Why are chaps so important?

You might ask yourself “why might chaps be so important when riding?”. Some answers vary from keeping you warm to having superior protection if you happen to wipe out. Lets take a look at when chaps first became popular.

In the early 1800’s, armas were worn by Spanish and Mexican riders that herded cattle. They were really more of a leather apron that went around the front of the horse and over the riders legs. This cumbersome design was later replaced with protection for just riders.

The Shotgun style is the most famous. They are narrow and straight, staying close to the body to keep in warmth. They are the most common riding chaps.

The Batwing style is very loose fitting, allowing for maximum movement. These style of chaps are most common for active riders, and bull riding as they give the most flexibility. They usually have only 2 or 3 fasteners around the thigh, and are much cooler for those hot days.

Chinks are a short chap that comes just below the knee. It has long fringes around the bottoms and down the outside leg. (Not to be confused with gaiters, which go from the knee to ankle.) These chaps are ideal for hot climates.

Woolies are just a variation of the shotgun, made of fleece or hair on cowhide. These are for warmth.

Chaps were worn by riders for protection from the elements. Wind burn and thorny vegetation were often things riders had to be aware of. They mainly kept the riders legs safe and warm. Leather chaps also stick to the leather saddle or bareback horse much better than fabric. This allowed greater stability for riders.

Although the look of chaps have not changed over the years, the purposes have, mostly for safety. Motorcycle chaps give riders that added protection from kicked up rocks and sand to keeping you warm. They also provide that security that if you happen to bail off your bike, you won’t leave your skin on the pavement. Shotgun motorcycle chaps are a great piece of safety equipment and have become popular in the motorcycle subculture. Riders have just moved from ranch horses to the metal pony’s.

Interested in checking out some chaps to add to your motorcycle safety gear? Check out Nomads Leathers to find your ideal style today!

 

The right leather for you!

Leather Jackets have been a major part of any wardrobe for quite some time now. They bring sophistication and a sense of identity.

First of all, research what kinds of leathers are out there! From: cow hide, buffalo, lamb, sheep and goat being some of the most common, to something like stingray, which is very unique, make sure you are shopping for the type of leather for you. Naturally, a high quality leather made by specific manufacturers will cost you quite a bit more than perhaps a leather of lower quality, so it is important to have a budget in mind. Top hides are more expensive than say a split hide, and the grade of the leather can also affect the price.

Next, think of when your going to be wearing it most. Is it going to be something you dress up and wear to fancy occasions? Are you looking to make a statement and go with a red leather jacket? Are you looking for a distressed vintage look? All of these can really make a difference when your shopping around.

Sometimes it can be tough to tell what is a good quality leather and what is manufactured at a cheaper cost. A few things to look for when going for a high quality jacket are:

1. Zippers (or snaps). You can tell how much care was put into the jacket with something as simple as the quality of the zipper.

2. Liner. Check to make sure the liner was put in with care. If your looking for a warmer jacket, ask if the liner has been filled with an insulator. Some jackets even have zip out liners to make them more versatile.

3. Stitching. If the stitching looks uneven in any way, or if it was made of a low quality thread, chances are your jacket won’t last you for the long haul. Most high quality jacket manufacturers use polyester threads.

Keeping these three rules in mind, you should find a jacket that suits your needs and will last you years to come!

Find your next Leather Jacket today at Nomads Leathers.

 

Black Leather Jackets – A Punk Rock Beginning with the Sex Pistols and Ramones.

Check out the great info between the Sex Pistols and Ramones and how the music industry was turned upside down by these boys in their black leather jacekts.

Part 1 – Sex Pistols

Part 2 – Ramones

If your looking for your own vintage style leather jacket, check out Nomads Leathers for a great selection of leather jackets and vests!

 

2011 Triumph Speed Triple: Some Minor Changes With Some Major Reactions.

Triumph has been a leader among the super naked class bikes since they pretty much came up with them. The Speed Triple has been a top bike, and for good reason. They look and performed amazingly. In 2011, Triumph has decided to continue to push forward and tweak some of the style and performance to get a little bit more out of their bike. Although the tweaks might be minor, the most major aesthetic change they made was to their iconic circular headlights. The more angular and aggressive looking design has seemed to draw a line in the ground, with riders having to choose a side like at a school playground. Regardless of whether you love or hate the new look, Triumph is continuing to push the design and performance, showing why they are still top dog when it comes to the super naked class bikes.

If your looking to update your wardrobe to go with the updated bike, check out Nomads Leathers for a complete overhaul on your style to look as good as your bike on the road.

 

Prodigal Father, Pagan Son Book review.

The true life events in Prodigal Father, Pagan Son give readers an inside look for what it was like for a boy to be born into the Philadelphia Pagan Motorcycle Club. The descriptive recount of “Little Tony” or “LT”, born the son of the leader of the Pagans shows both an angry and emotional upbringing into a violent and chaotic world during the prime of the Pagans Motorcycle Club.

Growing up with a mother who is a drug user and alcoholic, and a father who was in and out of prison, he was raised by the streets and a club whom had become almost a surrogate family. Forced into a life of sex, drugs and violence, “LT” had been to over a dozen funerals by the age of thirteen.

The raw honesty and horrendous recounts of events give readers a sense of empathy, and you can’t help but imagine the travesties that the character endures as a young boy. The theme of becoming stray has an important emotional meaning during the first part of the book. From the stray dog that bit off part of his ear, to the stray cat that bit a the member Mongo and transmitted rabies which ended up killing him. “Strays were forgotten, tossed into alleys…” (Pg. 75), which was how “LT” felt, he thought of himself as a stray.

