Speaking only for myself & my few surviving friends, motorcycles are neither a fashion statement nor a “Lifestyle”. When first got interested in them they were mechanical contrivances that let me continue on after the road stopped, got around the curves quicker than most cars and had their viscera exposed, just waiting to be tweaked with. – The “wind in your face? Sometimes enjoy that & sometimes figure it is the price to be paid for the other things motorcycles do.
Might be why I describe myself as “a rider” not “a biker”. Feel no need to hang around other “bikers”. Come to think of it, there only time I hung around “bikers” was after I rescued a KAWA from the “Penny Saver” & felt compelled to hang around the topless bar, fresh from work, still dressed in my white shirt & slacks, trying to find somebody willing to race me. (That there were undraped females there had nothing to do with it.) – Nothing against hanging around with “bikers”, on the road do it a lot, enjoy their company but on occasion also hang around duck hunters, marksmen, sailors & golfers; like them too.
Getting really concerned about HD. They are an icon. I take their survival personally & they seem to be failing about. – Everybody on any of their current offerings almost has to start on a competitor’s product.
AND THEN THIS – AND THEN THIS – Might or might not be true, found it on another site & have not checked it, take it with a grain of salt, but the fact we are not giggling about it shows the low state they are in
Karl Lagerfeld to design two new Harley motorcycles
In an interview in this month’s Vogue magazine Harley Davidson stylist Willie G. Davidson and iconic fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld announced a collaboration between Harley Davidson and the designer to produce two new motorcycles.
In the interview Willie G Davidson stated he and his long time partner, actor and poet, Simon Callow have long been close friends with the iconic fashion designer and his husband/manager, Jules Jonovitch. “Karl and I talked about working together for many years but it always seemed Karl was busy producing a collection for an upcoming fashion show or just busy with other projects, things just never seemed to come together for us” said Willie. “As a fan of couture and a stylist myself, I’ve always loved Karl’s sense of style and fashion so I feel so thrilled now that Karl is going be working more closely with Harley Davidson”. “Karl was instrumental in the design of the Rocker although he never got the credit he deserved for that” said Willie. “It was Karl’s idea to make it look like a giant penis” said Willie.
As a first step, Karl will design a series of jackets, gloves, boots and chaps as well as produce special edition “Karl Lagerfeld” Rocker and Cross Bones motorcycles the custom shop will manufacture. These designer bikes will coordinate with the designer “Karl Lagerfeld” apparel. Karl and his husband Jules Jonovich are no strangers to motorcycles and Harley Davidson. They along with their Pekingese Bobo are a common site cruising the streets of Paris together. Karl and Jules’s current ride is the first in his designer series. The KL (Karl Lagerfeld) series Cross Bones screams for attention with it’s black and white faux fur zebra skin seat, custom painted lavender, blue and cream tank and fender Karl himself is said to have painted, and abundant mirrored chrome.
“Fashion and motorcycles just seem to go together. I have always been inspired by the over the top look of motorcycle gear like the tight motorcycle jackets with their huge lapels and many zippers as well as the manly look of chaps. I often accessorize my suits with fingerless gloves” said and an obviously enthusiastic Karl, “I plan on taking these classic elements of motorcycling and injecting some modern twists, spirit and color from the fashion world” as he pointed to a picture of a semi nude male model wearing nothing but black and white zebra patterned chaps and a yellow jacket he says was inspired by the one Marlon Brando wore in “The Wild Ones”. The jacket features upper and lower rocker patches on the back that say “Wild Ones” and ”America” along with a small diamond 1% MC patch. Harley stores will sell a line of mostly fingerless gloves to accessorize with. The fashion designer also pointed to the “Cross Bones“ boots he designed. The boots look similar to most motorcycle slip on boots but extend to the thigh where they widen to a gauntlet. A zipper up the back allows easy entry and exit.
Read what you want into that.....Leather, chrome, Village People, Vogue, Willie G all rolled into one....I'm not touching it.
