4-1-1 On Harley-Davidson® Helmets
How old is your helmet? Does it fit properly? Is it D.O.T. approved? How much protection is enough protection? These are all questions you should be asking yourself before hopping on that bike!
Did you know there are three different types of helmets? There is the half, ¾, and full face. The half helmet is the ideal helmet for hot weather because it is small and light, however it only offers basic protection. The ¾ helmet is a step up in coverage due to the coverage on the side of the face and the option for a face shield. Even though these are a bit warmer, these helmets offer venting systems to add airflow and comfort. Lastly, there is the full face helmet. These cover your entire head and face, offering the most protection. Full face helmets are equipped with a venting system and some offer flip off shield. You may also get a “modular helmet” which means the entire chin component flips up.
It’s important to note that every brand and style of helmet fits completely differently. A medium in one brand or style might fit great but a medium in another style might be too big or too little to fit comfortably. It is very important to try a helmet on before you buy it, and have a MotorClothes™ Associate fit you if possible. It’s also important to think about where you are buying your helmet? From a friend? Some guy on the internet? How many times have they dropped it? How old is it? Has it been involved in an accident before? All things to consider when buying a helmet from somewhere other than a retail store.
Remember that it is recommended to replace your helmet every 3 to 5 years, depending on the use. Helmet materials break down over time due to the oil from your hair and sweat, even the suns UV rays contribute to helmet deterioration. Follow these few simple steps and you’ll remain safe while being comfortable!
Make a request to one of our MotorClothes™ Associates or start shopping online!
The Genuine Harley-Davidson® Leather Jacket VS. The “I can get a leather jacket for $150″
This is a guest post written by Tina Mason, MotorClothes™ manager at Gateway Harley-Davisdon. You can contact her directly at tmason@gatewayhd.com. Her specialties include helmet fitting, product ordering, and bandana tying. You can see her pig tails bobbing around the showroom floor most days from open to close.
I cannot tell you how many times I have heard this. And yes. You can go and purchase a leather jacket for $150 at a local swap meet or off-brand retailer. But there are plenty of questions that arise from this $150 jacket:
- Is it real leather?
- How thick is it?
- Is it made for riding?
- Does it have a warranty to back it up?
- How long will it last?
These are just a couple of questions I would ask.
Harley-Davidson® has a large variety of choices as far as leather is concerned. There are some leather jackets that are better for riding and others that are more of a fashion statement. When it comes to Harley-Davidson® Leather Riding Jackets, here are some things you need to know
- Is it real leather? Depending on the jacket it is made of pigskin or cowhide leather.
- How thick is it? Harley Davidson offers lightweight and midweight leather jackets.
- Is it made for riding? The leather riding jackets are made for riding with options that vary from jacket to jacket. These options include venting, precurved sleeves for stretch, body armor, reflective materials, removable liners, windproof and water resistant liners, interior pockets, and removable kidney belts.
- Does it have a warranty to back it up? Warranty on these Harley-Davidson® Leather Jackets is 5 years and if you decide to get the “Mac Daddy” “FXRG leather riding jacket, my personal favorite, you will get a limited lifetime warranty. Yes, I said it. Limited. Lifetime.
- How long will it last? You will get a long use out of these jackets.
Prices on these jackets range from $300-$650 so look at what you get for the money. Many people think that they are just paying for the brand name of Harley-Davidson®, but what you have to understand is that Harley-Davidson® jackets are made by Harley riders, sold by Harley riders, and worn by Harley riders. The make your ride more comfortable and protect you from the elements. I hope I gave you enough information to really compare and see that you can purchase that $150 jacket and have to replace it over and over or you can spend a little bit more and get great features and benefits from Harley-Davidson® leather jackets. Feel free to contact me with any questions. My e-mail is tmason@gatewayhd.com.
Check out these videos that talk about the detail that goes into creating the Harley-Davidson® MotorClothes™ Apparel.
Harley-Davidson® Core vs. Limited Edition
This is a guest post written by Tina Mason, MotorClothes™ manager at Gateway Harley-Davisdon. You can contact her directly at tmason@gatewayhd.com. Her specialties include helmet fitting, product ordering, and bandana tying. You can see her pig tails bobbing around the showroom floor most days from open to close.
The Harley-Davidson® Motor Company has a wide variety of items that they offer to gear you up year round. Not only do they provide you with a wide variety of core items (items that are available year round), they also offer Limited Edition items as well. Four times a year Gateway Harley-Davidson receives a selection of Limited Edition items that come in as the seasons do: Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. These items are only available one time and they will be here and gone. So if you see items that you like, you best buy it. Harley-Davidson® offers these Limited Edition items to give you a change up with your style and keeps you up to date with the latest trends. So be sure to come in speak with a MotorClothes™ associate so we can show you all available Limited Edition items as well as upcoming Limited Edition items that we will carry in the upcoming months. Stop in and we can give you a sneak peek on Harley-Davidson’s future Limited Edition items!
