Brown Cafe Racer Leather Jacket

Brown Cafe Racer Leather Jacket

A cafe racer leather jacket is the stripped back one. Straight zip up the middle, short band collar at the neck, no lapels and no belt. It came out of the London motorbike scene in the 1960s. Riders wanted something that would not flap about at speed.

The snap tab is the detail

The collar closes with a snap tab at the throat. That is what people are actually buying when they pick this shape. It keeps a clean line from shoulder to neck. It also means the jacket works over a shirt where a wide lapel would not.

Why brown suits this shape

Black is the obvious choice and most shops stop there. A brown cafe racer jacket looks older in a good way. The shape is vintage and brown leather ages visibly. A brown leather racer jacket picks up marks that end up being the reason you like it.

What it is made of

Real leather with a viscose lining. Front zip closure. The cuffs are zip style so the sleeves close tight at the wrist.

How it should fit

Closer than a bomber and about the same as a biker. It should sit on the shoulder properly and finish at your belt rather than below it. There is no belt at the hem. A cafe racer that is too big has nothing holding it in and looks shapeless.

Measure round the fullest part of your chest over a shirt. Use the table on this page rather than your usual size. Sizes run XS to 3XL.

More on our cafe racer jackets page, with the rest of the brown leather jackets and the wider biker and motorcycle jackets range.

Cafe racer or biker jacket?

The difference is the front. A biker jacket runs an asymmetric zip off to one side with wide lapels folding back over the chest. A cafe racer keeps the zip straight and finishes with that small standing collar. The biker is the loud one. This does the same job quietly, which is why it works with a shirt underneath.