Konstantin, 33 years old, works in IT. Motorcycle Moto Guzzi v7III
A motorcycle is the most vivid emotion you can get on earth. You are not constrained by the roof of an office, car, house or subway, but ride under the open sky, feeling freedom as much as possible.
My desire to get a license began in early 2022, when I first learned about the DG event, where a huge number of stylish people on beautiful classic motorcycles share the same philosophy of perceiving the world. I share it too, so I joined them. My friend and I got our license together and bought motorcycles: he got a Triumph Bonneville T100 and I got a Moto Guzzi V7III Stone.
A motorcycle for me is more than just a way of transportation. It's an endless stream of emotions from the moment you start the engine. This is a way to escape from the frantic rhythm of the city, the work routine, and dissolve in movement. You can concentrate, relax, think or just enjoy the beauty of the city.
It is true what they say: a car carries the body, and a motorcycle carries the soul. I completely agree with this.
Andrey, 30 years old, consultant (strategic consulting). Motorcycle Ducati GT1000 Kawasaki W803
A motorcycle for me is, first of all, freedom, and much more primitive than a car. And this is also a danger, but not the danger that you try to avoid, but the one that you anticipate - as if you were going on the biggest slide in an amusement park.
For me, this is an outlet and a hobby, a subject for conversation with fellow motorcyclists, a reason to try to finish work early and go for a ride. Of course, it can also be used as a means of transportation - then the trip turns into a holiday and it doesn’t matter where you’re going.
I wanted a retro motorcycle. The last straw in favor of retro themes was the video from 2014's Distinguished Gentleman's Ride. So I bought a Kawasaki W650. Five years later, I decided that I wanted something new and more powerful to make trips to Europe more fun. It was important to me that it was not a popular motorcycle - the mass character repels me. So I got onto the Ducati GT1000 - a fairly rare motorcycle in our area, produced for only five years.
Now the Kawasaki is up for sale, but I'm constantly worried in my mind, as if I'm doing something wrong. Maybe I'll keep both.
Sasha, 27 years old, mechanic. 1976 Harley-Davidson Sportster 1000 motorcycle
I love old restored motorcycles. I like owning one much more than an ordinary one. By the word “own” I mean not only to use it, but also to know it thoroughly and be confident in it, and enjoy it all. In my case, a motorcycle is bought to make a worthwhile apparatus out of it - a magnet for looks and a lot of questions. Six months of restoration work forces you to get used to him - much like with your spouse during renovations in the house.
The emotions I get while riding it can be described as a relationship with a girl. Not the most flexible, not the most accommodating, with her own impenetrable character - but at the same time beloved. And the only one who can do everything to get you back on track from any ass.
Anton, 27 years old, marketer. Triumph Thunderbird 900 motorcycle
To ride a motorcycle you don't need any goal or destination. Most often, the goal is the process of driving itself: you are not bothered by health problems, problems at work - all this remains somewhere else. I still get that feeling of butterflies in my stomach every time.
A motorcycle is a lifestyle for me. This community is completely different, but at the same time wonderful people. The only thing they have in common is the presence of a classic or custom bike. And mutual assistance. In general, this is a separate world with its own unspoken rules and advantages. For me, a motorcycle is a tool that allows me to be involved in something bigger. After all, you can't call a vehicle a thing that can help you make friends for life. Here, of course, it is not enough to just ride a motorcycle, but without it all these meetings would not have happened.
Classic motorcycles fascinated me from the very beginning. This Triumph has history. A real iron classic motorcycle.
General recommendations for motorcyclist protection
Selecting equipment for riding a motorcycle is a rather responsible task that requires patience and some knowledge. You can select clothes by element or as a set. If, of course, the owner of a motorcycle is not ready to independently select each component of a protective suit, then it is easier to use the services of a company specializing in this.
You can find out more about this on the Internet. For example, on this page you have the opportunity to view and buy motorcycle equipment https://www.tvoymoto.ru/catalog/ekipirovka/ or on another resource of your choice.
