Biker Style and My Belstaff Trialmaster Jacket
- Brian Robinson
- Mar 7
- 5 min read
Full disclosure: I do not come from motorcycling people. I’ve never driven a motorcycle. At 56, I don’t know how to make a bike move forward. Stopping—a far more critical survival skill—I think I’ve got down, at least in theory. The full extent of my motorcycling experience was accumulated one afternoon when I was 10 and my dad took me for a quick spin around my grandfather’s lawn on the back of my uncle’s ‘70s-model Honda. Short and sweet. One and done.
Despite my lack of biking bona fides, the undeniable cool factor of motorcycles and what riders wear has held my attention since I was a kid. When HBO first appeared on our TV in 1980, David Carradine’s 1979 motorcycle film Fast Charlie, The Moonbeam Rider seemed to be on an endless loop. Fast Charlie, set in 1919, featured a post-Kung Fu Carradine as a WWI veteran who cons his way into a slot as a rider in the first intercontinental motorcycle race. The film—and in particular, the clothing and gear designed by costumers Linda Pearl and Jan Ruhm—seared into my 11-year-old brain what a classic biker should look like.
Flash forward 45 years, and the Fast Charlie vibe lives on with people like Alex Ripa (@alexanderleaving) and Simon Delaney (@blightymilitaria), who elevate the classic biker look on Instagram. Ralph Lauren’s recent “Originals” campaign gave classic biker style a big nod, and when Ralph does it, that means the look I’ve loved for so long is officially “a thing.”
Despite my affection for the style, I was slow to incorporate the moto look into my personal rotation. I only acquired my first British moto jacket early last winter when I found a vintage TT Leathers black waxed-cotton example on eBay. Inspired by the RL Originals campaign, I patched it up with an assortment of very cool vintage patches and put it online for sale at what I thought was a fairly aggressive price. I was a bit infatuated with it and didn’t have a burning desire to part with it.
Lo and behold, in an extremely weird “circle of life” event, the jacket sold rather quickly—landing in the Ralph Lauren corporate collection in New York.
Selling it left me feeling a bit hollow. It lingered at the edges of my mind for several months. Most vintage pieces I acquire, I enjoy for a while before selling, moving on to the next object of desire. But this jacket—this style—left a mark on me. I loved the fit, the feel, and the look. I needed a replacement.
My Search Led Me to Belstaff
I was already familiar with Belstaff from my prior exploration of classic British waxed jackets like Barbour. Steve McQueen famously sported a Barbour International jacket during the 1964 International Six Days Trial in East Germany. There are dozens of photos of McQueen looking impossibly cool at that event. Barbour was a U.S. team sponsor in ’64, which explains why McQueen wore the A7 model jacket. However, word on the street is that for personal use, McQueen preferred the fit of the Belstaff Trialmaster. I was intrigued.
Digging deeper into the Belstaff legacy, I came across a series of images posted on Instagram by Matt Hranek (@wmbrownproject). Matt is a big Belstaff fan, and his red and green waxed-cotton examples are absolutely peak Belstaff.
A Bit of Background on the Belstaff Trialmaster
The Belstaff Trialmaster is one of the most iconic motorcycle jackets ever made. Originally introduced in 1948, it was designed as a waxed-cotton jacket for off-road motorcyclists, particularly for events like the Scottish Six Days Trial. It quickly became a favorite among riders due to its durability, water resistance, and practical design.
Key features include:
• Heavyweight 6oz waxed cotton, making it waterproof and windproof.
• Four-pocket design with large bellowed pockets for carrying essentials.
• Belted waist for a snug fit and to keep the jacket secure while riding.
• Corduroy-lined collar for added warmth.
• Storm flap and closures to help block wind and rain.
• Breathable cotton lining for comfort.
The Trialmaster remains mostly unchanged in basic form and function—a true classic.
The One That Checked All the Boxes
After months of trolling eBay, I finally found a Trialmaster that had everything I was looking for. It was about 50 years old, priced under $250, made in the UK, in outstanding condition, and had just the right amount of wear—enough oil and grime to show some history without being trashed.
When it arrived, I was thrilled to find that the fit was excellent.
My first trip with the jacket was to Portugal in January, where the weather was simply awful. It rained almost every day, and the wind sometimes gusted over 40 mph. I wore the jacket daily, and it was outstanding. It kept me warm and dry in all conditions without causing me to overheat—something I struggle with in outerwear. The grime on the exterior even started marking up my canvas trousers, creating an authentic road warrior look after a few days.
My wife, however, was less enthusiastic about the slight transfer of “road patina” onto her beige sweater during our flight.
Personal Touches: A Hemingway Twist
I chose not to wear the original waxed-cotton belt with the jacket, substituting instead my WWI Austrian officer’s belt—identical to the war trophy belt Hemingway acquired during his WWI service with the ambulance corps in Italy. I’m always looking to add a bit of Hemingway flair to my style, and this addition checks the box.
Initially, I planned to patch up the jacket with vintage patches, as I had with the one that ended up at Ralph Lauren. I’ve even started collecting a few candidates. But now, I’m giving it more thought—I’m enjoying the jacket so much as it is. Sometimes, less is more.
Final Thoughts
If you’re considering the classic motorcycle look, you can’t do much better than a Belstaff. Give it a try. If it doesn’t work for you, these jackets are in high demand and relatively easy to resell.
Now, for me, it’s off to the races!
Over 35 years, working in industry and government, I’ve curated my experience in a way that brings a singular perspective to my pursuits.
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