Author Topic: Classic British WAX COTTON MOTORCYCLE JACKETS only $94. (Read 7672 times)

Craig McClure · **on:** August 21, 2013, 09:46:36 pm

For those of you that don't know about Wax Cottons, they date back to the golden age of British Motorcycling. They are Extremely good in cold wet weather, so are the pants. They are still popular for good reason. I bought my first Barbour Jacket when I was 18, & wore it 25 years, till it got tatty. Belstaff Jackets are not made in England anymore, & Barbours (my favorite) are selling at $300.
****Here is a jacket on Ebay in your size for only $94. Ebay item # 180978887815.****
This is a real bargain & a good looking faithful copy. I'm wearing an Australian Kakadu Barbour Jacket Clone, that I paid a good bit more for. Leathers are nice-but get soaked through. When the weather is poor this is excellent, & looks right at home on a Royal Enfield. Check it out!

Portland Bullet · **Reply #1 on:** August 22, 2013, 12:30:26 am

Now that is a great tip, says this Oregonian.

Ducati Scotty · **Reply #2 on:** August 22, 2013, 12:46:34 am

Ice loves these jackets. On the ill fated trip they made down here a little while ago, I think they stopped in at the Kakadu US importer.

Scott

Sectorsteve · **Reply #3 on:** August 22, 2013, 10:24:26 am

There's a bel staff on eBay in oz. I'm gonna try get it tomorrow. I have a driza bone which I think is the same material. It's a really long one and very waterproof. These wax cotton jackets look awesome. Some of them are 800 bucks!

High On Octane · **Reply #4 on:** August 22, 2013, 01:32:23 pm

Sounds like a great deal! If I had some extra money I'd probably pick one up. I'll have to wait for now.

Scottie

gremlin · **Reply #5 on:** August 23, 2013, 03:11:47 am

Quote from: Scottie J on August 22, 2013, 01:32:23 pm

......If I had some extra money ......

extra? never heard of such a thing ........

High On Octane · **Reply #6 on:** August 23, 2013, 04:04:24 am

Quote from: gremlin on August 23, 2013, 03:11:47 am

extra? never heard of such a thing ........

Amen to that. What is extra money?

Scottie

Ice · **Reply #7 on:** August 23, 2013, 04:07:48 am

Quote from: Scottie J on August 23, 2013, 04:04:24 am

Amen to that. What is extra money?

Scottie

Anything left over after motorcycle stuff is taken care of.

Ice · **Reply #8 on:** August 23, 2013, 05:24:21 am

Quote from: Craig McClure on August 21, 2013, 09:46:36 pm

Here is a jacket on Ebay in your size for only

Might have to give one a go and see how it compares to my Kakadu Nelson.

heloego · **Reply #9 on:** August 23, 2013, 04:54:58 pm

"All my money is tied up in debt."...George Carlin

Craig McClure · **Reply #10 on:** August 23, 2013, 05:15:50 pm

Hello Ice, I also have a Kakadu Nelson, I like that it has a bi-swing action back. But Kakadu distribution in the USA is not always steady, I have not seen any available lately. I think I was just lucky to score my Pants & Jacket when I did.
If I could only own 1 motorcycle jacket, it would be a Wax Cotton Barbour/Belstaff Type.

mattsz · **Reply #11 on:** August 23, 2013, 07:40:06 pm

Ok, so who's going to be the guinea pig and order one of these cheap "Campbell Cooper" jackets? Anybody heard of this name?

It's "the Original British Vintage Wax Cotton Motorcycle jacket" - reckon it's been on the shelf for 50 years?

Ice · **Reply #12 on:** August 24, 2013, 01:52:29 am

Quote from: mattsz on August 23, 2013, 07:40:06 pm

Ok, so who's going to be the guinea pig and order one of these cheap "Campbell Cooper" jackets?

Money is always tight but I am tempted, I have some stuff that a co-worker lusts for.

Quote from: mattsz on August 23, 2013, 07:40:06 pm

Anybody heard of this name?

No Sir not I.

Quote from: mattsz on August 23, 2013, 07:40:06 pm

It's "the Original British Vintage Wax Cotton Motorcycle jacket" - reckon it's been on the shelf for 50 years?

Or maybe they're made from new old stock cloth ?

Ice · **Reply #13 on:** August 24, 2013, 01:57:02 am

Quote from: Craig McClure on August 23, 2013, 05:15:50 pm

Hello Ice, I also have a Kakadu Nelson, I like that it has a bi-swing action back. But Kakadu distribution in the USA is not always steady, I have not seen any available lately. I think I was just lucky to score my Pants & Jacket when I did.
If I could only own 1 motorcycle jacket, it would be a Wax Cotton Barbour/Belstaff Type.

Seems the majority of outlets carrying Kakadu are western and equestrian wear stores.
To get mine quicker I ordered it from the east coast.

D the D · **Reply #14 on:** August 24, 2013, 02:25:22 am

Country singers, movies, and TV has popularized an inaccurate notion that somehow Australian coats and jackets were used in the US old west of movie lore, most of which is based upon nickel novel and newspaper fiction of the day.