Number of clothes
The amount of equipment, especially in cold weather, plays a significant role in protecting the motorcyclist's body. Since driving can occur at any time of the day, a multi-layer uniform will ensure preparedness for such conditions. This will allow you not to sweat during a fairly warm day (simply remove one layer), and when night falls you will not freeze (several thin layers of clothing warm better than one thick one).
Size selection
Choosing the right size of clothing and equipment is not difficult when it comes to protecting your body. Here, all the parameters coincide with those on ordinary clothes for everyday wear, so the motorcyclist just needs to know his dimensions. Naturally, each manufacturer makes its own adjustments to the production of things of a particular standard, so you should not miss the opportunity to try them on. The protection should fit snugly enough on the body, but not hamper movement.
Alexey, 36 years old, wedding photographer and author of this photo project. Motorcycle Honda CL400
I've been doing photography for a long time. I started riding a motorcycle, and I wanted to show this part of the culture, to show the Gentleman's Ride - how people dress for it, how they participate in this race.
I chose my motorcycle because I like its appearance. It is maneuverable, lightweight, you can ride it around the city, or you can leave the road and go, for example, into the forest.
A motorcycle for me is a lifestyle, an interesting way to move from one point to another, travel, freedom. I drive a car when the weather doesn’t allow me to ride a motorcycle: then I just go from point A to point B. But on a motorcycle, every trip is a pleasure.
Selecting individual elements
No one can tell how a motorcyclist should dress, so there is complete democracy here. The selection of individual elements of equipment has its own order, which begins with the helmet.
Helmet
The helmet is the head of everything. This piece of equipment is divided into several types.
- Integral. This is a classic universal helmet with glass, which is used in urban conditions, on sports tracks and on long journeys. Glass, often double, covers the face from the wind and foreign objects.
- Modular - a helmet with a folding lower part. It is very useful for long trips, as it allows you to drink and eat without taking off your head.
- A ¾ helmet is a chinless helmet with a large glass. Great for the city as it has a great view. The downside is the relatively low level of security provided.
- The helmet only protects the top of the head. This is the least safe type of head gear for motorcyclists.
- A cross helmet is designed for off-road driving. It protects the entire face, but additionally requires the purchase of a mask.
Motor turtle
This protective piece of equipment is intended for motocross, but is also actively used by riders who know how to dress for motorcycles and consider a city jacket to be insufficiently safe. She hides under a jacket, and in warm weather - on a long-sleeved jersey. If used without a jacket, the motorized turtle only protects from impacts, and when sliding along the road surface, its mesh quickly breaks.
Knee pads
Mostly used in sports disciplines for protection against impacts. For everyday riding, regular motorcycle pants are sufficient.
Motorcycle shoes
The large assortment of these products can confuse any novice motorcyclist. This type of equipment is divided into several types:
- Sports – high and hard boots, not intended for walking;
- City - protected ordinary boots designed for walking and riding;
- Travel – high and comfortable boots, with a very high degree of protection;
- Cross - designed not only for riding, but also for pushing off rough ground surfaces during turns, as well as other loads. Considered the most durable.
Rodion, 32 years old, traveler and mescalero. Motorcycle Harley-Davidson, LML Star
In the past, the motorcycle and scooter were a more dangerous, but still much more effective means of transportation for me. However, over the past two years they have become something more to me. The motorcycle I ride around Mexico has become my home. And the Moscow scooter still allows me not to waste extra time on the road and smile ironically in response to the tired looks of people driving cars stuck in yet another traffic jam in the capital.
The motorcyclist is always in direct contact with the environment, and this is the main difference between a motorcycle and other vehicles. Bone-chilling or refreshing wind, snow or heat that forces you to take off all your protection - all these and many other sensations are much more intense than driving a car. The difference is about the same as watching lions through a TV screen or being in close proximity to them in the wild. A motorcycle is a surfboard, a car is a sun lounger on the beach. It may sound cliché, but a motorcycle is probably the closest thing to the childhood joy of riding a bicycle that a person can experience in adulthood.
