Riding motorcycle while Kilted

**smaughazard** · 1st June 06, 06:57 AM

I mentioned in the Newbie forum that I'm an avid motorcyclist (read: biker) and received several comments about that, mostly cautioning against it! As a rider with over 35 years of street experience, I do normally wear some protective gear, but also would like to ride one of the bikes to games & events without the hassle of changing, storing gear, etc. I'd love to hear from anyone who has experience with this…

Actually, I'm almost ready to give riding in a kilt a try! A close friend is letting me borrow his sidecar rig for the test-run (no danger of dropping that!); and, if nothing else, the initial low-speed trial around the neighborhood ought to cause some of the local Redneckius ignorami to drop their Budweisers in shock.

Many of them still haven't recovered from the ruptured discs they got while rubbernecking at me riding by with my dog perched on the gas tank!

I'll try to get my wife or daughter to take a few snapshots of the maiden voyage for your entertainment here, and I'm NOT going to be regimental- just in case…

**Sciuropterus** · 1st June 06, 07:15 AM

While it is an obvious safety hazard (no protection in a crash, kilt blowing in your face, getting caught in the chain, etc.), my biggest objection is aesthetic- It looks silly to me.

I have seen a few pictures of kilted motorcyclists, and never once thought that it looked OK. One fellow actually had some sort of bungee cord contraption holding his kilt to his legs, presumably to keep it from flying around.

When I got married, I really wanted us to leave for the reception on my motorcycle, but I was wearing a kilt for the wedding. My motorcycle stayed at home.

I have ridden my bike to events where I packed my kilt, it was no big deal to change.

Sidecar rigs are fun! I can do a complete circle in either direction while keeping the sidecar wheel in the air, I hope to buy a sidecar rig eventually to add to the collection.

**phinz** · 1st June 06, 07:20 AM

There are at least a couple of guys every year who run Deal's Gap in kilts while attending the annual Triumph gathering at Tapoco Lodge.

**smaughazard** · 1st June 06, 07:32 AM

Thanks, Phinz. I'm A RAT member, so I'll ask Scot Dail if he can tell me who actually rides while kilted. I knew they always have Kilt Night around the bonfire at the Gap, but I always seem to be otherwise engaged during the Dragon Run weekend. Have ridden Deal's Gap many times- preferably mid-week when there aren't so many Winnebago pilots clogging it up!

**phinz** · 1st June 06, 07:36 AM

I'm only an hour or so from the hill and know most of the pholks working at the Crossroads, as well as most of the people taking pictures on the hill. Find Killboy's archive for the RAT weekend and you'll probably see kilt pics.

**Canuck** · 1st June 06, 07:46 AM

Originally Posted by smaughazard

Thanks, Phinz. I'm A RAT member, so I'll ask Scot Dail if he can tell me who actually rides while kilted. I knew they always have Kilt Night around the bonfire at the Gap, but I always seem to be otherwise engaged during the Dragon Run weekend. Have ridden Deal's Gap many times- preferably mid-week when there aren't so many Winnebago pilots clogging it up!

I have sold a leather kilt to a RAT member he loves it.
Basically do a knife cut with your hand on the front apron, and really smooth out the pleats as you sit down. The kilt will not fly up to your face... if it does, your kilt is probably ankle length to begin with and is way too long. Basically it's like wearing a baggy pair of shorts. This topic has come up before.
Much succes on your ride
Cheers
Robert

**phinz** · 1st June 06, 07:58 AM

Here ya go.

**Sciuropterus** · 1st June 06, 08:32 AM

The sprocket sporrans in the bottom photo are great! I had a 1965 Triumph Tiger when I was a youngster, it was a basket case that I turned into a chopper. I haven't ridden any of the new Triumphs, I really should.

**Mr. Kilt** · 1st June 06, 10:27 AM

I wore my UK the day I picked up the Yamaha 650 (metric Triumph, LOL) that I bought last year. As long as you tuck the front apron under a wee bit it won't blow around. If it's a warm day I may ride my Sportster kilted across the city to the Highland Games in Sept.

As for RAT...I'd never heard of them until this thread! While I don't own a Triumph now, I used to have a number of them, all chopped. Maybe I'll get another one someday, they sure were a blact to build and ride!
This is all I have left to remind me of those days...

**bikercelt1** · 1st June 06, 12:39 PM

I don't recomend riding in a kilt. Having said that, I have ridden in a kilt and will ride in a kilt again. I rode around Milwaukee during Harley-Davidsons 100th. I rode the Washington State Hog rally several times with my kilt. All in all though if I'm doing anything more than a brief run it's easier to put my tourmaster pants on over my kilt than it is to deal with trying to hold it down. On my bike (a '98 FLHTCI) the kilt has a tendancy to fly straight back from the knees exposing a great deal of thigh and "flank" and once I scorched the hem of one of my kilts on the cross-over pipe while sitting at a stoplight.

Jamie