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03-06-2008, 11:06 AM | #1 |
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Location: la Fayette, Ga
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Old school safety clothes
I have always wondered about the safety clothing for motorcycle riders. It's safe to be more visable right? Then why for decades has the choice for attire been BLACK jackets, chaps vests and boots? I'm not about to change it's just part of the life.
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03-06-2008, 11:59 AM | #2 |
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Denver, CO
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Old school safety clothes
I think the biker movies from the 50's are responsible.
Pilots from WWII are credited with coming back and wearing their bomber jackets on their bikes and giving the look, but theirs were brown. Evel Knievel's white leathers would stand out the best, the cape would help too ;) but I'm not going there. |
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03-06-2008, 12:22 PM | #3 |
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Old school safety clothes
bad boy / tough guy image. bad cowboys always wear black don't they??
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03-06-2008, 01:49 PM | #4 |
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Join Date: Nov 2007
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Old school safety clothes
I can't picture myself riding down I-75 with a white cape flying behind me. Maybe in California, not in Georgia.
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03-06-2008, 01:53 PM | #5 |
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Old school safety clothes
I think Dan's right about the WWII pilots. The black became popular because of the older "oil leaking" Harleys. They had to do so many repairs and got oil on their leathers which stained them "black", it was just easier to start with black so the stains wouldn't show. That's the way I heard it anyhow.
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03-06-2008, 09:07 PM | #6 | |
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Old school safety clothes
Quote:
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03-07-2008, 09:00 PM | #7 |
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada
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Old school safety clothes
I think it just tradition, somethings are just better left alone,
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03-07-2008, 10:00 PM | #8 |
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Old school safety clothes
I reckon I'm at the age that I'm not too concerned about a particular image. I wear a bright yellow Nolan helmet and an Aerostich one-piece suit in Hi-viz yellow. Once in a while when I don't feel like putting on the Aerostich for a short run-about I will wear my black leather jacket.
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03-08-2008, 09:37 AM | #9 |
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Old school safety clothes
yea, at my age it's not about image but about staying alive. Bright yellow jacket, no black leather for me.
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03-08-2008, 09:55 AM | #10 |
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Old school safety clothes
Leather was the fabric that gave the most protection for a long time.Maybe it still is. The old movies portrayed the biker (I consider my self an enthusiast) as a bad boy, rebel type.I think that is how the brown turned black. Anyway, now I have a bright yellow firstgear mesh jacket that really shows up. I would rather be alive and square than cool dead.
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03-08-2008, 11:31 PM | #11 |
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Old school safety clothes
Various leather sections were difficult to match for color, blemishes, etc. So the manufacturers dyed them black. At least that is what a couple of old family members told me. A quick search on the net seems to support their explanation.
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