I have been fascinated by British fashion culture since childhood. Hence the choice of retro style. In principle, I am sure that the golden age of auto and motorcycle design was in the 50s–70s of the last century. Today, manufacturers have sacrificed the unique design and character of cars and motorcycles for the sake of safety, functionality, aerodynamics, new materials - everything that makes your journey more comfortable and easier. But the process of driving such vehicles is increasingly beginning to resemble the old Need for Speed from the 1990s. Four control buttons and a windshield, behind which only painted plastic trees are visible.
Sergey, 33 years old, head of an online advertising agency. Motorcycle Kawasaki W800
The motorcycle is a reflection of me. I don't understand stock motorcycles. They are like universal soldiers, and I believe that your favorite thing should be a part of you.
When you are driving a car, you see a picture around you and understand that there is some kind of landscape outside the window, but you don’t feel anything. On a motorcycle you feel everything, you can’t be distracted. And when you leave it, you realize that you are not tired, but on the contrary.
A motorcycle is chosen based on emotions. Mine is seventy percent redone, and that's my soul. He is my friend: I greet him and see him off. And I will definitely keep it, I’m not going to sell it.
Pasha, 27 years old, cook. Motorcycle Honda VRX400
I don’t understand how I lived without all this before. When I ride a motorcycle I feel euphoric. I just like to ride, and it’s especially fun to ride long distances. True, so far I only have a trip to St. Petersburg and trips from Moscow within 200 kilometers.
My motorcycle attracted me with its classic appearance and v-twin engine. To be honest, at the time of purchase I was interested in another model, but when I was going for an inspection, I saw that that motorcycle had become more expensive and I didn’t have enough for it. I quickly looked through other advertisements, saw this one, went, immediately fell in love - and picked it up the same day.
Driving style and clothing style
Before thinking about what to wear, a motorcyclist should understand the conditions in which he will be driving the vehicle for the majority of his riding time.
City
Here conditions such as appearance and safety become equally important. When moving around the city to work or to business meetings, it is not always possible to change into a presentable suit, much less carry it with you, keeping it clean and tidy.
Here, special attention is paid to the jacket and pants. The first may have softening inserts, but in some models they are almost invisible, which already brings the motorcycle owner closer to everyday style. Pants are now also available with barely noticeable inserts, and even styled like regular jeans. You won’t be able to sit at work in these for long, but you’ll definitely be able to go to a couple of meetings. In addition, this style of clothing is great for an upright riding position on a motorcycle.
Sport
Despite the fact that they are not like that, during the warm season, city streets turn into sports tracks for owners of sports motorcycles. For this reason, the corresponding equipment, called track equipment, is very popular. Such suits look like one-piece overalls and have a greater degree of protection in case of falls and bad weather conditions.
Certain elements, for example, the so-called hump on the back, serve to improve the aerodynamic qualities of the rider and make him more comfortable. This is a typical example of how competitive motorcyclists dress.
Cross
Motocross enthusiasts should protect their bodies from falls, as this is precisely the problem that awaits them at every turn of the track. Cross-country equipment is bulky and more resistant to impacts from hard and sharp objects than others. It consists of the following components:
- Trousers;
- Trigger;
- Protective vest;
- Shoulders;
- Gloves;
- Knee-high boots;
- Set of shields;
- Full face helmet;
- Mask.
Alexey, 43 years old, manager. Motorcycle Honda VRX400
A motorcycle is a state of mind, it’s not about transport. I don’t drive it to work; rather, I go out on weekends. But if there is any need to get somewhere quickly, then, of course, I go out on a motorcycle. I didn’t have much long trips. I mostly ride around the Moscow region - Kolomna, Zvenigorod.
For me, riding a motorcycle is like riding a snowboard: anticipation, then a little excitement, turning into slight fear and a little panic, then pure adrenaline during the ride, and then a prayer to all the saints that I arrived safe and sound!
How to Dress for Long Distance Motorcycle Riding
Here you select universal equipment that meets the widest range of motorcyclist requirements. It has the qualities of all of the above types of clothing, as it should protect the motorcyclist from many factors over a long period. Of course, travel equipment will not be as attractive as city equipment, but it is much more flexible than cross-country equipment.
Thanks to the presence of detachable layers and ventilation zippers, a motorcyclist can provide himself with proper comfort during the trip at any time of the year. In addition, such equipment does not allow moisture from the outside to pass through and at the same time breathes in hot weather. There are hidden membranes and linings here.
Andrey, 47 years old, director of the company. Motorcycle Kawasaki Ninja GPX 250
A motorcycle for me is happiness, it’s wings, it’s part of my life. I like to travel, I like to be in a party, communicate with like-minded people, meet new people.
The cafe racer style is close to me, so I ordered a kit of parts and converted a 1985 Kawasaki Ninja GPX 250 into a cafe racer with my own hands. And for long trips I have a Goldwing.
Ivan, 32 years old, does not work. Motorcycle Yamaha SR400
A motorcycle can say a lot about its owner. My bike is a 1978 model, simple as hell, and I really like it. I like to understand what and how it works.
A motorcycle is a feeling of belonging to a certain culture. In the motorcycle world there are a lot of different directions, different from each other both in style and in tasks, conditions of use, and disciplines. This also affects the style of clothing. As a rule, the Japanese set the tone here, although they build everything mainly around American aesthetics.
Of course, a motorcycle is a danger. I never think about it when I'm driving, but that understanding and respect for the road always lingers in the background. All the troubles, in my practice, happen as soon as you become arrogant and begin to have a familiar attitude towards the road.
It's no secret that a motorcyclist is not so much a dude on a motorcycle, but a state of mind, worldview and character. Infection with a motovirus depends little on such things as social status, social circle, education, occupation, etc. No one is safe from it. That is why motorcyclists in everyday life are representatives of a variety of professions. Whom you will not meet among our brothers! Moreover, despite the stereotypes that have developed in the eyes of ordinary people, the profession can be completely unrelated to any extreme and completely peaceful. For example, I work in the legal department of a large company. We have an appropriate dress code at work. Everything is according to the canons: shirt, suit, tie. The strict classic style of clothing, of course, pleases the eye. But it is terribly impractical, even when driving on public transport or in a car. Everything gets wrinkled instantly, white shirts get dirty from the slightest touch of the cuffs on a dirty garage door or the handrail of a subway car, cufflinks fly off and get lost, you can’t stuff much into your pockets - everything bulges, you have to carry some kind of bags with you. In short, it was stressful. Now imagine: what is it like to comply with this dress code if you are a motorcyclist and ride a motorcycle to work every day? Unfortunately, we won’t be able to do this as in the picture above. You know why. So the problem has not been invented out of thin air by the bigwigs, as it might seem to happy office workers, where during working hours you can run around in motorcycle jeans, sneakers and a T-shirt. It exists and solving it is not as easy as it seems. However, it is obvious that such pitiful obstacles cannot stop a motorcyclist from riding his favorite transport to work. For those for whom the problem is relevant - under the cut there is a step-by-step solution on how to organize clothing logistics and learn how to transform from a dashing motorcyclist into a dull office plankton and back like a werewolf in 15 minutes 
So, what you can’t do without in the office:
1. A place where you can change clothes. From a fairly spacious toilet stall with a coat hook to your own office;
2. A place where you can store a helmet and motorcycle boots - any sufficiently spacious closet or drawer, throw out all those old papers and codes in paper. The 21st century is here, everything is on the Internet and “Consultant+” :);
3. A hanger on which you can hang and store spare clothes - office closet, free-standing high hangers, etc. The main thing is that the clothes can hang there for days and not go anywhere;
If this is there, everything else can be solved. So, the method is this: Buy a cover for clothes at IKEA or AUCHAN. Fastened with a zipper, like this:
We give it to our beloved wife to carefully iron the suit and shirt. We take him to work by car or on our own. We additionally take with us:
1. Two hangers (preferably wooden, they are stronger and will not sag/bend under the weight of heavy equipment, like plastic ones)
