Claymore Jackets

http://www.claymorejackets.co.uk - anyone have one of these?

I pictured something like this

I dunno, waxed cotton is for the hipster crown (so could be you?).
Idiots paying huge sums for old Belstaff jackets, had to rewax them, no armour, not really waterproof, not at all warm.
Some things are better left in the past.

I may be a member of the Bike Shed but I'm no hipster, just an old git who grew up on British motorcyles wearing Barbour and Belstaff jackets.

I've tried most of the 'best' Goretex or similar lined alternatives (except for the Rukka leather kit) but they all fail eventually, usually sooner rather than later, and have been back to waxed cotton and leather for a while now. Nostalgia ain't what it used to be though and the problem is both makes have been hijacked by the fashion trade, no longer offer the armoured and waterproof liner options and are overpriced.

Sent Carl at Claymore an email with queries and he came straight back with an email exchange that lasted until 10pm.........very helpful and web search indicates mostly very positive reviews - will be placing order today (not for camouflage option though) - just need to decide on which armour to go for - anyone have thoughts on Force Field ? Better options eg Knox?

Just ordered a pair of these, http://www.altberg.co.uk/product/hogg-a ... r-original, another recent find for me, to complete the look......................

I've got an old Belstaff jacket but it's leather and the suede side is on the outside and the leather side is on the inside. It's pretty beat up and cool but I guess like No.47 says it will be seen by many as a hipster jacket. I don't ride bikes wearing it though. Back in the day I used to have waxed cotton jackets and trousers and all I remember is that in the winter when it was wet and cold they got so stiff and horrible that you could hardly move in them.

I'm a member of the Bike Shed too but I'm no Hipster either. That place makes me feel a bit inadequate most time I go. I'm not cool, I don't have tattoo sleeves, I'm not good looking enough, I'm not tall enough, I'm balding rather than have a hipster full head of greased back hair, I don't have a beard. I don't have a moustache and it's not waxed into curls or a handlebar shape. I'm not wearing any distressed brown leather bags or shoes or watch straps or little wallet belt things. I'm not wearing a waistcoat or braces. I don't have those plug earings or an indigo dot tat on my cheek. I don't have a gold tooth, or a Honda twin with taped up exhausts. I don't have a blonde companion who looks like a 50s model with long legs and heels.

But I know Dutch and he always comes over and sits with me for a chat about the scene and Superdukes and that makes me feel like a star!

When I start fox hunting on my 1290 I'll be sure to place my order

I dont really mind the hipster movement, well dressed, nice hair, craft beer (shut the fook up about EBC's and IBU's and drink the stuff), a resurgence in m/c popularity.
Although it has led to an increase in prices for a lot of gear, like 400 quid for a Belstaff , the upside of which will inevitably lead to an eventual decrease once the movement dies out, unfortunately it will probably take a few of the brands with it.
Beats the dirty/hairy/smelly stereotype that has long portrayed motorcyclists, here in oz at least.

Comrades: This is an interesting read for me. It's interesting because I grew up wearing jeans on a motorcycle (very cold and wet) and at some stage had a plastic coat to keep the water out. I even remember a pudding bowl helmet that had a rivet replaced by a bolt! With the passage of time and some earning capacity I brought a set of Belstaff's that I used throughout winter. I don't know whether it was the contrast with what went before but I have no memory of them being cold or stiff. All I can remember is the luxury of being dry ... Eventually, of course, I brought motorcycle boots and also gloves rather than handlebar mitts. Today I have everything including heated grips and heated gloves - such is life

With respect to hipsters - I love the look. It's not for me but that doesn't matter. I'm happy to see young people having a good time especially when it involves bikes. If I was young again I'd probably be one although I'm not sure about the ink.

