BMW Motorrad and British motorcycle apparel maker Belstaff are getting together to make “Pure Motorcycle” jackets.
Is this another example of the German motorcycle manufacturer finally realising it should stick to what it knows best – engineering and technology – and leaving the design work to the truly talented?
Another example of this recent shift in thinking is getting Californian design house Roland Sands Designs to create the Concept Ninety which will go into production as the R nineT.
Now Belstaff is making a select range of eight jackets to suit the nineT motorcycle.
Two are for women and the rest for men.
They are close fitting and range from short blouson-style to waisted long jackets in either leather or hand-waxed cotton. They also feature a discrete aluminium BMW on the inside of the jacket.
I’ve had several Belstaff jackets over the past 30-odd years and they are good quality, if a little old fashioned with their flannel lining. Although, their heritage look is what makes them so attractive.
They are also made for cold climates and aren’t suited to about nine months of the year in sub-tropical Queensland.
Wax cotton may be breathable, but it’s not super-weatherproof.
I’ve also had a lot of BMW gear over the years and I’ve found it to be of exceptional quality, very functional and highly protective. However, most of the time you look like a Major in a Drum and Bugle Corps rather than a biker.
Hopefully this short alliance with Belstaff will be successful and BMW will seek more outside design ideas for their apparel.
One thing the two companies have in common is their premium pricing, so don’t expect these jackets to be very affordable. In Europe the jackets range in price from 450-1100 Euros .
The gear goes on sale next March. No word yet if BMW stores in Australia will stock it. Meanwhile, BMW Motorrad has released its range of gear for 2014 and the styling doesn’t seem to have been affected by its short liaison with Belstaff.
However, they do promise riders “can look forward to a wealth of new developments and upgrades of tried and tested products”.
And in a worrying trend, their AirShell and NeonShell jackets are featured in “fluorescent colour”.
A new addition to these jackets and the FivePocket trousers are NPL protectors which are claimed to be more comfortable well as offering high impact absorption.