Riding motorcycle while Kilted

**smaughazard** · 1st June 06, 01:27 PM

Originally Posted by Al G. Sporrano

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...

Al, check out http://www.triumphrat.com

**BonnieT100** · 1st June 06, 04:40 PM

You mean www.triumphrat.net. I'm a RAT as well, and a BIR - Brit Iron Rebel. Must be a Triumph thing - bikes and kilts. I'd probably ride my Bonnie down to the local pub, but never the Thruxton - I have the swept back pipes. I've burnt my leg through a pair of jeans on those before. InfX708 on both boards.

**smaughazard** · 1st June 06, 08:10 PM

Thanks for the correction, T100, I should have remembered! Bookmarks instead of memory. Hope you're enjoying the Bonnie- I've ridden the America and the Speedmaster, but they just couldn't pry me off of my '98 Trident…

**Zardoz** · 1st June 06, 09:49 PM

I've tried riding kilted with mixed results. The first time I tried was during my Sport Kilt phase, the SK was pretty easy to wad up and sit on, and for what it's worth, it didn't look any worse for the effort after an hour or so's ride, but it still looked like a SK :rolleyes: . And I likely looked pretty silly going down the road that way too!

The next time I tried was better. I'd moved on from the SKs and had my first Stillwater, I wanted to ride about 90 miles to a celtic fest. I knew that the SWK would look like hell if I wadded it up enough to 'control' it at highway speeds, and frankly I was worried about road rash. It's been over 20 years since I had a good case of it, but the memory and some of the scars are still around!

So what I did was put on the shirt, kilt hose, etc. that I was gonna wear, but not the kilt, and put on some jeans. I rolled the kilt in a saddlebag. When I got to the place, I got out the kilt, belt, sporran etc , put them on over the jeans, then dropped my pants! I did it in the parking lot! The ride was event free and my pleats looked great!

Honestly though, As someone in the motorcycle industry with 30 years and over 300,000 miles of street riding who admonishes young people all the time for wearing shorts and other unsafe clothing while riding, I think the lack of protection alone is a good reason to avoid kilted riding. Kilts make just about any activty more fun, but maybe not biking (or horseback riding, but that's another story)

**Bil** · 1st June 06, 09:55 PM

Originally Posted by phinz

Here ya go.

Did anyone else notice that in the group picture at the bottom of the page, there is a kilted guy holding a blow-up sheep?? Don't ask why I noticed that. LOL

**smaughazard** · 1st June 06, 10:02 PM

Originally Posted by Zardoz

Honestly though, As someone in the motorcycle industry with 30 years and over 300,000 miles of street riding who admonishes young people all the time for wearing shorts and other unsafe clothing while riding, I think the lack of protection alone is a good reason to avoid kilted riding. Kilts make just about any activty more fun, but maybe not biking (or horseback riding, but that's another story)

Thanks for the advice, Zardoz, but you're preaching to the choir: I was for 5 years Marketing Director for Fast Company (Draggin' Jeans ring a bell?) and do wear protective gear on all trips, but I want to figure out how to gracefully get from one venue to another at events which aren't centralized. I'm talking distances under 5 miles, and often under two. It will be fine if I can just keep the kilt from becoming a parachute!

**Zardoz** · 1st June 06, 10:34 PM

I get your reasoning Smaughazard, But I don't figure short hops are any less dangerous than long ones. Most people get zapped within a few miles of home! I guess I've become more careful as I get older, considering the way I acted when I started out riding it's a wonder I'm still around to get older!

Like I always tell folks as they leave the shop;

"Have fun, and be careful!"

**David Dalglish** · 1st June 06, 11:24 PM

I would nerer ride a motorcycle with a kilt on, I think that experianced bikers should be more responsible. Have you never tried riding in tartan trews

**Mr. Kilt** · 2nd June 06, 04:32 AM

Originally Posted by Bil

Did anyone else notice that in the group picture at the bottom of the page, there is a kilted guy holding a blow-up sheep?? Don't ask why I noticed that. LOL

Ummmm...errrr...I noticed that too. (feeling sheepish in Calgary) :rolleyes:

**Mr. Kilt** · 2nd June 06, 04:34 AM

Originally Posted by smaughazard

Thanks for the correction, T100, I should have remembered! Bookmarks instead of memory. Hope you're enjoying the Bonnie- I've ridden the America and the Speedmaster, but they just couldn't pry me off of my '98 Trident…

Thanks for collective effort on the link, guys!

I've bookmarked the site and will take a better look when I have some free time. Of all the bikes I've had, I miss the black '70 chopper the most. Some day...