I miss my vest. So many memories. So many miles. I bought it at Americade '99. Was great quality leather.

Seems the last time I had gotten to ride (Sept '10), I stuck in the saddle bag and forgot about it. I do not have enclosed parking for my motorcycle.

I found it a few weeks back. I tried to save it. I was going to immediately bring it to my local dry cleaners who saved my jacket when I did the same thing last year. As I made my way around the vest and saw how utterly rusted the buttons were, I tried to close one set and it pushed right through the leather. At that point, I knew it had died a horrible death. I had a moment of silence and then gave it a heroes' burial.

I was able to save one patch that I had custom made in rememberence of my brother-in-law that passed away in '08 after a very short battle with pancreatic cancer. (Diagnosed 12/27/07; Died 4/18/08) I may hit MBBW to get another made.

I couldn't believe I had left something like that in my saddlebags AGAIN.

I went to the CBA (concerned bikers assoc.) swap meet in Charlotte last weekend hoping to find another good quality vest. All they had was the cheap pakistani-made $25 vests that I wouldn't wipe my buttocks with after a night of Taco Bell, let alone wear.

Oh well....

[EDIT] What I failed to mention is that the vest was so overcome with mold, some of the patches were illegible, and the mold moreorless ate the leather to the point that you could tear it by hand.

 

R.i.p.

 

Put that patch of old on your new Vest....
And the old will be reincarnated....
Ride on....

 

Hey don't discount those cheap vests for wiping your butt after dining at Taco Bell. I would take anything after that.

 

VEST... VEST... it says vest! man... i read this title and my heart stopped, man i thought it said laid my 12yo to rest today... man! not what i wanted to read at all... phewww!!! says VEST!... i need a drink nwo

 

Sorry about that Joe. Yes, it in fact does say VEST.

 

Good quality leathers are worth every penny spent!

 

That's what i though too,and my heart stopped also.

 

Damn you Vic.... Even though I knew about the vest the title at first glance made me wince.....

 

I bought my jacket in Seattle in 1985 and it shows the years, it's a black denim Hein Gericke with leather where it counts. It has been with me on many trips on the Drag strip a few trips to hospitals and a few trips to jails, oh the memories...