I do smile to myself when I see modern motorcyclists dressed up in all their expensive, padded, brightly coloured gear, which they can't pop to the shops without. My first outfit for riding a bike was my step-dad's old pit boots, my jeans and a sweatshirt, a donkey jacket and a four quid Centurion open-face helmet. I did upgrade to Dunlop wellies and a Belstaff after about a year, but still don't wear much more now. Para boots have replaced the wellies, a Richa rain jacket over an old snug-pak coat and a Spada open-face helmet are my usual garments of choice.
I find it interesting just how much bike clothes cost now. When I bought my Belstaff it can't have been too expensive as I bought it on an apprentice's pay, which was not enormous. Now the damn things cost hundreds of pounds so the wax jacket I use in summer is a cheap knock-off. As for the cost of helmets! I know my head is precious but some of them really take the mickey.
I don't wish to come across as an 'in my day' moaner but I do feel new motorcyclists now are sold the idea that unless they spend big on a whole outfit to go with the style of their bike they are somehow not real motorcyclists. A friend of my wife has recently taken up biking and she asked me about my thoughts on heated gloves. I said that I thought the electrical system on her Lexmoto may be a bit marginal for plug-ins so she could either buy ones with a separate battery or learn to suffer as she is riding a bike in England not Florida. Jaded me? Never.
Spartacian.