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.
Service Tips to Improve Your Touring Experience
If you want to properly prepare for a long trip it is imperative you check your mileage and review the back of your owner’s manual (can be found online for select models) to determine what maintenance interval your ride is at. It is always better to go on a long trip with fresh fluids and a complete check over like you would get at the 5,000 and 10,000 mile intervals. If you chose to purchase Gateway H-D’s Prepaid Maintenance Agreement your bike would get a quick service at 2,500 and 7,500 mile intervals which also gets you ready for a trip. If all of your services are up to date it is still a good idea to check your tire pressure, tire tread depth (for a trip less than 5/32 is less than 50% tread and time to replace) and oil level. Tire pressure can fluctuate with temperatures unless you have nitrogen in the tires and it is not unusual to have to add oil between services. If you don’t have a tread depth gauge you can pick one up at the auto parts store for a few bucks or better yet run your bike by Gateway Harley-Davidson and we will check it for you.
Have a Great Trip and be sure to stop by and tell those of us at the shop, who try and make sure your ride gets you there and back, all about your adventure. See you on the next dealership ride!
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?
Super Premium Oil Filters – 98.5 Reasons to Consider
Harley-Davidson® engines are some of the most demanding engines out there. They take a lot of tender loving care. And no oil filter gives them more TLC than the Harley-Davidson® Super Premium Oil Filter.
First, these oil filters were designed by people that know your motorcycle better than anyone else, because they actually designed the bike. They are built using the highest quality components to provide high performance.
The Super Premium Oil Filter is 100% synthetic and has an efficient capture of at least 98.5% of contaminants as small as 5 microns. What is a “micron“? Basically, it is one-millionth of a meter. So we are talking small. Real small.
Have you ever tried cold-starting your bike and the juices just didn’t seem to want to start flowing? Bet you never thought your oil filter might have something to do with that. A higher quality oil filter allows oil to flow better and improves cold starts.
Another thing you probably didn’t consider was that Harley-Davidson® engines have low oil film thickness in their working parts. That is how they were designed. Because of that, they require finer filtration than what most competitive branded oil filters can provide.
So when it comes to that machine of yours, sitting in the garage… You know. The one that you insist on putting Premium Gas in? What oil filter do you currently have? Is it the one that will protect your engine the best?
Harley-Davidson® Batteries – A Decision that Won’t Leave You Stranded
When it comes to buying Motorcycle batteries, or any batteries, most people make a terrible mistake by choosing the least expensive option that is available and save the extra cash. However, buying cheaper batteries that are available in the market today will eat up all your savings in the way of maintenance. Moreover, people always have a misconception that all the batteries are the same and they don’t even check the specifications of the batteries.
So, what makes Harley-Davidson® motorcycle batteries better than all the rest?
- Designed by the Motor Co. – For starters, the Harley-Davidson® Motor Co. designs and manufactures all of their own batteries right there inMilwaukee, so why not buy your battery from the same company who engineered and manufactured the motorcycle it is used in.
- Absorbed Glass Mats – Harley-Davidson® batteries are an AGM type maintenance free battery. This is a newer type of sealed, non-spillable, maintenance-free, valve-regulated battery that uses “Absorbed Glass Mats”, or AGM separators between the plates. This is a very fine fiber Boron-Silicate glass mat.
- Acid Containment – In AGM sealed batteries, the acid is absorbed between the plates and immobilized by a very fine fiberglass mat. No silica gel is necessary. This glass mat absorbs and immobilizes the acid while still keeping the acid available to the plates. This allows a fast reaction between acid and plate material.
- Leak Protection – These type of batteries have all the advantages of they typical gelled batteries on the market, but can take much more abuse. These are also called “starved electrolyte.” Basically, just like the Gel batteries, the AGM Battery will not leak acid if broken, which protects you, your bike, and the environment.
- Charging Systems – The Harley-Davidson® AGM battery has an extremely low internal electrical resistance. This, combined with faster acid migration, allows the AGM batteries to deliver and absorb higher rates of amperage than other sealed batteries during discharging and charging. In addition, AGM technology batteries can be charged at normal lead-acid regulated charging voltages, therefore, it is not necessary to recalibrate charging systems.
