Motorcycle Couture: Favoring the Classic Look

When my friend Julia, a self-described “motorcycle newbie,” asked for advice on motorcycle gear it reminded me that I needed an upgrade, so I started looking on the web for clothing in “my” style…which probably isn’t saying much. She said she wanted something “supercute,” a term that had different connotations for different readers. “Supercute” for one woman meant her “evil robot padded suit,” and for one man meant “a frayed jean allowing just the tiniest bit of skin to peek through.”

Having long been a follower of the Amelia Earhart school of fashion, I haven’t invested much energy into safety gear, nor have I paid much attention to the couture scene that I see is thriving. A few years back I saw a review of women’s jeans with internal pockets at the knees to insert kevlar knee pads, but didn’t buy them and now a cruise for them on the web comes up empty. I did find some Giali UK-made jeans with built-in padding that look pretty darn cool (or maybe it’s just the model).

Draggin Jeans in Australia makes a line of motorcycle jeans and jackets that look like “normal” clothes. They won an award for a women’s racing suit that I wouldn’t mind wearing, except for those boots. I always find that three inch heels — while certainly handy when kick-boxing — can be overkill on a bike.

I don’t think I need to replace my jackets. One is a light gray summer motorcycle jacket that cost $65 (half-price sale) in 1988. It has a high collar and a leather flap that snaps across the front zipper, and zips that tighten down the sleeves at the wrists. These features effectively keep the weather and the bugs out while I’m riding but there’s no protective padding at all. My favorite feature is a nylon hood hidden in the collar, which is something I think ought to be incorporated into every motorcycle jacket. I always wear it when it’s warm enough to leave my big heavy Hein Gerick behind, which isn’t often in foggy San Francisco. Made of black leather, this is a serious riding jacket with elbow and shoulder pads, a snap out liner and lots of pockets (inside and out), and zip-open air vents. My dad’s friend’s wife didn’t want it any more, she’d bought something less classic and more stylish, so she let it go for $50, and just at the moment the heavy leather had started to just get broken in. Sweet.

My rain gear is the same gray Gortex two-piece that I wear when I’m bicycle touring and backpacking. I bought it in 1994 before I cycled through France and then West Africa. It’s large enough to slip over my clothes, and the Gortex is breathable, which makes a huge difference on a bicycle and a motorcycle. The hood is thin nylon with a small bill that fits just right under my helmet. I’ve also worn it for warmth, say, in the summer on California’s Pacific Coast Highway, when I haven’t thought to pack my warm jumpsuit.

My dad nabbed the jumpsuit for me at a flea market for about $10. It’s bulky and I always hesitate to take it on trips, but I’m always glad I did because it comes in real handy for padding underneath my sleeping bag, or to fill in the spaces around my laptop and camera, cutting down on the vibration. I remember putting it into unexpected use in the summer of 1995, too, while I was being chased by a hurricane from Florida to Texas.

As for pants, I never wear anything but jeans, which is bad judgment on my part. It was only after I hit the ground in India a few years ago that I started looking around for motorcycle pants with padded knees. Unfortunately I lost interest at about the rate that the gash in my knee healed. I know I ought to be more practical, and get something protective, and I will Mom, I promise! Now they even make cargo pants with protective shields. I would have loved these in India, where it was often sweltering. They have pads in the knees, hips, and backside, and are convertible shorts, too.

If I could afford it, I must admit that I would probably be wearing those $600 Chanel motorcycle boots I blogged in December, along with the Darian Falstaff Jacket sold by Aerostich ($350). Hey, these are “classic” looks. I think Amelia would have worn them, too.