Looking good for the ride doesn’t always work in parallel with dressing for the slide. We know our passion for riding these two-wheeled works of art puts us on the front line, in the most vulnerable position when it comes to safety on our roads. Let’s not drown ourselves in depressing statistics, but the matter of fact is we cannot afford not to follow the famous acronym ATGATT, spelling out “All The Gear, All The Time”. Some have paid the price, and learning from others is much cheaper than making those same mistakes that could cost you more than what you signed up for.
I certainly learnt my lesson, and it also begged the question: was looking good, saving time and not wanting to sweat in the heat, worth the recovery, the permanent injuries and the trauma left to those around me? The answer is no.
We don’t have an excuse to not wear riding gear anymore, as there is affordable gear for those on a budget, and there is riding gear designed to not make you look like a street Rossi, adventured up Chris Birch or club rider. There’s nothing wrong with looking like any of these riders, but it’s the same bulky, narrow-focused and purpose-made gear that allows enough room for the sneaky idea of not wearing gear to creep in. We have all been there and done that, but there comes a time when you really shouldn’t ride your luck out any further.
This is where brands like BOBHEAD come into the picture. BOBHEAD is a brand that has recently landed in South Africa, and they are making it their mission to convert both the non-gear riders and the overgeared riders to wearing casual protective rider gear. The name BOBHEAD may ring a bell, and that’s because of Dragon’s Den UK. Yes, from dreams, to screens, to reality, was what came to fruition for both brothers and owners Damian and Sebastian Harris. The show allowed them to bring awareness to long-in-the-tooth issues of bulky riding gear and the need for a range of gear that’s both styled and priced to suit the average, modern-day biker. Now six years later, the brand is doing extremely well internationally with a vast range of styles to suit, and as of a few weeks ago, we see BOBHEAD pay South Africa a warm welcome.
From one set of biking brothers to the next, we see Behind The Bars proudly bringing in BOBHEAD apparel for the same reasons. Stuart and Brett are both keen motoring enthusiasts, having spent many years working in the automotive industry and have enjoyed its fruits. They have now embarked on a new mission, taking it upon themselves to pour their passion and expertise into casual protective riding gear, putting their money where their mouth is.
Stuart Cowell: I didn’t want to bring in motorcycle gear, just for the sake of bringing in motorcycle gear. I was looking for something unique, high-quality, and safe, yet effective, gear that gets the job done while also looking good in action. It’s a personal thing for me, I like things that stand out, and BOBHEAD ticked that box. Everything sort of fell into place after seeing the product’s high quality in person, and meeting Damian and Sebastian sort of brought it full circle for us. Just like Damian and Sebastian, we are bikers, and we are doing this for the right reasons, because we live it and love it.
Brett Cowell: Biking before business! We understand that there is a lot of volume stuff out there, and that’s great, but we aren’t out here to take any of that business; we are, rather, bringing something in that’s more distinctive. As Stuart has mentioned, the Harris brothers are passionate about motorcycles and riding, which can be seen by looking at their gear and also by wearing the gear. We hope to do well by the brand by showcasing “that same passion” and working with like-minded people.
It’s fair to say that BOBHEAD is a lifestyle brand and aims to continue building on its household name in SA. With all that said, Stuart handed over some riding gear for us to test, opting for their personal favourites, the Camel protective shirt and the Lumberjack. Both of these protective shirts are jackets in theory and are both UKCA-approved Armoured AAA, which gets you Rheon body armour on the elbows, shoulders, and back protector. Kevlar has also been cleverly lined between the outer cotton and inner mesh lining to help reinforce and protect.
Both “shirts” offer different looks, one more subtle and gentlemanly and another more rowdy but cool. From the stitching, embroidery and even the embossed skulls on the buttons, you can see the time, effort and detail that have been put into making this gear. I’ve ridden with casual gear before, but nothing has come close to this quality in SA.
Lastly, a pair of gloves was thrown into the mix, and boy, was I happy to see a 100% leather glove. I love a new pair of leather gloves, and BOBHEAD’s Reaper gloves look and fit the part. The gloves are simple in design and offer a level 1 protection rating, which translates to being very comfortable, and the adjustable stud closer is a neat and practical touch.
On the Behind The Bars website, you’ll find a selection of BOBHEAD gear, from helmets, shirts, leather jackets and even gloves, all tailored to suit the SA market. So, give the website a browse and stay tuned for our up and upcoming thoughts after riding for an extended period of time in the BOBHEAD motorcycle gear.
