1. Black denim is all the rage in the motorcycle world right now, gift him with a quality made black denim vest from Milwaukee Leather. Check out this club style denim vest with hidden front zipper and internal concealment pockets.

2. Gift the gift of warmth with the best pair of insulated leather motorcycle gauntlet gloves. These premium deerskin leather gloves have 150 grams of toasty warm thinsulate insulation.

3. A quality leather wallet is something any guy will appreciate. Check out this American made genuine leather biker chain wallet with buffalo nickel snap.

4. A funny biker t-shirt like this work sucks motorcycle shirt is a solid gift to purchase.

5. Accessories can be a mans best friend, like this American Made genuine leather biker style watch band with triple buckle closure.

For nearly twenty years, we at Leather Bound Online have shared this passion for the road, and have helped clothe thousands of men, women and children in the leather jackets and protective leather motorcycle vests that have made their motorcycle journeys unforgettable.

With the launch of the Boundless Leather Blog, we look forward to sharing just a few of the stories that came from these journeys, or will help prepare you for your own.

Visit each week for a new post, ranging from:

• Real life stories from the road
• Countdowns to top events like Sturgis
• Motorcycle safety tips that could one day save your life

We look forward to posting for you each week.

Let us know what you think, or feel free to share your own stories, via the comments below.

The casual observer may see some biker in a leather jacket, dark sun glasses, riding a motorcycle, but to fellow riders he’s wearing a Distressed Cowhide Leather riding jacket featuring premium cow ice leather with a pair of transitional photo-chromatic smoke tinted riding glasses on top of a 2011 Harley Davidson XR1200X.

Every stitch of clothing, every dent and ding, every logo says something about who the biker is and what they believe in. A biker’s choice in gear is just as important as their choice in motorcycle. Boots are not to be picked out on the spur of the moment, they need to be researched to make sure the right pair that matches your particular riding habits style of riding is purchased.

Basic Types Of Motorcycle Boots

• Racing – Specifically geared toward giving the rider flexibility at high speeds while at the same time allowing for plenty of protection, racing boots are characterized by tons of extra padding and the addition of shin guards to help the lower legs. These boots are perfect for those that love tearing up the road at high rates of speed.
• Touring or Long Boots – Long Boots are just what they sound like, boots made for those that love long trips on their bikes or even commute back and forth from work. The length is for safety but the feel is for maximum comfort. A good pair of long boots feels almost custom made and are different in their lack of laces that could get caught in the bike.
• Off Road Boots – Not every motorcycle is designed to stick to the city streets and not every boot is designed that way either. For those that just want to hit the back roads and dig up some dirt, off road or all-terrain boots are thicker than riding boots in order to help protect against sticks, thorns, and loose gravel.

Once you figure out what type of boot is best for your riding style, the next step is knowing what to look for in terms of quality, safety, and comfort.

• Quality – Obviously leather is the material of choice, but after a period of time it can dry up and begin to crack. This is a problem not found in Gore Tex boots or other types made with synthetic fibers. A good quality boot will also feature thick soles to cut back on vibrations, excellent stitching and even a warranty in some cases.
• Safety- Everyone has their opinions about this, but it’s hard to deny that boots that have straps or buckles instead of laces are safer. There’s just too much room for something bad to happen when wearing a boot that has laces that can come untied and get caught in the gear shift. For those that can’t help but purchase a pair of motorcycle boots that have laces, make sure the knot is able to be secured behind a strap. As mentioned above long boots or those that have shin guards are also good choices when talking safety.
• Comfort- For some bikers a comfortable boot is everything and a lot can be said about a broke in pair of riding boots that have been to the end of the earth and back. Things to look for in a comfortable boot include: good ventilation, water proofing, and plenty of padding. A good pair of boots shouldn’t be so tight they limit movement nor so loose that they take away from the feel of the gear shift.

One thing is for sure and that’s with over 40 varieties to choose from, Leather Bound has the right pair of motorcycle boots to fit even the most hardcore of motorcycle enthusiast. Including designs for women and children! So check us out and for more info call us at 856-665-4454!

