New leathers.

I'm much more comfortable in jeans, timberlands, and my HG fabric
jacket. Exactly what I chose to wear for a ride from Basel to London,
if you remember.

They didn't need breaking in. They're fine when they're on the bike,
apart from the fact that I don't really like the feeling of them.

It's when I'm *off* the bike, that's the problem.

 

It all depends how *quickly* you get *off* the bike.

 

Doing nothing to improve safety, on the basis that doing something of
benefit presents a greater risk of being sued, shows just how out of
touch with common sense, and obsessed with making money, certain
factions within the legal profession have become. But this is not a new
situation. It was the same fears that prevented the ACU from publishing
its racewear standard in the late 1980s.

This is the key reason why I have proposed a standard for clothing used
in motorcycle competition and track days. The European Standard EN
13595 specifically excludes competition clothing (at the specific
request of two Italian brands...), but not track days.

Track day organisers could already insist on participants wearing EN
13595-conforming clothing (and then it wouldn't matter if the clothing
was leather, textile or a combination) and enjoy the legal umbrella
enshrined by compliance with a British Standard (the EN is published in
the UK as "BS EN 13595" and thus has the status of a British Standard).


The proposed new standard, work on which is in progress, will remove
any ambiguity about whether track day organisers should operate to the
existing EN or one tailored more to circuit-based activities. At the
moment they could possibly cite the specific exclusion for motorcycle
sport in EN 13595 as a reason for doing nothing; voicing obvious
comparisons between the two types of activity.

 

I would think sales would largely depend on whether UKRM's style gurus
declare them gay or not[1]



[1] Though its harder to say in which direction a pro gay decision would
move sales.

 

Halvarssons Safety suit in both the above types of use = yes.
Jofama are exhibiting at this year's NEC bike show. It will be
interesting to learn what ukrm-ers think of Jofama's efforts.

 

Sounds interesting. About time there was a big leap in the evolution of bike
clothing. Damp Belstaffs were what made me give up biking in '85.

 

Nah. Fanny-packs are for arses/asses.

 

I spend my time trying not to.

 

My Crowtree two-piece suit was a bit less than that - although that was
a few years ago. I'll need to replace it sometime - same reason as
Linger - and I will quite likely get another one from them.
I can't say it's been tested like yours, but I'm fairly confident it
would do its job.

The likes of Crowtree and MJK aren't an awful lot more expensive than
the better off-the-peg suits - less than some. The only real
disadvantage is the need to be measured up and the delay whilst it's
made.

In return, you get a perfect fit and influence over the specifications
and design. Well worth it if you're actually going to be wearing them
more than a few times a year.

 

They could, but half their punters would then not be able to take part.

Vicious circle I guess, or at least a painful one financially for the
initial change.

 

There are at Kirkistown

'Hog

 

More or less plain black at the moment (see www.jofama.se). However,
since the outer layer of both jacket and trousers can be switched
between wet/cold weather and hot/dry weather configurations, they could
equally be produced in a range of design and colour options which would
provide one with the facility to change one's appearance to suit the
prevailing fashion/mood.

LOL

 

Well, the latest issue of Ride magazine has the jacket on page 95.
Estimated price is ukp470 - just for the jacket. I certainly won't be
buying one.

 

The latter. The weather's too nice to bother with insults, and I
honestly can't remember the last time I threatened anyone.

 

sweller says...

I've been wearing and selling motorcycle clothing for years. OK, so I
did my first track day at the weekend, but I'd agreed with the clothing
standards for years beforehand. I depise the Kevlar/Lycra GTS suits,
basically because I've seen the remains of a shredded one, but they are
ok to wear at certain tracks.

I think it's all down to knowing I'm not invincible. I smashed myself
to bits at 50mph when I was a teenager, wearing jeans, Doc Martens, a
cotton Harrington jacket and a cheap open face lid. Had I been wearing
leathers and a decent full face helmet, which I owned, I would most
certainly have suffered far fewer injuries and not spent 3 weeks in a
coma, a total of 4 1/2 months in hospital and 3 years of physio
recovering from my injuries.

I don't take the chance anymore. I kit up every time I take the bike
out, but to me it's worth it because I tend to do big mileages when I
do take the bike. If I need to pop to the shops I walk or take the car.

 

I went for black (and silver) leathers becauser every other colour
clashes with ginger hair like a motherfucker.

 

You've not done a very good job mate, it must be months since you were
last on the bike...

 

Well Kawasaki green sort of works with ginger, buit at the time I bought
the leathers I had the red & white R6..

I'm puzzling as to how a tampon can look bemused, tbh.

 

No, best not. I'll also try to avoid thinking.

 

That's certainly not in the budget range, but it's not that different to
the cost of a top-notch leather jacker. With its added versatility it
could be worth the extra cost. I'll be interested to take a look at it
this November.

However, I don't think that they address Ben's "Sunday lunch" problem:
they don't look like ordinary clothes.

I'm not sure that any motorcycle gear fits the bill. Or even clothes worn
on a motorcycle! Jeans may be better for visiting folk, but not if
they're liberally spattered with dead flies.

The only answer I can think of other than carrying a change of clothes
around - not so bad for me on the Tiger; less easy on the Z1000 - is to
wear some sort of oversuit.

In the winter, that's what I do,[1] and it certainly has some practical
advantages over and above keeping me warm and dry. Fortunately, the
luggage on the Tiger is big enough to hold them, so I can even change when
I reach my destination, even in the middle of a car park.

But they're far too hot for summer use and they are a bit bulky to be
leaving around someone else's house.

Is there any over-suit which meets stringent safety standards yet would be
practical and comfortable? Is it even possible? I notice that the
Halvarssons suit is quite close fitting; something which I suspect is
required to keep armour in place but which if true would preclude any
over-suit from being as protective.