Was wearing waxed cotton and leather then https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIEhaOMkFCY and still am now

When I got my first legal road bike I was only just turned 17 and lived at home with parents. My dad was pretty uptight and a stickler for the law and social obedience. He'd had motorbikes in his youth but that was way back in the 50's when two wheels were the norm for many young guys who wanted affordable transport. He had a very fixed view of what was 'proper and correct' for the way to dress and behave. So, to cut a long story short, the only way I was going to get on the road was to tow the line a bit and follow his advice and get his support. Whilst all my mates were out there on 250 Yamahas and GT Suzukis wearing Lewis Leather fringed jackets, AGV helmets, cut-off wrangler jackets, bike boots etc. yours truly was obliged to get a Honda 125J (single cylinder commuter bike) and wear a white, full face Stadium Achilles helmet (totally square, boring safety helmet that old men wore), my dads old gauntlet style gloves (FFS!), a pair of Derry Boots (remember them?) a bright yellow Sam Brown belt and......yes, you've guessed it......a full set of Belstaff, waxed cotton jacket and trousers.

God I felt a twat But I was on the road and free so I put up with it for a while. After a few weeks I realised I could set off from the house dressed like the proverbial twat and then change into some cooler gear at the bottom of the road. I had a leather jacket and a cool helmet and some jeans and cowboy boots stuffed into a bag hidden in a hedge and I would dutifully wave my dad away as I left the house secure in the knowledge that the Belstaff would spend the evening buried at the bottom of a hedge.

Another seminal memory is of me arriving at a coffee bar where bikers hang out, pinball machines, overflowing ashtrays, formica tables, table football, the local vicar who runs the place trying to get 'pally' with the biker boys and girls who hang out there. I'm leaning up against a wall having a fag and trying to look cool and this girl called Mel Smith walks up to me, leans up against the wall with her face close to mine and says,

"Bic. Thank fook you have finally got yourself a decent leather jacket. It's about time".

And that did it for me. The Belstaff never saw the light of day ever again.

So perhaps I have a distorted view on this subject. The thought of them brought out a shudder in me. I should go and see a Freudian psychologist maybe.....

Mid-70s in deepest cosmopolitan Zumerzet had two distinct camps:

Camp A @ 16 were on FSIEs, etc, @ 17 RD250s, etc on L-plates and with full licence, GT380/550/750s and the odd 400/4 - riding gear generally Harringtons, jeans, trainers and the cheapest, gaudiest (Candyflake anyone?) helmets, gloves optional - summer riding only.

Camp B @ 16 were buying and rebuilding British bikes for riding @ 17 BSA 250 Starfires, etc with the odd Royal Enfield Bullet, Continental GT,etc and with full licence, BSA/Triumph 500s, Bonnies, Tridents, Rocket 3s and the odd
Jota - riding gear summer leather jackets and leather/denim jeans, winter Barbour/Belstaff with boots, gloves and good helmets (bright orange Bell Star anyone?) - all year, all weather riding.

A few Camp A are still around (too many crashes, serious injuries and deaths) and riding today's equivalents but with full leathers, virgin knee sliders, etc and still crashing with similar consequences.

All Camp B are still around and riding Triumphs, Ducatis, BMW and the odd KTM, and mostly still wearing same/similar, but armoured, gear plus Rukka,etc.

Old habits die hard, old dogs and new tricks, etc I guess.

I did a few tv commercials for a western store store selling waxed cotton back in the day. I was good looking and new how to ride a horse and look good on a motorcycle ....I wore what ever the elements required to stay warm and dry, it wasn't until I was old/ or maybe more affluent that I actually had moto gear that would be warm ,dry, and save me from road rash. The best weather protection I've worn is still a one piece cold weather construction piece of work wear. Not rain proof but damn near.

Mel Smith wasn't really a very nice person. A bit of a bitch actually.

To put it in context here is a picture of me at the time with the actual leather jacket that I used to hide in a hedge. It might be a few years later though - that jacket stayed with me a long time!


Amazingly I have just had a look through some old boxes and found a very rare picture of me with the aforementioned Belstaff jacket and crap Stadium helmet. I seem to be wearing some dodgy brown slippers which I did not go riding in, ha ha.