Cycle Leather

Well folks, as reluctant as winter seems to give up it’s hold on us, the fact is that spring is now just around the corner.  That means we get to move from bitter cold snowy weather to weeks (or possibly months) of damp, chilly, rainy weather. 

My favorite rain gear for spring is a good, long leather duster, and a leather hat.  These long leather coats are so versatile; give them a coat of a quality leather water repellent product like Pecard Waterproof Dressing, and you have a really sharp looking all-weather coat that will put your standard raincoat to shame. 

Personally, I favor one made from buffalo hide, since it is tougher and more durable than cowhide, yet softer and more supple at the same time. 

Some models also include a removable cape across the shoulders which sheds rain and weather away from the shoulder and neck seams, increasing the weatherproof integrity of the coat.  Many also feature removable liners to make them cooler to wear in warmer climates or during summer rains.

If you thought that donning a leather motorcycle jacket and maybe some leather chaps and a helmet were all the protection you would ever need while cruising the highways on your motorcycle, think again…

A Canadian inventor has been granted a patent, by the UK, for an Electromagnetically shielded motorcycle seat.  Apparently, tests have shown that motorcycles generate massive amounts of EMF (ElectroMagnetic Field) and ELF (Extremely Low Frequency) radiation, which can penetrate through the motorcycles seat and into the riders groin and torso.   Some studies have indicated that extensive, long-term exposure to these types of radiation may be linked to numerous health problems including cancer. 

The inventor claims that steel or even lead are not sufficient to shield riders from this hazardous exposure, but the highly processed materials in his patented design can.

Should you be concerned?  Click here to read the complete article and decide for yourself.

Here is another exceedingly cool eco-friendly idea…  Wooden Scooters!!

A Portuguese craftsman, named Carlos Alberto, made this beautifully crafted Classic-style Vespa recreation.  Using an actual vespa which had fallen into disrepair as inspiration, he crafted a new curvy body for the scooter using long-tested woodworking techniques.  The backbone of the bike is crafted from steam-bent and plastic coated veneers from which the other carven wood body parts are suspended.  Even the seat and cargo tray are made of wood.

Sporting a nice brown leather motorcycle jacket or scooter jacket you would truly look ‘as one with the machine’ and nature. 

View more details about this unique scooter by clicking here.

Ok, this bike is sooo incredible Hot!!  I want it!  As soon as someone actually builds it…

It was conceptualized by Israeli designer Amir Glinik using existing Ferrari parts and technology. 

Designed around the theoretical modification of the Ferrari Enzo V-12 engine chopped down to just 4-cylinders, modified to drive just one wheel and stuffed into a motorcycle frame.  The design is completed by a super-sleek chassis, F-16 style controls for steering, and tank-top touch-screen to tell you what’s going on under all that fiberglass.

Hey! A girl can dream right?   Just think how sweet it would look with the pink leather jacket and pink chaps I already have 

The image that usually comes to mind when you think of chaps is a guy on a motorcycle, tooling down the road on his bike.  But chaps also serve a very important role in the workplace.  Many forest workers, welders, construction workers, and ranch workers wear leather chaps to protect their legs from the hazards of their jobs.

 Usually these are of a similar design to the brown leather chaps pictured here.  Most are made from full-grain cowhide or buffalo leather for extra toughness.  They are cut-resistant, puncture-resistant, abrasion-resistant, naturally fire-retardant, and will take an unbelievable amount of abuse before needing to be replaced (as opposed to the skin on your legs). 

Here is an interesting photo I came across.  I couldn’t find any additional information about it’s origins, but it appears to be a type of one-wheeled motorcycle (or possibly two closely-set wheels, it’s difficult to see in the picture). 

Looks to me as though it would have all the stability of a hedgehog on a caffeine-buzz.  How do you handle reverse-torque when accelerating?  And if it is two wheels, how do you make a turn without the outside wheel coming off the ground at speed?  And, oh yeah, where do you hang the saddlebags on this thing?

At least the guy in the photo has the good sense to be wearing a leather motorcycle jacket and a helmet.  Personally, I would be wearing some leather motorcycle chaps and gloves as well.  On second thought, I don’t think I would get on it in the first place.

Ok, this may be the ultimate in Eco-Friendly.  I don’t know where this was done or by whom.  But someone appears to have invested a considerable amount of time constructing this life-size replica of a motorcycle using woven baskets.   Apparently, it is even functional for storage, as the interior is accessible by lifting one of several ‘lids’.

I probably would have put a mannequin on it dressed in a brown leather motorcycle jacket, brown leather chaps, and brown leather gloves to complete the effect, but hey that just me….

Well, here is another motorcycle airbag story…

Apparently, the folks at Yamaha have been working on a ’safer’ high-powered scooter.  

Dubbed the ASV-3 (Advanced Safety Vehicle)  it is apparently designed to make those highly dangerous scooter rides a little bit safer (for some certain parts of your anatomy anyway). 

One of its numerous safety features is an airbag that is concealed just under the front of the seat. 

In the event of a high speed crash, the bag deploys between your legs to, presumably, prevent you from flying forward, off the scooter, and onto the pavement or other hard obstacles. 

 At least your reproductive future is protected, huh?   Although, considering most automobile airbags deploy at over 150 MPH, I think I would still wear a good pair of leather motorcycle chaps and a ‘cup’, to protect me from the airbag

Here’s a new twist on the classic leather motorcycle jacket… 

 Kenji Takeuchi, the founder and owner of a Japanese electrical services firm, has developed and marketed (only in Asia, Australia, Europe, and South America, so far) a motorcycle jacket with inflatable air-pockets that automatically inflate in the event of an accident where the rider is ejected from the bike.

Inspired by the emergency flotation bag used by scuba-divers, that jacket has a safety key that, if removed, causes concealed air-bags in the jacket to inflate.  A coiled safety wire is attached to the bike at one end and to the safety key at the other.  In the event of an accident, the wire pulls the key from the jacket, if the rider is thrown from the bike, the jacket then instantly inflates protecting the rider from the resulting upper-body trauma.  The jacket then automatically deflates in about 6 seconds, allowing the rider to move about freely.  A quick-release allows the rider to get off the bike without triggering the jacket.

Despite a cool initial reception by Japanese cycle manufacturers the Hit-Air, as it is called, is selling quite well in the markets where it is available.  Due to liability issues, it is currently not available in the U.S.

Another motorcycle accessory that is seeing increasing popularity is the Leather Travel Bag.   While they have been around for quite a while, an increasing number of new and inovative designs are appearing on the scene to fit every need large and small.

 Most of these mount on the back rest or ’sissy bar’, often on an accessory luggage carrier and add extra storage space beyond, and sometimes ‘instead of’ saddlebags.  These are especially handy when you take road trips and need to pack some extra clothes, food, or whatever.