Ride in Style - Show your vintage motorcycle riding gear

[Edward]

Is the purpose to compensate for the lack of suspension?

That's my understanding. The kidneys aren't really supported by anything else, and can jiggle quite a lot otherwise. Also I believe they are intended to force a better posture, reducing lower back pain cause by a long time in the saddle. There's a whole debate of course in the modern era as to whether they are good or harmful, somewhat inevitably largely coloured by individuals' subjective opinions being presented as objective fact, as was ever the case on the internet.

 

[Antique Indian Motocycles]

Edward said: ↑
Riding hats in particular are an interesting curio frozen in time with no obvious evolutionary replacement given that they have (across much of the world, anyhow) given way to a mix of the broad hatless trend and helmet laws.

Riding hats are curious indeed. They were pure functional to keep the hair dry and protect from wind. Most of them didn´t give a smart or cool look,too. Here are some guys wearing riding hats back in the 40s. Every newsboy cap or military styled with a visor looks more cool....

 

[Bfd70]

That 3rd pic is just so great!

 

[Edward]

Edward said: ↑
Riding hats in particular are an interesting curio frozen in time with no obvious evolutionary replacement given that they have (across much of the world, anyhow) given way to a mix of the broad hatless trend and helmet laws.

Riding hats are curious indeed. They were pure functional to keep the hair dry and protect from wind. Most of them didn´t give a smart or cool look,too. Here are some guys wearing riding hats back in the 40s. Every newsboy cap or military styled with a visor looks more cool....

Served much the same function as the leather flying helmet in the same period, really... (seems there was a lot of crossover or at least commonality between riding and flying gear in the early days). The problem with a peaked cap is that once you get any real speed up, you're apt to lose it to the wind!

 

[Antique Indian Motocycles]

When it´s getting colder, a good old leather jacket is my choice for blasting away the autumn leaves. Here you see original 1930s German motorcycle gear. The jacket was tailored around 1937 for MC Competition with extra heavy padding. CHXL HH. There´s a good story behind that jacket I will tell soon. Breeches are HH too in chocolate brown, as popular in prewar times. Boots are Italian HH.

“Ride in Style”

 

[marker2037]

Seriously cool on another level. *sigh* makes me yearn to get back into collecting motorcycles lol

 

[marker2037]

Here's my old Davida helmet I used to wear, mostly on my Norton, although this pic was taken while riding on the Pacific Coast Highway Route 1 on my Triumph Tiger 800 during my cross country motorcycle trip from NJ and back (10,000 total miles traveled in 22 days).

Yea, it was raining so I had to break out the rain gear during this shot. Underneath is a Dainese jacket.

This low-res pic from my FB is all I could find at the moment as my old pics are all on my old Macbook, which I seem to have lost the charger for.

 

[lina]

little ride last weekend ! great thread

View attachment 370996

What’s the bike on the left..?

 

[41eiffel]

What’s the bike on the left..?

An AJS !

 

[lina]

An AJS !

Pretty amazing.

 

[Antique Indian Motocycles]

Back in the days riding hats and caps were a must. Famously worn by Marlon Brando, the 8 panel hat is iconic. Here is a customized version.

 

[Motocann]

As we started to talk about kidney belts, or riding belts, as they were called also, let’s put a light onto that one I am wearing on this photos.
View attachment 370957 View attachment 370958

WOW! Amazing!

 

[Motocann]

Not quite Antique Indian, but...

 

[tmitchell59]

Back in the days riding hats and caps were a must. Famously worn by Marlon Brando, the 8 panel hat is iconic. Here is a customized version. View attachment 380719 View attachment 380720 View attachment 380721

Love that Hat!

I don't ride, but do have these leather riding pants. They have this NRA tag which was used from 1931-1933 then abolished. These are one of the oldest leather garments that I have.

Button Fly

Old Talon zips

 

[Monitor]

Oldest motorcycle thing that I got are these 30's or 40's German leather trousers which are actually stunning IRL.

 

[41eiffel]

Not quite Antique Indian, but... View attachment 386964 View attachment 386969

Hey Merv ! Is that your 47 Knucklehead ?

 

[Motocann]

Hey Merv ! Is that your 47 Knucklehead ?

Yes, it is!

 

[Motocann]

Love that Hat!

I don't ride, but do have these leather riding pants. They have this NRA tag which was used from 1931-1933 then abolished. These are one of the oldest leather garments that I have.

View attachment 387218

View attachment 387219

View attachment 387220

Button Fly

View attachment 387221

Old Talon zips

View attachment 387222

View attachment 387224

View attachment 387231

Those are amazing! They should be in a museum!

 

[41eiffel]

Yes, it is!

Amazing ! Welcome to the exclusive D-Pocket and red 47 club !

 

[Motocann]

Amazing ! Welcome to the exclusive D-Pocket and red 47 club !
View attachment 387264

Wow! Very nice!