we are pleased to see more women riding, and a great percentage of them are on their own motorcycles. To start this new forum off, I thought I'd share Genevieve Schmidtt's column in last month's American Iron Magazine www.aimag.com.
When I started riding in 1990, I’d never heard of armor as it related to motorcycling. Armor, to me, conjured up images of a medieval knight, as in my knight in shining armor (whom I was seeking quite regularly at the time, by the way.) I often wonder, though, had I started out riding within the safety-conscious community of BMW riders instead of the more image-conscious Harley-Davidson world, I might have been exposed to motorcycling safety gear. Heck, I barely knew the difference between a DOT-approved helmet and a beanie helmet. I just knew I had to wear something on my head because the law dictated it in Florida, where I was living at the time. Protective riding apparel was not on the radar screen of the Harley folks I rode with and learned from in those early days. If I went down, I figured the leather I was wearing would save my hide.
It’s interesting to watch how, over the last two decades, apparel has evolved, with armor sneaking into the most stylish garments. I’ve witnessed some of the most rebellious riders (rebellious in their own minds, that is) actually wearing armor and thinking they look cool. Last year, I started seeing male bikers wearing those new armored vests over their T-shirts as a fashion statement. Icon makes what it calls the Regulator vest. It’s ultra stylish in the gotta-look-cool world of young guns, and different than the traditional three-snap biker vest with gut expanding chain attachments that so many older riders sport. The Regulator contains a back protector that covers the length of the spine. Icon also makes the Field Armored vest for street cyclists, which looks like a high-tech version of a motocross chest protector. I saw a photo of a couple riders at Black Bike Week in Myrtle Beach last year wearing those vests over their bare chests! Hey, it might have been a fashion statement to them, but least they’re wearing something over their tanned six-packs.
I talked with a rep from Icon, a company known for pushing the envelope with its edgy designs, about this armor fashion statement. He believes Icon has found a winning formula in getting people to wear protective armor. If it looks cool, they’ll wear it. I’d say Icon is on to something. Think about all the pink, blue, and white color schemes we’ve started seeing in women’s gear. Well, protection also comes in wearing colors that help a rider be seen. White and pink are much more visible than black, and many of these fashion-conscious colors are on jackets that also contain armor, by the way. Back to Icon: this spring the company is introducing a line of helmets splashed with the “high viz” colors of yellow and orange. As of this writing I’ve not seen them, but I’m told they’re being created in traditional Icon style, which is anything but traditional. It will be interesting to see if these safety-conscious colored helmets become a fashion statement.
Harley started mixing function with fashion back in 1998 when it introduced its FXRG collection, the clever play on letters standing for “functional riding gear,” clever because Harley has a FX motorcycle model series. Lightweight, impact-resistant armor is fitted into the shoulders, elbows, and back of each jacket, and it’s removable if you don’t want to wear it. One jacket and pants set is made from an abrasion-resistant, waterproof textile: textiles being a staple of the BMW and long-distance-riding crowd for years. The Motor Company managed to incorporate all this protection into styles that still look Harley-cool, yet could save your skin should it meet with the pavement unexpectedly. The line has been evolving over the years with new advances in fabrics. This past year, I tested the new FXRG midweight leather jacket and overpants that, let me tell you, are very water resistant. It’s nice to be able ride through a squall that you know is not going to last long and not get soaked in the process. It’s such a pain to stop and suit up in rain gear just for a short stretch.
I know there are many of you who wouldn’t be caught dead in a jacket filled with armor (yet dead you might be if your bones are broken and your skin scraped down to those broken bones as a result of not wearing the protective stuff). Really. I’m not here to convince you to suit up. I don’t preach; I’m just sharing a trend I’ve witnessed that I think is quite telling, especially among younger riders. If you read my column on a regular basis, you know I’m a big observer of trends and what they all mean. We’ve seen many more choices in motorcycling apparel over the last few years. If you haven’t explored armored options because you thought they messed with your motorcycle image, take a second look at what’s out there. Today’s armored styles still leave you looking cool. The protection part is your secret, though, unless you share it.
Genevieve Schmitt is the founder of WomenRidersNow.com, the leading source of motorcycling lifestyle news and reviews. Email her at gschmitt@womenridersnow.com. 
Genevieve's AIM Column 
Linear Mode