And that means more than just riding with a motorcycle helmet. Consider these statistics from Defenders of Wildlife:
• 85% of all deer-motorcycle collisions result in human fatalities
• Almost half of all deer-related crashes occur because drivers swerve to avoid the animals
• More than 75,000 deer are killed each year in New York from vehicle collisions

So the issue isn’t if you might meet a deer on the road but how you’ll respond when you do. Follow these 5 tips for safety:

1. Read the Signs – Deer crossing signs are erected in specific areas because of the high number of crashes that have occurred there. If you see a deer crossing sign, slow down.

If you happen to have an overly eager vehicle on your tail, let them pass and maintain a safe speed of approximately 10 miles below the limit.

2. Understand Deer Patterns– Defenders of Wildlife report that vehicle-deer crashes occur most frequently between October and December.

If you choose to take to the back roads remember that deer are actively migrating on centuries old routes which pre-date the road on which you find yourself.

3. Think Like A Deer – While you may not be a forest browser, you should still learn to think like one when you’re driving in deer territory. Remember these proven deer facts:
   • Deer are more active at dawn and dusk
   • Deer prefer to feed in shadowy areas and can often be found nibbling roadside
   • Deer often travel in groups of 3 or more, usually a doe and twins and possibly last year’s babies who are still hanging with mom

Always consider that when you see one deer more are likely to be about.

4. Stop Don’t Swerve To Avoid Deer – Although it’s a common reaction, swerving to avoid a deer can deliver disastrous results. The reason – deer often react abruptly to predators by running in a zig zag “wolf evasion” pattern.

They’ll usually move toward the direction they are facing but after that their movements are unpredictable.

5. Look For Clues – Knowing that deer may be lurking nearby in the dark, keep alert for any reflection you may see from your headlight down the road. The difference between a reflective road sign and a deer is that the animal will blink.

This is especially important because the brown deer hide often will not reflect light so the animal is essentially invisible.

6. Don’t Forget Your Motorcycle Helmet and Protective Gear – If you happen to have an unfortunate encounter with a deer, be sure you’ve done all you can to protect your head and body. A good motorcycle helmet and quality padded [men’s leather motorcycle jacket hyperlink: http://www.leatherboundonline.com/Leather_Motorcycle_Jackets_for_Men_s/295.htm]

may be the difference between just bumps and bruises and worse.

As in most things, being prepared will reduce chances of a nasty run-in with one of our furry friends. Take time to practice stopping abruptly and make a habit of keeping your fingers at the ready on your brake when driving through deer crossing areas.

For even more driving tips, apparel sneak peeks and nationwide motorcycle event listings, subscribe to the Leather Bound Blog.

“Veloci what?! “

Good thing that word did not catch on. A velocipede was an early name for a bicycle. It comes from the Latin veloc meaning “quick” plus the word ped meaning “foot.”

The Michaux-Perreaux steam velocipede was built in 1867. A small Louis-Guillaume Perreaux commercial steam engine was attached to a Pierre Michaux manufactured iron-framed pedal bicycle or velocipede. This was considered by some to be the world’s first motorcycle. Only one was manufactured. In 1884, Louis-Guillaume Perreaux created a tricycle version that zoomed along at a high speed of 18 mph.

Sylvester H. Roper was also said to have invented the steam velocipede in that same year in Boston. In 1896, he got the speed up to an astonishing (for the time) 40 mph. Unfortunately, he suffered heart failure while riding it and died.

From Riding Carriage to Motor Cycle

German inventors, Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach built the first petroleum-powered motorcycle in 1885. They called their invention the reitwagen meaning a two-wheeled “riding carriage.”

Can you imagine saying, “I was really rippin’ it up on my reitwagen last night?!”

E.J. Pennington demonstrated a motorcycle of his own design in Milwaukee in 1895. Pennington claimed his machine was capable of a speed of 58 mph and is credited with inventing the term “motor cycle” to describe his machine. (Now there’s a name that might stick!)

In 1902, English bicycle maker Triumph, produced its first motorcycle. It was a bicycle fitted with a single-cylinder 2.25 bhp Belgian Minerva engine attached to the down tube of a bicycle frame. In 1903, Triumph motorcycle sales topped 500.   Click here to see a picture of the Triumph Roadster.

