Karl Lagerfeld collection, courtesy New York Magazine
Karl Lagerfeld likes to be the leader of the pack. In recent years, the eco-friendly and economical scooter has seen a surge in sales, with women helming Vespas for their daily commute. Just in time, Lagerfeld unveils his Les Ateliers Ruby couture helmets for $1,805 to $6,837 that are now available at Colette and certain other boutiques, upping the ante on the bespoke helmet with gems to kickstand.
Pavillon Eley Kishimoto Helmet
The Lagerfeld line is an extension of Les Ateliers Ruby’s limited edition designer collection. Helmed by Jerome Coste, whose motorcycle helmets are made from extremely light-weight durable carbon fiber that’s all the rage on race cars, the Parisian company takes the helmet game seriously.
Coste studied at the Ecole Estienne Arts Des Arts Applique in Paris and then went to work for a real deal American company in motor sports equipment JT Racing. He ventured forward to explore the look of the action sports culture launching the apparel line Hold Up in 1996. But eventually, he returned to helmets made popular in Japanese motorbikes, and joined the ranks of California designers like Troy Lee.
Yet, Coste is French, and the French have a knack for a certain approach to couture. When he founded Ruby in 2004, his original design was the Pavillion helmet, inspired by the medieval knight. His online shop allows customers to create a bespoke helmet with sumptuous materials using Nappa Lambskin borders, Metal emblema and with a screenshield covering the whole face. Each helmet comes with three visors in different tints.
Lagerfeld is not the first designer partership. He started with French graffiti artist Honet and then the duo Eley Kishomoto to create the Belverdere Helmet. His next line was the spunky creation with Martin Margiela.
Honet for Les Atelier Ruby
Martin Margiela for Les Atelier Ruby
Lagerfeld, however, is on a higher profile for Coste’s Programme Court Signature line, and is certainly the most opulent, covered in mink fur, pearl and iPod hookups.
Sexy scoot, scoot, scoot!
Read more: Karl Lagerfeld’s ‘It’ Helmets Are Finally for Sale in Stores — The Cut http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2009/11/karl_lagerfelds_it_helmets_are.html#ixzz0YD4drPRq
Combining style and substance: Mission One is the first 100% electric motorcycle to go up to 150 mph (twice the range of any other electric motorcycle, according to its makers) and a distance of 150 miles on a single charge. It’s an apt name for a motorcycle aspiring to change the playing field: a sleek, green-minded bike that offers the performance of a combustion engine in one high-energy, lithium ion battery charge, plus a linear torque curve with over 100 ft. lbs of torque, even standing still. No sound, no shifting, no exhaust – just the wind flying by. And designed by one of the world’s most famous designers, Mission One definitely looks the part of a paradigm shifter.
Mission One is the wild child of Mission Motors, a two-year-old, West Coast-based dream team led by CEO & founder Forrest North (formerly of Tesla). The company’s talent roster is impressive: players’ past roles include a Ducati North America CFO, an AFM racer, and engineers from Tesla, Ford, Google, IDEO, Intel and Agilent. Combine that talent with design guru Yves Behar and his fuseproject team (of the XO Laptop for One Laptop Per Child and the Aliph Jawbone, among other projects), and you have what North calls “a team of superstar engineers and rockstar designers.” Way to raise expectations, gentlemen. [click to continue…]
We’ve been digging deeper into bike culture, but for those of us new to chaps, leather and protective gear, the question is what to wear? There’s plenty for the fellas, but most riding for wear is not designed specifically for the ladies. However, with the growing number of both women and men riding daily, that could change quickly. We turn to the example of Michigan motorcycle race Nicole Cheza who rocks, Pink Partz, a new apparel company that makes gear for the ladies on motorcycles, ATV’s, dirt bikes, snowmobiles and hot rods.
AMAGrand National Cheza will be on hand to meet with attendees of the 9th Annual V-Twin Expo Feb. 7th from 11 am. to 1 p.m. at the Duke Energy Center downtown Cincinnati. Nichole will be at the Pink Partz booth (#759) on the main show floor.
The 2004 National Professional Ice Race Champion Cheza turned pro in 2003 and has been riding since she was three years old. By age four she was racing. She received the AMA Female Athlete of the Year award in 2003. In 2003 she was Champion of AMA Nationals 450cc Ice Racing Series and the Canadian National Champion in the 505 Expert. “Pink Partz gets it. They know what the ride means. The few products made available to women so far, don’t stand out, they don’t “mean” anything. Pink Partz means something. I get a kick out of wearing something that makes a statement.”
With fluctuating fuel prices and eco-concerns, we reported a few months ago that motorcycles are gaining speed. Consumer Reports, the end all be all of practical, unbiased buying advice is getting backing in the two-wheeled game to reach the rising number of drivers opting for two-wheeled transportation. The results are in — Vespa, Kymco and the Kawasaki Ninja 250 take top honors.
On the test track: three 50cc scooters, three scooters in the 125cc to 150cc range and two 250cc entry-level motorcycles. Prices range from $1,000 to $4,400 and deliver as much as 60 to 100 mpg fuel economy. The Vespa LX 50 led in the 50cc category, and the Vespa LX 150 and Kymco People 150 shared the highest overall ratings in the bigger engine class. The Kawasaki Ninja 250, which is an entry-level sports bike, outscored the Honda Rebel. [click to continue…]
The inspiration for the Uno Cycle hit 18 year old Ben Gulak when he visited China in 2006. He was amazed by the overwhelming pollution that completely blocked the view of the surrounding country as his airplane came in for landing. He realized that much of that smog was coming from the thousands of motor scooters whizzing through the streets and figured that there had to be a better way.
His design features two wheels mounted side by side, very close together, and is powered by electric motors. A computerized control system keeps the vehicle balanced in a system similar to the Segway personal transporter. But unlike the Segway, which is ridden in a standing position and is not considered a street vehicle, Gulak’s “Uno” is ridden like a motorcycle and designed for ordinary roads.
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