Harleys and Kilts: Leather, Wool or Cotton?

[SeaBorn]

I need some advice. I live in Phoenix, AZ and ride a Harley Sportster every day. If I were to ride with a kilt and taking into considration the AZ heat would I be better off with a leather kilt as it would tend to stay put? Or would a wool be too itchy although more colorful? Or would a cotton one be better as it can be washed regularly? Do I just sit on it? Do I tuck it between my legs? Do I shove it under one le or what? Any motorcycle riding kilt wearers that can respond to this out there? ith:

[RobertParker]

I'm not a motorcycle rider, so take it for what it's worth, but I know this has come up a few times here before. I believe the general consensus is not to try to wear a kilt while riding motorcycles. Too much wind, the pleats could potentially get caught it in the workings of the engine, and if there is an accident, you've got even less protection (meaning bare skin up to your sensitive areas) than with a pair of pants when you hit the pavement. I'm sure some seasoned riders will chime in, but I can't see wearing a kilt when riding.

[ccga3359]

First bit of advice I'd offer is don't wear a kilt when riding, the potential for driver distraction is too great. Take a kilt rolled up and change when at your destination, kilt do work as their own change room.

Since you're actually determined to wear one kilted and really don't give a toss about my opinion let's discuss your options:

Wool. Unless you have to have a tartan kilt don't go with wool. There are other tartan option like Poly Viscous (USAKilts) or Acrylic (Stillwater Kilts). Both materials are machine washable but in my opinion are not your best option. USAKilts offer custom built kilts whereas Stillwater does not.

Leather. Might be your best option, it would go with the rest of your leathers. Would be heavy and bulky rolled up with your other gear the one drawback. Since you're back to custom built then perhaps you could look at black leather with orange leather features, sort of an HD kilt.

Hemp. Another option is a hemp canvas kilt, it has some wonderful qualities and tough as nails. Custom made, it's also half the price of leather.

Canvas. Not as durable as hemp but you have more colour options including a variety of camouflage. You'll find numerous manufacturers of canvas kilts, I'd recommend Freedom Kilts.

For hemp or leather check out RKilts.

[jkane]

I used to wear my Utilikilt until it didn't fit any more. Now I wear a Stillwater Thrifty. I don't find either to be too hot. But, sitting parked, the kilt does funnel the engine heat up more than jeans do. Be prepared for that on the air cooled Harley. I want a leather kilt to wear while riding, but not ready to pay that much for one yet. I threaten every month to make budget for it, but it never happens. Soon. ;)

I tuck the middle of the front down a bit. I used to worry about the sides. My wife makes remarks about getting arrested for exposure, but in reality, many people wear shorts that reveal more than a kilt tucked in the middle! I don't worry much about it anymore. At 60 MPH, the "flash" will be so quick going past me that they won't even realize what they saw. By the time they catch on I will be gone and they won't get a second chance to look! Even if they did see anything, it will be a lot of leg, and maybe even a hint of cheek. No more than a plumber bending over. Just a different angle, which means no crack, only flesh. That has to be better I think! As for the dangly parts, they are well situated on the seat. They are tucked a bit, and unless you have a foot or more, I don't think it's gonna sneak out enough to ever be seen! If you do, well then, have a tip jar with you. You're gonna make money on that monster!

Like I always tell people, What problem is there with wearing a kilt on a bike? They say there is a wind problem, and it might blow up! It's only about 23" long. If the wind grabs it, it only comes up to my chin. I can still see over it just fine. No problems!

[dfmacliam]

I ride an Ultra Classic and my advice will be.... Do not wear a kilt while riding... period. If you want to wear a kilt somewhere, bring one with you, and change into it when you get there. Safety should be your number one concern, and being properly dress, while riding is just plain smart. Most of the people I ride with prefer leathers, boots, it's smart, and less damaging when the unexpected occurs.

You can do as you like, this is my opinion on the matter.

[Zardoz]

I ride an Ultra Classic and my advice will be.... Do not wear a kilt while riding... period. If you want to wear a kilt somewhere, bring one with you, and change into it when you get there. Safety should be your number one concern, and being properly dress, while riding is just plain smart. Most of the people I ride with prefer leathers, boots, it's smart, and less damaging when the unexpected occurs.

You can do as you like, this is my opinion on the matter.

Mine too. I feel there are a few activities that just don't mesh with kilt wearing, and motorcycling is one of them.

[Tobus]

I ride an Ultra Classic and my advice will be.... Do not wear a kilt while riding... period. If you want to wear a kilt somewhere, bring one with you, and change into it when you get there. Safety should be your number one concern, and being properly dress, while riding is just plain smart. Most of the people I ride with prefer leathers, boots, it's smart, and less damaging when the unexpected occurs.

You can do as you like, this is my opinion on the matter.

I will add another *** to this comment. I ride a Shovelhead Sportster and as much as I love to wear a kilt, I would not wear one on my motorcycle.

First, oil, grit, and grime are factors. Mine's a chain drive, not one of them new-fangled belt drives. So even with good sperm oil on the chain and a chain guard, I still get some oil thrown off. Not to mention road grime. Bugs, random grime thrown up by other cars, etc. It would ruin any decent kilt. Not only will it get on your kilt, but now with bare legs you'll have it all over you! Imagine catching a jumbo grasshopper on your bare thigh at 70 miles an hour.

Second, heat. Your bike may have heat shields on the pipes (mine doesn't). But there's a lot of heat coming off of there, which is normally not a problem with jeans. But with the folds of a kilt, they will undoubtedly at some point hang down onto the pipes, jugs, or other hot parts.

Third, safety. I'm a stickler for good boots, jeans (sometimes with chaps), and a leather vest at a minimum. No way I'd wanna go down wearing a kilt. I've dumped a couple of times and have the road rash scars to prove it... and that was with the protection of denim and leather. Bare skin - I shudder at the thought!

Fourth, modesty. No matter how well you tuck the kilt between your legs, you'll get into a situation sooner or later where it will become untucked. You may not care, but everyone else around you will. That's just not cool.

There are a lot of other reasons I'd choose not to as well, but these are the big ones. You can do it if you like, of course. But I think it's asking for a whole lot of trouble. Motorcycling has enough issues on its own without introducing the kilt factor to it.

I'd just bring the kilt with me and change into it. Think how good it will feel after a long ride to get out of the pants and into the kilt! It can be the reward at the end.

[Semiomniscient]

History has shown kilts were never particularly popular for cavalry. This I think will apply to motorcycles.
I don't ride motorcycles, but I would also think that excessive road grime would do a disservice to the wool in a good kilt. As a fan of traditional kilts, I would never suggest anything but a good wool kilt. But by all means, like others have said, roll it up and bring it along.

[Good Egg]

I'm a qualified motorcycle instructor. There are only 2 types of biker. Those that have fallen off and those that have not fallen off yet.

I suppose you could get kevlar reinforced trews or tartan jodhpurs but...

Far better to tartanise your bike.

BTB I do like Harleys, the wife has one. I have a Bonny. Black paintwork with the registration ***2359, I call 'her' midnight.

[Old Hippie]

I suppose you could get (...) tartan jodhpurs but....

Yeee-HAAA! I want some of those, in a nice whipcord. Riding an old motorcycle with spinning greasy parts on it, you can understand why the old guys wore jodhpurs and tall boots.

Anent the question, don't do it. Having seen (on YouTube) what happens when a nude man hits the ground at speed while stunting on a bike, I've become a firm believer in "ATGATT" -- all the gear, all the time.

And yeah, I can say with the voice of experience, "Crashing sucks. And not very well, either."

Keep it in the wind, but covered.

:ootd: