

[enigmaT120]

I think these guys have passed up Langlitz in price, but this stuff is supposed to be waterproof and does have armor:

http://www.aerostich.com/transit-jacket-9.html

I have a pair of Langlitz pants which I wear with my Firstgear jacket when it's not too warm and is supposed to be dry.

[CVA-42]

No doubt textiles have eaten into the leather business overall but I'm not so sure it has really hurt Langlitz much, if at all. They have a small facility and a small staff and, from what they say, prefer it that way. I got the feeling they've never really been any bigger than they are right now. They seem to be as busy as they want to be. Currently, you place your order and it takes 4-6 weeks for it to be filled. I don't believe they've ever done anything except leathers.

[Chuey]

No doubt textiles have eaten into the leather business overall but I'm not so sure it has really hurt Langlitz much, if at all. They have a small facility and a small staff and, from what they say, prefer it that way. I got the feeling they've never really been any bigger than they are right now. They seem to be as busy as they want to be. Currently, you place your order and it takes 4-6 weeks for it to be filled. I don't believe they've ever done anything except leathers.

It is a common assumption here in the USA, that every company wants to, and needs to, grow. Of course, that is not true. Some of us are happy to have our companies and our clientele at a level to which we can relate. Good for Langlitz.

I think I had checked out their site when Lonnie got one of their jackets. If I remember correctly, they don't put armor in their garments. I'm convinced that armor is a good thing to have in a protective garment.

Chuey

[KenHawk]

Way back in 1988 or 89, my friend Doyle (Who was from PO.) had a Langletz jacket that I coveted enough that I ordered one of my own. HD black Goatskin, quilted lining, padded shoulders and elbows, leather-lined, zippered slash pockets, double inside pockets, no collar, the friggin works. It took me a while (Several years!)to pay for the darned thing but I've been wearing it for a couple of decades now and of the four I own, it's my favorite riding jacket.

Yes, it's heavy, it's hot in real hot weather and it's only waterproof if you keep it oiled but OTOH the fit is cosmic, the style is classic and now that I live in Nor Cal, it's a perfect match for our coastal weather shifts, wherein I can ride out of the yard in 100 deg weather, when I hit HWY-1 it's 70's and getting foggy and by the time I turn East on snaky old Rt 128 it's cold and damp.

When I did my coast-to-coast ride I wore a Kilimanjaro and in some ways it is a better riding jacket, with all of its pockets and vents and it's hard armor but in reality it's just as hot as wearing leather, it took longer to break in and these days it's getting very little play. Next time I'm feeling rich I'll probably spring for an Aerostitch one-piece. Maybe I'll like that one better.

Knowing that the Langlitz jacket I own currently costs $1500+, I wouldn't (And couldn't!) replace it but at $500 back in 1990 it was a steal!

(PS: you can get REAL good deals on Langlitz Jackets on Ebay!)