Source: MotorcyclistOnline.com
Ah, Paris. Distinguished French gentlemen ride on the Pont d’Iéna bridge heading away from the Eiffel Tower. (Mathieu Diribarne/)Usually, winning the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride means just being part of the annual ride for men’s health. But this year, Triumph Motorcycles is upping the ante. The overall top fundraiser will win a Triumph Thruxton Final Edition, signed by the entire Thruxton 1200 design team and Triumph CEO John Bloor. Three other new motorcycles are also up for grabs for top fundraisers, with additional prizes coming from Triumph’s new line of Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride wear.Registration is now open for the May 19 ride closest to you. Don’t see a DGR ride in your area? Be a host and sign up with organizers. And start leaning on fellow riders to dress sharp, show up, and chip in for men’s health.Not a “Gentleman” in the classic sense? A close reading of the DGR site reveals rules for “classic-themed motorcycles,” but no set rules for participants. So technically, leather vests, do-rags, and fringe are welcome. But c’mon. Surely you know someone with a spare dress shirt and necktie. But you do you.What’s a “classic-themed motorcycle”? Check this style guide. According to the site, modern-designed motorcycles, sportbikes, dual sport, adventure motorcycles, and power cruisers are not eligible to participate. Don’t bring your Gixxer with the extended swingarm, in other words. But in practical terms, most motorcycles are welcome.A little backstory: The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride has been held in over 121 countries with over 500,000 riders since 2012, bringing well-dressed riders together for the cause of men’s health. In 2016, the ride began its partnership with Movember and various men’s mental health programs, in addition to its prostate cancer goals. A few pandemic years included solo rides and modified ride formats, but 2022 saw a return to full-scale riding, with 2024 slated to become the biggest DGR ride yet.For inspiration, check out some of these pics from the 2023 DGR.Two of the top distinguished gentlemen riders, down under in Sydney, Australia. (Pat Stevenson/)The distinguished gentlemen riders of Surabaya, Indonesia, 2023. (Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride/)An Italian rider (and distinguished gentleman) with lady pillion rider and unidentified sidecar passenger, Brescia, Italy. (Andrea Tortelli/)Of course, DGR happens in the UK. Distinguished gentlemen riders in London, England. (S. Barham/)German riders do their part for the DGR in Landau, Germany. (Blagoja Petrovski/)
