Potentially Inflammatory: Why vests?

[BigPoppa]

Since I commute on my Spyder and often spend a portion of my commute in stop and go traffic, I wear a vest once temps get 80F and above. It's a trade-off between comfort and protection in my case. In cooler weather I have a couple of different jackets depending on how cold it is. I also have an Aerostitch R3 I bought when I was still on 2 wheels but I don't wear very often on my Spyder.

 

[Two2Three]

I always had a vest when I was still riding two wheelers, Like someone else said, I got it at my first rally, but I did slowly add lots of destination patches to it, plus a US map where I could ink in each state that I managed to put wheels into. When I changed to the spyder, I started over with a new vest, thinking it would be my "spyder adventures" scrapbook this go around. But then I sort of missed all the stuff I had on the other one, because sometimes it's useful for people to know you've been doing this for twenty years and not 2. :shemademe_smilie:

So I ended up begging my wife to help me move and sew all the old stuff into the new vest to combine it all as just my "riding" story. :2thumbs:

But beyond just enjoying it as "the story of my riding life" I do like the extra layer it adds in cold weather or cool mornings. I will admit that I'm in the minority now in the spyder world. Mostly only older goobers like me that tend to have a vest on. :doorag:

It's also kinda fun when people at a convenience store intentionally tell me to go in front of them because they wanna "look at the patches." opcorn:

 

[shakin_jake]

I always had a vest when I was still riding two wheelers, Like someone else said, I got it at my first rally, but I did slowly add lots of destination patches to it, plus a US map where I could ink in each state that I managed to put wheels into. When I changed to the spyder, I started over with a new vest, thinking it would be my "spyder adventures" scrapbook this go around. But then I sort of missed all the stuff I had on the other one, because sometimes it's useful for people to know you've been doing this for twenty years and not 2. :shemademe_smilie:

~~~20 years?, you’re just a pup, i bought my 1st motorcycle in 1974, been riding year in/out ever since. That said, there’s many old timers here that have me beat by a country mile, & then some


~~~obligatory reply to the OP, only vest I own/wear now (sold all my business suits (some w/vests) when I retired from that life) is one made by 511, it’s a concealment vest


Now where were we…oh yes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9M5NnONGb4&t=928s





Best,


Jake
Reddick Fla.
It’s never too late to have a happy childhood

 

[Allen42]

Well......
Did you get the answer you wanted yet?

I've got a lot of good guesses, yes. Thanks!

 

[Raven]

Why punch holes in a good leather jacket for pins and patches when you can put them on a vest ?

 

[Leroy73]

Initially I started wearing one to hide my gun when I didn’t have my riding jacket on. Then I discovered the handy pockets.

 

[Jesster72]

I'm not sure of the origin, but I'll toss in on this one. I wear my vest on tours and longer day rides. Likeothers, it is the story of my motorcycle adventures. Patches and pins with meanings. Cheaper than tattoos..... but those are fun too!

 

[ARtraveler]

I'm not sure of the origin, but I'll toss in on this one. I wear my vest on tours and longer day rides. Likeothers, it is the story of my motorcycle adventures. Patches and pins with meanings. Cheaper than tattoos..... but those are fun too!

And the good thing about pins and patches...they do not require surgery to remove. :yes:

 

[vito1943]

When I was a member of a local chapter of the GWRRA (Gold Wing Road Riders Association) I was about the only rider who did NOT wear a vest. It appeared that the primary reason for a vest was to have a place for all of the patches accumulated at rallies and similar settings. I was never into that, and didn't own a single piece of Goldwing related clothing other than a t-shirt I ordered on Amazon (not sure why I did that). On the Spyder I don't see a need for a vest. I have my phone in a phone holder on the handlebars, and the little glove box behind the windscreen can hold my keys, eyeglass case, or a few other items. So all I have in my jeans pockets are my wallet in a rear pocket, a pocket knife in my left front pocket, and my concealed gun in a holster in my right front pocket. I have no need for additional pockets at all. And in hot weather, the last thing I want is leather covering most of my torso and roasting me.

 

[seaweed]

Some motor cycle gangs wear vests with their club (?) name on the back, like the Mongols. In fact I had an encounter with them today, I was in the left lane keeping up with traffic when I noticed some motorcycles coming up at me a a high rate of speed. I pulled into the right lane to let the pass. I gave them the normal two fingers down salute, No response from them. There was about 15 in that group. A short distance down the road I saw another group coming up fast. I stayed in the right lane. They passed me up (with one passing me on the right side (stupid). Then they all did a lane splitting thru at least 6 cars (did I use the word STUPID). :cus: