Recently I found a nice supple 1945 dated DR coat on the local Facebook market place. Not only was I surprised to find such an item on this platform I also learnt about a couple of features of said coat that I wasn’t aware of (as per the listing). “This coat has brass snaps all down the side that attach to the motorcycle to make the rider more aerodynamic”. “Heavy canvas construction for more protection when involved in hand to hand combat”.........Never stop learning!
Tongue in cheek Ben!! I've never heard of any part of the DR coat being attached to the bike? I would think that movement restrictions would cancel out any protection afforded during hand to hand combat. :grinning: :grinning:
When they're done up properly for riding, they look like a big loose nappy. :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye: Ron
Hard to imagine anything less aerodynamic than a DR coat...I suppose your could strap a barn door to your back...When it's wet the weight alone is enough to slow down an M20 and as Ron says movement is restricted to say the least...Don't plan on looking behind when the collar is up and the neck cover is fitted...
With it all strapped up and clipped together to turn the lower part into some sort of leg protection, the direct lineage to one piece racing leathers that make the rider look like a monkey when not on the bike is striking....
The next thing is they'll be claiming the tank cut away was for sidearm clearance and the front mudguard stay was beefed up to take a rifle holder....:laughing: ...Ian
I thought the cut-out was for the officers piss-tool? But seriously, having practially lived in a DR coat in my pre car days, I can safely say, the snaps are not for attaching the coat to the bike, but they double up as a sort of trousers, if you bend over, and get hold of the rear flap, pull it upwards, then you can attach the front and rear together, making for a more watertight connection. also with heavy rain, and driving with the coat on, when the corner of the coat touches the HT terminal of the spark plug, it does conduct electricity! sure keeps you awake on long runs!
And that it would give you more protection in hand to hand combat is pure nonsense, you can hardly move with it!
If you had of met the guy that was selling the coat his listing might have made a little more sense. I think he had been up for a few days and I suspect the money from the sale of his jacket was going directly to his dealer........I thought about correcting him on the brass snaps but then figured I’d leave him with his well crafted thoughts.