Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Why do alot of bikers wear leather vests? I don't see how the are usefull.

Give me a vest and some gloves and I’d ride in about any weather. If I grab a vest to ride it’s not for any reason other than keeping me warm on the ride. My arms don’t get cold but when that breeze hits my chest it can make a cold spring/fall ride hell. I think many “Harley bikers” just wear them to show off their collection of patches. Those bikers are easy to pick out of a crowd, you can’t see any leather on the vest, just a rainbow of patches. I think patches originated to cover up crappy holes in clothing… that doesn’t say much for the quality of the vest that those bikers are buying.

Most vests are used to display your colors. A long tradition of motorcycle clubs going way back to the early days of riding after WWII.

Patches originated to tell which motorcycle club you were affiliated with. The other patches on the vest tell what rank you are in the club, whether you are a prospect or a full on member, what you've done for the club, which chapter of the club you belong to, etc.

You’re right “T” but you’ve got to admit there are a lot of poser “Harley bikers” out there with patches on the vest for no other reason than collecting. It’s easy to spot a legit vest; it looks like it’s been through a war! Hell, some of the vests I’ve seen on guys at bike shows look like they just came from the dry cleaners. I guess I’m more for utility than anything else when it comes to a vest.

-Curly- wrote:I don't see how the are usefull.

I'd say just for 'style' and something to sew their patches on. Earrings, tattoos and designs on shirts/clothing isn't very useful either. I guess my point is these people who wear vests like how they look

not very useful as protection since most accidents will scrape up your arms, but i guess you can keep your trunk warm...i'll stick with a full jacket though.

The only vest I wear when I'm riding is my electric vest, and that goes on under a full jacket.

the vests are for displaying ones patch collection.

ericeverson wrote:You’re right “T” but you’ve got to admit there are a lot of poser “Harley bikers” out there with patches on the vest for no other reason than collecting. It’s easy to spot a legit vest; it looks like it’s been through a war! Hell, some of the vests I’ve seen on guys at bike shows look like they just came from the dry cleaners. I guess I’m more for utility than anything else when it comes to a vest.

Stop saying "Harley bikers"... Both you're posts you are basically trashing people who ride harley and haven't given any solid information toward the question asked...

Leather vests used to be primarily for MC members to display their colors, but they are now a pretty standard accessory for many cruiser riders. Non MC members will typically put patches from rallys they have been to on the vest, there are certain patches that are not MC related that still indicate certain things. Vietman vets will commonly put a patch that looks like the vietnam service ribbon on their vest, a set of broken wings indicates that a rider has survived a bad crash, patches to honor certain bikers that have died are common (usually a biker from the local area).