Other Motorcycle Clothing

Many developed countries mandate the wearing of protective clothing by motorcyclists, especially a helmet. Other protective gear may include certain types of jackets, gloves, boots, and pants. Jackets meant for motorcyclists are typically made of nylon, leather, or Kevlar. more...

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These jackets typically include heavy padding on the elbow, spine, and shoulder regions. Gloves are generally made of leather or Kevlar and some include carbon fiber knuckle protection. Boots, especially those for sport riding, include reinforcement and plastic caps on the ankle and toe areas. Pants are usually leather, nylon, or Kevlar. Except for helmets, none of these items are required by law in any state in the U.S. but are recommended by many of those who ride.

Trail bike riders wear a range of plastic armour to protect against injury from falling off, hitting other riders and bikes, and from running into track barriers protecting the public. This armour protects the extremities from breakage and dislocation and the back and chest from strain and broken bones. Although fairly efficient, it is of course not always completely effective.

Leathers

The term "motorcycle leathers" describes leather clothing worn by motorcyclists, usually for its armor value against the consequences of falling off their bike, and to provide additional weather protection that normal clothing would not offer when travelling at speed. A well-protected motorcyclist will wear boots with heels that fit on motorcycle pegs and provide good ankle support, leather pants or chaps to protect the legs, a leather jacket to protect the trunk and arms, gloves and a helmet with eye protection.

Originally, motorcycle leathers were adapted from tank corps gear immediately following World War I. Duster coats, which tended to catch in the wheels, were switched for short coats. Wide-pegged breeches were worn by some motorcycle police (and are still worn in Belgium) and by dispatch riders in World War II, but were largely abandoned in the post-war years because of their association with certain Nazi uniforms.

Currently there are two major styles of motorcycle leathers, the tight colorful suits based on traditional one-piece motorcycle racing leathers worn by cafe racers and others following the European style, and the somewhat looser fitting leather trousers and jackets, usually black and often decorated with metal studs, typically worn by bikers. The latter style, the jackets in particular, are also worn by people who are fond of the style but do not ride motorcycles. The classic American motorcycle jacket with epaulets and diagonal zipper, made famous by Marlon Brando in The Wild One, (1954) was invented in 1928 by Irving Schott, of Schott NYC in New York City. Leather chaps, adapted from cowboy gear, were used by American bikers starting in the early 1960s.

In addition, biker styles have an appeal to some leather fetishists such as designer Tom of Finland.

Read more at Wikipedia.org