- Better Performance – H-D® AGM batteries contains an exclusive oxide formula that enhances the battery’s performance for more Cold Cranking Amps, faster starting power, and longer cycle life keeping you on the road. Low discharge rates extend battery life during periods of non-use and lasts from season to season, avoiding yearly battery replacement seen by a lot of the competitor’s batteries. I have personally seen 5 to 8 years usage from an H-D® battery and have thrown away countless amounts of “aftermarket” batteries that customers told me they just purchased 8 to 12 months ago.
These are just a few of the many thought-out improvements that Harley-Davidson® put into their batteries. So the next time you are in need of a new battery for your Harley-Davidson® motorcycle, don’t let the price be a deciding factor. It may be a decision that could leave you stranded.
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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Handling the Cold with H-D® Heated Accessories
You might not be one of those riders out there on the road when the chill factor is below zero but don’t write off the benefits of the Harley-Davidson® Heated Accessories. Riding into work on a chilly morning, enjoying a fall ride in the country on a cool day or a dealing with the variable temperatures of a high altitude ride; any of these might be an opportunity to flip the switch of your Heated Hand Grips, Heated Seats or Heated Backrest Pad to ON. Here are some facts we wanted to share.
We all know that extremely cold temperatures can affect your ride, but the truth is that even moderately cold temperatures affect how you and your bike perform. Making sure you have the right accessories is key.
Harley-Davidson® Heated Hand Grips
The first thing most riders complain about getting cold is their hands. Cold hands affect how your overall body feels in cold weather. They can also decrease your reaction time which presents safety issues. Harley-Davidson® Heated Hand Grips are an excellent option to combat the cold. The Heated Hand Grips have six heat settings and “intelligent” heating technology that monitors the surface temperature of the grips and adjusts accordingly.
One thing riders don’t necessarily know is that these grips are smart. When you remove one of your hands from the grips, both grips will sense the air cooling and they system will try to increase the heat on both sides. In order to keep consistent temperature of their grips, they need to keep both hands on their handlebars. The grips also switch off when you turn off the bike. This keeps them from draining your battery. Another thing to keep in mind is that the thicker your gloves, the less heat will be transferred from the grips to your hands. That sounds counter-intuitive. You might think that you need super thick gauntlet gloves, but that will actually prevent you from feeling the heat of the grips.
All in all, the grips are very user friendly. They have a self-contained control circuit and control knobs which means you don’t have to install any goofy controller boxes or additional switches. They are “glueless” which allows you to switch the grips to other handlebars or other motorcycles. They also have several different styles available (small and large diameters) and they can fit on any model of Harley-Davidson® motorcycle.
Check out all of the different styles:
- Contoured Chrome and Rubber Collection
- Chrome and Rubber Collection
- Flames Collection
- Aileron Collection
- Nostalgic Collection
- Stealth Collection
- Willie G.® Skull Collection
- Ironside Collection
- Black Rubber Collection
Harley-Davidson® Heated Seats and Backrest Pad
The Harley® Hammock Rider Touring Seat and the Sun Ray® Heated Seat is the key to keeping your rear end extra toasty on a chilly ride. Seats with passenger capabilities offer dual-zone rider and passenger controls with separate controls. One standard feature of H-D® Heated Seats is the different settings, whereas most competitive seats only have an on/off option. This also allows you to switch it to a “high” setting to get the seat nice and toasty before putting it on a “low” setting to keep it comfortably warm. The Sun Ray® Heated Backrest Pad is also a nice option for those with a passenger that wants a little extra warmth.
H-D® Heated Accessories are all about adding a little extra warmth to extend a day of riding in the country or the whole riding season. How are you going to extend your opportunities to ride?
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5 Accessories You’ve Never Heard Of
There are so many off-the-wall yet useful accessories hiding in the nooks and crannies of our dealership. Some fix common problems while riding. Some fix common problems with storing your ride. We’ve found some good solutions to life’s little problems.
5. You ever been riding with a passenger, or been a passenger yourself, and tried to communicate to your other rider that they were going the wrong way? What do you do? Tap their shoulder? Hit the top of their helmet? Scream the right directions over the sound of the wind? The best intercom systems in the business right now is the ScalaRider intercom systems made by Cardo Systems. They fit virtually any helmet, have noise cancelling microphones, sync with most cell phones, connect to your MP3 player, and last all day. We’d go into the full details but we have 4 other items to tell you about. So check out this interactive tutorial.
