So, I got this bug in my ear a while back about putting together a proper vintage motorcycle outfit. Not just some costume, mind you, but something that felt, you know, real. Modern gear is fine, does the job, keeps you in one piece mostly, but it’s got no soul, has it? All plastic and screaming logos. I wanted something different.
The Great Jacket Hunt
First thing, obviously, was the jacket. Man, what a palaver that turned out to be. You see these things online, look amazing, then they turn up and they’re either paper-thin rubbish or built for a bloke twice my size, or half. I spent weeks, I tell ya, weeks, trawling through sites, markets, even asked a few old timers I know if they had anything tucked away in an attic. Most of what you find advertised as ‘vintage’ is just modern stuff made to look old, and badly at that. It’s like they think slapping a few extra patches on makes it ‘classic’. Nonsense.
I eventually found one, a proper heavy leather thing, smelled faintly of oil and maybe a bit of old tobacco. Not perfect, mind. Had a dodgy zip I had to get replaced, and the lining was a bit tatty. But it had character. That’s the key, innit? Character. Cost me a fair bit more than I wanted to spend, but what’s new?
Headgear Headaches
Then the helmet. Now, this was a tricky one. You want the look, but you also don’t fancy scrambling your brains if the worst happens. Some of those old pudding basins offer about as much protection as a wet paper bag. I looked at some originals, beautiful things, but felt like I was tempting fate. In the end, I compromised. Found a modern helmet but with a really classic, open-face design. Sprayed it a nice muted colour myself, none of those fancy graphics. Still looking for some proper vintage goggles to go with it, the kind with the leather surround. The cheap ones just fog up or fall apart.
The Rest of the Kit
Boots and gloves were next. For boots, I wanted something sturdy, leather, that would look right but still let me feel the gears. Found a pair of old army surplus boots, actually. Took a bit of breaking in, I’ll tell you that for free. My feet were killing me for the first week. But they polish up nice and feel like they’ll last forever.
Gloves, I went for some simple leather gauntlets. Nothing fancy. Just needed to keep the wind off and provide a bit of grip. Found a pair at an autojumble, still in their original packaging from what looked like the 70s. A lucky find, that was.
And trousers, can’t forget those. Jeans usually do the trick, but I found some old-style moleskin trousers that felt a bit more the part. Tough as old boots, those are.
Why All The Fuss, You Ask?
Now, you might be thinking, “Why go to all this trouble? Just buy some new retro-styled gear.” And yeah, you could. But it’s not the same, is it? It’s like that old bike I’ve been tinkering with in the garage. My old man had one, years ago, a proper beast. He never wore any fancy gear, just an old leather jacket and some sturdy boots. I remember the smell of that jacket. This whole thing, I suppose, is a bit of a nod to that. Trying to catch a bit of that old spirit.
It’s funny, I actually started this whole vintage outfit quest after a particularly bad day at my old job. You know how it is, stuck in an office, fluorescent lights, everyone talking corporate nonsense. I just thought, “I need something real.” Sounds daft, maybe, but finding these bits and pieces, it’s like a treasure hunt. Each piece has a story, or you imagine it does. It’s a world away from clicking ‘add to basket’ on some soulless website for the latest bit of kit that’ll be outdated in six months. This stuff, it’s already stood the test of time.
Pulling It All Together
So, after months of searching, fettling, and a fair bit of cash spent, I finally got it all together. Stood in front of the mirror, the whole getup on. The jacket felt heavy, reassuring. The helmet was snug. It just felt… right. Took the old bike out for a spin, nothing too wild. But cruising down some country lanes, the wind in my face (well, around the goggles), it was brilliant. Like stepping back in time, almost.
It’s not for everyone, this vintage malarkey. It’s often less comfortable, probably less safe if we’re being honest, and definitely more hassle. But for me, it’s worth it. There’s a certain satisfaction in piecing it all together yourself, rather than buying it off the peg. Each scuff, each bit of wear, it tells a story. And now, I’m adding my own chapter. Cheers.