Want to see more of something in our MotorClothes™ department? Fill out our survey so we can better stock our shop with the products that you are looking for.
Want to start shopping online? Check out our MotorClothes™ catalogs.
Want to shop last season’s products? Get it on ebay now!
Ever Wonder About Polarized Sunglasses?
Have you ever wondered why Harley Davidson doesn’t make polarized sunglasses? Well, we can tell you why! There are many instances where they aren’t recommended because they may cause a double-vision effect when looking through a windshield or faceshield. Polarized lenses may also block light reflecting off of icy patches on the road which could prevent riders to upcoming road hazards. Also, some LCD screens and digital displays may be unreadable through polarized lenses.
Destiny would highly recommend the transitional lenses. Her favorite pair are called the “Profiles”. The Profiles can be smoke/clear or transistional, which means they turn from day or night without requiring that you switch lenses. They also come with a removable foam to block any dirt and bugs. Another reason the removable foam is great is because instead of replacing the entire pair of sunglasses once the foam goes bad, you can just buy replacement foam!
See more about the superior optics, technology, choices available, performance and different frames to choose from on Harley-Davidson’s website.
Shed Your Heavy Winter Jacket – Leather Vests Now Available
It’s time to start thinking about shedding the heavy layers of winter riding gear! Leather vests are available now! These leather vests lace up the side to allow you to “let it out” or “hold it in”! The side lacing also works great to wear over your leather jacket or favorite sweatshirt, allowing you to layer your gear. These vests come with no original patches or designs so you have a blank canvas to showcase your own patches and emblems. This means you can have your favorite patches sewn on to your vest but wear them no matter how hot or how cold it gets. Not to mention, with two pockets you can store your valuables or things you need easy access to while out on a ride. These vests retail for $69.95 and with that great pricing you know they’ll be hard to keep in stock!
Doesn’t Sean look great?
All New Full and Three Quarter Helmets In Stock
If you are tired of the same old, same old helmets – we’ve got something for you!
These all new three-quarter helmets from Fulmer are Limited Edition. Each are numbered and only 100 of each were produced. They are available in a variety of colors including copper and silver as well as red and silver. They each have custom color stitching as well as hand-painted graphics.
All new full-faced helmets are available as well. They are very bright and colorful while being loaded with all of the best features. The white and black helmet (Road Warrior Flame Thrower) is actually reflective which helps you achieve maximum safety while out on the road. Although it comes in many other color options (including PINK!!) we currently have ones with dragon graphics or a green foil color in stock. Each helmet has chin and top venting as well as a breath deflector to keep your face shield from fogging up.
January MotorClothes® Department Picks
Our MotorClothes® department has been getting in all kinds of new products in and they want to share a few of their favorites.
Destiny and Jess agree that this Harley-Davidson® Comfy Throw makes the perfect accessory to a warm, cozy night at home. Grab the manual for your bike and curl up in front of a fireplace.
Jordan’s new favorite product is this brand new Harley-Davidson® belt and belt buckle set. He likes how simple it is. How simple it is to get the ladies, that is…
Shelly is one of our newest additions to the MotorClothes® department. Her favorite new items of the week is this cute pajama two-piece set that is part of the new Harley-Davidson® Valentine’s collection. Come check out all of the newest items in the shop now!
How Much Riding Do You Do in 5 Years – H-D® Leather Warranty
We’ve all seen those cheap-o leather jackets at local swap meets. They seem like a great deal because they only cost a buck or two and they have all that fancy pazzazz on them. There are many features which make Harley-Davidson® leather the obvious choice for the hard rider, but the H-D® Warranty is definitely worth focusing on.
The H-D® Warranty on Leather Jackets lasts for 5 years. If nothing else, this shows Harley-Davidson’s commitment to quality, durability and the rider’s needs. This guarantees that your leather jacket will be with you on every ride you take for five years.
One of the things we hear the most when customers come in and chat about getting a new leather jacket, is that they are expensive. It takes money to make a quality product and Harley® doesn’t skimp on the details. Most of the jackets come with reflective piping to keep you visible, an action back and pre-curved sleeves to keep you comfortable in the riding position, wind flaps to keep you warm, strategically placed venting to keep you cool, body armor options to keep you protected, double-stitched seams to keep the jacket reinforced, and drum-dyed leather to keep your jacket looking good after thousands of miles in harsh conditions.
If you still think the jacket is expensive after all of that, think about it like this. A quality Harley-Davidson® leather jacket with all of the bells and whistles, suitable for most riding conditions, can be purchased for $500. If you have the jacket for the life of the five-year warranty, that jacket will cost you $100 per year. That means that the premium jacket that will protect you from the elements of the weather and the road will cost you just over $8 per month, and be guaranteed for five years. Is it worth it now?
Holiday Gift Buying Guide: Give the Best
When considering what gifts to give the riders in your life, why not consider giving the best that money can buy? When it comes to Harley-Davidson gear, the best is the Harley-Davidson FXRG High-Performance Gear. Here are some features of the H-D FXRG collection that will keep you comfortable in virtually all weather conditions.
