Riding motorcycle while Kilted

[smaughazard]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Here ya go.

[Randy]

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…

Have ya thought of an Aerostich suit? But looking at your bike surely you could find room for a kilt in the luggage compartment. A kilt may just be a bad choice for riding clothes.

When I was younger I used to put plastic trash bag between folded wool blanket place on seat and fold over my lap. Very important to tuck all wool above spokes and pipes.

Now I have a Wing and electric vest.

[Pleater]

I have owned, at different times, a Triumph Tiger Cub, a BSA A10 (650cc with side car), a Suzuki 125GT and a Kawasaki 250.

My husband has owned more powerful bikes, which I have ridden as pillion - I just don't have enough leg length to reach the ground on a big bike.

I would never ride a solo machine with any flesh bared - I have seen the results of hitting tarmac enough times to wish to avoid it. I always wore leather, boots, trousers, jacket and gloves, and a full face fibre glass helmet.

A sidecar outfit, now that is a different animal. I drove my combo wearing everything from hot pants to ankle length skirts, and when a helmet was not required by law I never bothered to wear one, though I used to put on a hat, cap or scarf so as to keep my hair in order or too keep the sun or rain out of my eyes. I travelled a long way on that machine. I did fly the sidecar a few times but I found it a very stable vehicle, even in icy or muddy conditions it showed little inclination to slide. I think the flexible ball joint connection between bike and car is the reason it resisted going sideways.

When wearing a wide skirt I used to secure it with a scarf so it could not drop down or blow back and get itelf into bother with the moving parts or interfere with the cooling of the engine.

When I went out to clubs I was always able to park close by and the doormen kept an eye on the combo for me - and I never had to queue up or pay to get in.

I supose it was quite eye catching, but in those days, so was I. (sigh)

[way2fractious]

I supose it was quite eye catching, but in those days, so was I. (sigh)

Still waiting for a pic or two... then, or now.