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Leather vests

navetsea

I'll Lock Up
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6,836
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East Java
...might agree with me on this but I always thought girls look best riding mopeds.
i guess our view is affected by how rare or common such phenomena :D
here 65% of moped riders are female, so they don't look special. look more special if they ride something sportier, know how to operate clutch, at least those kind know how to ride safer and in normal speed than some of the moped riders, some of the female moped rider ride dangerously slow, that force the driver behind to overtake yet they don't move aside or even get surprised or do weird thing like suddenly stopping or avoiding potholes or even making a u turn without looking back, always these slow unpredictable moped riders that are the most dangerous.... second to the online motorcycle/ moped taxi and courier whose eyes glued to their googlemap gps than to the traffic at hand.

but what I hate the most here is big import SUV drivers, they are bully with mentality my car is harder than yours, often replace their headlight with those blinding bright blue white xenon, and like to blast through potholes to make it worse or puddles or dusty road just because they ride SUV.
 
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Messages
15,563
Location
East Central Indiana
Hey watch it...I ride a true Girl's bike and wear a black leather 'HOG' vest on occasion... 100_0304.JPG ...and could care less what stu thinks about it....;)
 
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itsallgood

One of the Regulars
Messages
179
big import SUV drivers, they are bully with mentality my car is harder than yours, often replace their headlight with those blinding bright blue white xenon, and like to blast through potholes to make it worse or puddles or dusty road just because they ride SUV

I hear you. Unfortunately, I think that is a trend everywhere. Government, in my opinion, needs to step in and limit the dimensions of personally owned SUVs and pickup trucks. Here, it's become almost impossible to navigate grocery parking lots because SUVs and pickups have become so big.

On the vest front, I wear a Coronado leather vest when I'm up in the Sierras. The pockets make so much sense. Appearing like I'm simply wearing a vest, I'm usually carrying eyeglasses, a folding knife, cell phone, my wallet, a compass, a revolver and a couple of speed strips, and probably a few more things if I think of it. The vest doesn't have an urban or surburban vibe, but it definitely works up in the mountains. I understand a big reason cowboys wore vests in the old west was for the pockets.

vest.JPG
 

Edward

Bartender
Messages
25,074
Location
London, UK
I like those Keanu Reeves bikes. XD

Ha... They're not so much to my aesthetic tastes, but I love the videos he's done about them. There's something really fun about his genuine enthusiasm for the whole project, how he's quite hands on - it's clearly for love rather than something to merchandise his 'brand'.

....Didn't mean foreign bikers..but those here in the USA that ride foreign bikes ( Honda, Kaw, Ducati, etc. ) tend to armor up much more than HD riders. The complete Speed Racer look.

Aha! Gotcha. Seems it can also often be as much about the 'look' as protection. I don't know that it's as simple as people dressing to the bikes - though it could be; I suspect people's overall aesthetic tastes are a big part of the package, and some bikes are just indelibly associated with certain looks. I have known riders who dressed different for different styles of bike they owned. Interestingly, never seen a scooter rider wearing any sort of protective gear (unless it was well hidden), despite at city speeds the risks on both being arguably the same. Again, the aesthetic must be a big factor coming in to play.

...might agree with me on this but I always thought girls look best riding mopeds.

Are you saying mopeds are for girls, or....? Personally, I think a pretty lady is much better accesorised with a Triumph, YMMV. ;)

i guess our view is affected by how rare or common such phenomena :D
here 65% of moped riders are female, so they don't look special. look more special if they ride something sportier, know how to operate clutch, at least those kind know how to ride safer and in normal speed than some of the moped riders, some of the female moped rider ride dangerously slow, that force the driver behind to overtake yet they don't move aside or even get surprised or do weird thing like suddenly stopping or avoiding potholes or even making a u turn without looking back, always these slow unpredictable moped riders that are the most dangerous.... second to the online motorcycle/ moped taxi and courier whose eyes glued to their googlemap gps than to the traffic at hand.

JIngs, in Beijing it's the same, but for men and women. Chinese laws are much more lax for electric scooters up to and including the electric powered Vespa / equivalent. No compulsory helmet, insurance, licence.... just hop on one and drive away. It's also not entirely clear where they can and can't be ridden - mcs are on the roads, but electric scootersof any sorts seem to go in the cycle lanes. Also, the footpaTHS....last year, I one day had to jump out of the way of a guy riding towards me, on the wrong side of the road for the direction he was going, on the footpath, watching a video on his phone instead of the way ahead....