High On Octane · **Reply #15 on:** August 24, 2013, 04:35:50 am

Quote from: Ice on August 24, 2013, 01:57:02 am

Seems the majority of outlets carrying Kakadu are western and equestrian wear stores.
To get mine quicker I ordered it from the east coast.

There's all kind of western clothing stores here in Denver. Maybe I should look into these jackets around town here.

Scottie

Blairio · **Reply #16 on:** August 24, 2013, 05:08:37 am

There are good quality European-made waxed cotton motorcycle jackets available for £140, see:

http://www.chequeredflags.co.uk/deluxe-traditional-wax-cotton-motorcycle-jacket-p-109.html

I have seen cheaper ones advertised, but a lighter weight of cotton is used, and they may not be lined.

I nearly went for one but in the end opted for a Barbour International, with the union jack lining (stars & stripes lining also available). A £279 it wasn't cheap, but I measured the life of my previous waxed cotton jackets in decades rather than years. The equivalent Belstaff jacket is around £550. In my view, Belstaff have priced themselves out of the market. Mostly now they are bought by fashionistas, with sales boosted by movie product placement (for instance Will Smith wore one in 'I am Legend'). It is a shame because originally Bellstaff (like Barbour) were designed to do a job of work. These days in my home town you are more likely to see one worn in a shopping mall, then on a guy or girl riding a motorbike.

A refreshing thing about all these jackets is the absence of Velcro - They use industrial strength zips, buckles and poppers. They also tend to look better with age.

Craig McClure · **Reply #17 on:** August 24, 2013, 09:40:18 pm

Dear Blairio & Others, I have 2 Kakadu Nelson Jackets, The first I bought 12 years ago, & it is still going strong. I had a chance to score a second just a few years ago. The second newer one Has Lots of Velcro, which isn't as nice as copper/brass snaps, it is also a lighter weight cotton. None of the Kakadus has Plaid Flannel lining which I miss, just cotton with printed Australia map or Kangaroos. When I pointed out the $94. Jacket, I realized it is a Barbour/Belstaff Knockoff, Probably lighter cotton(the originals were offered in Heavy or Light Cotton) The Jacket looks well made & even has the angled left "pistol pocket" it is probably made in one of the many small industries in the UK that produce quality garments. I was VERY surprised to find any British Wax Cotton at such a low price-cheaper even than Kakadu, & certainly the originals which are now priced out of my reach. ANY WAX COTTON IS BETTER THAN NONE! You may quote me.

Ice · **Reply #18 on:** August 25, 2013, 02:30:25 am

Hey Craig (and others) !
You might be glad to know the current Kakadu Nelsons have gone back to snaps and corduroy collar lining.

Blairio · **Reply #19 on:** August 25, 2013, 03:21:32 am

A search for kakadu waxed cotton motorcycle jackets in amazon UK threw up:

http://www.sterlingleather.com/kakadu-7082-4j42kakadunelsonjacket.html?utm_source=amazon&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=4J42%20Kakadu%20Nelson&utm_campaign=amazon

These do look good, and at 110 pounds sterling they are a bargain take on the Trialmaster type of jacket. It would be great to see one up close, however Kakadu don't seem to have a uk outlet.

Craig McClure · **Reply #20 on:** August 27, 2013, 03:44:29 am

Hi Blairio, Looked at that link. That is the very same jacket as my late model one-I'm not real happy with it; It is much thinner, lighter cotton with a different, (if any) waterproofing-sure aint WAX. The lower Pockets, front Placket, & Neck fastening are all VELCRO. It's a decent looking jacket, to wear around town, but doesn't compare with the older original Kakadu Nelson, heavy stiff Waxed Jacket, with all copper plate snaps. NONE of the Kakadu jackets have a buckle & grommet neck fastening, My old one has 2 D-rings to thread the strap through, that is very difficult to do. Much rather have a buckle. I don't see why everybody is knocking the British Made, faithful repro of the original jackets I pointed out. is it because they are affordable? look at the pictures-they are Better than the new Kakadu.

Ice · **Reply #21 on:** August 27, 2013, 03:58:18 am

Quote from: Blairio on August 25, 2013, 03:21:32 am

A search for kakadu waxed cotton motorcycle jackets in amazon UK threw up:

http://www.sterlingleather.com/kakadu-7082-4j42kakadunelsonjacket.html?utm_source=amazon&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=4J42%20Kakadu%20Nelson&utm_campaign=amazon

These do look good, and at 110 pounds sterling they are a bargain take on the Trialmaster type of jacket. It would be great to see one up close, however Kakadu don't seem to have a uk outlet.

Hi Blairio,

The pic is not entirely accurate. What it shows is the now outdated version of the Nelson that I have.

The current version has reverted to snaps/poppers and corduroy lining the collar instead of leather.

Craig McClure · **Reply #22 on:** August 29, 2013, 04:19:56 am

WISH I COULD SEND MINE IN FOR A RETRO-FIT. RATHER HAVE ALL SNAPS & HATE THE CLAMMY LEATHER COLAR LINER.