Leather Motorcycle Gear

  Already I’m dreaming of warm, dry weather – aka the perfect riding conditions. I’ve been scouring the Internet for interesting new routes to test out this spring. Highway 20 Washington Pass out in Washington State sounds incredible.

According to what I’ve read, the ride is approximately 65 miles from Marblemount to the North Cascades. The route travels through old growth forest and, if continued through to the North Cascades scenic highway, riders can see Lake Chelan. As soon as the road opens in April I’ll throw on my jacket, gas up my ride, gather all my motorcycle accessories, and hit the road!

   Ben, my buddy from college, lives out in Boulder, Colorado. It’s a fantastic area for outdoorsmen and women. There are seemingly hundreds of trails, impressive 14-ers, several breathtaking national parks, and fantastic skiing in the winter. This past fall Ben bought his first motorcycle, but hasn’t used it much beyond tooling around town. When I heard this I immediately invited myself to visit him for a week so we could take some scenic rides.

The first ride I want to try out is the Peak to Peak Highway, which is part of the National Scenic Byway Program. The 55 mile long route winds its way through Rocky Mountain National Park, Golden Gate Canyon State Park, Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and more. Plus, it’s only a 2-3 hour ride, which should be manageable even for a beginner. The other surprise I have in store for him is leather motorcycle chaps in honor of his first real ride!

While some people scoff at wearing a helmet, anyone who has been in an accident would say that wearing a helmet is essential. The truth is that helmets save lives, even if they don’t look all that fashionable. Whether you’re riding a bicycle around the neighborhood or riding your motorcycle down the highway, a helmet is necessary for safety. Not wearing a helmet can result in not just a citation from a law enforcement official, but also extreme trauma or damage to the head.  Just like wearing a seat belt is essential in a car, a helmet is essential for bikes, motorcycles, and ATVs.  Motorcycle helmets are now more advanced and comfortable than their predecessors.  But no matter what kind of motorized vehicle you’re using, it’s important to wear a helmet.

Despite jabs at being unfashionable, most helmet models and motorcycle gear are streamlined and aerodynamic. In addition, you can find a wealth of different helmets that feature cool decals. There’s always one to suit an individual’s style!

There’s no denying the universal appeal of the traditional biker look. The cool shades, the bandana, the black leather jacket and matching chaps combine to connote a rebellious attitude. As a female motorcyclist, however, the standard all-black getup begins to wear thin. Consider updating your biker digs by branching out into a whole new color scheme.

Womens motorcycle  chaps can come in pink as well as jackets are no less functional than run-of-the-mill black, but they make a considerably louder statement. While lesser bikers need to rev their engines repeatedly just to draw some interest, a pink-clad cyclist commands attention. Best of all, pink and black work well as complementary colors. Feel free to mix and match to establish a signature look.

In the last 40 years, the road trip has become an American rite of passage. Some would credit the New Hollywood feature “Easy Rider” with introducing the road trip into the public consciousness. Some people take the lone wolf mentality, while others converge at annual events like the Sturgis SD bike rally. In any case, a cross-country trip is as informative as it is exhilarating. With gas prices at a relative low, there’s never been a better time to take to the open road.

But before you ride out on that souped-up Harley, you’ll need to figure out a luggage solution. Even those who pack extremely light will require several changes of clothes and some other essentials. Leather motorcycle xelement saddlebags provide space and convenience that any biker can appreciate. Just load them up with your indispensable gear and head off down the road - enjoy the scenery!

Most bikers on the road these days take precautions to ensure a comfortable ride and protect themselves in the event of a crash. Helmets, jackets, gloves and boots have become the standard uniform for bikers of all stripes. One part of the body, however, is often left exposed: the legs.

While jeans may seem like adequate covering, the fabric is breathable and tears easily, leaving your legs cold and unprotected if you crash. The best bet for cyclists is to invest in a pair of leather motorcycle chaps. Leather is a strong, impermeable fabric, offering protection for the wind and cold, as well as from scratches and burns in a spill. Since chaps can easily be put on and removed over your pants, they are also quite convenient.

It’s important for bikers to have some modicum of protection in case of an accident, and helmets deserve to be the first consideration. However, style remains a priority for many motorcyclists. Full-faced helmets can be construed as bulky and restrictive, and of course they limit the feeling of freedom that comes along with a cruise down the open road. Fortunately, less-restrictive helmets can remedy that problem while still offering a layer of cranium protection.

German outlaw motorcycle helmets feature wide-open faces with a shell covering the rest of the head. These helmets are typically worn with goggles or some other means of eye protection that reduces the effect of wind and rain. If you can find alternate ways of keeping the elements at bay, a German motorcycle helmet might be right up your alley. Their protective value is tested and proven, but it’s the aesthetic aspect that sets these helmets apart.

Remember OJ Simpson and the supposedly derogatory piece of evidence that helped to acquit him?  It was a pair of leather gloves that seemed too tight for Simpson to put on easily.  After that trial, the leather gloves introduced yet another facet of Simpson’s character.  Setting aside this little incident of the leather gloves, we take note of the many uses of this clothing accessory.Gloves are commonly used in sporting events like baseball, cycling and football.  They provide protection to the construction worker and is part of the regular uniform of the police officer.  Women and men alike wear leather gloves to add chic to their attire and at the same time ward off the cold.

Modern techniques produce leather in different colors and textures that are even more appealing to women. This type of motorcycle accessories are important with for your attire.

Every year my boyfriend tells me he wants a motorcycle. And every year I tell him no. It’s not because I’m a wimp or a control freak, you have to know about his past to understand why it would be a dangerous purchase for his future. Wilber has always been an audacious guy. A true man’s man in sports and competition, he’s always looking for an adrenaline rush.

When Wilber was 16 he accompanied his father to California to spend a week riding dirt bikes through the trails of the mountains. He had been lagging behind a little on one route and in an effort to catch up to the pack, he accelerated quickly. What he didn’t foresee was that they were approaching a turn, but instead of curving with the side of the mountain, he flew off the side on his bike. A shattered pelvis and an almost-lost eye were his repercussions. Maybe I can talk him into collecting motorcycle vests or Zippo lighters instead.

Few would deny there’s something unmistakably cool about the clothing motorcyclists wear. From the intimidating leather jackets to the shiny black boots, style is clearly a consideration for most bikers. On the other hand, there are substantial reasons why motorcycle enthusiasts make certain clothing choices before hitting the road. If you think leather pants and motorcycle chaps are just for show, you’d better think again.

While it’s obvious that riding a motorcycle is potentially dangerous, you might not guess that most of the injuries suffered are to the lower body. That’s why a good pair of motorcycle riding boots and a protective layer of leather on the legs are essential. The best motorcycle pants feature some reinforcement in the knee and hip regions - the spots most likely to come in contact with the ground should the rider be thrown off.