Hey watch it...I ride a true Girl's bike and wear a black leather 'HOG' vest on occasion... View attachment 229923 ...and could care less what stu thinks about it....;)

Ha, bravo... Is that a fancy Sportster? THat's a serious level of Chrome on there, it must take a lot of cleaning!


That is very nice indeed. I like that it has loads of pockets, but still a more traditional waistcoat look to it. Any more information? The inner pockets are great.
 
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16,796
here 65% of moped riders are female, so they don't look special. look more special if they ride something sportier, know how to operate clutch, at least those kind know how to ride safer and in normal speed than some of the moped riders, some of the female moped rider ride dangerously slow, that force the driver behind to overtake yet they don't move aside or even get surprised or do weird thing like suddenly stopping or avoiding potholes or even making a u turn without looking back, always these slow unpredictable moped riders that are the most dangerous.... second to the online motorcycle/ moped taxi and courier whose eyes glued to their googlemap gps than to the traffic at hand.

Are you saying mopeds are for girls, or....? Personally, I think a pretty lady is much better accesorised with a Triumph, YMMV. ;)

Haha, just saying, the way the sit on the moped. The arched back and all, not hunched over that big tank. :)

But yeah, I extremely rarely see girls on any kind of motorcycles here. Just not a common sight at all for me. Bicycles, yeah but motorcycles... Occasionally scooters, sometimes sports but never EVER on choppers or anything heavier like that. Don't really know why, though. Having owned a Ducati SS, I can safely say that Harley is much easier (and more fun) to ride.
 

Edward

Bartender
Messages
25,074
Location
London, UK
Just received a Pike Bros 'Elephant Skin' Vest / Waistcoat..cotton that feels as tough leather, going to take some breaking in...

https://pikebrothers-shop.com/ItemV...Index=1&itemSpecialView=&number=P0302-18-0001

I do like the look of those. I've recently added a Helston's vest to the want-list:

WEST-NOIR.jpg

WEST-NOIR-2.jpg


Have handled a new one; they seem to come fully black (not part-worn in like this promo model), very hefty, nice stuff. Lined, but not heavy lining, so should be a good option when too warm for all-leather. There is, I think from memory, a small internal pocket, though the outer ones are plenty big enough on the front for all you'd need travelling - phone, music player, keys, wallets, passport... I guess a paper or a novel (or, at a push, a pair of glove or a cap) could be stuffed into the rear pocket. Good combination of an old-school look and practical pockets. Top entry pockets on the front are a separate pocket from the flapped one on the front. Practical option for a bike vest in particular, possibly for hot weather wear over an armoured shirt (if you go in for protective wear, that is; this has no armour in itself, so a significant option for those who don't care for PPE).

The Pike option would definitely be one I'll be looking into from pov of something I could wear with slacks and a tie... hope to have one of these Helstons for a kicking about / denim / travelling option, will probably buy it a little loose a la my Highway man so it can be thrown over a sweater or an over-shirt as well when on the move. Being able to have everything I need in a vest instead of having to constantly empty pockets at security is a big advantage - hopefully within the next year or two I'll have the option of flying again!
 

Edward

Bartender
Messages
25,074
Location
London, UK
Got a couple of shots of tgat Helstons I forgot I took. Couple of minor changes from the promo image which was presumably ofa pre production sample. Uniform black, not weathered, branding is much more subtle, esp on the front, and the lower part of the front pockets is textile, not leather as per the flap. Buffalo check lining is only on the inner of the shoulder, back of the leather facing back yoke. Rest of the lining is black, no inner pockets. A graphic with Heltons' "Let's ride" brand on inner back. Would prefer not to have that myself, but it won't be seen when being worn of course. Inside label on inner left breast, which gives all info, space for writing a name. Nice cotton label, well made.
20211214_135855.jpg
20211214_135916.jpg
 

Edward

Bartender
Messages
25,074
Location
London, UK
I like a lot of Helstons stuff, but as yet I only have a pair of gloves from them.

A friend has their denim Yard Jacket, which is very nice.

I have some gloves from them too, very nice. Their jacket designs are less classic than might be my tastes, but they do have a lot of nice stuff. Impressive quality too.
 

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