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Fedora Lounge Motorcyclists: Safe Gear with a Vintage Vibe

Edward

Bartender
Messages
25,084
Location
London, UK
The bike was originally black, but the previous owner had it resprayed this colour. It makes it more closely resemble a true vintage bike I think, rather than a modern retro style. I like the colour but it's perhaps not what I might have chosen if I were given free range. I think a different colour might be in the future.



I've always adored the belted style. Over the years I've had innumerable Barbour Internationals, a beautiful unlined Trialmaster in tan canvas, Speedwear, and assorted no-brand versions. My everyday all purpose jacket is a knackered old SMU Barbour International in olive green. I wear it for riding sometimes too, layered over an armoured Kevlar shirt.

That's what I wore at the weekend when I was fortunate enough to spend a few hours on a friend's Bobber.

Made for a fitting ensemble.

IMG_20211025_134918876_HDR2.jpg




I've tried leather options in this style too, but agree with you that it's harder to get right. I once had to be physically restrained from buying a Barbour X Alexander Leathers (? I think, not sure) in prosperously heavy oxblood (cordovan?) hide. It was a beautiful tank.

Personally, for a leather version to work for me it needs to for far slimmer than they usually tend to be cut. This style often has a wide sleeve, which breaks in better for me in waxed cotton than in leather. Something akin to the fit of a Belstaff Panther might be nice - if they ever did an armoured variant.

The Bobber is a stunner; that one in particular really captures the look of a vintage bike much more so than the 'all black' version I've seen.

Yeah, Alexander Leathers / Simmons Bilt were outsourced to produce a run of leather ones for Barbour. It wasn't marketed under anything other than the Barbour brand, though. I believe AL/SB, although a fairly small operation, do a fair bit of outsourced manufacture under other brand names. That version look quite good, presumably using patterns supplied by Barbour. AL did used to (not looked at their site in a long time, may still) have a belted jacket in their range, but it was all... 'off'. I remember they did it with a shirt-style collar, and the pockets were oversized which gave it an odd look. They did, at least back in the Will Lauder days, have a strange obsession with adding oversized and/or extraneous pockets. I suppose that was them seeking to put their own spin on the designs, but for me it didn't work.
 

barnabus

One Too Many
Messages
1,495
Location
Britain's oldest recorded town
The Bobber is a stunner; that one in particular really captures the look of a vintage bike much more so than the 'all black' version I've seen.

I'm very fortunate to have a friend who's so generous with his things. I've ridden that V4R as well, but it's not for me!

The Bobber is quite heavily, but unobtrusively, modified - but I think it's the seat that makes it. A beautiful triangle of vintage tan leather that evokes a real history.
 

Edward

Bartender
Messages
25,084
Location
London, UK
I'm very fortunate to have a friend who's so generous with his things. I've ridden that V4R as well, but it's not for me!

The Bobber is quite heavily, but unobtrusively, modified - but I think it's the seat that makes it. A beautiful triangle of vintage tan leather that evokes a real history.

Yes! The standard design is very 'modern' a la modern, blacked-out Harleys, which I suppose must be its direct competition. The seat is definitely one of those touches that takes a very modern bike and gives it a much older vibe. Sort of reminiscent of the Harley they used for Mutt in the last Indiana Jones picture, which was a new bike modified to look late fifties. The seat is definitely the killer-touch that makes it. If I was ever looking for a 'big' bike, that's exactly the sort as would tempt me.
 

Herresbach

Familiar Face
Messages
58
Location
Germany
My bad weather/cold day riding outfit with a vintage vibe is the Lewis Mudlarker combined with an Ortema amoured shirt (Level 2) underneath. Wearing the shirt with my leather jackets as well. Since it‘s a level 2 shirt with back and chest protector it does add some bulk but it fits under my leather jackets I use for casual wear, even the slimer ones.

235887D2-A34D-4491-ADB1-7341D0E1812B.jpeg
C06CC902-C15C-4182-BD47-C263F0C0AA2C.jpeg
 

Edward

Bartender
Messages
25,084
Location
London, UK
My bad weather/cold day riding outfit with a vintage vibe is the Lewis Mudlarker combined with an Ortema amoured shirt (Level 2) underneath. Wearing the shirt with my leather jackets as well. Since it‘s a level 2 shirt with back and chest protector it does add some bulk but it fits under my leather jackets I use for casual wear, even the slimer ones.

View attachment 378227 View attachment 378225

That Lewis looks really nice - not often you hear as much about their non-leather jackets, but that - waxed cotton, I'm assuming? - one looks really nice.
 

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