Fedora Lounge Motorcyclists: Safe Gear with a Vintage Vibe

[bn1966]

Wanted some new boots but not the power ranger type. Found an Italian brand TCX which was stocked locally & came away with a pair. Reinforced where you’d want, nice and light & a Waterproof lining.

 

[Herresbach]

If you want a classic looking helmet with modern features the Arai Concept-X HA ist the way to go imho

https://www.araihelmet.eu/de/collection/detail/concept-x

 

[barnabus]

As far as lids go, as well as an ultra modern race spec AGV, and my recent none-more-retro Gringo, I've got a DMD Seventy Five. Like this:

Which is reminiscent of the old Bell Moto 3, but the DMD is a carbon/Kevlar composite and much safer than it looks. Worn with goggles or sunnies it's terrific. You can't ride fast in it though, obv.

 

[barnabus]

And @Edward, this is my Speedwear. Worn over just a shirt in these pictures, it's plenty spacious as the sizing is absurdly generous. This is a Small and ample for layering on my 39" chest.

I've also replaced the supplied chunky armour inserts with some low profile Resurgence D3O Ghost pieces.

 

[barnabus]

Wanted some new boots but not the power ranger type.

Me too, but my twofold solution was a pair of Falco Kaspar boots;

And a pair of Merlin Clan boots;

Yes, I have too much gear.

 

[Edward]

And @Edward, this is my Speedwear. Worn over just a shirt in these pictures, it's plenty spacious as the sizing is absurdly generous. This is a Small and ample for layering on my 39" chest.

I've also replaced the supplied chunky armour inserts with some low profile Resurgence D3O Ghost pieces.

Looks great!

TCX make nice retro boots. There's also a German company called Kochmann who do quite a wide ranged of boots that don't quite look like Robocop's, but yet aree up to 'modern' protection standards. They do a couple of trad engineer boots, even an entirely traditional looking cowboy boot you'd never know was a bike boot. I'm quite tempted by these:

https://www.fc-moto.de/epages/fcm.s...Boot/SubProducts/Kochmann-Commander-Boot-0007

The Kochmann Commander. I would prefer the zip was a chunkier, chrome zip much more in keeping with the obvious Aviakit / Kett / GoldTop design influences. That, and a front ankle strap - which would make them very close to a Lewis Westway, at half the price. I am still tempted on the basis that the zip could always be replaced at a later stage, and they *are* half the price of the Lewis boots... The lack of elastication and velcro isa very big part of how attractive this design is.

The Kochmann Worker is also gorgeous; if they did these in a shiny russet, i'd have already jumped on a pair in all likelihood....

https://www.fc-moto.de/epages/fcm.s...SubProducts/Kochmann-Worker-Outdoor-Boot-0007

Great to see how the form is following function. Usedto be not so many years ago that you could either be stylish or safe with bike gear. All changed now.... I guess it was inevitable when the retro look in bikes themselves got big enough, and with the rise of brands like Mutt attracting new riders.

 

[barnabus]

Oh @Edward you horror!

Those worker boots are fantastic! And lovely in brown too:

 

[Edward]

Oh @Edward you horror!

Those worker boots are fantastic! And lovely in brown too:

I know, isn't that heel and sole shape beautiful? I have too many black boots right now, but if they came in a polishable chestnut-tan or oxblood, I'd already be trying to figure out how to avoid a telling off from a Higher Power for having ordered them before clearing out old boots! If the quality is up to what I've seen from the brand in the past, these would be a fantastic buy purely as a pair of boots, let alone as motorcycle gear.

 

[davyjones007]

I have wanted a pair of these since 2010 when I bought my first Triumph Thruxton. They have a few more styles now and the price seems pretty good.
https://gasolinaboots.com

 

[bn1966]

Like their ‘El Tigre’ boot

 

[barnabus]

I've bought another jacket, just for riding, that again fits this thread I think. It's a Merlin Lichfield in oxblood, which I got as clearance stock for a fraction of the original price. It came with a full set of level 2 armour inserts and I'm delighted with it.

The only problem is that it clashes with the green on my bike. Hmm.

 

[Herresbach]

Just bought a Schwabenleder Solitude Cafe Racer jacket which is unfortunately not produced anymore but there are sometimes one or two in the bay.
Schwabenleder is a well known custom racetracksuit manufacturer in Germany.
The jacket is made from heavy 'cognac brown' vegetable tanned buffalo hide and provides level 2 armour (CE EN 1621-2) in the back, shoulders and ellbows. I‘m going to install a zip in the back of the jacket so that I can connect it to all kinds of leather or kevlar denim pants.
There will be a proper review once I‘ve tested it on and off the bike.

 

[Edward]

Always been curious about those rear-zip arrangements. I get the intent in the design, though what I wonder is how easy on/off they are when taking the jacket off in a cafe stop or whatever...

 

[Herresbach]

Always been curious about those rear-zip arrangements. I get the intent in the design, though what I wonder is how easy on/off they are when taking the jacket off in a cafe stop or whatever...

taking the jacket off is no problem, you just lift the jacket hem, grab for the zipper in your back and unzip the jacket from your trousers.
zipping them together is also not that big of a deal it just doesn't look as elegant when you're trying to connect zipper and band with your hands on your back while turning your head in the most silly way to get a look at it and it takes you at least two tries.
But I've got a BMW leather jacket with BMW leather pants that solve the problem. the zipper goes all around the waistband so you can connect zipper and band in front of your body while looking at it. easy as pie

 

[barnabus]

Yeah, I've bought a few bits and pieces of clothing from them over the years. Particulary keen on The Richa Bonneville jacket -

Dredging this post up from quite a while ago, I've just got hold of one of these Richa Bonneville jackets.

