Among the motorcycle communities your gear is an important safety precaution as well as a symbol of your style and attitude. Sportsbike riders tend to have a tight armored textile or leather jacket and pant combo with bright colors in a contemporary style if not a futuristic flavor. BMW riders have a similar style but with less of the colorful flare however the cloths tend to be upscale and can be costly. Cruisers like Harley bikes, Honda VTXs, Kawasaki Vulcans, etc.. tends toward more of the Easy Rider style, black leather jackets, leather gloves, dew rags, and leather chaps.
I ride two cruiser style bikes and the more I'm in the motorcycle community the more I am leaning towards that style. Now one of my favorite things to do is shop, yep I'm a stereotype. And so during the summer months when I was riding every weekend with my group the more I began thinking about leather chaps. I have armored textile riding pants already, great for wet weather and the cold. But in the summer time it can get too hot. I've been riding in just my jeans and no other leg protections. Not very good if I lay down the bike. But am I really a leather chap kinda guy or gay?
The beginning the leather chaps began over a hundred years for equestrian riders. The cowboy wore them while out on the range protecting their legs. It wasn't until the mid-1900's that motorcyclists appropriated that leg protection idea as well as the saddlebag concept.
Now chaps can say many things about a person. It can imply the person is a motorcyclist and is rough & tough, bad ass rider. However in the gay community it can also mean a fascination with leather and the S&M scene. That's fine if it's your leaning though it doesn't tend to be mine. I like leather more as a fashion statement, quality clothing and protection while riding. So as I contemplate getting chaps I have to decide why I want them and what it says about me.
Will chaps be comfortable? Will chaps be cooler than full textile armored pants? Will they protect me? And most importantly will they look good on me? I guess I'll have to see.
Would you wear chaps? Why and what does it say about you?
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I had the same reaction before buying my first pair of chaps and I won't ride without them now. Seems like a lifestyle choice at times and I have to admit, they look good on most men I see wear them, but mostly they're just uber-functional.
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