2. Several ironed ties to match different shirts
3. Boots for a suit
4. Sturdy pack, big enough to fit knees and boots at the same time
5. Shoe sponge and liquid shoe polish
6. A bottle of spare perfume (if the trip is too hot or nervous%-))
7. For shaggy hair – a towel and a comb.
We arrive at work, put the suit on the hanger, ties there too, pull it on top and fasten the cover. Boots in the closet in a large bag. Sponges and other crap go right there, in the closet. It is also advisable to leave one shirt, clean and ironed, along with the suit - in case of force majeure of any kind.
Thus, we now have everything at work. To come and change clothes. The only parts of the wardrobe that can be replaced will be shirts. Well, you still need to iron your suit periodically. By taking one suit home or to the laundry for cleaning and ironing and replacing it with another. So we seem to change suits, not “one color in winter and summer” and always ironed.
Now about the shirts. There are several ways. I stupidly put on a fresh, ironed shirt under my motorcycle jacket. But this method has its drawbacks. Firstly, the shirt under the jacket wrinkles. It’s not critical, but it’s no longer crunchy and the collar isn’t sticky. But it doesn’t look crumpled, for one standard working day it’s quite enough to look decent. Secondly, you sweat if it's hot. Properly selected ventilated equipment, antiperspirants and a short commute to work (because that’s what it’s all about, it takes no more than half an hour to get from anywhere in Moscow to the center) helps. The third is the shirt collar. Just don’t even try to wear it under a jacket, the collar will end up all black on the ribs, the roads are very dirty. Windstopper saves. I have this one, from probiker. I took it on Lewis. This windstopper, in my opinion, is very successful. When it’s cold, it covers your throat from the wind, but at +30 it’s not particularly hot. I don’t know how it is, but it’s a fact. Plus, you can pull it over your nose and hide half your face. Warm your face in the cold, rob banks or squeeze out Crimea. There are appropriate holes for ventilation. Sanchez recommends. We put it on top - all the dirt remains on the windstopper, and not on the collar.
If you don’t like this option or it’s not suitable (a very tight jacket or overalls, you sweat a lot, etc.) there are alternatives. You can bring in ironed, clean shirts by car over the weekend for a couple of weeks. Additional hangers, covers, and space will be required. You can find a laundromat next to your office and take it there when it gets dirty - they will wash and iron it. If you have a large trunk, you can carefully fold the shirt, like they sell them, in a square and in a bag in the trunk. I don’t have a trunk, but people claim that a shirt doesn’t have time to wrinkle too much if folded and secured correctly... In short, there are options.
So, one way or another, we solved the problem with a fresh shirt. Then everything is simple: we arrive at the office 15 minutes before the start of the working day. Gloves and windstopper - in the helmet, helmet with you. Rattling with motorcycle boots and sternly looking at our stunned colleagues (Are you a motorcyclist?! No, damn it, I’m leaving the masquerade!) we go to the workplace.
We put a hat in the closet, hang a motorcycle jacket on the first hanger, take a bag with replacement office shoes and a case with a suit with us and go change clothes and wash our hands. Boots and knees in a bag, put on a suit-tie-shirt-boots, motorcycle pants on a hanger under a cover instead of a suit. We leave already changed, in our hands we also have a cover on a hanger and a bag. For shaggy hair (not relevant to me, I have a clipper cut with a 6mm nozzle, but people in the thread suggested it) you need item 7 from the list above. He wet his hair, dried it with a towel, and combed his hair. We refresh dusty boots with a sponge cream and, if necessary, fill them with perfume. That's all, only a satisfied smile on our faces reveals that we are a motorcyclist.
At 17:45 the procedure is repeated in reverse order.
And don't forget to put your helmet in the closet once a year, every third Monday in July. On the contrary, put it in the most visible place. After all, on this day we celebrate World Ride to Work Day!
Everyone is happy to get to work, spend a relaxing working day, make a lot of money, and then return home safe and sound 