The powerful characters in the book each brought their own personal influence into “LT’s” life. From his own father Maingy, a man the readers can not help but love to hate due to the relationship with the author and eventual betrayal of the club, to Saint, a man that ended up being the fatherly figure the author looked up to. Each character brings a different influence into the author’s life. “LT” himself goes through a delicate act of balancing his internal life with the club and mingling with the “citizens”. He was always able to adapt to his surroundings with his keen observation, which became his most valuable trait as a Prospect of the club.

Prodigal Father, Pagan Son is written with emotion, detail and brilliant imagery. The book is able to capture the audience with authenticity and believability. The raw, to-the-point structure gives concrete facts, and can be an emotional read.

For more information on the book, check here.

Looking to update your biker look and image? Check out Nomads Leathers for a full line of premium motorcycle leather gear.

 

Cowhide Vs. Buffalo Hide: Which leather is best for motorcycle jackets?

There has been a long debate as to which leather hide is a more durable material for motorcycle leather jackets. Lets just take a look and compare some of the differences.

Firstly, the most common misconception is where buffalo hide comes from. It is not the north american bison, but rather the water buffalo. In it’s natural state, the buffalo hide is thicker than the cowhide. However, when manufacturers make the garments, they end up splitting the hide into several layers. Top grain is referred to the layer that had the hair on it, and all other layers are called split grain. Make sure when you choose a jacket, your getting at least a 1.1 mm thickness of hide, but the thicker the leather, the better quality and safety properties they have.

A second misconception is that a buffalo hide jacket is thicker than cowhide jacket. All leather is cut down, and measured in MM so unless it is a jacket that is 1.5 MM buffalo hide compared to 1.2 MM cowhide, the thickness of the leather is absolutely equal. One insignificant difference is that you might find the buffalo hide to be a little softer than the cowhide.

The next question is which is more durable? Cowhide or Buffalo hide? Well, if we compare similar jackets made from each, and they both have an equal thickness of leather, you will find that they are both, well, about equal. Neither cowhide nor buffalo hide leather have proven to have one supreme over another. When compared side by side, you will find they both have about the same strength and durability. Some people might disagree, but this is the truth. The only way one hide might offer better protection is (and only in this case) if one leather is made from a split grain, and the other is from a top grain. Top grain leather is a little stronger than split grain, so if your interested in getting more of a premium leather, you should be looking for a top grain (also known as full grain) leather, in either buffalo or cowhide.

Any other questions or if your interested in checking out some premium leather gear, go to Nomads Leathers and check out some of the great products. We would be happy to answer any questions you had regarding motorcycle leather gear!

 

Motorcycle air conditioning system by Entrosys

Came across this interesting vid. for a motorcycle air conditioning/ heating system. Interesting concept.

Check out their website here: www.entrosys.com

If your looking to upgrade your current leather gear, why not check out Nomads Leathers to get the most up to date leather gear.

 

Is the rain becoming a problem? No worries, check out the Bike Condom!

Chance of rain? Hate having to lug around a big, cumbersome cover? Check out Bike Condoms. They come in pocket sized packages and are made of environmentally friendly materials. If you decide you don’t want to fold it back up, you can toss it away guilt free! They cost a minimal $9.99, with free shipping, and the site even features a section if you want to have your cover custom painted. They were just won the grand prize Dealer’s Choice Award in the Third Annual Dealernews International Powersports Dealer Expo Kickstart New Product Contest.

You and your fellow motorcycle club friends can now cover up in unity, and why not get your club logo matching on your covers as well as your biker leathers. With inexpensive choices like this, why not keep your ride protected.

Check out Bike Condoms online at www.bikecondoms.com

Interested in updating your biker leather wardrobe? Check out www.NomadsLeathers.com

 

Happy Birthday MAHRA!

When some people think about motorcycle clubs, often an outlaw biker wearing a black leather jacket, dark sunglasses and riding a Harley is what comes to mind. Hollywood has certainly painted the club like behavior as somewhat taboo, and some people even associate clubs dealing in “gang like” activity. More often than not, judgement is passed when a group of riders pass us on the freeway all wearing the same colors and riding in formation. This couldn’t be farther from the truth, and in fact the bond that brings riders together is they share the love of the open road, and more importantly the safety and well being of their own communities.

I would like to take the opportunity to point out one club that has been such an important part to their own respective communities, that people look forward to the annual group of riders in Santa Hats each fall as they ask for donations to benefit Christmas Clearinghouse. The Marion Area Harley Riders Association (MAHRA) is now celebrating their 25th anniversary on March 29th, 2011, and estimates show they have raised well over $100 million which has been donated back into their community! This group started with members from all parts of society, including factory specialists, local butchers, electricians, technicians, teachers and preachers. Everyday people looking to make a positive impression and improve their community, but riding Harley’s and wearing leather biker jackets.

A few of their contributions include sending a blind boy to summer camp, raising money for their local fire department and annual Forrest Festival. They have a Toy Run held in the first weekend of October. This bike ride often ends with an auction and free food.

Perhaps Hollywood could respectively show the continuous contributions our fellow riders give back to the community as a change of pace. Showing that being part of a club and having a positive impact on society doesn’t mean you only have to donate in a certain way. Celebrating a riding lifestyle and bringing in the biker lifestyle can give younger generations a feeling of belonging, of giving back and showing that you can proudly wear your biker leather jacket while doing it.

Congratulations to the MAHRA on celebrating 25 years of riding, and to all of the clubs out there that continuously give back to the community!

 

Mitch Alfus, Leather King

I came across this amazing youtube video. Mitch Alfus is the American Leather King. Family man, business owner and all around great guy. This video will give you an insight into the life of a leather dealer. This video looks professionally done, and will certainly put a smile on your face.

I would like to thank my friends at vintageleatherjackets.blogspot.com for showing us this vid, and their constant updates to the vintage leather jacket scene.