Leather jackets-to spend $$$ on Harley-Davidson or not?

[AzDaven]

So, my anniversary of my trike is on 19 October and last year I got through the winter with just and generic leather jacket that I sewed a Harley-Davidson bar and shield on the back of that I bought off of craigslist for $30. In June, one of my best friends gave me an absolutely awesome very heavy duty Harley-Davidson leather jacket for my birthday.(you can Google it: "The Rushmore jacket " form the 2010 collection) He works at a pawnshop and somebody pawned it so He was able to get me a $500 jacket for $40. Anyway the reason I'm asking this topic is my wife is in need of all the leather jacket for winter riding and I'm not sure if the benefit outweighs the expense for a Harley-Davidson brand-name jacket or not. Since are on a trike and not a bike protection on elbows and shoulders is not as needed as it would be if we were on two wheels.

Would you spend the money. To buy a Harley-Davidson leather jacket for $300-$500 or just get a good quality generic one? The one that she likes of the Harley dealership is $450.

 

[iaff84]

Your last line should sum it up for you, the one SHE likes always works best.
Dennis

 

[nucseal]

Well, I not a HD owner; Goldwing for me. But if my wife wanted a particular HD Jacket , I won't hesitate buying it for her no matter the cost! Happy wife, happy life!!!

Ride Safe
Nuc

 

[Gorilla]

Okay you have got a $500 jacket (I know for very little) I think in all fairness she deserves to look as nice. Go for it and look at it as you got 2 jackets for 1/2 price.

 

[RdKnB]

If you Wife wants it get it, happy Wife happy life. That said HD clothing is way over priced in my opinion.

 

[Trent]

I am happy to let my Sweet Babe On Back buy anything She wants to enlighten her Ridin' experience. Like the above posts say..the happier She is about her experience,, the more I get to ride, and She loves to go also. Spare no $$$ and you will easily get that investment back. Although I do agree that HD gear is marked up. I don't have a single piece of apparel that sez HD anything on it. All generic from a store here in town that sells Cruizen' Wear, and it all works just fine,,, for way less$$. I do not care what my B.O.B. buys though.

 

[msocko3]

Depending on how cold you will ride in I like the FXRG line. I've had the mid weight leather FXRG jacket for several years now, its been through rain, sleet, hail and snow. The coldest I've been down to with it is 29 degrees. A couple years ago my dad and I road 200 miles in 33 - 35 degree temps in rain and snow, the jacket kept me warm. The only thing cold was my hands.

 

[Frang]

Depending on how cold you will ride in I like the FXRG line. I've had the mid weight leather FXRG jacket for several years now, its been through rain, sleet, hail and snow. The coldest I've been down to with it is 29 degrees. A couple years ago my dad and I road 200 miles in 33 - 35 degree temps in rain and snow, the jacket kept me warm. The only thing cold was my hands.

Harley has over priced gloves for your hands too.

 

[screwball]

I have 3 leather jackets, all bought at bike shows for UNDER $100. with a Harley patch sewen on. I hate spending a lot of money on clothes. If it gets REALLY cold I have a Gerbing electric under-jacket.

Wife has about a jillion dollars invested in Harley clothes. She has white leather, tan leather, brown leather, red leather, and 2 or 3 black leather HARLEY jackets. She has Harley pants, Harley socks, Harley shirts, Harley Boots. Hell, she has Harley underware. She is on her 5th Harley Motorcycle. The Harley bug bit her HARD

She smiles a lot and is happy, worth every penny, besides she looks good in Harley stuff!

 

[Rick Kay]

My wife and I have found both Tourmaster and Olympia have great jackets, especially in women's sizes, and I don't feel they are overpriced. (My wife recently purchased a summer mesh jacket for herself). Personally, I have a Fox Creek Jacket that I think is wonderful. Cathy, my wife, is very partial to her First Gear jacket by Hein Gerrick leather jacket. Try to get a jacket with body armor. It's extra insurance in case of a get-off.

 

[Brentwood Bob]

I echo "HAPPY WIFE,HAPPY LIFE" My wife is great. She lets me buy just about every thing/toy I want so when it comes to her, anything goes. What she wants is what she gets. Plain and simple.

 

[AzDaven]

Oh, the first couple replies were saying if it's good enough for me it's Goodnuf for her. Please read me correctly when I say I spoil my wife in many different areas. Normally we have a rule in our house that if I buy something frivolous or for me for $75, as an example, she gets the same amount of cash to spend on what she wants. Of course that ended when I bought the Harley, LOL. Main reason I was asking about the buying a name brand Harley-Davidson jacket is I am going to try to get her mother and father to help pitch in on it for a Christmas presents (that she would receive early). Her mother and father are very frugal, but very wealthy, people and they're going to ask also 20 questions on why she has to have a name brand as opposed to a generic. I'm going to just go ahead and tell them that it's safer for her to wear Harley jacket because they are made better. I also agree that the gloves are extremely overpriced (as are most of their clothes).

 

[seabiz]

With the Holidays coming, most of the Harley dealers have sales from now to Christmas, especially on left over styles. I got my Harley leather jacket 40% off this time last year. I love the fit and look! I also have an Olympia neon mesh jacket. It too fits well. I wear armor in both, even with the trike. But my Harley jacket is the most comfortable for me. I ride solo. Hubby's still on two wheels.

There are some discount dealers on the web too which offer 20% off most of the time. Find out what style/size she likes and then do a web search; you could save some big $. The Harley jackets also have a 5 year warranty as long as you keep your receipt.

http://www.harley-davidson.com/en_US/Media/downloads/warranties/GM-Leather-Warranty.pdf

 

[Nana]

I personally think the HD jackets are significantly better quality than some others (not all others ) -- sturdiness, quality of leather, etc. -- and since I ride a Harley I do like having the logo on the jacket. However, they ARE expensive. A couple of times I have found one at the dealer that I really liked, then gone home and searched Ebay for it. Both times, I was able to find the jacket at close to half the dealer price. One was a heavy, warm leather, and the other a lighter weight riding jacket. I'd sure look and see if you could get one that way before paying the full price.

MAKE SURE THE SELLER IS IN THE US BEFORE COMMITTING TO THE PURCHASE! Both of mine came from Harley dealers that were changing stock or were simply not selling in the store so they put the extra stock online and were willing to sell it near their cost.

 

[Bikerbozo]

I've gotten a couple jackets from Motorcycle Jackets & Biker Helmets Clothing Store - Leather Boots, Chaps & Motorcycle Gear and been very happy with them. Very wide selection. And I don't shy away from 0'F.

 

[Fusionfool]

Man, I have a keeper wife. I was going to get her a HD leather coat of choice. She was looking and did not have one picked out yet. Then one day at a local retail Farm / Fleet, came to me with a leather coat she found on clearance.

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$50 for this Interstate Women's Cycle Leather. After the patch she picked up on Amazon, now a $60 coat she loves. She said she loves the vents zip out liner, and that she feels comfortable riding in all conditions.

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[msocko3]

Oh, the first couple replies were saying if it's good enough for me it's Goodnuf for her. Please read me correctly when I say I spoil my wife in many different areas. Normally we have a rule in our house that if I buy something frivolous or for me for $75, as an example, she gets the same amount of cash to spend on what she wants. Of course that ended when I bought the Harley, LOL. Main reason I was asking about the buying a name brand Harley-Davidson jacket is I am going to try to get her mother and father to help pitch in on it for a Christmas presents (that she would receive early). Her mother and father are very frugal, but very wealthy, people and they're going to ask also 20 questions on why she has to have a name brand as opposed to a generic. I'm going to just go ahead and tell them that it's safer for her to wear Harley jacket because they are made better. I also agree that the gloves are extremely overpriced (as are most of their clothes).

Spending the extra money on a good leather jacket is money spent on safety. I know a guy who went down a couple years ago when a car pulled out in front of him. He was wearing a FXRG leather jacket. He said the jacket was still in great shape except for when the rescue workers cut it off of him, he had no road rash where the jacket covered him.

 

[FRR]

If you read Harley's report to stockholders you will see a considerable amount of their revenue comes from Harley Clothes. Over priced and deceit quality but you certainly can find good quality without paying for the Harley name.

