Motorcycling gear from years ago

[george formby]

I recently bought an old belstaff riding jacket (not a Trialmaster) after a spirited bidding war.

I still have and wear my Naturalwear leather jacket (Brando style FTW) from the 80's.

I used to do a lot of riding in a BRIGHT red "Line 7" PVC jacket. totally waterproof in that it was a giant plastic bag. you were wet because you got rather sweaty inside it: gross. Windproof though. and bright yellow PVC overtrou I stole from my employer at the time.

Big Dave said it yesterday "Those weren't the days"

Now I have good gear I hate to ride unless its nice and sunny though.

Ah yes, same in the UK, for many years the wet weather gear of choice was boldly branded NCB (national coal board)

[Bender]

Jeans, gumboots and an oilskin jacket to start with. Open face helmet with no peak and a pair of goggles with split glass lenses. Brown nitted scarf. I used to ride my CD175 from Papatoetoe to Orewa for the weekends, back on Sunday night for school during the week.

I got cleaned up by a lady doing a U-turn in Hunter's corner so I painted the helmet dayglo orange. Can you imagine? (Wish I had a photo of that so I could laugh at myself).

Later I worked for Laurie Summers and bought a Line 7 one-piece riding suit which was nylon rubberised on the inside. The bloody crotch still leaked though. I bought a new pair of leather boots with sheepskin insides (cost me a week's wages) which the dog chewed up after a week, They had to restrain me, I swear I would have killed that mutt.

That was replaced with Line 7 PVC jacket and pants, at least they were waterproof. Calf length lace up leather boots for off-road riding and motocrossing, later replaced by a proper flat soled pair with about 17 buckles up the side. NZ was just starting to get real gear (early 70s).

A local copy of a Bell Magnum that crushed your ears, then an AGV (which was real nice) and later a Bell Super Magnum bought in Australia (couldn't buy them here). My brother still owns it (but doesn't use it).

[Shadowjack]

Tractor-driving gauntlet/mitten things, and if it was winter, lined with woolen climbing/tramping gloves- Absolutely no feel to them at all, but warm and water proof(ish).

[Shadowjack]

I just realised - all three TDM850 riders in NZ have contributed to this thread...

[Peril]

Classic blue and black bushshirt,waterproof over pants,gumboots,Pro Challenger 3 helmet with sunglasses was my trail riding apparel.

[MXNUT]

Early 1980's i had a pair of red venderami MX boots.
They had a plastic shell on the outside and hinged at the ankle just like ski boots. Thought they were pretty cool at the time.
Still got an old yamaha riding shirt in white with the red yamaha chequers on it that i wear on the VMX bike.
Rest of my old riding gear wouldnt fit me now, it must have shrunk !!

[ukusa]

of course you all must have had the beard too!

[Taz]

Here we go. When flouro comes back I'm gonna look the shiz!!

[dino3310]

Here we go. When flouro comes back I'm gonna look the shiz!!

just wear em - someones gotta start the trend

[Taz]

I'll have to find a early 90's YZ with the pink graphics and seat.

[Buddha#81:Me]

Here we go. When flouro comes back I'm gonna look the shiz!!

got leg warmers to go with them?

[98tls]

Great thread and the memories eh,dont have much from the past though after reading this i went out to the shed and dusted off a very old Arai that i dont have the heart to throw out.

[ukusa]

Great thread and the memories eh,dont have much from the past though after reading this i went out to the shed and dusted off a very old Arai that i dont have the heart to throw out.

that looks mint. I remember a mate in the late 80'/early 90's who had a blue & red leather jacket. Would go well with your helmet LOL

[98tls]

that looks mint. I remember a mate in the late 80'/early 90's who had a blue & red leather jacket. Would go well with your helmet LOL

Indeed it would,would go well with the red/white/blue 89 Duc Sport i had way back.

[HenryDorsetCase]

I thought I was Christmas in my Bell Star 3. it was white and had stripes round the bottom. Or my Kenny Roberts yellow AGV i had. I chucked them all out which I kind of regret now.

theres a photo of me mucring round on my first bike (a Suzuki TS125) in a Swanndri, jeans and farm boots, and no helmet. tsk tsk. Still back then I was 9 feet tall and bulletproof. Now I am four feet tall and made of porcelain.