Darren Leggatt will be donning his helmet, suit and tie before getting on his Ducati Monster and revving the engine.

Sure, it's not typical motorcycle clothing, but he'll look dapper and he'll be cruising the streets of Tauranga for a very good cause.

The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride is a worldwide phenomenon on September 25 that will see the streets taken back by the genteel gentleman of old, dressed in wonderful clothing and gallivanting streets internationally. But why?

Darren says it's to raise awareness and get people talking about men's health; both physical and mental.

Tauranga store Bayride Motorcycles is supporting the event and owner Damian Fleming says his store sells Triumph bikes, and Triumph supports the ride globally. 'We had a ball last year,” says Damian.

Darren says he's been very active in his workplace and with his friends, trying to encourage them to take their health seriously.

'I'm blogging and talking to my co-workers and everyone who will listen. I've managed to get maybe 20 guys to book in appointments, and that's what it's really about.”

And Darren won't be the only one. In fact, he'll be joined by about 150 other smart looking men throughout Tauranga, all dressed to the nines and riding various roaring engines on wheels.

Tauranga organiser Wayne Cockburn says it will be a sight to behold – and that's kind of the point.

'It's about creating a ‘what the hell is going on here' type of thing. People stop and talk to us, wanting to know what the ride is all about – the discussion on men's health and men's mental health starts here.

We're just not good at having the conversation, says Wayne. And Darren doesn't disagree.

'Men, we're all pretty bad at going to the doctor and getting a prostate check isn't the most comfortable thing, but ladies have numerous things that they have to go to the doctor and get check-ups for and a lot of those are quite invasive as well and we men never hear you complain about it!”

'As far as us men are concerned we need to just man up and get on with it.”

For more information, visit www.gentlemansride.com