Richa have recently issued their updated Bonneville 2, which has suffered in the redesign in the loss of a belt. My jacket is a lightly-used example of the original version though - to the casual eye identical to a Belstaff Trialmaster or whatever.

I've just received it today, so no feedback yet on how it is for riding, but the styling will be perfect to wear on my old Triumph.

It's a heavy old jacket, complete with a long-sleeved, cuffed, quilted liner and a full set of armour fitted. Quality seems nice too, thick Millerain waxed cotton and chunky press studs.

I intend to rewax it, once it's had a good brush down and wipe over - although the waxing will be a bit moot as there's a full fixed waterproof membrane liner in it.

I'll add some pictures a little later, but on first impressions I'm very pleased and it feels well warm enough to serve through the Winter if needs be.

Good.

 

[barnabus]

Here we go.

The belt is removed in this picture as I was brushing some fluff off the wax.

If the weather is alright tomorrow I'll wear it and go for a little bash about on my Trumpet. And maybe snap some photos who knows?

 

[barnabus]

As always, my phone makes for barely acceptable photos, and a fence post makes for a barely acceptable tripod.

 

[Carlos840]

As always, my phone makes for barely acceptable photos, and a fence post makes for a barely acceptable tripod.

Nice bike and nice jacket!
The traffic is so bad here that i have decided to try to become a biker full time, i can't deal with sitting in my car stuck in traffic anymore...
It's pretty rainy right now but i am commiting to the bike. I'll be wearing this one today:

 

[Edward]

As always, my phone makes for barely acceptable photos, and a fence post makes for a barely acceptable tripod.

Gorgeous bike. Don't see many in that green for some reason, but it's a superb colour. Jacket looks good. Interesting they've dumped the belt for the new version. I've seen a lot of that around. I think it comes down to that's how a lot of folks were wearing them anyhow, which I believe in part is down to how the belts can be stiff when new. I have a Barbour Trialmaster I picked up a long time ago. It's a slimmer model, no winter liner, but was great for wearing out and about in warmer but wet weather. From new, it was odd to wear open as the belt was too stiff to hang 'right'; I recall buckling it over on itself at the back, but it didn't lie flat - hung in a perfect circle. I suspect a lot of folks probably dumped the belt at that point, then never wore it. Cheaper to produce without the belt too, I should have thought. Not by much ,but enough to affect the bottom line. A pity, really - to my eye, these look much better with the belt - a little boxy, but pulled in at the waist. I suppose dropping the belt also reflects the modern trend towards slim-fit everything, though. Yours definitely looks much better with the belt than those without, imo.

Nice bike and nice jacket!
The traffic is so bad here that i have decided to try to become a biker full time, i can't deal with sitting in my car stuck in traffic anymore...
It's pretty rainy right now but i am commiting to the bike. I'll be wearing this one today:

Although it's been around forever in leather as well, imo this is a trickier style to get 'right' in leather than in wax cotton. Vanson's version is very nicely cut. I also like the Goldtop take. Lewis still do their variation too which is nice, though scary money compared to the former two.

 

[barnabus]

Gorgeous bike. Don't see many in that green for some reason, but it's a superb colour.

The bike was originally black, but the previous owner had it resprayed this colour. It makes it more closely resemble a true vintage bike I think, rather than a modern retro style. I like the colour but it's perhaps not what I might have chosen if I were given free range. I think a different colour might be in the future.

Jacket looks good. Interesting they've dumped the belt for the new version. I've seen a lot of that around. I think it comes down to that's how a lot of folks were wearing them anyhow, ... - to my eye, these look much better with the belt - a little boxy, but pulled in at the waist. I suppose dropping the belt also reflects the modern trend towards slim-fit everything, though. Yours definitely looks much better with the belt than those without, imo.

I've always adored the belted style. Over the years I've had innumerable Barbour Internationals, a beautiful unlined Trialmaster in tan canvas, Speedwear, and assorted no-brand versions. My everyday all purpose jacket is a knackered old SMU Barbour International in olive green. I wear it for riding sometimes too, layered over an armoured Kevlar shirt.

That's what I wore at the weekend when I was fortunate enough to spend a few hours on a friend's Bobber.

Made for a fitting ensemble.

Although it's been around forever in leather as well, imo this is a trickier style to get 'right' in leather than in wax cotton. Vanson's version is very nicely cut. I also like the Goldtop take. Lewis still do their variation too which is nice, though scary money compared to the former two.

I've tried leather options in this style too, but agree with you that it's harder to get right. I once had to be physically restrained from buying a Barbour X Alexander Leathers (? I think, not sure) in prosperously heavy oxblood (cordovan?) hide. It was a beautiful tank.

Personally, for a leather version to work for me it needs to fit far slimmer than they usually tend to be cut. This style often has a wide sleeve, which breaks in better for me in waxed cotton than in leather. Something akin to the fit of a Belstaff Panther might be nice - if they ever did an armoured variant.