Biker chic

Rough and tumble biker clothes serve to save soft skin — and skulls — underneath

If you’ve ever tried on a motorcycle jacket at East Rider Inc. in St. John’s, you already know what it’s like to be safely cocooned in the thickest swath of black leather.

In fact, you better have sturdy shoulders to bear up under its weight. That’s because motorcyclists are all about safety first.

“You have to have leather with a particular tensile, something that, when you’re sliding across pavement, won’t tear apart,” says Come By Chance native and shop owner Selwyn Rose. “It can’t be lambskin — it has to be cowhide. All our clothes are cowhide.”

No matter what biker necessity or accessory you pick up in the store, there’s a purpose behind its design. The quintessential motorcycle jacket includes hard plastic armour at the elbows and shoulders, insulation against the wind and zippered vents to cool off on those hot days of summer.

Of course, there are riders who like the basic streamlined look — all the better for zipping around in Newfoundland’s notoriously high gusts — but more often than not, motorcyclists enjoy enhancing their don’t-mess-with-me look with archetypal images of skulls, crossbones and flames. At East Rider Inc., 205 New Gower St., it’s all about personal preference.

“Those people who are a little more edgy than the typical guy, like to express that. It makes them feel more of who they really are. The accessories are personality extensions — some guys like a bit of fringe on their jacket, on their saddlebags, while other guys are all about the plain, with no bells and whistles.”

And while some unapologetically channel the tough-guy look, there are others, picking up riding as a hobby in their post-parenthood years, who come into the shop looking to deck themselves out in a full set of leather gear, too.

Then there are the ladies. More and more women, says Rose, are discovering the lure of the open road and want to co-ordinate themselves accordingly — typically with coloured bandanas for that après ride squished hairdo. Leather wrist cuffs and novelty skull and bullet belt buckles are also popular picks.

Besides jackets, which can come stylishly cropped and with lace ties, chaps are available with silver rivets or bone embellishments. Then there are the boots— ankle or mid-calf high — gloves and, most importantly, helmets. Whether you go with the short style or full-face helmet, it is key for sitting astride your first Harley Davidson chopper or Yamaha cruiser.

Rose points out an accessory strictly for the machine itself: those telltale blasts from the back of the bikes.

“Our motto is ‘Loud pipes save lives,’” he says. “Loud pipes let drivers in cars know we’re there, and keep us from being backed into or even driven over.”

One last question remains, then: what’s with all the black? Is it all just for bad-ass show? Again, says Rose, it’s about protecting the rider while out cruising in the elements.

“Black is practical and versatile. It can get scratched in a fall and look good if it’s road-worn. It’s tough to go around in white leather.”

mandy.cook@theindependent.ca

 

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1	Public Notice (7/21/2008)
2	‘Musical miracle’ (7/19/2008)
3	‘When the Rondo’s rockin’, don’t bother knockin’ (7/19/2008)
4	What are Newfoundlanders smoking? (7/19/2008)
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