The Crosby jacket has been in the Belstaff motorcycle range for quite a while, although it was not around in the olden days before the brand was sold off to the Italian, Melanotti family; whereas styles like the Trialmaster and Brooklands were.
But that does not alter the fact that the Crosby has probably always been the most wearable and practical jacket in the company's waxed cotton collection. Historically, the Trialmaster has simply been too heavy and cumbersome for a lot of people. Whereas the blouson-style Brooklands has proven itself to be too short; particularly at the back, which means that the rain can sometimes run down the jacket into your trousers. For 2024, Belstaff has moved to a much lighter fabric for the Trialmaster, which should make that jacket easier to wear. The company has also, for 2024, extended the tail of the Brooklands, which should make that jacket somewhat more practical, especially in the rain.
The new 2024 Crosby is not massively different to its predecessor. So the outer fabric is still an eight-ounce, British Millerain, wax cotton, as it was in the old jacket. This is backed by a drop-liner, waterproof membrane, but here's the thing about a waxed cotton jacket with a waterproof membrane. It will deliver levels of waterproofing that are more than a match for a laminated jacket. And that's because the rain cannot pass the the wax-impregnated outer fabric. It is almost impossible, therefore, for a waxed cotton jacket to wet out.
One of the key differences between the old Crosby and the new one is that the new one is AA-rated for abrasion resistance under EN 17092; whereas the old jacket was only single-A rated. We had always suspected that the old one would have passed at the AA level, and the new rating certainly suggests that it would have done. The jacket comes with vented, Level 1, D3O armour in the elbows and shoulders. There's a pocket in the back to take a D3O back protector. You can go for a Level 1 protector if you want both comfort and protection. Or you can go Level 2 if you're prepared to trade a bit of comfort.
A lot of the other stuff is what you might expect of a Belstaff waxed cotton jacket. So we're talking about corduroy in the neck and collar for comfort against the skin. We're talking about brass zips, a brass belt and buckle arrangement at the neck, and ditto at the waist. There are metal aerators under the arms, a checked lining, flap pockets, silicon-covered lower buttons to protect the bike's paintwork, gussets and poppers at the sleeve ends, and so on.
The Crosby is, in our view, still the most practical jacket in the Belstaff range. And you can wear it on so many different kinds of bikes. It works on any kind of retro or vintage bike. If you've got a custom bike of some description, the Crosby is almost a mandatory. But it will work on any sit-up bike; and it will more than pass muster on an adventure bike. Lots of scooterists like the Crosby, but it would, without doubt, look wrong on a sports bike.
One thing Belstaff has done, however, is lower the price. Apparently, a new factory has allowed them to shave their costs, and so the Crosby is now £50 less expensive than it was last year, and indeed three years ago. I cannot remember when we last saw that.
Belstaff is also keen to push their Climate Vest, which clips into the outer jacket. And if you like matching accessories, this may be the way to go. It's a vest, obviously, and for insulation it is filled with a hollow-form fibre called Primaloft, rather than duck or goose down. Personally, we might go for something like Klim's genuine goose-down Maverick jacket. It would be warmer, and as it comes with sleeves it will definitely be more practical when you're off the bike.
The Crosby always was our favourite Belstaff waxed-cotton jacket, but with improved versions of the Trialmaster and the Brooklands for 2024 that's probably going to be a closer call. In some ways, with the new Crosby it's a case of 'plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose'. But it is cheaper than it was, and that's never a bad thing.
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