Ronin Leather Jacket

TL;DR
Great fit for a shorter athletic build, soft broken-in leather, clean understated style, and comfortable both on and off the bike. The Ronin feels premium without being bulky, works well with armor, and looks great while riding my Triumph Speed Twin 900 or at a bar.

Overall Impression
I ended up going with the Roland Sands Design Ronin jacket, and I’m really glad I did. It strikes a great balance between protection, comfort, and style without looking or feeling overly “motorcycle-specific.”
Fit & Comfort
- I’m 5’4” with an athletic build, and the fit is excellent
Sleeves are the right length and narrow enough that they don’t slide down
- Jacket doesn’t balloon out when sitting on the bike
- Enough room to comfortably wear a medium-thickness sweater underneath
- Jacket doesn’t feel overly heavy or thick, even with armor installed
Leather & Build Quality
- Leather feels soft and already broken in right out of the box
- Feels premium without being stiff or restrictive
- Clearly high quality, but still comfortable for longer wear
Zippers & Practicality
- Initially hesitant about the zipper attachments. After using them, they actually make zipping and unzipping very easy
- Love all the pockets — functional without cluttering the jacket
Armor & Protection
- Still fits well with an Axial AX2 back protector. Only downside: the back protector pocket opening is very small. I had to trim the sides of the protector to get it to fit. Once installed, it sits well and doesn’t affect comfort
Style & Versatility
- Clean, simple design with just enough style
- Doesn’t look like a motorcycle jacket — easily passes as a regular leather jacket
- Would feel totally comfortable wearing it into a restaurant or bar
- Pairs perfectly with my Triumph Speed Twin 900
- Even got a handsome compliment from my girlfriend, which never hurts
Comparison vs. Merlin Gable II
I was strongly considering the Merlin Gable II, but the Ronin won out because:
- Ronin leather is much softer (Gable felt too stiff)
- Gable’s chest area puffed out when sitting
- Ronin comes with a longer warranty (3 years more)

Final Thoughts
I’ve only used the jacket about four times so far due to winter weather, but every ride has reinforced that I made the right choice. Looking forward to wearing it a lot more in the spring. Stylish, comfortable, and practical, the Ronin checks all the boxes for me.

Armor slots are tight, but it keeps the look slim. I wear a techair under it. Its been through two wrecks and still looks great.

Great fit. Great quality