Schoeller c_change™ waterproof/windproof system – This is the liner in the men’s and women’s textile and leather jackets and pants. It actually reacts to changing temperatures and moisture levels to make sure you stay comfortable. If it senses heat, the structure of teh c_change™ membrane opens up so excess heat can escape to the outside air. If it senses cold, the structure of the membrane closes to retain body heat and keep you warm.
Cool-Max® fixed, breathable liners – Keeps you dry and confortable. This liner actually moves perspiration away from the body to the fabric’s outer surface, where it evaporates quickly. It’s soft, lightweight and breathable.
Airguard™ Fabric – This is the fabric used for the textile FXRG Jackets. It is 20% lighter than nylon and 52% lighter than polyester. This means you still get the wind and waterproof protection that is abrasion and tear-resistant without all of the bulk. It is constructed to regulate body temperature in both warm and cold conditions.
Heat/Sun Deflecting Leather – Black leather typically is much warmer than white leather. With the leather used to make the FXRG Leather Jackets and Pants, the sun’s rays are reflected off the jacket as if it was white, even though it’s black. This helps to reduce your core body temperature when it is sunny.
Pre-curved arms and knees with an “action back” – Designed to fit you best when you are actually sitting on a motorcycle in the riding position. This means when you are standing next to your bike, the gear will feel weird and slightly uncomfortable. The gear feels best because it is designed to match your riding position.
Lightweight, removable body armor – Special little pockets inside the shoulders, elbows, spine, hips and knees hold the body armor pieces. They can each be adjusted to conform to your individual shape.
3M™ Scotchlite™ reflective piping – This feature is all about visibility. This reflective material is visible from at least 500 feet, which makes you as a motorcyclist more visible to other motorists. This is high-tech stuff in that it uses “retro-reflection” which helps the human eye perceive light even in low-light conditions. The material then reflects the light directly back towards teh light source. This material is found on all items in the FXRG Collection to make you more visible to others on the road.
5-Year Warranty – This warranty covers all of the leather and textile jackets and pants. There is a similar 1 year warranty on all the helmets and gloves.
Will you be giving your loved ones the best in riding technology, performance, and comfort this holiday season?
Need More Riding Time? Extend it with H-D® Heated Clothing
Everyone wants to spend more time out on the road each day and each season. With Harley-Davidson® Heated Gear you can do just that. But with the advances in technology there are so many options and combinations of heated gear and accessories that we want to make sure you know the whats and the hows so you can make an informed decision.
Heated gear is not just for those riders that insist on riding when it’s below zero and snowing. Heated gear is all about COMFORT AND SAFETY. If you are the slightest bit uncomfortable, it dramatically impacts the ride. If you are concentrating on how cold you are or how best to keep your fingers warm, you aren’t concentrating on the road or drivers around you. This can be a safety issue. Another safety issue is that as your joints and muscles get colder, your awareness, reflexes and body movement suffers. The H-D® Heated Gear works with your body by supplementing the body’s natural ability to generate heat.
The gear is designed for motorcyclists so it can be comfortably warn with other gear options. It also incorporates new Microwire® heat TECHNOLOGY to provide the thinnist, lightest, strongest and fastest heating system ever. That means that heat is going to be dispersed throught the gear quickly but evenly without making the gear bulky and difficult to move in.
Most people are concerned with HOW the gear is hooked up to the motorcycle. The gear can either be connected to the battery of the bike or to a separate battery that is placed in the pocket of the pants or jacket. The best resource for hooking up the heated gear to your bike is to check with the heated gear manual that comes with the gear. This will also give you vital information about how much voltage is used and how that affects your bike’s performance.
Another key to finding appropriate heated gear is making sure the gear FITS PROPERLY. The H-D® Heated Gear works best when it is worn close to the body however, a base layer is recommended to prevent direct contact of the skin with the heating elements. It’s also important to think about wearing outerwear, typically a jacket, chaps or rain gear, over the top of your Heated Gear to protect you from the wind, rain and other elements. Gloves that are too tight or two small may feel too hot. Gloves that are too loose or too big may not provide optimal heat. Also, if gloves do not fit appropriately, they might not allow you to comfortably or consistently operate the controls of the bike. The best thing you can do is to try try the Heated Gear on under your outerwear and sit on a bike in the dealership before you buy anything.
Here’s one last thing to consider when buying Heated Gear. There is a one yaer WARRANTY on all Harley-Davidson® garments. There is a three year warranty on all thermostats, connecting harness, three-prong harness, power switch, Y-plug Splitter, and adapter plugs. There is a lifetime warranty on all electrical components within the garment.
Harley-Davidson® Heated Gear allows you to ride longer and safer, extending your riding time into seasons with colder temperatures. It also allows you more opportunities to create memorable riding experiences.
So how do you plan on extending your riding time?
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