Twenty-one year old William S. Harley teamed up with his friend 20-year old Arthur Davidson, in 1903, to make available to the public the first production Harley-Davidson® motorcycle. The bike was built to be a racer, with a 3-1/8 inch bore and 3-1/2 inch stroke. The factory in which they worked was a 10 x 15-foot wooden shed with the words “Harley-Davidson Motor Company” crudely scrawled on the door. Arthur’s brother Walter later joined their efforts.  Click here to see a picture of this historic bike.

Evolution of Motorcycle Gear

Around the same time motorcycles were becoming popular, the brown leather flight jackets worn by aviators and members of the military, commonly called “bomber jackets,” were prized for their comfort and durability.

In 1913, two brothers, the sons of  Russian immigrants Irving and Jack Schott, started making raincoats in a basement on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, which were then sold by street peddlers. We guess you could say that these were the first motorcycle jacket door-to-door salesmen.

In 1928, the Schotts designed and produced their first men’s leather motorcycle jacket hyperlink: http://www.leatherboundonline.com/Leather_Motorcycle_Jackets_for_Men_s/295.htm]. Retailing for $5.50 at a Long Island Harley Davidson distributor, the “Perfecto,” as it was called, was a symbol of the excitement, adventure and danger that fueled the fascination with motorcycles.

Subscribe to the Leather Bound Blog to stay up to find out more motorcycle history and current news.

The American Motorcycle Association (AMA) began in 1924 to promote and support motorcycling enthusiasts. Over the last 100+ years, the origin of the organization and patches worn, most often on a biker’s motorcycle vest, became lost in Hollywood lore. While 99% of bikers are law-abiding, there was 1% of the riding population that was not. At least that’s what the AMA stated in a long ago written article.

How the Outlaw Rider was Born

That 1% stuck and, when the movie, The Wild One, starring Marlon Brando, memorialized these “bad boys,” a popular myth of the outlaw rider began and a clubs’ “colors” emerged as a way to distinguish themselves from the founding organization and AMA-sanctioned activities.

“Colors” refers to a motorcycle club’s patch setup. A motorcycle club wears a three-piece patch as opposed to what a member of a motorcycle club might wear. Note the distinction: a motorcycle club is not a motorcycle organization. They are governed by different rules. A family or riding club, an AMA-approved biker rights organization, for example, might typically wear a one-piece patch, which requires little more than filling out an application and mailing a check.

A motorcycle club member wearing a three-piece patch identifies the club name (top rocker), place of origin (bottom rocker) and the club’s crest (patch) placed in the center. This traditional patch follows established protocols and a code of conduct. The club also follows a rigorous membership process where a prospective member needs to earn the right to wear the full patch.

“Every Picture Tells a Story Don’t It”

If you’re looking to stand out from the crowd and wanting to buy a custom biker patch, then check out motorcycle patches from Leather Bound Online. Motorcycle patches are quick and easy to apply.  They can either be sewn or ironed on.

Most people wear the black denim motorcycle vest with zipper when wearing club colors. Check it out.

Available in t-shirt, muscle style tank top and a sticker.

*T-shirt available in sizes up to 6XL, tank top available in sizes up to 2XL

LS2 is a high quality brand that offers riders a superior helmet for a reasonable cost. In the few shorts weeks we have stocked the LS2 brand our customers have shown such a positive liking to the new styles that we have already ordered more styles that will be arriving soon.

Here are the styles we currently have available.

The “Anti-Hero” Full Face

DOT approved full face motorcycle helmet with drop down sun shield. This helmet has easily become one of our more popular full face styles because of its light-weight comfortable fit and high quality graphics. Prices at only $119.99 this helmet is a great buy.

The “Omega Red” Stream Full Face

Bold colors make this red and white full face helmet stand out on the road, also with a drop down sun shield and a lightweight comfortable fit at $114.99 you cant go wrong with this bargain price.

The Stream in gloss black

Stick to classic glossy black and still receive all of the desired features of a LS2 helmet when you pick the gloss black stream full face with drop down sun shield, vents and light weight comfortable fit. Only $104.99