Wearing a Kilt while riding a motorcycle, What do I do?

**CDNSushi** · 16th June 09, 07:59 PM

Well, this is what confuses me. For all those people who talk about the lack of protection for when you ride kilted, how is that any different from the thousands of people who ride bicycles in shorts every day? Why don't they wear head-to-toe covering? Coming from someone who has crashed many a bike, road rash from a bicycle accident or a motorbike accident pretty much sucks either way.

Here's a family (found using GIS) where everyone's wearing shorts.

Now, I know what you're going to say. And before you do, I realize that a motorbike goes faster than a bicycle... So then if speed's an issue, then how about this guy? Racers get up to some pretty solid speeds too... Especially on hills.

**skruse** · 15th June 09, 03:03 PM

Working in London, UK, from time to time, I would observe 25+ motorcycles pull up in the business district. All with black helmets & visors. They would all back into park, together. Each person then removed their helmet - revealing these were all professional women. Each would reach around back, obtain a professional skirt & dress shoes. They put the skirts on over their black leather pants. Once in place, the black leather pants were removed and shoes exchanged. They each picked up a brief case, stepped onto the sidewalk, and walked promptly to their offices. The process was repeated at the end of the day. I worked with many of these women and I gave them all the more respect for 1) using efficient transportation, 2) appropriate conduct under cloudy, rainy and congested conditions, 3) dressing for success in a competitive and vigorous business climate. The women clearly modeled professional demeanor. Even if they returned to their motorcycles after a post-business meal, they were equipped to drive home safely.

Certainly we can take a cue from these women and not wear a kilt while riding a motorcycle (or bicycle).

**Cavebear58** · 15th June 09, 03:11 PM

Originally Posted by skruse

Working in London, UK, from time to time, I would observe 25+ motorcycles pull up in the business district. All with black helmets & visors...

Wow! Sounds VERY exciting! :shocked: Let me know and I'll pop round there and take a few photos for the site (which I'll upload once they let me out of jail)!

You are sure they weren't filming for Strictly Come Dancing?!

All the best
Graham.

**Tony Miles** · 15th June 09, 03:27 PM

chaps - mine hang lower than this at the waste

**AScot-Chewy** · 21st June 09, 09:41 PM

Hey, my names Chewy, I'm a member of the Angry Scotsmen RC. I've been told I might be of some help here.

All you need is 2 safety pins and a good magnet (mine is a 16lbs from ACE). Sit on the bike with the back of the kilt under you. Place one leg on peg. Rap kilt around leg tight and pin together. Put leg on ground making sure kilt doesn't rip and repeat with other leg. The magnet is placed on the front of the kilt securing it to the gas tank. Nut huggers can be worn too(bugs suck). Not sure if this works with crotch rockets, don't think so though.
If safety i sure number one concern, it should be noted that this is no more dangerous than shorts (which are dangerous), and that steel toed boots have been know to rap themselves around toes to the point where the toes have to be removed. This, of course, is only in the event of a crash and other instances where road-rash can occur.

P.S. they're called SAFETY pins for a reason.

**Zardoz** · 22nd June 09, 09:38 AM

At least bad advice and perpetuation of myths is not just limited to Highland dress on our forum.

As a lifelong motorcyclist, I find more potential harm in this thread than the recent controversial firearms thread issue.

**csbdr** · 22nd June 09, 09:54 AM

YIKES!! just because you can do it, doesn't mean you should (shorts and flip-flops included) I don't quite understand this desire to take this type of risk. Yeah, I know....riding has inherent risks you have to take, but what you choose to wear seems unwise to skimp on (and you can probably predict I favor helmets too, but thats for another forum!)

Originally Posted by AScot-Chewy

Hey, my names Chewy, I'm a member of the Angry Scotsmen RC. I've been told I might be of some help here.

All you need is 2 safety pins and a good magnet (mine is a 16lbs from ACE). Sit on the bike with the back of the kilt under you. Place one leg on peg. Rap kilt around leg tight and pin together. Put leg on ground making sure kilt doesn't rip and repeat with other leg. The magnet is placed on the front of the kilt securing it to the gas tank. Nut huggers can be worn too(bugs suck). Not sure if this works with crotch rockets, don't think so though.
If safety i sure number one concern, it should be noted that this is no more dangerous than shorts (which are dangerous), and that steel toed boots have been know to rap themselves around toes to the point where the toes have to be removed. This, of course, is only in the event of a crash and other instances where road-rash can occur.

P.S. they're called SAFETY pins for a reason.

**CDNSushi** · 23rd June 09, 12:49 AM

Originally Posted by AScot-Chewy

Hey, my names Chewy, I'm a member of the Angry Scotsmen RC. I've been told I might be of some help here.

All you need is 2 safety pins and a good magnet (mine is a 16lbs from ACE). Sit on the bike with the back of the kilt under you. Place one leg on peg. Rap kilt around leg tight and pin together. Put leg on ground making sure kilt doesn't rip and repeat with other leg. The magnet is placed on the front of the kilt securing it to the gas tank. Nut huggers can be worn too(bugs suck). Not sure if this works with crotch rockets, don't think so though.
If safety i sure number one concern, it should be noted that this is no more dangerous than shorts (which are dangerous), and that steel toed boots have been know to rap themselves around toes to the point where the toes have to be removed. This, of course, is only in the event of a crash and other instances where road-rash can occur.

P.S. they're called SAFETY pins for a reason.

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for posting (what I think) is the first REAL how-to guide for riding a motorcycle kilted. Yes, this advice is NOT for everyone -- it is only for those who are okay with taking this risk. But it's about time that this question finally got answered in a decent way, rather than be admonished by everyone not to do it -- which, while fair, does nothing to answer the question at hand.

Welcome to XMTS, btw.

Jim

**Arizona Scot** · 15th June 09, 04:23 PM

Been riding and kilting for awhile now wouldn't mix the two, but there is a group in Northern California called the angry Scotsmen and I believe they ride kilted. Try contacting them and see what they say.