Look Cool, Ride Hard, Stay Warm
On my recent expedition to Tombstone, AZ for Helldorado Days, Harley outfitted me with two of their best sellers, the Triple Vent Passing Link II Leather Coat and Circuit II Weatherproof Leather Gauntlet Gloves. For an enthusiast, your leather is much more than just a protective second skin, it’s a lifestyle statement. It has to look good, feel good and fit your personal fashion and function needs.
Choice has proliferated over the years. Was a time when the only practical option was a big, heavy, black motorcycle copper jacket. It was certainly functional, then fashionable, even on the red carpet. It also was not the most comfortable thing to walk around in. Things have changed.
Harley-Davidson Men’s Triple Vent Passing Link II Leather Jacket.
Harley-Davidson’s heavy-duty Men’s Triple Vent Passing Link II Leather Jacket is not your daddy’s jacket. It offers long-haul warmth without a lot of weight. The Passing Link II features three vents for when you want the breeze to get through; elbow, shoulder and back body armor pockets; and reflective accents that are barely noticeable in burning daylight. I’m not a fan of reflective piping, but the Passing Link II’s accents are subtle, and nice to have when the going goes dark. As an unintended bonus, the back armor pocket could double as a sneaky place for whatever you’d like to secret away.
The distressed cowhide jacket also has what Harley calls, “an enhanced comfort action back.” I’m not sure what the enhancement is, but the Passing Link II fits comfortably and has that needed ease of movement when you spend a lot of time with your arms stretched out in front of you. There are, of course, a number of exterior and interior pockets every motorcyclist needs to stash enough stuff you forget where you put it. It also features a jacket-to-pant connection option, meaning you can zip your jacket to your cool leather pants if you have a compatible pair.
Part # 98005-21VM, $600, S-5X. Runs true to size. Three-year warranty (www.h-d.com/warranty for details)
Keeping Hands Safe & Dry
Among must-have gear when hitting the road near or far is a good, sturdy pair of gloves. Anyone who has ridden a mile knows this is not optional protection, or should know, although some riders don’t seem to quite understand exactly how much they need to keep their hands safe from wind, weather, asphalt and UFOs, like hard little kamikaze bugs and the tiny meteors commonly called pebbles.
This translates to something warm, protective and importantly, dry. In the past, that meant traveling with at least two pairs of gloves, maybe even three. One for cold weather, one for casual comfort, and yet another jammed into your rain-gear pack. Waterproof gloves always seemed like an afterthought. Some guys (me) stuffed a pair of heavy-duty dish washing gloves in the saddlebag. Not bad if you can get them in anything but pink, not that there’s anything wrong with pink.
This was not ideal for a motorcycle glove that has to deal with more than soapsuds. It’s more of an improvisation, like using a truck stop trash bag for a rain poncho in a pinch. Works ok, after you get past the coffee grounds and banana peels. Nowadays, I am more prepared. Most of the time. If I remember.
Men’s Circuit II Weatherproof Leather Gauntlet Gloves.
The Motor Company’s Men’s Circuit II Weatherproof Leather Gauntlet Gloves combine cowhide, Thinsulate, polyester lining and some sort of magic waterproofing to offer a palm padded gauntlet that works in cold and/or wet. I would have frozen fewer fingers off if I had a pair during my crazy Northeastern winter riding days. The gloves have a built-in wiper to help keep rain out of your eyes. The Circuit II also features an “ergonomic thumb” to prevent fatigue and aid mobility, curved fingers, a roller buckle wrist strap and one-hand drawcord cuff closure. Like any flared gauntlet, it fits over your wrist.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get caught in the rain on the 1400-mile Tombstone gallop. I usually do. To simulate wind blown rain at highway speeds, I took a hose to the gloves. They passed the water-under-pressure test, staying dry and cozy. I did, however, find the gloves are a little stiff, run slightly small and are a bit bulky. They might break in over time and become more supple, but not as yet. Guess it’s time for another trip, maybe somewhere nice and damp.
Joshua Placa
Part # 98196-24VM, $125, S-3X. One year limited warranty (www.h-d.com/warranty for details)
Men’s Circuit II Weatherproof Leather Gauntlet Gloves
*All photos by Harley-Davidson
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