Rock & roll and motorcycles go together like sex and drugs-or, um, peanut butter and jelly. It seems every rock star rides nowadays; just look at the music videos on MTV-if they still show any. Not surprisingly, there's a lot of crossover, with music-themed motorcycle gear and motorcycle-themed music gear. Here's some stuff we think is fun...
Schott Classic Perfecto Leather Motorcycle Jacket
The original biker jacket is also the original rocker jacket. Popularized by rebel icon James Dean, the Schott Classic Perfecto leather motorcycle jacket is Made in the NYC of deluxe heavy steer-hide and features a belted front, bi-swing back, gusseted underarm footballs (for ease of movement), zippered pockets/sleeves and an insulated nylon quilted lining. It comes in men's sizes 32-54 and 40-54 long, and it's recommended that you order one size larger than normal. For an even more rockin' look, choose the One Star Perfecto with stars on each epaulet. Prices range from $500-$650, depending on size, and include free shipping. Schott offers no fewer than 15 different styles of leather motorcycle jackets with prices starting at $300.
www.schottnyc.com
Super G Burning Hot Metal Jacket
Motorcycling and fashion collide in the new Super G women's line by Hein Gericke. Though purely intended as casual wear, these jackets incorporate functional details such as waist adjustments, zippered cuffs, power stretch panels and perforations. However, they don't have any armor, are made of supple lambskin and are tailored to flatter the feminine form. Here, rocker chick Mixi is modeling the Burning Hot Metal jacket, which is also available as a vest. Prices range from $398 for vests to $698 for jackets. There are many styles to choose from, some brightly colored and all featuring fun, moto-themed graphics. Hoodies, long/short-sleeved T-shirts, tank tops, hats and even doggy Ts are also available.
www.supergfashion.com
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
How can you not support an indie rock band named after Marlon Brando's gang in The Wild One? OK, so they're not bikers themselves; they're a straight-ahead, hard-rockin', three-piece outfit with a hip sound, melodic hooks and a fast-growing following-not to mention really groovy T-shirts.
www.blackrebelmotorcycleclub.com
Icon Bombshell Go-Go outfit
Nothing says rock & roll like a hot chick in leather! Here's Mixi again modeling Icon's aptly named Bombshell Go-Go getup. The $500 jacket and $325 chaps (also available as pants for $275) are made of 1.2 to 1.4mm-thick, premium-grade leather with reinforced, cross-stitched seams, a custom buckle adjustment system and a women's-specific fit. Which is nice, because chaps don't look half as good on guys. Both are available in black, pink or the blue shown here-had to match Mixi's hair, after all. Complete the ensemble with the $75 Tuscadero gloves in the aforementioned colors plus red, and the $170 Bombshell platform boots in black or white, both with four stylish straps.
www.rideicon.com
Dunlop Harley-Davidson guitar straps
So, playing "Born To Be Wild" night after night still hasn't lured one of those front-row hotties onto the backseat of your Hog? Then maybe you need one of these: a Dunlop Harley-Davidson guitar strap. Choose from 19 different styles, in 2.5 or 3-inch widths, in leather, suede or poly woven, with prices ranging from $18-$80. H-D logo'ed picks are also available.
www.jimdunlop.com
Red Wing Zip-Up Motorcycle Boots
The classic biker/rocker boot made modern. Red Wing got into the motorcycle boot biz four years ago and has continued to upgrade its product line since. The Minnesota-based company now offers close to a dozen different biker boots in zipper, lace-up and pull-on styles, ranging in height from 5 to 10 inches. Shown here are the $146 Model 965 with dual zippers and the $134 Model 979 with zippers and laces, both 6 inches tall. Both are made of full-grain, water-resistant black leather and feature removable cushion footbeds and Vibram Lug TC-4 outsoles.
www.redwingshoes.com
Buell Stone MS-1 Electric Guitar
We told you about this a few months ago and now here it is in all its glory. Erik Buell of the Buell Motorcycle Company collaborated with Mike Stone of the heavy metal band Queensryche to create the Buell Stone MS-1 guitar. Made at the Peavey Custom Shop, the guitar features an original contoured mahogany body with twin Seymour Duncan 59 humbucking pickups, dual volume and tone controls, and a two-way adjustable bridge with Peavey's patented Dual Compression tailpiece. The set mahogany neck features a rosewood fretboard and Planet Waves locking tuners, plus Buell's signature on the headstock, Stone's autograph on the 12th fret and pearl inlays of a roadracer leaning progressively further into a turn. It comes in black, pearl white or custom finishes for $1999.99, including hard-shell case.
www.peaveycustomshop.com
Rock Hard helmets
Here's one of those ideas you wish you'd had: motorcycle helmets emblazoned with the names and logos of popular rock bands. Produced in limited numbers and accompanied by certificates of authenticity, when they're gone, they're gone! Current offerings include AC/DC, Kiss, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Slayer and Hustler magazine, but with nearly 300 artists under contract, the Rock Hard "Tour" lineup will constantly change. Made in Korea by KBC, the street lid features composite fiberglass/Kevlar/carbon/Spectra core construction with multiple adjustable vents and a clear 2mm molded polycarbonate uni-curve flat race shield for outstanding optical clarity. Snell- and DOT-approved, it comes in adult sizes XS-XXL for $349.99. Off-road and half street helmets are also available for $249.99 and $169.99 respectively.
www.rockhardhelmets.com