If it is important to you to stroll around with HARLEY written on your jacket, it may be worth the money, but for me, I got over that 25 yrs ago.

 

[87Trike1200]

Here's my 2 cents... In general, Harley apparel is excellent quality, but with a very high price tag. Recently, while browsing at the nearby Harley dealer, I saw very nice boots for $165. After I got home and did a little research, I got the exact same boots, new in the box with all tags attached from a reputable supplier for $105 (inc. shipping) - they arrived in 3 days.

Get the "details" (model name or number, etc) of the item your looking at, then do some homework. "Wifey" will be extra happy to get what she wanted + you both go out to dinner with all the $$ you saved. :laugh: ThumbUp

 

[HDHoggly]

While the HD jackets may seem overpriced, I agree that the FXRG line is a quality and comfortable jacket worth the extra money.

 

[Lakeman]

Harley stuff is expensive but is first quality. Buy what you want and you can pick the patches you like and have them sewn on. I am not going to spend $500 on a jacket but I will find a nice one and add patches.

 

[arnie]

If i were to spend 400-600 on a jacket,i'd rather it said made in the U S A,instead of harley Davidson,made in China.........................

 

[Lakeman]

Business is business, S--- or get off the pot!

 

[Sloufoot]

If i were to spend 400-600 on a jacket,i'd rather it said made in the U S A,instead of harley Davidson,made in China.........................

Ya know, I feel the same way, but we drive motorcycles that are about 90%+ China parts. I would doubt very much Harley would have parts made here that they use in their factories & other parts made in China to sell over their parts counter.

There are lots of biker gear that is quality other than just Harley wear. The Harley wear is top quality stuff, but not the only ones out there.

No matter what brand you get the quality is your safety margin when you have to have it !! It's much better to have it & not ever use it, than to need it & not have it on at the time !! DAMM maybe if I would have had that coat on I wouldn't have to have that skin graft ! (or worse) Maybe those chaps would have stopped all that skin & blood loss down that damm rough pavement !

Don't ever consider yourself immune to an accident ! Most of the time it may be the other guy's fault..... Doesn't matter. Usually safety wear will last you many many years.

Well worth the money to have top grade items, no matter who made them !!

Not just accidents, but weather also. Most of the good stuff works year around !

 

[Bigbill]

Kind of a personal preference. I've got a Harley leather jacket, Roadway I think, I like it just fine. Well made, very heavy leather, heavy duty zippers, cooling vents. All the bells and whistles. It was around 400 bucks. I guess you could get one comparable for less. It's like anything now days, ya get what you pay for.

 

[rmrc51]

As far as leather jackets go, I've been spoiled.

They might be expensive, but you definitely get what you pay for. Check out Fox Creek Leather. Outstanding quality and customer service. And no, I have no affiliation with the company! Just an extremely satisfied customer! ThumbUp

Leather Motorcycle Jackets, Chaps, Vests, & Gear - Fox Creek Leather

 

[DK Custom Products]

My wife has tried many different jackets...the one she liked best is the Fox Creek Leather. It is right up there in cost with the HD jackets, but it does seem to be a better quality...and the most important thing- she likes it best.

 

[robandmichele]

if i was getting an early christmas present from my husband, and i had showed him which jacket i liked, i wouldn't be very happy with a generic, cheapo version of what i wanted-- especially if it was one of the few "investments" i got to make on the trike. just a woman's point of view.

 

[ladyff1481]

If that's what she asked for, you had better get it. I am a woman with a closet full of Harley clothing but I only buy it NEW on Ebay or on sale at the dealer. Watch for a sale, especially the black friday sales. That way you should save a ton and both of you will be happy.

 

[Rick Kay]

As far as leather jackets go, I've been spoiled.

They might be expensive, but you definitely get what you pay for. Check out Fox Creek Leather. Outstanding quality and customer service. And no, I have no affiliation with the company! Just an extremely satisfied customer! ThumbUp

Leather Motorcycle Jackets, Chaps, Vests, & Gear - Fox Creek Leather

As mentioned earlier in the thread, I have a Fox Creek jacket, also. Kudos to them for making a superior, American made product.