Steve Lively

Steve Lively is far more daring than you. He’s not just a motorcycle enthusiast, but an instructor in the Pacific Northwest and at times, a racer. He recently attended an event for MotoGP, one of the most prestigious motorsports events in the world in Mugello, Italy, just a bit north of Florence.

Steve takes a “packable closet” approach to travel. He buys clothing that works in harmony as a complete system, streamlining his entire wardrobe so he can pack everything. It “makes traveling so easy because I don’t have to make all the decisions about what I’ll wear before I leave.”

When on the road, Steve values the simplicity and easy care of Ministry of Supply gear, “It’s so easy to pack which means I can look sharp and be comfortable at dinner after riding all day without needing a giant touring bike to carry all my stuff.” When he’s in a position to carry suitcases on an extended voyage he “can pack a few shirts and a pair of pants and easily wash them by hand over the course of the trip.”



Where would you love to visit that you haven't been before?
In no particular order: Spain, Germany, Scotland, Ireland, any of the Scandinavian countries, but of them all I think the place I would most like to see next is Spain. Good wine, good food, and an easy going outlook on life, sounds like a great place to go.

What does your commute to work look like?
My commute generally consists of about an hour on a motorcycle, each way, mostly on freeways. Occasionally I end up taking a ferry to the other side of Puget Sound for work and on those days I get to ride on more rural highways with better scenery and more enjoyable curves.



What’s your favorite piece of clothing?
At this point it is probably my Dry Days Mac. It’s so versatile, I can wear it by itself, layer it over a sweater or a light jacket, or even over a medium weight coat if it’s cold and snowing. Somehow, it still looks great whether it’s worn over just a shirt or heavier layers.

Why Motorcycles?
I tell my students that riding a motorcycle on the street is like playing chess against multiple opponents at 60 mph. It’s really hard to worry about anything else going on in your life or the world when you’re completely focused on managing the road and traffic, it’s a form of meditation for me.

Anything else we should know?
I have yet to take my MoS clothing on a motorcycle trip, but that will hopefully change this summer. It’s so easy to pack which means I can look sharp and be comfortable at dinner after riding all day without needing a giant touring bike to carry all my stuff.

Customer of the Month highlights members of our community leading secretly incredible lives. To learn more, or nominate someone to be featured, reach out to [email protected]

Photos courtesy of Jason Tanaka