Once a dandy always a dandy?

[guest7]

In my teens I was horribly vain and clothes-obsessed. On times I wouldn't leave my bedsit because I felt that I didn't have any decent clobber. What's worse is I'm not talking about Italian suits and silk shirts, oh no, I'm talking about nasty early 80s indie kit.

One of the delights of middle age is the way that you can turn your back on all that nonsense and just wear what pleases you.

However, last weekend I went off on a solo motorcycle to a summer rally, which I haven't done for a while now. In fact I haven't really done much 'social' motorcycling at all for a couple of years. I wore black leather bike jeans tucked into black jackboots with white seasocks rolled over the top. Over a checked shirt I wore my eye-wateringly expensive replica Irving flying jacket. On the way back from the rally I realised, as a car passenger watched me wide-eyed, that I haven't really changed that much, I'm still a bit too conscious of what I wear (on a bike at least) and I'm still a bit of a show-off. I'm not sure how I feel about this.

What makes it worse is that when I got home I later decided to go for a short bimble. I actually took a minute or two to decide what to wear (dark blue jeans with turn-ups, brown lace-up boots, vintage Levis denim jacket under an off-white windcheater, white scarf knotted at my neck). If I'd been in proper trousers in the first place then I probably would have just thrown a jacket on and gone, but because I had to change (I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt) I took the time to wear what I thought looked good.

I know the stock biker's reply to all this would be a bluff "I just wears what I wants to", but come on, I can't be the only one who sometimes thinks about what they are going to wear on the bike, am I?

RobG, for one, has a penchant for welders boots with seasocks over the top and I have to admit he often looks very stylish on his bike. I have wondered if he has a mirror on his garage wall where he practices this 

Cheers
GC

[squirrelciv]

You've seen my latest jacket? Think that answers your question Too be honest, my main thinking when it comes to most things including gear is and always has been 'simplicity'. The jacket, doesn't have armour, or 40 pockets with velcro everywhere. My boots are ex army, helmet, open faced and gloves unlined (at least the summer ones are).
Don't know if it looks good, but it feels right. Mind you, when I left work the other day, someone called me a 60's throwback

[guest18]

Fashion comes and goes, but style is always stylish... erm... someone once told me 

Yeah I look at my reflection in shop windows sometimes.... if no bikers did that we'd all ride 70's style MZ TS250's 

As to jackets, I love my Barbour international, but my day to day jacket does have armour and I think it's (armour) one of the best developments in biking kit over the last 20 years! Like many of us (old gits) when I started you could have leathers that would protect in a slide (but get wet) or waxed cotton that would keep the weather out but not slide as well, but *hit* anything in either and your pretty much fubar. Some couriers I worked with wore motocross armour under their leathers and I was actively looking for some sort of kneeguards, I tried BMX and skateboard pads with limited success...
I honestly think that if I had had access to modern knee armour when I was despatching in my early 20's my knees wouldn't be in the rag order they are now 

But it has to look good too.... allegedly 

[Steve Lake]

You are absolutely right GC....I'm most comfortable (literally and style wise) in my old sidi leather jacket and leather jeans.... a wonderful patina of age and use....mis-matched zips, all of which have been replaced at least once..... white scarf with a bit sticking out the back to flap in the wind,....leather cowhide 'ranchers' gloves....fits well with my cafe racer style srx....catch myself glancing at my reflection in shop windows as i bimble through town, just like i did 40 years ago and more......there's a bit of the posure in all of us , and don't i just look down on those guys on their plastic missiles in their 'just out of the shop' unmarked matching leathers......

[Richard]

Oi, Smudge, stop knocking MZs.  I reckon I looked pretty damn good on an MZ with a pair of the finest green wellies and a nylon jacket.

[robG]

Too true chaps .

GC is quite right , my foundry boots have done stirling service over just shy of twenty years and proudly wear the scars ,including the dents on the heels from the nuts on the footrests of the GT750 I despatched on .
My Furygan is 19years old and yes Steve the patina is there all right .Unfortunately my leather jeans are only about 6years old ,due to the shrinkage of my last pair.Leather contracts over the years,you see.Open face ,goggles,white scarf and seaboot socks complete the picture with grade one army gloves ,probably the best gloves I 've ever owned for the bike and bout £14:00 a pair ,grade one .

As for the mirror , scandalous rumour that is .I've not got room for one with the collection* displayed so well  

Rob

* note from moderator - RobG is referring to his enormous collection of (empty) beer bottles that line his garage walls. I feel a photo is required 

[robG]

Oi, Smudge, stop knocking MZs.  I reckon I looked pretty damn good on an MZ with a pair of the finest green wellies and a nylon jacket.

God rides a Harley , compo's got an MZ 

Rob .

[Richard]

B*****ks.  God would ride an MZ if she wanted to get somewhere.

Shouldn't we pass this one over the Steffan ?

Richard

[guest27]

He or She actually rides a Triumph, cannot remember the actual text but it is something about sitting back and listening to the roar of his Triumph - or was that Moses.  You are right, this is one for Steffan

R

[KirriePete]

OK - ancient fly spattered Frank Thomas textile jacket (with thermal liner when it's a bit parky), Draggin Jeans if it's warm & dry, Aldi's overtrousers when it's not, Altberg Hoggs on the feet.

As for MZ250's - don't diss the Zschopau massif, I'd have another like a shot (if there was room in the shed and my wallet):



Oh lord - I had hair and a waistline then!

[trophydave]

I was parked in a lay-by at the weekend when a bloke on a Guzzi Griso went past.Jeans,leather jacket,open face lid,shades.He looked and sounded extremely cool.
Me,I am just a mixture of mainly secong hand ebay bike kit bought as and when,0/10 for style. 

[guest18]

(GRINS) Knew I'd start a few people off with that statement 

Now I really rate many of the MZ's and MuZ's, heck I run one as daily transport, but you have to admit they've built some SPECTACULARLY ugly bikes in their time 

Oh and you may well be right Rog, Steffans probably our expert on that particular publication but I distinctly remember something about Moses coming down from the mountain to deliver the ten commandments "on his Triumph", I guess he must've been a courier too..... (wonder if it counted as a multidrop as there were ten of them  )

[guest7]

...but you have to admit they've built some SPECTACULARLY ugly bikes in their time 

I know what you're saying, but even their ugliness looks cute with time:


I'm beginning to hanker after an ES250 

GC

[robG]

Oh lord - I had hair and a waistline then!

Didn't we all ,old boy . Recently moved on my last pair of 30 waist leather jeans . Those were the days 
Kit wise , my early influences were Classic Bike /Motorcycle/Ogri , hence my kit of choice today .Even Jethro turned up the other day on his Triumph, sporting open face with Mk 4 goggles attached .I don't own a current full face .

Sorry but you can keep your Power Rangers leathers .

Rob

[guest18]

Hmmmm, hopeless fashion victim I know but I still sometimes have to supress the urge to go out and buy a jet helmet and a set of "pilot" goggles 
Oh and I'll confess... when I had my first bike (a Z200!) I got mum to knit me a "submarine" sweater and I got white sea boot socks to go with my ashmans boots... and a white silk scarf! Bloody impractical mind you, it was manky in no time 
(Whispers; "still looked good though....")