My Own Piece of Motorcycle History

Any chance the name Treen might be familiar to you? If not, don’t worry because when I mention the word most draw a blank. Then again maybe you ARE one of the few in North America who recognizes the name?  Well, I’ve got one and it still fits and to this day, occasionally, I wear it. It’s a cherished collectible made in Canada by former - Treen Custom Leathers made-to-measure leather motorcycle race suits.

Treen produced excellent high quality leather riding suits which were identified by their gold background embroidered label accented with a bright red maple leaf. It was a name synonymous with an exciting era in Canada’s motorsport history.

I wondered what happened to Treen so went online and found a Treen Custom Leathers in Edmonton. I telephoned the company and the employee I spoke with had no idea of the Treen history but referred me to Lawrence Busenius, pronounced like “business and genius” he told me, an employee who has worked with the company through its change of ownership for over two decades. Indeed Lawrence confirmed I had found the original Treen!

The company was started by Brian Treen’s father Gerald in 1949. During the 70’s and 80’s Brian was the driving force behind the motorsport manufacturing area. The company designed racing suits for flat track, drag and road racing disciplines – and of course for everyday riders such as me. Many a Treen was created for our Canadian (and USA) amateur and professional competitors. They designed suits right up until the mid- 90’s yet, due to the change in race suit materials and dynamics, Treen felt they couldn’t quite keep up. The company was then sold to its current owner Bob Dale Gloves, whose focus is entirely on high quality motorcycle gloves – the very item Treen started with. 

The Edmonton born brand had a few Treen agents across Canada working through motorcycle leather shops. I can’t remember the Toronto address, however I do recall the day I went into the shop to get my first made-to-fit-me motorcycle suit! The sales guy took my measurements and I recall he asked me if I needed the extra knee and elbow protection/reinforcements for racing. My response was no, as I had no plans for racing (it was inevitable I would race!) And really, that was in the 80’s - kudos to this chap for thinking I... a female, was going to need the suit for racing! Treen, of course, provided the whole service, including lettering as I naturally had to have my name added on the jacket, just... “Vicki”.

Since my return to Canada, and perhaps from sheer sentiment of years gone by, my Treen motorcycle suit has become more important to me. I’ve had nine made-to-measure race suits since then. My Treen suit however gets the eternal “first place podium”!