Where other road users are motorists, I am usually a motorcyclist. And where motorcyclists usually have a winter break, I will continue as far as possible. I continue driving on a motorcycle that is administratively 'an old-timer', but is insured for the whole year.
And let's face it: People and motorcycles under thirty are just still young.
Classic is more fun
Modern motorcycles have meanwhile become so digitally overpotent that they no longer fascinate me. Fortunately there is a retro trend. But modern motorcycle clothing is simply fantastic. Waterproof and windproof, yet ventilating, breathable. And then you don't even have to pay the first prize for a Rukka set. The Difi Husky thermo overall is one thing that has stolen the hearts of all Elephant riders.
And for us classic motorcyclists, a 'flip-up helmet', whether it comes from ROOF or BMW (expensive!), Is an ideal invention. The whole train of thoughts was set in motion by the fact that a very large motorcycle clothing store was opened in Zutphen.
But modern motorcycle clothing is better
Gloves have never been this waterproof. And the comfort of a set of electrically heated units is incredible. At the bottom we have motorcycle boots that sometimes look very futuristic. But there are also those that look just like old-fashioned motorcycle boots. Only the modern ones are watertight.
A downside may be that the steel plate in the sole of the foot has evolved away. So if a kick-start is started, it can hurt. The fact that motorcycle boots have no laces, there is also a good reason behind it.
Tough Combat Boots…
It was in Bussum. In December on an almost sunny afternoon. A fairly trendy motorcyclist was riding in front of me. The traffic light went red. I saw the driver make a small movement with his leg in front of me. And then he fell around.
The loop of his double-stitched lace of his fierce "Combat Boots" had lingered behind the shift pedal. So he actually didn't get his foot off the support even though he had already shifted his body weight. So that was a learning moment.
I myself have once experienced something so thoughtless when I kicked the jiffy in blind faith and let the motor fall sideways. The jiffy support was folded back ...
Good weather to buy stuff
It is now January 8th. It doesn't get any grayer. Sellers of motorcycles and motorcycle clothing are betting that spring will come again. So now is the time for us to inspect our motorcycle clothing. Because at the motorcycle clothing outlet stores - we only recently discovered that they also exist - and at fresh motorcycle clothing stores there are not only insanities such as airbag vests and neck braces. There also appears to be a lot of motorcycle clothing that suits riding classic motorcycles.
To Spijkenisse and back
And last Saturday, when I had to travel from Gelderland to the West on a stretch of highway that was best described with 'fifty shades of gray', I was very happy that I could leave my stylish Belstaff outfit and my favorite jet helmet stored away. After more than two hours through the gray, drizzly wet misery, I arrived warm and dry at my destination. The destination where my host received me in surprise. His new BMW was under a blanket in the shed. He had bought it for the previous winter.
And such a new - expensive! - BMW does not appear to be winter-proof. Ultimately, the 'solution' that BMW Motorrad gave was: “Do not drive in brine and rinse the machine after each ride with plenty of water from the garden hose. Do not use a high pressure cleaner ”.
That was the reason for my ride, by the way. The BMW driver had now bought a car for winter use. And I was able to buy some Real Weather & Winterproof BMW Motorcycle Clothing for next to nothing.
Let the spring come