4. Leather and textile riding gear are designed to keep you warm and dry. Saddlebags are designed to keep your belongings safe from the elements. But maybe you want an extra layer of waterproof protection. Motorex Protex Spray has a long-lasting formula desinged to protect your gear from water and oils that could harm it. Best part is that it still allows for the materails to breathe naturally. Check out this demo.
3. Hate fumbling in your pocket for your garage door opener? Worry about stashing it in a tank bag or handlebar bag? Compatible with most brands of automatic openers, install the Remote Control Garage Door Opener Kit, and you’ll be opening your door by simply cycling your bike’s high-beam switch. Completely secure, this little gadget makes that simple task of opening your garage, that much simpler. See how it works.
2. Protect your investment with Harley-Davidson® Security Chains and Shackle Lock. Protects your motorcycle from being stolen and from being scratched by the lock’s surface. A nylon dust cover protects the lock from being comprised by weather and the key lights up for night time locking. The lock includes the “Key Safe” program that allows you to re-order keys if you lose them, and offers optional Anti-Theft Protection that will pay you up to $1,000 if your bike is stolen. Can you get that kind of protection from a lock you buy at the corner hardware store?
1. Boot scuffs. How many times have you put boot scuff marks on your freshly washed bike. Here is an item to prevent boot scuffs from cramping your style. Transparent Saddlebag Lid Paint Guard Kit. This is a transparent skin you apply to the top of your saddlebag lids, to protect from boot scuffs, road debris, keys, and jacket zippers.
What are some tricky little accessories you have found that have made your riding life a little easier?
Battle of the Glides – Which one fits you?
We get the question a lot. Road Glide® Custom vs. Street Glide®. Which one is better? What are the differences? It’s about time you found out.
These models are identical from the fuel tank back. Same seat height (95in). Same Rake (26 deg). Same fuel capacity (6 gal). Same luggage capacity (2.26 cu ft). Same engine (Twin Cam 103™). Same fuel system (ESPFI). Same stock exhaust (Chrome, 2-1-2) and wheels (Black, Slotted 5-Spoke Cast Aluminum). Same price for a Vivid Black at MSRP ($19,499).
The difference is found in the fairing. The Street Glide® has a Bat-Wing Fairing. Originally designed by Chief Styling Officer Willie G. Davidson, the fairing on the Street Glide® is fork-mounted and has symbolized American-made touring motorcycles for over forty years. The Road Glide® Custom, on the other hand, has what is called a Shark-Nose Fairing. This fairing is frame-mounted, a relatively new style for the Harley-Davidson® lineup.
Fork-mounted vs. Frame-mounted. Bat-Wing vs. Shark Nose. What’s that mean when you are riding down the road? When you turn the handlebars of a Street Glide® the fairing turns with you. When you turn the handlebars of a Road Glide® Custom, the fairing stays straight.
As you are riding down the road on the Street Glide®, the force of the wind is being transferred from the fairing, to the handlebars, up your arms and into your bike. You, as the rider, are feeling (and in some cases fighting) the force of the wind you encouter on the ride. This can lead to hand, arm and back fatigue earlier in the ride. As you are riding down the road on the Road Glide® Custom, the force of the wind is being transferred from the fairing, to the forks, to the frame of your bike. As a rider, you are left sitting on the bike, in complete control, enjoying the ride for as long as the road continues.
Because of the difference in fairing designs, the Road Glide® Custom has dual headlights where the Street Glide® only has one. Because they are different models, they each have an array of paint options. Accessories for the two models, are typically interchangeable as long as they don’t conflict or compliment the different fairings. Some say that the Street Glide® is designed more for the jaunts around the city, whereas the Road Glide® Custom is better designed for the endless days of riding across country. We think where you ride and how you ride is not dictated by the bike, but by the rider. What this all comes down to is the feel of the ride. And the only real way to figure out your personal preference is to take these cold-blooded motorcycles out on the road for a spin.
So, when would you like to schedule your free test ride?
