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Motorbikes, Convertibles and Dressing Well: The Fusion of Three Passions

How is it possible to fuse together the seemingly unrelated passions of convertibles, motorbikes and dressing well?

Of all the toys available to the modern gentleman, convertibles and motorbikes are my best loved that I don’t just drive and ride them, but make it an occasion by dressing up in the most handsome and appropriate outfit.

It’s my nod to the convertible and motorcycling culture.

This blog celebrates my lifelong passions for convertibles, motorbikes and dressing well - more specifically, my BMW Z4 with Manual Transmission, my BMW S1000RR M “superbike”, and classic gentlemen’s wear.

Convertibles

Every gentleman has his own favourite “toys”. For some they are exquisite watches and cameras; for me, they are convertibles and motorbikes. 

I’ve been driving convertibles for 13 years now. This BMW Z4 is my 3rd such car.

I love convertibles, as they offer the most authentic driving experience you get on any car, especially in a world now dominated by EVs and SUVs.

Convertibles are never a rational choice, but then again, few things in life are when it comes to absolute pleasure.

Driving with the roof down brutally exposes you to the outside world, everything - including how you dress and groom, who sits next to you, what music you play - all become visible. There is no privacy.

But in return you get to feel much closer to your surroundings, your visual perspective becomes more expanded, and you are in closer contact with the elements than ever before. And if you are well-dressed you may even attract a few turning heads!

While some may feel unease about it, and haters call it a show-off, I celebrate it and dress up every time as an occasion!

And speaking of dress, my everyday choice is a well-tailored Italian suit paired with a beautiful Italian silk tie and a pocket square. Men look the best in a tie, and I don’t understand why most men are just not wearing one these days!

I am never fuzzy about accessories - so just a classic dress watch and a pair of cufflinks will do wonder for me.

And trust me, you shoes and socks say a lot about you than you think, so I always wear my black Oxfords with dark-coloured, medium to long silk or thin cotton socks for the most epic gentlemanly look. 

On the weekend I replace my suit and tie with a sports jacket complemented by a silk Ascot and a sports watch.

Ascots make for a great style statement as they have long been associated with convertibles and classic romantic icons from Hollywood, and it’s the easiest way to get that polished look when you are in a convertible.

Convertibles are an endangered species as manufacturers shift to focus on EVs. So act fast if you want one. Try to get a manual if you know how to drive one, as that’s the most authentic way to enjoy a convertible in its purest form.

Just make sure you dress the part!

Motorcycles

My love for motorcycles is even more profound than for convertibles, having my very first bike when I was 18.

This new BMW S1000RR M Package is not only my first non-Japanese bike, but also my first leader bike, with over 200 horsepower from its 4-cylinder, 1-litre engine.

That’s the Lamborghini of motorbikes!

I love everything about this bike - the look, the performance, and the sound especially. 

To me, it’s symphony; to others, it’s pure noise.

With the advent of electric cars and bikes, I find this sound increasingly precious and I’m always longing for more.

And just as I dress up for my convertible, I dress up also for my bike, with a perfectly matching set of original BMW leather suit, helmet, gloves and boots, plus a pair of cool dark sunglasses.

It’s my nod to the motorcycling culture. You don’t wear T Shirts and Sneakers when you ride a motorcycle, just as you don’t wear Polos and loafers to a black tie event.

People often ask me if I am worried about safety.

I would be lying if I told you I didn’t.

But life is a funny thing - often more so in the gentleman world where sensibility often trumps sense - Polo is one such example. It’s fast and dangerous, but it’s a gentleman’s game!

Riding trains me to live the moment. When you ride a motorcycle you need to be 100% focused. The more I ride the more present I become. It’s truly life changing.

There was an excellent washing powder ad in the 80s. The tagline was “Dirt is Good”, showing kids playing freely and happily in the field even though they had mud all over them. 

The message is liberating.

I think the motorbike version would be something like: “live to ride” - or in the words of BMW, “Make Life a Ride”!