Cycle Leather

The new Zero S claims to be the fastest, lightest, cleanest electric motorcycle built so far. The frame is made of aircraft grade aluminum alloy weighing only 29 pounds. The patent pending lithium Ion battery system weighs another 80lbs, so total bike weighs in at 270 pounds.  That is very light but not a bike for a woman or the vertically challenged with a seat height of 35.5 inches. (compared to a seat height of just 27 inches on our Vulcan 1500 Classic). 

It boasts instant acceleration from zero to 55mph (top speed) in just under 5 seconds, but extremely limited range, about 50 miles on a charge.  Charging can take upto 4 hours, so definitely not designed for trips.

To give it it’s due, on the short range, it is built for high performance, high torque, rapid accelleration, and maneuverability, so remember to wear your sturdy buffalo chaps when riding.  This bike sounds good if you are looking for a bike that can handle city traffic and short rides in the country without filling the tank, but there is currently no infrastructure to support it for longer rides.

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.

Pink chaps and 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.

Chaps can be understood as any sturdy leg coverings. They are usually accompanied by a belt, and they are always worn over other pants. Unlike standard trousers, however, chaps do not have any fabric covering the seat. They are most often made of leather, and their primary purpose is protection while riding a horse or motorcycle.

As such, they are often associated with the cowboys of the west, and therefore, they were used to ride through brushy terrain. There are many different kinds and varieties of chaps available, including shotgun chaps, which are so named for their straight and narrow legs. There are also batwing chaps, which have a flared leg design. Probably the most well known, however, are the basic leather motorcycle chaps, which are used exclusively for comfort and protection while riding.

If you’re an avid motorcycle enthusiast, there’s little doubt that you own a pair of chaps. They make motorcycle riding so much more comfortable, and they also protect you from the rain. With the comfort offered by these leather chaps, it’s important that they fit you properly. After all, if they don’t fit well, it will nullify much of the comfort that they are supposed to offer. To that end, the first thing to keep in mind when purchasing chaps is that you go wearing what you’re going to be wearing when riding.

This is because chaps are meant to fit over a pair of jeans or other pants, so when you try them on, you’ll want to have an accurate estimate for how the chaps will fit in a real ride situation. You’ll also want to be wearing the same boots that you’ll be riding in. Chaps are supposed to be snug, but make sure they’re not too snug or too loose. Too snug and they’ll be uncomfortable, but too loose and they’ll bunch and pinch. Also, make sure the chaps fit about one inch below the waist of your jeans.

Chaps are usually worn over denim jeans or other trousers of heavy material. They have their own belt, and usually are fitted around the hips, resting below the belt loops of the trousers. Except for chinks and armitas, which are designed to fit above the boot, most chaps are long, fitting over the boot and draping slightly over the vamp of the boot (see shoe).

Some leather chaps are cut to hang long at the heel and nearly cover the entire boot except for the toe. Batwings, chinks, and shotgun chaps fit firmly but comfortably around the thigh, with shotguns continuing to fit closely all the way down the calf, though not so snug as to limit free knee movement. The shotgun design is a bit flared at the ankle to allow for the rider’s boot. Batwings and chinks are not attached around the leg below the knee.

No woman wants to blend in with the crowd. Standing out is the best way to get a man’s attention. And there’s no better way to stand out from the crowd than by wearing a sexy get up. If you like men who like Harleys, you should consider getting yourself a cute pair of pink motorcycle chaps.  Not only will a pair of these pink chaps allow you to stand out from the crowd, they will also protect you from the elements when riding on the back of your dream guy’s Harley. You will feel so feminine, yet so butch wearing a pair of leather chaps. If anyone teases you, just tell them to “talk to the hand” as you’re riding away into the sunset on the back of your man’s Harley.

While you are getting your bike ready for the spring riding season:  charging and re-installing the battery, checking the engine and tranny oil, topping off the brake fluid, and checking the tires, brakes, and lights.   Don’t forget to give your leather motorcycle jacket and leather chaps a checkup and tune-up if needed. 

Check for cracks and/or dryness especially in creases and where the leather flexes, such as the elbows, knees, across the shoulders and under the arms.  Give a generous treatment of a good leather conditioner to any problem areas that you find (of course you should also have done this prior to storing it away at the end of last riding season, if not - a little extra care now can fix most problems).  

Next,  give a light treatment overall to moisturize and prepare the leather to be worn again after winter storage.  This is especially important of you have a brown leather jacket and/or brown leather chaps because while this leather is extremely durable and wear resistant, it is less resistant to the elements and requires just a little extra care to keep it supple and weather resistant.

Any small loose seams or hems, such as at the sleeve cuffs, collar, or pant cuffs can be repaired with some rubber cement and allowed to dry thoroughly before wearing. 

Other motorcycle leather, such as saddlebags, travel bags, and tool bags, should be given a good coat of leather waterproofing compound to renew their water resistance for the coming season.  Just a little maintenance will keep your bike, and your leather happy and healthy for another summer season.  Ride On!

Leather motorcycle clothing can also protect riders and passengers from the hot surfaces  present on an operating or recently operated motorcycle.  The engine and exhaust system get extremely hot during operation and often can remain quite hot for some time after the bike is turned off.  Exposed skin, or skin covered only by thin clothing, can sustain serious burns in a matter of seconds from contact with these surfaces. 

 Leather chaps will protect the rider’s legs from accidental contact with the engine and/or exhaust while riding and also when mounting and dismounting the bike.  Passengers should also wear leather chaps since, depending on the model of motorcycle, the exhaust system and muffler are often routed quite near to the passengers legs as well.  

If a motorcycle goes down at highway speed, or even moderate speed, the rider can slide for a considerable distance on the road surface before coming to a stop.  This sliding and or tumbling causes damaging friction, much like exposing your skin to sandpaper or a grinding wheel (not a pleasant thought at all).  Exposed skin can suffer devastating damage from exposure to the road surface, cotton shirts and jeans also offer very little protection before being torn away or shredded.

Leather motorcycle jackets and chaps provide a barrier of protection between the riders skin and the harsh road surface, absorbing impact and abrasion.  The tough leather jacket, and padding underneath, will wear away on the road surface, absorbing friction and giving the rider time to slide to a stop before the road surface reaches their vulnerable skin. 

Nobody ever climbs on their bike planning to be involved in an accident before reaching their destination or returning home, but accidents do happen - and if it happens to you, I guarantee you will be thankful you were wearing leather. 

That would be ’Unidentified Flying Road Debris’   

But seriously, if you’ve been riding more than an hour, I’m sure you are familiar with the pebbles and road debris that can be kicked up by passing vehicles and vehicles you may be following from time to time.  Wearing a leather motorcycle jacket and leather chaps protects a riders skin from these usually small, but potentially injurous missiles.  The toughness of the leather and padding will help to deflect and absorb the impacts of these objects.

And let’s not forget about ‘bugs’.  Impacting a large, hard-shelled bug at highway speed and be quite painful on bare skin or thin clothing.  And that’s if it is just an ordinary bug, you also run the risk of impacting a bee or wasp, which puts you into a whole new category of pain (I can tell you from experience).  Depending on the location of the impact, this can pose a serious safety and/or control risk to the rider operating the motorcycle.  The thick, resilient protection afforded by leather can easily absorb these impacts unscathed, sparing you the pain and risk.  For obvious reasons, we also recommend wearing a helmet, with a face-shield, and gloves.